How to Give Away Your Faith

by Paul E. Little, Leighton Ford (Foreword), Paul E. Little

"So you want to witness! I did too, but I didn't have a clue about how to do it without stubbing my toe in the process." So begins the book that has helped more than a million people give their faith to others. Paul Little's humor and down-to-earth approach help show how friendly and natural evangelism can really be. "Impossible!" you may say. "I just don't know what I'd tell people. What if I can't answer their questions? What if they think I'm just strange?" Paul Little has faced these sames fears and found effective and bibilcal ways to overcome them. Thoroughly revised by Marie Little and featuring a study guide for individuals or groups, How to Give Away Your Faith is as current as it is classic. Now more than ever, here is the book to excite you about giving away your faith.

Genres: Evangelism, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Nonfiction, Discipleship, Theology

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Paul E. Little and his wife, Marie, worked for twenty-five years with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Until his death in 1975, Little was also associate professor of evangelism at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

Reviews

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look at the shadow of that font on the typographic cover. Such a statement. My copy is a 1973 paperback which originally sold for $1.75. A reprint from the original 1966 publication. Footnotes in this copy urge readers to write to a PO Box for more information. It's clearly written to students in college (published by IVP), in another time (what's Telstar?), with some references to this "nuclear age" we're living in. Love it.

There's some good common sense for young Christians trying to figure out what their faith looks like in everyday conversation and practice. I have some squabbles with the decision theology Little presents. I wish he would have spent more time discussing Christian living in community -- things like participating in church services and communal Bible studies, or reciting liturgy and scripture together. Instead, he tended to prioritize an individual, isolated spiritual life and personal devotions.

I'd recommend Little's other works:
--Know Why You Believe
--Know What You Believe: Connecting Faith and Truth

[Amanda Wagman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is on one of the scariest of topics to me: evangelism. However, it blew me away. There were so many wise nuggets and tips. And the thing that made this book not so scary is how he emphasized the importance of you and your relationship with God as the basis for giving your faith away. It's all about building relationships with God and others. That doesn't seem quite so scary!

[Kent Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many desire to share their faith but are so frustrated because they don’t know how. Little shares eight principles for how to give away your faith. The gospel is still the power of God for salvation. One of the keys is to have an authentic relationship with God and to be open to having authentic relationships with others. Sharing the gospel is as much for our spiritual growth as it is for unbelievers. Every Christian is a missionary. Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well outlines Little’s witnessing principles. The simple message of the gospel is: who Jesus is, why we need him, what he did on the cross, what the resurrection means, and what our response to him will be. A very good introductory book.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This topic is difficult for me to approach. I've never felt much like an evangelist. Perhaps that's why it took me so long to get through this relatively short book. However, it's certainly one I will come back to. I wouldn't call this a "how-to" manual, as the title might suggest, but rather a thoughtful and gentle push toward being uncomfortable and getting to know people and having meaningful conversations as a result of that. Paul's approach is not about having a formula to follow, but simply knowing what and why you believe and then confidently being able to share that belief with others.

[Brandon Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspirational and encouraging read

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic, one of the best books on evangelism out of the many I have read. After a long while of lending it out and recommending it, I am diving in for another read.

Read and it was a pleasure. Got something new out of the reflection on Pslam 90

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This edition is a 1988 revision of Paul Little's 1966 classic on evangelism. Addressed primarily to university students, its message resounds across all ages and is still very relevant in 2021. This is less a how-to instruction manual (thought he does take this route in a chapter or two) and more a guide as to how Christians are to interact with the world around them in order to be proper ambassadors for Christ. He emphasizes the importance of witnessing with the definition that "witnessing is the deep-seated conviction that the greatest favour I can do for others is to introduce them to Jesus Christ." Little highlights three key factors in personal evangelism - Listening, being informed about the world around us, and being genuine in our own faith commitment. He spends the first half of the book focusing on the first two, using Jesus encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well as a prime example of how to engage non-believers with the Christian message. The second half of the book focuses on the third point of developing a genuine faith commitment. Though returning to the witnessing theme periodically, the latter half is really a primer in basic discipleship and holiness. Little draws out a key point that holiness is not isolation, and that Christians need to find ways to engage the world around them while not compromising their convictions. He sums up what seems to be his main thesis by asserting that "inner spiritual reality developed by a secret life with God is essential for an effective witness." How-to's are helpful, but a genuine relationship with God through Jesus Christ lived out in daily life is what will be most attractive to those searching for something to believe in. This book is a classic that has been a must-read for university students for generations. It's basic principles are still as applicable today as they were in the mid-60s. Highly recommended.

[Victor Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In the same way, if we rightly understand it, ambassadors for the foreign policy of the kingdom of heaven need the intense conviction that our message is the greatest gift imaginable — better than a million dollars, better than a cure for cancer, better than anything you can think about. Without this kind of enthusiasm, we won’t make it as Christian ambassadors.”

What an amazing book to kick of the year with! IVP has started to release special editions of select iconic and bestselling books from throughout their history. This book by Paul Little is the second in this series (first published in 1966, and then updated and revised by his wife Marie Little. It was relevant back then, and it’s most definitely relevant today.

This book isn’t exactly what I was expecting in an “evangelism” book, but I was very pleased. The focus of the book I would say was more on “personal evangelism” — the process of building strong and healthy relationships with co-workers, neighbors, and friends who are not believers. It also covers practical situations when hurdling social barriers. I enjoyed this book because it focuses more inwardly then outwardly, that is, I felt that this book discipled me. Too often we want to focus on what kinds of tactics we need to use when the more important thing is the kind of lives we are living, both in private and in public.

This book would make a fantastic curriculum to a 10-session evangelism study or Sunday-school group. It’s been updated with study questions at the end of each chapter that are very engaging. Towards the end, practical steps of how to maintain a constant life of bible study and prayer are also given.

*Book was graciously provided by InterVarsity Press for an honest review.

[Tim Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an engaging and fresh treatment of personal evangelism, How to Give Away Your Faith is very useful.

Little’s consistent encouragement to get outside of oneself, and outside one’s circle of Christian friends and rub shoulders with non-Christian friends is refreshing.

The careful reader will be challenged and largely equipped for the task of sharing the gospel one person at a time. Although critical thinking should be employed throughout, on the whole Little has served the church of the past five decades well with this work.

[Hannah Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-rounded and easy to read! I loved that Paul addresses the heart of the matter most of all - a true, genuine, personal relationship with Jesus. The book begins and ends with a discussion on HOW to have a relationship with Jesus and how to grow in faith, without which any attempt at evangelism is empty and dry. Some of his references reflect the decade it was written but his analysis of social relationships, culture, and people still rings true in the 2020s.

[David Cowpar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good and informative. At chapter 7 it makes a dramatic shift from evangelism to the evangelist and there is no section heading or warning. I had to check I was reading the same book a couple of times. I was genuinely convinced I had the wrong one.

[David Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this quite a few years ago as a evangelism text in seminary. I dusted off the copy and read again after quite a few years. I appreciated it more this time around. Maybe I was ready for it this time, and nobody told me it was assignment. It is a real gem of a book.

[Carol Fairman · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are new to sharing the Gospel and your faith, this is a great tool to help you get started and understand other peoples point of view. Lots of practical suggestions.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts were better than others. I learned a thing or two but as an evangelist myself, I expected a bit more. I set my standards too high and was slightly disappointed.

[Steve Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic on how we should prepare ourselves to share our faith with others.

[Jacob Schwander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. This definitely lived up to the praise. Such a great resource on how we can share our faith.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little book on how to share your faith.

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a quick read, but good. Really geared toward college students, which is when it was given to me. It's taken me many years to get around to reading it and I'm glad that I did.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introductory book to apologetics.

[Clinton Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Little was a name unfamiliar to me until a friend gave me this book. He has other books which come recommended but this was the book I started with. I can see why he was such a well-known thinker.

His book How to Give Away Your Faith is a great book to add to your collection and read if you want to learn how to effectively communicate with others, especially in the context of evangelism. There are certain things we can do which turn others off from our message, and ways that we can be persuasive when we have discussions about God and other things. Little talks a lot about the skills we should use in conversation (such as finding common ground and listening to the other person, not to refute them but to understand their position). He talks a bit about not just knowing what we believe but helps the reader understand and be able to articulate Christianity so that it can be understood by whomever we are communicating with. He talks about some common objections and how to respond to those, as well.

This is just a very good book overall. It's definitely useful to anyone who feels intimidated by sharing their faith with strangers, or even people that they know.

[Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book was written over 40 years I found it completely relevant and as insightful as it would of been had it been written today. The author touches upon the threat from nuclear proliferation which at the time would of been very much at the back of the mind of his readers in the height of the cold war. It could of seemed as recently as ten years ago this book could of seemed to be out of date because of it but now with the threat of nuclear weapon proliferation greater than ever I believe it this book holds itself as relevant as it once was. Also interesting are the reasons the author urges christians to be update with the world and its news.

Overall I have been very much blessed to read this book. The last chapters on the need to maintain an inner spiritual life I will have to reread becuase they are so important.

[Debbie Phillips]

"So you want to witness! I did too, but I didn't have a clue about how to do it without stubbing my toe in the process." So begins the book that has helped more than a million people give their faith to others. Paul Little's humor and down-to-earth approach help show how friendly and natural evangelism can really be. "Impossible!" you may say. "I just don't know what I'd tell people. What if I can't answer their questions? What if they think I'm just strange?" Paul Little has faced these sames fears and found effective and bibilcal ways to overcome them. Thoroughly revised by Marie Little and featuring a study guide for individuals or groups, How to Give Away Your Faith is as current as it is classic. Now more than ever, here is the book to excite you about giving away your faith.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid. Focused on practical actions, but also on our need to have a vibrant personal faith with Jesus Christ.

There were a few times where I thought he was allowing his experiences override what scripture teaches, but over-all he was sticking close to truth.

Not an exhaustive book on evangelism, but certainly a good primer. Very heartfelt.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though a little out-dated now, Paul Little's book How to Give Away Your Faith provides a strong argument for the Biblical example of witnessing and provides practical help for evangelism. It is obvious that Little is not just an armchair theologian, but that his wisdom comes from many years of faithful witness of Jesus. It is Christ-centered and encouraging.

[Zolla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed with great advice and wisdom on how to share your faith, from someone who knows what he's talking about. He offers easy to understand, practical apologetics. It was originally written in 1966 for college students, but is still relevant for all. This is a book I will probably read over again many times, if I have any sense. "He who wins souls is wise."

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not one to initiate a conversation about faith with others, but there are times when I'm asked about mine. When that happens, I want to have informed answers - backed by personal testimony, lifestyle evangelism, and scripture. This book will help with that. :)

[Becki Cronin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. My version was a bit out-dated, but the content was as relavant as ever. Worth it if your asking yourself how to share Christ to others.

[Libbydale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this for the second time I believe. Didn't we have to read it at Cedarville? Feeling the need for a refresher in talking about my faith. I'm glad my church has a fairly well-stocked library!

[Leslie Jebaraj · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first taste of Christian Apologetics! Excellent resource!

[Todd Coe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read about personal evangelism