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We Speak: Proclaiming Truth in an Age of Talk
As Christians, we are called to speak. Some of us speak out in our workplaces. Others in our schools or neighborhoods. Our audiences may vary in size, but we are all called to witness to Christ in us. Pastor Mike Baker puts it like "Jesus himself has commissioned each of us to be a witness for his kingdom. And every believer has a faith testimony―a story of how Jesus has made all the difference―compelling us to be his representatives." Written in daily devotional style, this book is designed to be an encouragement and support as you identify and add your voice to the chorus. In addition to the chapters by Mike Baker, there are daily devotions by J. K. Jones and a seven-session weekly group study guide by Jim Probst to help you process all that you are learning. Also available is a companion DVD of brief weekly video teachings by all three pastors, which completes this church-wide curriculum series. We live in an age of meaningless chatter. It's time we became speakers of Truth.
189 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 30, 2023
A great read for middle/high schoolers. Easy to read and highlights the need to share Christ to others. I loved the scriptural foundation of this book.
February 22, 2025
What a great, practical book! I'm seriously considering making this into a teen study.
December 19, 2025
Great read. Plus, there were daily devotionals throughout the book which pulled me in.
December 19, 2015
Mike Baker, J.K. Jones and Jim Probst serve together on the pastoral staff at Eastview Christian Church in Normal, Illinois. They are passionate about getting reluctant disciples to speak out, testifying to the good things God has done for us in Jesus Christ. In an attempt to reach beyond their Normal audience, they teamed to write We Speak: Proclaiming Truth in an Age of Talk. The book, and the available companion DVD (not reviewed here) utilizes each of the gifts of the three pastors.
9780830844258Baker is the senior pastor and primary preaching pastor at Eastview. Each chapter begins with a ten-page exhortation, pressing in on a particular theme related to sharing your faith. This is followed by five daily devotions (Monday through Friday) written by J.K. Jones, Eastview's pastor of spiritual formation. Probst is their small group pastor and he writes a discussion guide for each ofchapter (week) of the study. Probst organizes his discussion guide under four headings: Gathering, Grow, Give (ways to pray for and encourage group members) and Go (implementing the study and praying for one another). Probsts questions refer to the DVD, the chapter and the devotional
There are seven chapters in all. Chapter one is about how we cannot but speak about what we've seen and heard (Acts 4:20) when we sense all Jesus has done for us. Chapter two probes how the gospel is goodnews. Chapter two probes deeper into the ways in which the gospel is good news for us. Chapter three exhorts us to speak up even if no one listens (just like the prophets). Chapter four reminds us that we speak powerfully in weakness. Chapter five discusses how the gospel brings hope in the midst of suffering. Chapter six explores how the truth of the gospel is communicated by each generation. Chapter seven is a final exhortation to speak up and never stop speaking.
First I like the format. I was impressed the way these pastors worked together in synergistic unity, each doing what they do. The exhortation, the devotionals and the discussion guide complimented each other well. I also liked their zeal to encourage all of us to share our faith.
Yet if you are looking for a how-to-share your faith guide, this isn't it. Treat this book more like a shot-to-the-arm-reminder that as Christians we have good news worth sharing, and if we believe it's true, we will share it with others. Point taken,and I certainly need a good kick in the pants, but as such, this is more exhortative than expositional, more pep-talk than practical.
I wished the examples were more varied. Much of the life examples from Baker and Jones are rooted in their experience as professional clergy. There are far fewer examples of ordinary Christians sharing their faith. Outside of a few isolated Bible passages, I can't recall a single story about a woman sharing her faith in these pages. For a book which aims at inspiring and releasing the whole church to share their faith, they emphasize the experience as clergy too much.
But they insist all Christians are called to speak up. Though our time, place, venue and audience size may vary, we each testify to Christ's work in us (10). Christians who read this book, participate in the discussions and try to put the message of this book into practice will be bolder in sharing good news with the world. I give this three and a half stars.
Note: I received this book from IVP in exchange for my honest review.
9780830844258Baker is the senior pastor and primary preaching pastor at Eastview. Each chapter begins with a ten-page exhortation, pressing in on a particular theme related to sharing your faith. This is followed by five daily devotions (Monday through Friday) written by J.K. Jones, Eastview's pastor of spiritual formation. Probst is their small group pastor and he writes a discussion guide for each ofchapter (week) of the study. Probst organizes his discussion guide under four headings: Gathering, Grow, Give (ways to pray for and encourage group members) and Go (implementing the study and praying for one another). Probsts questions refer to the DVD, the chapter and the devotional
There are seven chapters in all. Chapter one is about how we cannot but speak about what we've seen and heard (Acts 4:20) when we sense all Jesus has done for us. Chapter two probes how the gospel is goodnews. Chapter two probes deeper into the ways in which the gospel is good news for us. Chapter three exhorts us to speak up even if no one listens (just like the prophets). Chapter four reminds us that we speak powerfully in weakness. Chapter five discusses how the gospel brings hope in the midst of suffering. Chapter six explores how the truth of the gospel is communicated by each generation. Chapter seven is a final exhortation to speak up and never stop speaking.
First I like the format. I was impressed the way these pastors worked together in synergistic unity, each doing what they do. The exhortation, the devotionals and the discussion guide complimented each other well. I also liked their zeal to encourage all of us to share our faith.
Yet if you are looking for a how-to-share your faith guide, this isn't it. Treat this book more like a shot-to-the-arm-reminder that as Christians we have good news worth sharing, and if we believe it's true, we will share it with others. Point taken,and I certainly need a good kick in the pants, but as such, this is more exhortative than expositional, more pep-talk than practical.
I wished the examples were more varied. Much of the life examples from Baker and Jones are rooted in their experience as professional clergy. There are far fewer examples of ordinary Christians sharing their faith. Outside of a few isolated Bible passages, I can't recall a single story about a woman sharing her faith in these pages. For a book which aims at inspiring and releasing the whole church to share their faith, they emphasize the experience as clergy too much.
But they insist all Christians are called to speak up. Though our time, place, venue and audience size may vary, we each testify to Christ's work in us (10). Christians who read this book, participate in the discussions and try to put the message of this book into practice will be bolder in sharing good news with the world. I give this three and a half stars.
Note: I received this book from IVP in exchange for my honest review.
September 16, 2015
This book is so poorly written that it is actually difficult to review. It is a mish-mash of a few good points backed up by a lot of fluffy stories arranged in a rather haphazard way. The book itself can be summed up in the following five sentences.
We speak the gospel of Jesus Christ to those around us because of what he has done for us. We can't help but speak. We speak hope in suffering. We speak in our weakness. We should never stop speaking.
All of the rest of this book is made up of biblical, factual and fictional anecdotes that only occasionally have anything to do with the points that the authors are trying to make. These anecdotes are neither inspiring, nor amusing, nor will they help you remember the authors' point. I will include just one of many examples: when making the point that we should never stop speaking the gospel, the authors give us the example of Strom Thurmond who spoke for just over 24 hours straight while filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1957. This was not relevant to our speaking of the gospel, nor was it a speech we would want to emulate, nor did it have a purpose or intent which we would want to proclaim. It was merely a long speech.
If you are looking for a book that will inspire you to speak out to your neighbors and friends, it is not this book. If you are looking for a book that will tell you what to say or how to say it when speaking to your neighbors and friends, it is not this book. If you are looking for a book that will give you tips about how to start a conversation with your neighbors and friends, it is not this book. This book will simply tell you what you should already know, as a Christian, and that is that we should be speaking the gospel.
We speak the gospel of Jesus Christ to those around us because of what he has done for us. We can't help but speak. We speak hope in suffering. We speak in our weakness. We should never stop speaking.
All of the rest of this book is made up of biblical, factual and fictional anecdotes that only occasionally have anything to do with the points that the authors are trying to make. These anecdotes are neither inspiring, nor amusing, nor will they help you remember the authors' point. I will include just one of many examples: when making the point that we should never stop speaking the gospel, the authors give us the example of Strom Thurmond who spoke for just over 24 hours straight while filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1957. This was not relevant to our speaking of the gospel, nor was it a speech we would want to emulate, nor did it have a purpose or intent which we would want to proclaim. It was merely a long speech.
If you are looking for a book that will inspire you to speak out to your neighbors and friends, it is not this book. If you are looking for a book that will tell you what to say or how to say it when speaking to your neighbors and friends, it is not this book. If you are looking for a book that will give you tips about how to start a conversation with your neighbors and friends, it is not this book. This book will simply tell you what you should already know, as a Christian, and that is that we should be speaking the gospel.
October 21, 2016
Our whole church did this as a sermon and small group theme. (I loved seeing Indianapolis in the videos, since I live here). It brought up some really good points and motivated me to be more confident in vocalizing my faith. The daily devotionals didn't always make much sense, though; they needed more substance.
November 7, 2015
I felt like this study really opened up dialogue about sharing the good news. It brought up some points that I had never thought about in regard to a Christian's role. However, I felt like something was lacking. I'm not sure what, but it somehow didn't feel very complete.
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