Most of the books published on evangelism in our century have taken a man-centered approach to evangelism rather than a God-centered approach. What do we mean by this? Simply that most evangelistic books focus on methods and techniques designed to secure decisions rather than emphasizing the sharing of divine revelation and the dependence on God for all the results. Here are a few books that take a biblical approach that we can recommend to you.
Books on Evangelism:
God-Centered Evangelism by Ralph Kuiper. This is certainly my favorite. It provides the most thorough theology of evangelism and provides a number of excellent chapters. We had attempted to gain permission to reprint one chapter in this issue but we did not hear from the publishers in time. The book is published by Banner of Truth—we highly recommend it!
The Soul Winner by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. This book, published by Eerdmans in 1963, provides some of the best teaching and preaching of Spurgeon on evangelism. In it, Spurgeon defines soul-winning, examines the qualifications necessary to be a soul-winner, and discusses “Sermons Likely to Win Souls.”
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer. Published by Intervarsity Press in 1963, this book certainly qualifies as a contemporary classic on evangelism. In it, Packer examines divine sovereignty and human responsibility as they relate to evangelism.
Books to use in Witnessing:
Come Home Forever by Tom Well (Evangelical Press). This book is an excellent resource to give to non-believers. In it, Wells provides a simple, yet very logical presentation of the gospel. Tom’s other books are also excellent for learning how to provided a clear explanation of the gospel. Also consider his book, Faith: The Gift of God and Come to Me both give a clear explanation of biblical faith.
Peter Jeffery has also provided a number of good resources for evangelism. His Seeking God provides a clear explanation of the gospel, written for someone seeking to understand the gospel. My personal favorite is I Will Never Become a Christian. This small booklet examines various objections non-believers may have toward the gospel and answers them in a clear, logical fashion. He concludes the book with testimonies by people from many different backgrounds and occupations. Both books are printed by The Evangelical Press of Wales.
A Bad Heart and a Bad Record by Al Martin. This short booklet is an excellent resource to share. It clearly explains man’s dilemma and points to Christ as the only answer. (Published through Simpson Publishing Company, Box 699, Broonton, NJ, 07005).
Wasted Faith by Jim Elliff. This booklet causes the reader to make an honest examination of his faith to determine if it is biblical, saving faith. This resource is especially good for those who are “nominal Chiristians” and need to examine the reality of their profession. Jim also provides a number of other resources for evangelism, including booklets on childhood conversion, a conversation on conversion and many other resources. You can find his Website (Christian Communicators Worldwide) through the Links page on our Website.
The Narrow Road that Leads to Life and True Godliness by Bill Nichols. Both of these booklets are short but very clear about the gospel. (Published by International Outreach, P.O. Box 1286, Ames, IA, 50010)
Ultimate Questions by John Blanchard. This is an excellent resource for helping someone understand the gospel. It is available from Evangelical Press).
Books for Church Evangelism:
Evangelism and Your Church by C. John Miller. This small paperback is one of the best resources for equipping your church in evangelism. Miller even provided a 10-week training outline that includes readings from some of the books recommended in this article. It was published by Presbyterian & Reformed.
Tell the Truth by Will Metzger (IVP, 1981) is one of the best training manuals for God-centered evangelism. He examines the content of the message we share, the dynamics of conversion, and the character of the people who witness. His appendix also includes an outline for a training session in a local church.
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