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Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel to the Whole Person by Whole People
Will Metzger's training manual on the message and methods of God-centered evangelism is now in its third edition! This revised and expanded version of the original guide published in 1981 is written to address the concern that many Christians, entrusted with the gospel message, have forgotten the message and their responsibility to accurately convey it. The recovery of a God-centered and grace-centered gospel is imperative, says Will Metzger. In the third edition of his critically-acclaimed training manual he expands on the topics of grace and worship. And he emphasizes the centrality of sovereign, saving grace that completely exalts God. In addition, he offers a narrative approach to witnessing with the story "Come Home," training materials for Christians who want to learn God-centered evangelism, and a study guide on evangelism suitable for individuals or groups. More than ever, Tell the Truth is ready to serve the church as a comprehensive, accessible and effective guide to God-centered evangelism.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1981
131 people are currently reading
820 people want to read
About the author
Will Metzger
5 books7 followersMetzger has been a campus minister at the University of Delaware since 1965, where he serves with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Christian InterAction (a church and campus connection). His evangelism ministry has taken him to every continent, and he has witnessed to people from varied nationalities both on campus and through a church that he pastored.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
January 27, 2015
This is an excellent book (if not the best) on personal evangelism, but it seriously needs to go on a diet. To change metaphors, it needs an editorial scalpel to remove the excess of quotes and stories, which is one common weakness of Christian books—there's a lot of anecdotal fluff. As an "evangelism training manual," the length (234 pages and with the appendix 300+) detracts from some the excellent theological and practical discussions Metzger provides. My fear is that it'll be too intimidating for the average Christian who wants to grow in his ability to share his faith. I can imagine using this book in a small group or Sunday school class.
January 31, 2025
4.5 Phenomenal. If you only read one book on evangelism, read this one. Only flaw is that it could’ve been 100 pages shorter, but you can just skim the supplemental quotes and anecdotes.
February 18, 2018
Favorite book I have read on evangelism. He seeks to equip his readers to be God-exalting in evangelism and to aim to communicate as much Biblical truth as possible with passion, love, and respect in any opportunity. Challenging, insightful, helpful, theologically-driven, and practical. I would highly recommend it to any Christian!
March 28, 2019
This is possibly the best book on Evangelism I have read.
June 9, 2021
2021 reads: 08/52
Rating: 2.5 stars
This was a disappointing read. It started off encouraging: Metzger raises the alarm that much of evangelicalism is shallow and her evangelism methods tired. I was in complete agreement in the first 100 pages and was waiting anxiously for his robust and invigorating solution. But my interest quickly dissipated from pages 100 onwards. Metzger's method leans too heavily on an individualistic and 'Jesus in my heart' framework that fails to locate the gospel within Israel's Scriptures, and the overall arc of redemptive history. The author's goals are noble and necessary, but Evangelicalism's posture toward matters of social justice in recent days has shown how the solutions in this book have perhaps failed to raise disciples who can think about social matters with nuance, love, and a deep biblical theology, without succumbing to anti-intellectualism, politicisation, and fundamentalism. The arguments in the second half of the book were a real struggle to follow. There were snippets here and there that were helpful, but to wade nearly 300 pages to find them is not worth the time in my opinion.
For more helpful resources I would encourage readers to look into Michael Goheen's 'Introducing Christian Mission Today' (IVP) and Mack Stiles', 'Evangelism' (Crossway).
Rating: 2.5 stars
This was a disappointing read. It started off encouraging: Metzger raises the alarm that much of evangelicalism is shallow and her evangelism methods tired. I was in complete agreement in the first 100 pages and was waiting anxiously for his robust and invigorating solution. But my interest quickly dissipated from pages 100 onwards. Metzger's method leans too heavily on an individualistic and 'Jesus in my heart' framework that fails to locate the gospel within Israel's Scriptures, and the overall arc of redemptive history. The author's goals are noble and necessary, but Evangelicalism's posture toward matters of social justice in recent days has shown how the solutions in this book have perhaps failed to raise disciples who can think about social matters with nuance, love, and a deep biblical theology, without succumbing to anti-intellectualism, politicisation, and fundamentalism. The arguments in the second half of the book were a real struggle to follow. There were snippets here and there that were helpful, but to wade nearly 300 pages to find them is not worth the time in my opinion.
For more helpful resources I would encourage readers to look into Michael Goheen's 'Introducing Christian Mission Today' (IVP) and Mack Stiles', 'Evangelism' (Crossway).
May 13, 2019
Too cumbersome. Unfortunately, I was lost in almost every chapter trying to follow where the author was going. The point of the book is that we need to recover a biblical gospel (a whole gospel that centers on the sovereign grace of God in the salvation of sinners) and that every believer is called and able to share it with others. We evangelize and leave the results to God. He could have, however, made his point in less than 100 hundred pages. Some of the charts and tables offered are helpful and good as resources to share with others or as handouts to give during a class.
July 4, 2018
Pretty good / not bad. Some helpful thoughts on keeping the main thing the main thing. But *lots* of filler.
September 9, 2023
Decent, but nothing groundbreaking. Wasn’t really worth my time.
January 3, 2025
The best book I've read so far on evangelism, in terms of giving solid biblical foundations for the whys and hows of evangelism. It is a very thorough book and covers both the theological and practical. It suffers from a small case of wordy-ness, but read it slowly and this won't be a problem for you.
A summary idea from the book: deep and rich theology fuels our worship of God, and this worship then fuels our evangelism for His glory. What a beautiful reality.
A summary idea from the book: deep and rich theology fuels our worship of God, and this worship then fuels our evangelism for His glory. What a beautiful reality.
February 12, 2025
There's some good content here, but the book as a whole is poorly organized, bloated, and (ironically) theologically sloppy. I just can't recommend this book when there are much better, more concise ones available.
May 9, 2024
I personally enjoyed reading through this. I plan on rereading it considering there is a lot of information in there.
December 9, 2025
yeah it could've been shorter and more concise but also it has good material for different kinds of teaching about evangelism and evangelistic methods that would prob prove helpful as a resource
October 23, 2019
"This is probably the best book I know on evangelism." - Mark Dever
May 26, 2020
Some useful insights into evangelistic tactics, but tends towards the routine and cliche.
July 26, 2010
It is not easy to write a compelling book on evangelism while still upholding the complete sovereignty of God. Since the activity of sharing the gospel is such an outward-focused, human-activity-centered action, evangelism is often written about in a works-based way. To make matters worse, whenever God’s sovereignty is brought up, a common counter-argument against this doctrine is: “If God is completely sovereign, then why evangelize?” Both of these points are wrong, however. Evangelism, when seen in a biblical light, is not a man-centered activity. It is a gospel-centered, God-initiated activity that upholds the complete sovereignty of God in marvelous ways. Take Acts 13:48, for example: “… and as many who were appointed to eternal life believed.” The reason people fail to evangelize is not that they believe in the complete sovereignty of God; the reason people fail to evangelize is because they do not uphold the sovereignty of God enough! They have believed that the responsibility of the task of evangelism falls solely on them, they have tried to evangelize in the efforts of their own flesh. They have failed and they have become discouraged. Therefore they no longer share the gospel.
Will Metzger’s book Tell the Truth counteracts this wrong way of thinking. Metzger passionately upholds the sovereignty of God and uses that doctrine to show how, through God’s strength and initiative, believers can enter into God’s work of evangelism. Metzger says, “There is hope, encouragement and liberation to be found when evangelism is built on a God-centered gospel. The doorway into a hopeful and joyful witness is found by focusing on God as Creator and Redeemer” (22). Oftentimes books of evangelism will focus more on the author’s success stories than the glory of God, portraying what Metzger calls “me-centered” gospel content (36). The gospel is about what happens to me and when I pick myself up by my own moral bootstraps and evangelize and here are ten of my success stories for what happened when I evangelize. Metzger shares all this not to simply put down the Armenians. He says this because those who are converted under a “me-centered” gospel will begin to live “me-centered” Christian lives, which is really no kind of Christian life at all.
Another way that Metzger’s appeal for evangelism is both helpful and biblical is that he steers clear from the “lifestyle evangelism” approach. The Bible clearly says that the only way the gospel can be internalized is if it is heard (Romans 10:14). Metzger carefully and Biblically builds his case for sharing the gospel with words, not just with a lifestyle. He continues: “We must speak even when it is inconvenient. God is bigger than our sins, our ignorance, our pride. He will honor his word in our mouths” (25). The gospel message really must come out of our mouths if people are to be saved, and we really must speak it, even when it is inconvenient. Yet God is sovereign in it all, and he will use weak and broken vessels to bring salvation to the lost.
The first part of the book covers the sovereignty of God in evangelism in an excellent way—but it is very general. The second part of the book moves to very specific situations and covers the ins and outs of the everyday challenge of evangelism. The front cover of the book describes it as “a training manual on the message and methods of God-centered witnessing.” This second part is so helpful because after laying the groundwork for why God-centered witnessing is the Biblical method, the individual believer still needs to be informed and equipped in how to actually go about witnessing in a God-centered way. Metzger provides numerous examples, suggestions and scenarios for how to practice God-centered evangelism. This is an extremely helpful way for even a new believer to begin witnessing in his sphere of influence.
Even though large portions of the book are very practical, Metzger does not lose sight of the bigger picture. After providing numerous practical examples, he says, “God-centered evangelism is a way of life. It does not advocate a method but encourages a knowledge of people and how to apply a macrogospel to the conscience and heart” (205). This is not “lifestyle evangelism” where a believer simply lives a so-called “godly” life before unbelievers, hoping that there mere lifestyle will be compelling enough to draw the lost to Christ. It is “a way of life,” meaning that people who are made whole by the gospel are now speaking the true gospel to the lost, and the lost are receiving it. Metzger goes on: “Witness should be natural, educational and bold. It is something we are, not just something we do. ‘Personal witnessing’ is the phrase that best describes the evangelistic life to which all of us are called. Will you tell the truth?” (205).
Will Metzger’s book Tell the Truth counteracts this wrong way of thinking. Metzger passionately upholds the sovereignty of God and uses that doctrine to show how, through God’s strength and initiative, believers can enter into God’s work of evangelism. Metzger says, “There is hope, encouragement and liberation to be found when evangelism is built on a God-centered gospel. The doorway into a hopeful and joyful witness is found by focusing on God as Creator and Redeemer” (22). Oftentimes books of evangelism will focus more on the author’s success stories than the glory of God, portraying what Metzger calls “me-centered” gospel content (36). The gospel is about what happens to me and when I pick myself up by my own moral bootstraps and evangelize and here are ten of my success stories for what happened when I evangelize. Metzger shares all this not to simply put down the Armenians. He says this because those who are converted under a “me-centered” gospel will begin to live “me-centered” Christian lives, which is really no kind of Christian life at all.
Another way that Metzger’s appeal for evangelism is both helpful and biblical is that he steers clear from the “lifestyle evangelism” approach. The Bible clearly says that the only way the gospel can be internalized is if it is heard (Romans 10:14). Metzger carefully and Biblically builds his case for sharing the gospel with words, not just with a lifestyle. He continues: “We must speak even when it is inconvenient. God is bigger than our sins, our ignorance, our pride. He will honor his word in our mouths” (25). The gospel message really must come out of our mouths if people are to be saved, and we really must speak it, even when it is inconvenient. Yet God is sovereign in it all, and he will use weak and broken vessels to bring salvation to the lost.
The first part of the book covers the sovereignty of God in evangelism in an excellent way—but it is very general. The second part of the book moves to very specific situations and covers the ins and outs of the everyday challenge of evangelism. The front cover of the book describes it as “a training manual on the message and methods of God-centered witnessing.” This second part is so helpful because after laying the groundwork for why God-centered witnessing is the Biblical method, the individual believer still needs to be informed and equipped in how to actually go about witnessing in a God-centered way. Metzger provides numerous examples, suggestions and scenarios for how to practice God-centered evangelism. This is an extremely helpful way for even a new believer to begin witnessing in his sphere of influence.
Even though large portions of the book are very practical, Metzger does not lose sight of the bigger picture. After providing numerous practical examples, he says, “God-centered evangelism is a way of life. It does not advocate a method but encourages a knowledge of people and how to apply a macrogospel to the conscience and heart” (205). This is not “lifestyle evangelism” where a believer simply lives a so-called “godly” life before unbelievers, hoping that there mere lifestyle will be compelling enough to draw the lost to Christ. It is “a way of life,” meaning that people who are made whole by the gospel are now speaking the true gospel to the lost, and the lost are receiving it. Metzger goes on: “Witness should be natural, educational and bold. It is something we are, not just something we do. ‘Personal witnessing’ is the phrase that best describes the evangelistic life to which all of us are called. Will you tell the truth?” (205).
January 5, 2016
My low rating for this book is based mainly on its lack of organization and clear purpose. While Metzger's passion for evangelism and desire to emphasize the sovereignty of God in redemption are commendable, his arguments consist largely of personal stories and seemingly random discussions of various aspects of the evangelistic process which quickly become tedious. Some substantial editing would go a long way to make this a more useful and enjoyable resource. In any case, the classic work by J.I. Packer (Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God) should be preferred since it accomplishes the goals of this book far more richly and concisely.
April 10, 2014
An interesting book that strives to light the fire of evangelism in the reader. Though I did enjoy many of the author's points, I was not a fan of his modernizing/expanding/simplifying of Scripture passages. I feel there are better and more biblical ways to present the gospel than that.
November 10, 2017
Best book on evangelism out there
He lays a thorough theological foundation and then he gives some ways go go about sharing the gospel. It's uniquely theological and very practical. Highly recommended
He lays a thorough theological foundation and then he gives some ways go go about sharing the gospel. It's uniquely theological and very practical. Highly recommended
May 21, 2018
Contributes nothing new to the conversation. The advocated methods are outdated. Perhaps it was needed and effective during its first publishing in the 80s, but it is no longer. Also, the allegory at the beginning is just weird.
July 13, 2023
Metzger does a great job presenting a holistic view on evangelism. He is relatable, and I think both new and seasoned christians can benefit from this work. I would definitely recommend for anyone wanting to better understand and lovingly share the gospel.
December 31, 2023
Decent. Really wasn’t very helpful until the last chapter. I was more confused about evangelism than when I started - it tries to be way to careful on avoiding the malpractices of evangelism. Can’t necessarily recommend it
May 31, 2016
A very helpful book urging a God centered evangelism theology and method.
January 6, 2020
A meaty book on Biblical evangelism. A very thorough treatment with seminar and class notes and schedules in the back.
April 12, 2020
This is my favorite book on evangelism.
June 23, 2023
One of the best books on evangelism I’ve read. It’s excellent, though lengthy.
December 25, 2013
TELL THE TRUTH
It is not uncommon to see someone who has recently come to Christ excited to share his or her newfound faith with others. Initially these new believers do not seem to need a specific method for sharing the gospel–the good news of Jesus’ life-changing power seems to overflow out of their heart. Yet, almost inevitably, this type of spontaneous passionate witnessing does not continue long term. As a believer becomes increasingly familiar with the Christian faith, sharing the gospel somehow seems to become more complicated. This was the experience of Will Metzger, shared in the preface of Tell the Truth. “At first, witnessing seemed so simple. I knew the message and I knew who needed it. What could be so confusing or difficult about that…?” (14). But like many others Metzger found himself caught up in the confusion of various evangelistic methods and messages espoused by different Christians. Eventually he reached the conclusion that “…I did not have a clear grasp of the content of the gospel. Therefore, my Christian life was stunted, and my ability to winsomely expose nonbelievers to Christ was handicapped” (14). After going through seasons of trying various approaches he realized that all of his questions boiled down to just one: “What was the way to witness that would be shaped by a high view of a Creator-Redeemer God who does not merely make salvation available but actually empowers a person to respond by repenting and receiving?” (16) This may not be the primary question the average believer is asking concerning evangelism, but it is a good question for every Christian to consider. If one is to go through the effort of sharing the gospel with an unbeliever, it is only logical that he or she would seek to do so in a way that provides an accurate portrayal of the God being proclaimed.
Overview
After nearly forty years of campus ministry with InterVarsity, Metzger has found some answers to the common questions many believers struggle with regarding evangelism. In Tell the Truth Metzger emphasizes what he sees as three priorities in biblical evangelism: “The whole gospel, wholly by grace, communicated truthfully and lovingly.” These three priorities provide a three-point structure for the content of the book. Metzger emphasizes the necessity of sharing the “whole gospel” in contrast to the abbreviated man-centered messages that many contemporary Christians often share with unbelievers. Too often evangelistic messages focus exclusively on the love of God to the neglect of God’s holiness. This type of message often focuses exclusively on the felt needs of the individual and fails to portray a realistic picture of God’s authority/ownership and the seriousness of man’s rebellion against him. In contrast, Metzger argues that sharing the whole, biblical gospel requires us to explain God’s nature, what he requires of us, and our inability to do what he requires–all of this is shared prior to sharing the good news of God’s love through Jesus and his atoning sacrifice on our behalf (133).
The motivation for sharing the gospel must be grace. Metzger contends that motivating grace is made real when we recognize that as God’s creatures we are worthy (made in his image), unworthy (as disobedient rebels), and owned (by a sovereign Creator-Redeemer) (138). When the believer gets a clear view of who God is and what God has done, worship will be the inevitable response. Worship, says Metzger, is the ultimate motive for evangelism. If one’s witness is ruled by a lesser motive then they will be “out of harmony with the plan of salvation” (206).
Finally, Metzger touches on the manner with which we share the gospel. Metzger makes it clear that he is far more interested in content and motive than methods. He believes that a heavy focus on the how-to can lead to pragmatism and self-centeredness (210), so he saves a lot of practical advice for an extensive appendix at the end of the book. Yet, Metzger also acknowledges that the way we share with other can be just as important as what we share with others. Personal communication approached with love and prayer helps us communicate the heart of Christ. Metzger warns against both “miss and run evangelism” that never gets around to talking about Jesus, and “hit and run evangelism” that is abrupt and inconsiderate of others. Instead, a conversational approach is modeled where the conversation begins with common interests and then moves to values and eventually personal beliefs (217).
Critique
In a time when books on evangelism are a dime-a-dozen, Metzger brings some invaluable points to the conversation. His section on emotions seemed particularly unique. Metzger contends that a proper response to the gospel involves the whole person. It is not enough to merely give intellectual assent to Christ with the mind. Likewise it is not enough to get someone to make a decision by appealing to their will if they are uninformed about the decision they are making. Additionally, emotions are a powerful driving force in the choices we make, but the evangelist should never resort to emotional manipulation to achieve a desired result. Rather, Metzger pushes for an approach that appeals to all three parts of the individual–the mind, will, and emotions. In many reformed churches and organizations there has been such a reaction against revivalism and emotional manipulation that any emotional appeal is viewed with suspicion. Metzger argues against this type of overreaction and suggests that we need to let our non-Christian friends see how we feel about their spiritual state. “Paul burst into an exhilarating doxology over doctrine (Eph. 1:6-10)! It is gratifying to see some new thinking by evangelicals on our emotions. God made us in his image. He has emotions. Let’s quit denying ours!” (73). Christians (even reformed ones) do not hesitate to show their emotions at football games or concerts, yet they often sit stony-faced as the gospel is sung, shared, and preached. Metzger is right–showing excitement, love, sorrow, or joy that touches other people’s hearts is not emotionalism, it is godliness.
The dominant theme in Tell the Truth is Metzger’s emphasis on the need for the whole gospel. Much of what he says in this regard is helpful. He is right to assert that bare bones, me-centered evangelism is “…not radical enough in its opposition to sinful human nature” (94). Metzger’s concern over false-conversions resulting from an incomplete gospel is legitimate. There are countless numbers of churches (some with tens of thousands of members) that preach a message of love but never talk about God’s holiness, man’s sinful condition, or the nature of true faith and repentance. “God loves you” is not the gospel and it is not enough to save anyone. Rather, Metzger claims that biblical evangelism has the goal of “providing the maximum amount of truth to the maximum amount of people” (84). In one sense this should always be the goal–we should always want to spend as much time as possible discussing the gospel with an unbeliever. Yet Metzger seems to have adopted some expectations that are unrealistic and possibly unbiblical. Metzger includes a “simple version” of his gospel presentation diagram that he claims provides the minimum necessary to communicate the gospel (133). The problem is that the diagram is extremely complicated and it would be almost impossible to memorize it. Certainly there some thorough gospel proclamations included in the book of Acts (Acts 2:14-36, 3:12-26, 7:1-51), but there are also some highly abbreviated versions of the gospel. Later in the book of Acts when the Philippian jailer asks what to do to be saved he is simply told, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). In his letter to the Corinthians Paul takes just two short verses to succinctly summarize the message of “first importance” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Metzger acknowledges the presence of brief gospel presentations in Scripture but then contends that, “stripping down the extensive theology of the gospel to a minimal amount of truth content” will end up “dangerously misleading people by making the gospel simplistic” (85). Yet, nowhere in the New Testament do we find complicated diagrams that we are encouraged to memorize in order to effectively share the “full gospel.” Metzger’s goal to provide the maximum amount of information is a good goal–but most evangelistic opportunities simply do not allow for a forty-five minute conversation. One wonders if perhaps Metzger’s approach and his accompanying diagram has not slowly grown over the years with multiple revisions of his book. After twenty years and four editions, there were many places where it felt like Metzger could have made his point or accomplished his goal in a more succinct manner. When the fourth principle for guiding someone on the brink of a faith decision includes eight steps, it might too much (63-64).
Conclusion
Tell the Truth provides a wealth of wisdom, but is somewhat limited by some overly complicated sections. Metzger’s key principles of sharing the whole gospel, wholly by grace, with truth and love are sure to make any sincere Christian a more effective evangelist. I would not, however, give this book out to everyone in my church. Tell the Truth may be very helpful for the discerning reader, but it would be bewildering for the average member. For those caught up in the confusion of various evangelistic methods, a few excerpts from Tell the Truth might prove more helpful than the entire book.
July 16, 2017
Here are some of the quotes I enjoyed from the book:
1) “To remain silent and let others interpret our actions is wrong: God himself did not do this. The pivotal points of God’s redemptive action in history are accompanied with verbal revelation… We must speak even when it is inconvenient… God didn’t send a tract; he prepared a body” (Will Metzger, Tell the Truth, 25).
2) “Theology is foundational and will (consciously or unconsciously) mold our methods of witness” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 38).
3) “Anyone who makes the gospel sophisticated and abstract is not making a New Testament proclamation but is trusting in human understanding and his own wisdom (1 Cor 2:4-5)” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 56).
4) It is essential that people measure themselves by God’s requirements (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 61).
5) “Very few gospel outlines sufficiently emphasis God’s law, and this means God’s grace loses its sweet flavor” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 61).
6) “Misdiagnosis of our real disease is spiritual malpractice” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 64).
7) If we turn evangelistic outlines into a formula, we depersonalize those we encounter (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 64).
8) “Good evangelists are doctors who use the surgical knife of the law summarized in the Ten Commandments and elaborated in the Sermon on the Mount to expose the sinful character of sin” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 66).
9) “In studying Acts we discover that the evangelists brought out certain gospel truths again and again. Their witness was also versatile. They were aware of unbelievers as individuals in unique situations. Yet, there was a basic grid or ‘pattern of sound words’ that proved a useful springboard for the memories of evangelists. It kept them on the track. They turned again and again to the pivotal points of the gospel. It was not, however, a straitjacket, inhibiting any creativity on their part” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 83).
10) “We must forsake any kind of evangelism that either overly exalts the mind or unduly neglects it” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 98).
11) “The particular evangelical subculture in which we have been converted will often set the pattern for much of our subsequent growth, attitudes and view of spirituality” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 100).
12) “Emotions have a valid place in our lives, but they are not to lead our lives” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 101).
13) “We should not consider… sovereignty and responsibility as enemies but rather see them the way the Bible does—as friends!” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 109).
14) “A scriptural emphasis on divine sovereignty and human responsibility should be at the heart of a right view of the human will and a recovery of fervent evangelism today” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 109).
15) “An experience of worship mobilizes us to witness” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 150).
16) “God, by nature, is a seeker of the lost” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 151).
17) “Worship emboldens Christians for worship” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 156-57).
18) “Theological conviction inspires and sustains evangelistic zeal” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 157).
19) “If we are waiting for that inner urge before we tell someone the gospel, it will probably never come. Our feelings were not meant to determine our actions. God calls us to obedience, not waiting for feeling” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 176).
20) Metzger quotes J.I. Packer: “All true evangelism is theology in action” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 202).
21) Metzger quotes Philip Graham Ryken from his book Is Jesus the Only Way?:
“On the one hand, Christianity is the most exclusive religion imaginable. It insists that belief in Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary for salvation. Jesus is the only way. You must go to Him to get eternal life.
On the other hand, Christianity is the most inclusive religion possible because it makes salvation accessible to everyone. Salvation is offered for all people through one person. Whosoever believes in Him will not perish. Anyone who receives or believes in Jesus will live forever with God. There are no racial, social, intellectual, or economic criteria that prevent anyone from joining God’s family” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 164).
1) “To remain silent and let others interpret our actions is wrong: God himself did not do this. The pivotal points of God’s redemptive action in history are accompanied with verbal revelation… We must speak even when it is inconvenient… God didn’t send a tract; he prepared a body” (Will Metzger, Tell the Truth, 25).
2) “Theology is foundational and will (consciously or unconsciously) mold our methods of witness” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 38).
3) “Anyone who makes the gospel sophisticated and abstract is not making a New Testament proclamation but is trusting in human understanding and his own wisdom (1 Cor 2:4-5)” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 56).
4) It is essential that people measure themselves by God’s requirements (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 61).
5) “Very few gospel outlines sufficiently emphasis God’s law, and this means God’s grace loses its sweet flavor” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 61).
6) “Misdiagnosis of our real disease is spiritual malpractice” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 64).
7) If we turn evangelistic outlines into a formula, we depersonalize those we encounter (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 64).
8) “Good evangelists are doctors who use the surgical knife of the law summarized in the Ten Commandments and elaborated in the Sermon on the Mount to expose the sinful character of sin” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 66).
9) “In studying Acts we discover that the evangelists brought out certain gospel truths again and again. Their witness was also versatile. They were aware of unbelievers as individuals in unique situations. Yet, there was a basic grid or ‘pattern of sound words’ that proved a useful springboard for the memories of evangelists. It kept them on the track. They turned again and again to the pivotal points of the gospel. It was not, however, a straitjacket, inhibiting any creativity on their part” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 83).
10) “We must forsake any kind of evangelism that either overly exalts the mind or unduly neglects it” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 98).
11) “The particular evangelical subculture in which we have been converted will often set the pattern for much of our subsequent growth, attitudes and view of spirituality” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 100).
12) “Emotions have a valid place in our lives, but they are not to lead our lives” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 101).
13) “We should not consider… sovereignty and responsibility as enemies but rather see them the way the Bible does—as friends!” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 109).
14) “A scriptural emphasis on divine sovereignty and human responsibility should be at the heart of a right view of the human will and a recovery of fervent evangelism today” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 109).
15) “An experience of worship mobilizes us to witness” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 150).
16) “God, by nature, is a seeker of the lost” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 151).
17) “Worship emboldens Christians for worship” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 156-57).
18) “Theological conviction inspires and sustains evangelistic zeal” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 157).
19) “If we are waiting for that inner urge before we tell someone the gospel, it will probably never come. Our feelings were not meant to determine our actions. God calls us to obedience, not waiting for feeling” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 176).
20) Metzger quotes J.I. Packer: “All true evangelism is theology in action” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 202).
21) Metzger quotes Philip Graham Ryken from his book Is Jesus the Only Way?:
“On the one hand, Christianity is the most exclusive religion imaginable. It insists that belief in Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary for salvation. Jesus is the only way. You must go to Him to get eternal life.
On the other hand, Christianity is the most inclusive religion possible because it makes salvation accessible to everyone. Salvation is offered for all people through one person. Whosoever believes in Him will not perish. Anyone who receives or believes in Jesus will live forever with God. There are no racial, social, intellectual, or economic criteria that prevent anyone from joining God’s family” (Metzger, Tell the Truth, 164).
August 16, 2020
One of the texts that I used when studying for my jail chaplaincy certification was Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel Wholly by Grace Communicated Truthfully & Lovingly by Will Metzger. It is said to be “an evangelism training manual for group and individual use. “
Below is the summary that I wrote of the Introduction: The Doctrine is the Drama & Part One – The Whole Gospel:Lost and Found
This text is written in very “high-brow” language and can be hard to absorb in large doses. That being said, there is a lot of great insight into the dos & don’ts of modern evangelism. I spent a good bit of time focusing on the difference between “me-centered” vs “God-centered” approaches. It all boils down to balance; swinging too far to the right or left of any approach will lead to either chasing away your audience or birthing a whole crop of “Christians” who really are not saved at all. All evangelical messages should be rooted in scripture and covered in prayer. Do not sugarcoat the truth and do not under emphasize the wages of sin.
If you are up for a challenge during this time of self-quarantine, I suggest you give this text a try. It will not be an easy read. However, if you put the time in, I promise it will be worth the effort.
https://mylifeinourfathersworld.wordp...
Below is the summary that I wrote of the Introduction: The Doctrine is the Drama & Part One – The Whole Gospel:Lost and Found
This text is written in very “high-brow” language and can be hard to absorb in large doses. That being said, there is a lot of great insight into the dos & don’ts of modern evangelism. I spent a good bit of time focusing on the difference between “me-centered” vs “God-centered” approaches. It all boils down to balance; swinging too far to the right or left of any approach will lead to either chasing away your audience or birthing a whole crop of “Christians” who really are not saved at all. All evangelical messages should be rooted in scripture and covered in prayer. Do not sugarcoat the truth and do not under emphasize the wages of sin.
If you are up for a challenge during this time of self-quarantine, I suggest you give this text a try. It will not be an easy read. However, if you put the time in, I promise it will be worth the effort.
https://mylifeinourfathersworld.wordp...
June 27, 2025
'Tell The Truth' is an introductory book on evangelical evangelism. It can be helpful but is definitely not groundbreaking. Metzger discusses the issues he sees with current evangelistic trends—specifically, that many Christians don't evangelize and those who do often rely on strategies and philosophies that neglect the gospel—and shares his thoughts on a better way to approach evangelism.
Metzger offers helpful insights and suggestions, often quoting other authors and theologians at length throughout the book. In my opinion, Metzger tries to cover too much, making the book longer than necessary. It would have been better if Metzger had focused on a detailed explanation of the gospel and its application in evangelism, leaving his critique and technique sections for another book. His discussion of the gospel is beautiful yet concise because of the other elements he attempts to include. Ultimately, this detracts from the book's greatest strength.
Metzger provides a thorough Appendix with useful resources, a study guide for the book, evangelistic self-assessment questions, and more. This can be a helpful resource for all Christians seeking to think biblically about evangelism. However, there are other books that can accomplish this more concisely and engagingly than Tell The Truth.
Metzger offers helpful insights and suggestions, often quoting other authors and theologians at length throughout the book. In my opinion, Metzger tries to cover too much, making the book longer than necessary. It would have been better if Metzger had focused on a detailed explanation of the gospel and its application in evangelism, leaving his critique and technique sections for another book. His discussion of the gospel is beautiful yet concise because of the other elements he attempts to include. Ultimately, this detracts from the book's greatest strength.
Metzger provides a thorough Appendix with useful resources, a study guide for the book, evangelistic self-assessment questions, and more. This can be a helpful resource for all Christians seeking to think biblically about evangelism. However, there are other books that can accomplish this more concisely and engagingly than Tell The Truth.
February 18, 2020
Tell the Truth may be one of the best evangelism books I have ever read. Will Metzger uses this book to go into the theology of conversion, the Biblical call to share the gospel, practical steps on how to share the gospel, gives some great apologetic arguments, and highlights how destructive a post truth society is. The appendixes is also loaded with tools for small groups, for sharing the gospel, and other resources to learn more about sharing the truth of Jesus Christ. Metzger’s aim is to give confidence to Christians when it comes to sharing the gospel. He desires to show that sharing the gospel is the most loving thing Christians can do for a lost and dying world, and that Christians should share “the whole gospel wholly by grace” and communicate it “truthfully and lovingly.” Metzger shows the need for the world to hear the gospel, and why Christians are called to share it by pointing back to the Bible. I would highly recommend this book to all Christians, especially those that don’t know how to start gospel conversations. Metzger gives practical steps in how to start gospel conversations, he brings up common objections to Christianity, and he highlights how Christians can and should respond to the statements made by a world that hates the truth of God’s Word.
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