Holy Conversation: Talking About God in Everyday Life

by Richard Peace

Chicago Book Clinic Award of Excellence God is back on the agenda. Today people are fascinated by spirituality, and they have lots of questions. Who better to talk with them than Christians? Trouble is, many of us don't know how to talk about our faith or are uneasy about religious salesmanship and canned evangelistic formulas. We are afraid of button-holing others, being offensive or saying something wrong. We simply don't know how to express our faith naturally--in everyday language. In Holy Conversation Richard Peace teaches us how to engage in easy and comfortable conversation about the good news of Jesus--the pressure is off. Using small, easy steps, he explains the gospel in plain language and encourages us in practical ways to share our faith with friends, neighbors and colleagues. Written as a guide for small groups, Holy Conversation is designed to be completed in twelve weekly sessions (other options are provided). Not only do group members read about holy conversation, they actually engage one another in spiritual conversation. This is the ideal resource for helping laypeople to become competent and confident Christian conversationalists!

Genres: Evangelism, Religion, Christianity, Theology, Church

127 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Keesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't give this book a full five stars because there were many doctrinal points I disagreed with. However, with that said, I feel it raised done important questions and gave helpful answers to those questions. I think there were many useful ideas, and I plan to reread the book and ponder it more deeply in the weeks to come.

[Marcus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holy Conversation is an extremely practical attempt by Richard Peace to aid, encourage, and practice evangelism. Evangelism in the 21st century and postmodern context is more relational than ever. Christians can no longer assume the public’s common knowledge or regular exposure to Christianity. In thoughtful response, Peace purports that evangelism is most effective in “…natural, informal, and conversational ways…” Spiritual conversation, he argues, is most natural, effective, and ongoing when within stable relationship between the believer and seeker. This relational-based conversation will have a dual impact, simultaneously exposing faith to a non-believer as well as teaching the believer how to talk about faith.

I’ve served as small group coordinator in formal ministry contexts for the past five years, and tremendously appreciate Holy Conversation’s format, designed for twelve sessions with a small group. I appreciate Peace’s heart towards practical application in this sense. Not only does he present his theological ideas, but he goes the extra mile and even gives meeting schedule, timing, and suggestion. For Peace, his ideas consistently come back to action items: meet in a small group, plan meetings, and meet with a conversation partner outside of group.

Where Holy Conversations falls short, however, is its shallow and narrow theological presentation. Peace poorly crams huge theological ideas into small chapters and discussions – and then invites readers to go out and cram the same ideas (read: Peace’s ideas) into “casual, ongoing” conversations. Peace’s heart to get believers out into conversation is beautiful and needed, but I can’t help but feel that Holy Conversation fails in the theologically catechetic.

[Ernest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you encouraged some Holy Coversations lately?

The congregation I serve just recently completed the study of 12 weeks. This study been beneficial not only to the class, but to me as a teacher, and as a learner all at the same time.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate Peace's take on evangelism. He suggests a spiritual discourse that isn't aimed at winning a debate or a culture war, but instead centers on really talking to people. The key is to not be shy about spiritual matters while simultaneously remaining compassionate and realizing that your tone matters, that your timing matters, and that it's much better to meet others (meaning those outside the church) as friends rather than enemies. A cup of coffee between friends has always been a much better starting point for me than a debate about whose worldview is right (though by all means, my coffee breaks have not been without their civil disagreements). It's nice to see lots of people thinking about the way they talk and think about God. Peace also stresses that you have to know and express what you believe about Christ/God/your spiritual life/salvation and to be willing to express it. It's just that it isn't about coercion or arguing.

[Tim Buechsel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Pease provides the reader with an easy to use group discussion book on how to share your faith in an organic way. I went through this book in one of our college care groups and they enjoyed it. It helps you with the "what" and the "how" question when it comes to communicating your faith in a friendship. My favorite chapter is "Stories of the Presence of God." It's about learning to tell your own stories about God. A nice future of the book is that each chapter is divided into four parts: Life, Truth, practice and resources.

I don't have more time at this point, but I wanted to share this resource with you and try out this social media tool.

[Teri Peterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the theology of this book far too narrow, and the understanding of faith and witness to be too evangelical for my taste. I'm not all that interested in learning how to have conversations in which I convince people to intellectually believe in jesus so that they'll become christians, especially via a focus on sin and distance from god.

there are a couple of questions i think are useful for church-people to consider when thinking about their own experience and articulation of faith, but other than that....meh.

[Richard Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fine guide for evangelism. But, while it packages the process a bit differently from most, there is very little new here other than the expectation that participants will practice their skills on a nonchristian.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good concept for relational evangelism, but the curriculum could be better written