Evangelism: How the Whole Church Speaks of Jesus

by J. Mack Stiles

Evangelism is more than a program.

Every few years, churches jump into the latest evangelistic fad. Leaders administrate the new program, and members go on a raid. But picture a church where evangelism is just part of the culture. Leaders share their faith consistently and openly. Members follow, encouraging one another to make evangelism an ongoing way of life.

Such is the way of evangelism presented by this brief and compelling book. No program here. Instead, it just might give your church a new way to live and share the gospel together.

Genres: Evangelism, Christian, Theology, Church, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Ecclesiology

128 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2014

About the author

J. Mack Stiles is CEO of Gulf Digital Solutions and general secretary for the Fellowship of Christian UAE Students (FOCUS) in the United Arab Emirates. He has worked for many years with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in the United States.

Reviews

[David Saxon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read on evangelism - creates a hunger for sharing one's faith without appeals to guilt or mere duty. It's amazing how few books on sharing the gospel base their appeal on the gospel itself, the fact that we are forgiven and loved. Stiles doesn't just preach and teach the gospel, he lives the gospel. And that's what I want for myself and everyone I influence.

[Ana Paula Nunes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eu ousaria dizer que TODO cristão deveria ler esse pequeno e necessário livro.

[Libby Valerio · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors aim encouraged evangelism not as a program of the church, rather culture within the church. Evangelism is a spiritual disciple I so badly want to be confident in, if that's you too, this is good shorter read!

[Tanner Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does this take over for the best book in the series in my mind?

I think it might. I haven’t read a more encouraging book in quite a while.

Programs won’t fix things, churches who are filled with people who love God’s grace will.

[ladydusk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5

Margaret and I listened to this on our drive home from Franklin. I appreciate his emphasis on evangelism as a natural outgrowth of our faith and our community culture.

The audiobook narrator was just ok. Could have been better.

[Chase Riebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mack Stiles brings such convicting challenges and even more probing reminders within this little book. Evangelism is not for the programs, for the curriculums, or for the tracks; it is for the church, for you and for me. Going further, evangelism is not for "the church" as some understand it: a conglomerate of "holier than thou" pastors, deacons, and elders. No, evangelism is for every single believer of Jesus Christ. A natural outflow of conversion will be the proclamation of the very same Gospel that saved the proclaimer.

Another good challenge woven throughout this book was to those who assume the Gospel or articulate the Gospel to be more relevant. What Stiles argues is how this assumption or "half-baked" Gospel creates apathetic, heretical, and sometimes non-Christian churches. May that not be me nor my church nor my students!

I left this one praising God for the joy it is to partner with Him to redeem the world. This one's a keeper.

[Brian Pate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! I need to read this book each year. Stiles encourages us to develop a culture of evangelism in our churches. He provides plenty of illustrations to inspire (and caution) us as we share the gospel. Every Christian should read this book!

(I read this to prepare to teach on evangelism at our church in Brazil, November 2019.)

[Evelyn DS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Went through this book with my church and loved it! Very encouraging and convicting.

[Anne Michal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book! Read for class but gonna add this to the regular rotation and can’t wait to read with students!

[Michael Stilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in preparation for a training on evangelism next month. Great biblical insight both for personal evangelism and the importance of a culture of evangelism in the local church. It’s also filled with encouraging stories from Mack’s ministry and the evangelistic witness of other churches.

[Todd Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best book on evangelism that I have ever read. Clear, concise, convicting, but not overwhelming.

[Cal Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you long to see your church grow not with just existing Christians coming into your fellowship but also with new believers joining the church? This book does an amazing job of connecting evangelism and the local church arguing that Jesus set up his church to be the primary engine of evangelism. If we can learn how to recapture the DNA infused culture of evangelism within the local church that this book lays out, I believe that evangelism would become less daunting to many and that God would not let our efforts be in vain.

[Owen Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Heather Gladney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely phenomenal. I love Mack Stiles and how applicable the stories and advice he gives out because he’s done it for years. Highly recommend.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book on evangelism. Too often books on evangelism are contrived and pragmatic. Mr Stiles proposes a Biblical approach. He suggests that the best approach to sharing the gospel comes when people speak with other people about the gospel, how novel. He discusses a "culture of evangelism" where evangelism isn't force fed but exudes from both church and individuals. I found the combination of teaching and examples very compelling. I hope to purchase and distribute this book widely. I wish I could make it required reading for everyone in my church. What Mr. Stiles proposes is what my mind, will and emotions reveal the Scriptures to call for.

[Shane Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theology meets practice. What a gem. "Culture of evangelism".

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

this took a little bit to get into/at times could feel a bit like it was just being drug out, which i feel like is pretty common with christian books which is kinda a bummer, but it was SO GOOD

i used an entire highlighter on this and it was so encouraging and convicting, and it will definitely be one that i come back to a lot

[Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a book is small, one of the most important things I need is clarity. Mack Stiles gives that and encourages everyone who reads this to love their neighbor through “teaching the gospel with the aim to persuade”. A go-to resource on evangelism.

[Hannah Senn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. A great take on not just sharing our faith, but sharing our faith together as a body of Christ. My church is not far from this model, and this book definitely gave me renewed passion to evangelize together!!

[Jeremy Meeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most books in this series this is a helpful, pastoral book that is an encouragement to evangelize as well as some helpful work on how to do so well.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that I think every Christian should read! Helpful, convicting, encouraging.

[Caleb Coolen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and insightful ways of thinking about how the church can and should evangelize

[Troy Solava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big fan- not your “step by step” of evangelism. But that’s the point! This books casts the vision for local churches to be the engine of evangelism by their witness, culture, and proclamation.

This book shows the evangelistic culture I hope our church will have!

[Natalie]

This was such a helpful resource. I had to read this to prepare for a mission trip, and Mack gives so many helpful tips for evangelizing. He really highlighted on church evangelism, and this book really encourages me to be more excited about evangelizing to the lost!

[Laura Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claro, preciso y retador, ¡que bendición de material!

[Josh Ehrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, concise and convicting. It is a good tool to evaluate your church but more importantly yourself on whether you are fulfilling Christ’s command to be an evangelist.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent practical book on evangelism that is definitely challenging but points the reader in the right approach towards it. Helpful for all pastors and church leaders to read.

[Rafael Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring vision for the church. I kept looking back with sweet memories over my time at Immanuel Baptist in Louisville. There I witnessed a true evangelism culture, for which I'm grateful.

[Parker Davey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convicting and convincing. Practical for the believer wanting to help foster a culture of evangelism within their church and helpful in describing biblical commands, tips, and encouragements for personal evangelism.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of encouragement and examples that make you go, “Wow! Praise God!”

“…God can take the smallest seeds of gospel truth and grow them into the great fruit of gospel reconciliation in people’s hearts” (24).

“Evangelism is bigger than what we see” (114).

However, a few parts of the book did feel slightly out of place with the rest of the chapter. And while personal evangelism & discipline, church health, and church culture of evangelism are all related, I think the structure/flow of the book wasn’t conducive to making those connections as clear as they could be.