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Church Questions
What If I'm Discouraged in My Evangelism?
“I eagerly commend this series.”
― R. Albert Mohler Jr. , President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Be encouraged to deliver the message of the gospel to the world. One reason Christians don’t share the gospel is because we feel like we’re not good at it. We clam up; we fear what people might think; we feel bad; and the cycle repeats. But what if there was hope for our timid evangelism? Isaac Adams encourages disheartened evangelists to hope in God, not their efforts. If you’ve ever felt discouraged in your evangelism, you’re in good company, and you’re a prime candidate for God’s grace. Come and be reminded of it once more, so that you might joyfully share the gospel again.
― R. Albert Mohler Jr. , President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Be encouraged to deliver the message of the gospel to the world. One reason Christians don’t share the gospel is because we feel like we’re not good at it. We clam up; we fear what people might think; we feel bad; and the cycle repeats. But what if there was hope for our timid evangelism? Isaac Adams encourages disheartened evangelists to hope in God, not their efforts. If you’ve ever felt discouraged in your evangelism, you’re in good company, and you’re a prime candidate for God’s grace. Come and be reminded of it once more, so that you might joyfully share the gospel again.
64 pages, Paperback
Published March 10, 2020
6 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Adams
36 books9 followersAdams studied journalism and religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his Masters of Divinity from Southern Seminary. Isaac served briefly overseas with the International Mission Board before serving on staff with organizations like Together for the Gospel, CROSS Conference, and The Front Porch.
In 2017, he founded United? We Pray, a ministry devoted to praying about racial strife—especially between Christians. He is the lead pastor of Iron City Church in Birmingham.
In 2017, he founded United? We Pray, a ministry devoted to praying about racial strife—especially between Christians. He is the lead pastor of Iron City Church in Birmingham.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 12, 2022
Short and very readable. Great and encouraging introduction to the topic of evangelism. We sow the seed and the Lord gives the growth.
November 6, 2025
The book I’m reading: What If I’m Discouraged in My Evangelism?
The “random” sticky note I pulled from my stack of Bible verse sticky notes to use as a temporary bookmark: Ps. 126:5-6 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
The “random” sticky note I pulled from my stack of Bible verse sticky notes to use as a temporary bookmark: Ps. 126:5-6 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
April 7, 2020
Evangelicals, for the most part seem passive when it comes to evangelism. Passive is a kind term. Disobedient would be more accurate. Isaac Adams addresses this important subject in his booklet, What If I’m Discouraged in My Evangelism? A part of Crossways Church Question Series, Adams's work is desperately needed as many Christians have a desire to share their faith, but are discouraged, as the title indicates.
After setting the stage for biblical evangelism the author presents nine important aspects of the hope we enjoy as followers of Christ. Each of the nine points draws readers to the Bible and points them to the gospel. The great strength of Adam’s work is its brevity (as is the case with the other booklets in the Church Questions Series. His gracious tone will invite many to grow in their obedience and confidence and set their feet on a path that leads to faithful evangelism.
After setting the stage for biblical evangelism the author presents nine important aspects of the hope we enjoy as followers of Christ. Each of the nine points draws readers to the Bible and points them to the gospel. The great strength of Adam’s work is its brevity (as is the case with the other booklets in the Church Questions Series. His gracious tone will invite many to grow in their obedience and confidence and set their feet on a path that leads to faithful evangelism.
October 12, 2023
Simple, practical, helpful
October 28, 2021
Have you once love to share the Gospel but lately have not been sharing the Gospel to unbelievers? Do you realize you might be discouraged with evangelism? Is there any help from God through the resources of His Word and books based upon His Word? In this booklet titled What If I'm Discouraged in My Evangelism? the author write pastorally to minister to those discouraged or have stopped evangelizing. I thought this booklet was very helpful and packed a powerful punch despite the booklet’s size. It is written in an easy to read matter and yet it was profoundly biblical and Gospel-centered. This might be a booklet a believer might have to read more than once and during different seasons when they feel discouraged to share the Gospel with others.
There really isn’t a table of content for this booklet; really it’s the length of an essay. In terms of structure the meat of the booklet is the nine point the author presented in answering the question “What is our hope?” The author is very helpful here in tackling issues such as of how do we consider success with evangelism and also how to deal with people rejecting us or the Gospel. I love how the booklet’s introduction the author readily admit he is not perfect with evangelism that at times he and his senior pastor can be seized by fears or discouragement with sharing the Gospel. This made the book relatable and knowing that the author is a preacher I see he’s definitely established the need for why this booklet is important and relevant. After the main part of the booklet the ending of the book gives us also a summary of the Gospel as confessed by the author’s local church: Capital Hill Baptist Church. This church is the local church that 9 Marks of a Healthy Church ministry is based upon. There’s also a recommended resources section in the end as well.
There’s many quotable sentences in this book. For example the author said “Too often, Christians are like discouraged mail carriers for the Gospel. Is that you?” (16). We need to remember we are messengers of God’s Gospel. On page 18 the book said “This may surprise you to hear in a book on evangelism, but evangelism isn’t everything—Jesus is.” A good reminder!
I found many things helpful in this short booklet. I was reminded that to keep from a discouraged evangelist we need to fix our eyes on Jesus (18-19). I like also how the author reminds us the importance of the local church and how the church with other believers can also help us with our evangelism. I love that. There’s so many more spiritual treasure in this booklet than what I can discuss in this review; be sure to pick it up and be encouraged!
There really isn’t a table of content for this booklet; really it’s the length of an essay. In terms of structure the meat of the booklet is the nine point the author presented in answering the question “What is our hope?” The author is very helpful here in tackling issues such as of how do we consider success with evangelism and also how to deal with people rejecting us or the Gospel. I love how the booklet’s introduction the author readily admit he is not perfect with evangelism that at times he and his senior pastor can be seized by fears or discouragement with sharing the Gospel. This made the book relatable and knowing that the author is a preacher I see he’s definitely established the need for why this booklet is important and relevant. After the main part of the booklet the ending of the book gives us also a summary of the Gospel as confessed by the author’s local church: Capital Hill Baptist Church. This church is the local church that 9 Marks of a Healthy Church ministry is based upon. There’s also a recommended resources section in the end as well.
There’s many quotable sentences in this book. For example the author said “Too often, Christians are like discouraged mail carriers for the Gospel. Is that you?” (16). We need to remember we are messengers of God’s Gospel. On page 18 the book said “This may surprise you to hear in a book on evangelism, but evangelism isn’t everything—Jesus is.” A good reminder!
I found many things helpful in this short booklet. I was reminded that to keep from a discouraged evangelist we need to fix our eyes on Jesus (18-19). I like also how the author reminds us the importance of the local church and how the church with other believers can also help us with our evangelism. I love that. There’s so many more spiritual treasure in this booklet than what I can discuss in this review; be sure to pick it up and be encouraged!
June 26, 2021
Based on all the positive reviews, I think I need to read this again.
It was very solid, but I didn’t find it as helpful as I had hoped. However, it could be that my expectations weren’t in accordance with the author’s intentions.
It was very solid, but I didn’t find it as helpful as I had hoped. However, it could be that my expectations weren’t in accordance with the author’s intentions.
December 31, 2020
Short and pithy. Warm and encouraging. Every Christian will be more encouraged after this brief and worthwhile read.
October 31, 2023
Answer: Hope in God
This booklet is a good reminder that the fruit of evangelism depends on God. God is sovereign, God answers prayer, God works even if I don't personally see it. A good evangelist is a faithful evangelist. The content was not what I expected, but upon reflection, I realized the content is better than what I thought this book would say. This is not a how-to-do-better" manual--you'll need to look elsewhere for that. Instead, this booklet is a reminder to be faithful and to have hope in God, specifically hope in 9 areas:
1. Hope in God who counts us righteous in Jesus (forgiveness for failing to speak)
2. Hope in God who blesses us with children (church's primary evangelism audience)
3. Hope in God who rules over salvation (God and His gospel saves, not me and my methods)
4. Hope in God who vindicates His justice (man's rejection does not reduce God's glory)
5. Hope in God who gives us second chances (keep trying)
6. Hope in God who delights to use weaklings (reluctant, unimpressive Christians glorify God more because it is clearly God, not them, that bring success)
7. Hope in God who hears our prayer (God answers requests for help)
8. Hope in God who helps us with the local church (the gospel is repeated and reinforced when many in the church focus on evangelism)
9. Hope in God who rejoices in heaven (all God's children will be in heaven)
(not an exhaustive list of a Christian's hope)
Passages that stood out to me
What are some reasons you may not be sharing the gospel? Do you expect the church staff to do it or perhaps just the extroverts in the church? Are you too busy with your plans to think about someone else's eternal state? Are you a Christian in name but a Universalist in practice, acting as if God will simply save everyone in the end anyway? Are you ashamed of God's justice and goodness in judging and condemning sinners? --- you need to repent, and there is hope.
According to Scripture, a bad evangelist is simply any Christian who doesn't regularly share the gospel.
Could I be described as someone who faithfully shares the gospel out of love for God and my neighbor?
Satan loves to dishearten evangelists into silence.
Never forget that God is glorified in the gospel going out regardless of the response.
God is at work in you even when it seems he is not working through you.
People who pray for people to come to Christ probably share the gospel. People who don't pray about it rarely share the gospel.
Pray to enjoy God more! Grimké prayed: "to be so thoroughly in love with God and thy work that I shall delight to speak of thee to others"
This booklet is a good reminder that the fruit of evangelism depends on God. God is sovereign, God answers prayer, God works even if I don't personally see it. A good evangelist is a faithful evangelist. The content was not what I expected, but upon reflection, I realized the content is better than what I thought this book would say. This is not a how-to-do-better" manual--you'll need to look elsewhere for that. Instead, this booklet is a reminder to be faithful and to have hope in God, specifically hope in 9 areas:
1. Hope in God who counts us righteous in Jesus (forgiveness for failing to speak)
2. Hope in God who blesses us with children (church's primary evangelism audience)
3. Hope in God who rules over salvation (God and His gospel saves, not me and my methods)
4. Hope in God who vindicates His justice (man's rejection does not reduce God's glory)
5. Hope in God who gives us second chances (keep trying)
6. Hope in God who delights to use weaklings (reluctant, unimpressive Christians glorify God more because it is clearly God, not them, that bring success)
7. Hope in God who hears our prayer (God answers requests for help)
8. Hope in God who helps us with the local church (the gospel is repeated and reinforced when many in the church focus on evangelism)
9. Hope in God who rejoices in heaven (all God's children will be in heaven)
(not an exhaustive list of a Christian's hope)
Passages that stood out to me
What are some reasons you may not be sharing the gospel? Do you expect the church staff to do it or perhaps just the extroverts in the church? Are you too busy with your plans to think about someone else's eternal state? Are you a Christian in name but a Universalist in practice, acting as if God will simply save everyone in the end anyway? Are you ashamed of God's justice and goodness in judging and condemning sinners? --- you need to repent, and there is hope.
According to Scripture, a bad evangelist is simply any Christian who doesn't regularly share the gospel.
Could I be described as someone who faithfully shares the gospel out of love for God and my neighbor?
Satan loves to dishearten evangelists into silence.
Never forget that God is glorified in the gospel going out regardless of the response.
God is at work in you even when it seems he is not working through you.
People who pray for people to come to Christ probably share the gospel. People who don't pray about it rarely share the gospel.
Pray to enjoy God more! Grimké prayed: "to be so thoroughly in love with God and thy work that I shall delight to speak of thee to others"
August 29, 2022
Thankful to have picked this booklet up.
I needed the gospel encouragement it provides for my discouragement in evangelism. (Please pray for me to be faithful, bold, and clear in evangelism!!!)
Some of my favorite quotes:
"The good news for bad evangelists is that the same gospel we want to preach to others is the same gospel that gives us the power to obey Christ's command to share the gospel with others."
"Our job is to proclaim salvation not produce it."
"It's our love Jesus and his love for us that motivates our evangelism (2 Cor. 5:14). Guilt may motivate you for a while, but that motivation won't last."
"Our power in drawing men to Christ springs chiefly from the fulness of our personal joy in Him, and the nearness of our personal communion with Him."
"Evangelism is a team sport." (The local church does it together)
"(As we see God bless our efforts) we get tastes of heavenly joy in this life."
I needed the gospel encouragement it provides for my discouragement in evangelism. (Please pray for me to be faithful, bold, and clear in evangelism!!!)
Some of my favorite quotes:
"The good news for bad evangelists is that the same gospel we want to preach to others is the same gospel that gives us the power to obey Christ's command to share the gospel with others."
"Our job is to proclaim salvation not produce it."
"It's our love Jesus and his love for us that motivates our evangelism (2 Cor. 5:14). Guilt may motivate you for a while, but that motivation won't last."
"Our power in drawing men to Christ springs chiefly from the fulness of our personal joy in Him, and the nearness of our personal communion with Him."
"Evangelism is a team sport." (The local church does it together)
"(As we see God bless our efforts) we get tastes of heavenly joy in this life."
September 23, 2020
This little book gave me space to lament my lousy evangelism and to be comforted that I am not alone. Adams takes most of the booklet to encourage the reader why we can hope in God and how that hope fuels our evangelism (tying into 1 Peter 3:15). Faithful evangelism does not mean you have a long list of people who have come to Christ because you shared the gospel with them; it is simply to keep at the work of evangelism regardless of results.
July 16, 2020
Such an encouraging booklet! Thankful for the insight gleaned from the truth contained in this short work by Isaac Adams. Read this, read it again, and then purchase some additional copies for those you know are discouraged in their evangelistic efforts. They will thank you for your thoughtfulness and the principles contained in this book.
August 19, 2021
Adams provides practical encouragement for the discouraged evangelist in this brief book. Throughout he provides stories that are easy to follow, gives practical how to advice, points to the necessity of prayer in evangelism, and closes the books with a list of further resources. A great starting point for those who recognize they need to evangelize more.
May 30, 2020
Isaac Adams does a wonderful job providing a massively helpful resource to encourage the church as a whole to evangelize. I look forward to sharing this resource with many who feel like lousy evangelists.
January 20, 2022
I liked this book overall but found it a bit basic and uninteresting. If you’re looking for a book to inspire your evangelism I would check out The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman instead. It’s just as encouraging and lit more of a fire under me.
April 4, 2020
This is an encouraging booklet fir evangelism. When we faithfully share the Gospel, we are successful evangelists, regardless of the response.
October 18, 2021
An amazing resource on evangelism. This will be something I will have available to my students.
May 24, 2022
Enjoyed this quick listen. Would read again when I'm discouraged again, and would be glad to recommend and hand out to others.
November 28, 2022
Encouragement and admonishment in the same pages. Will come back to it and give copies away.
December 15, 2022
A good short book on the simple faithfulness of sharing the Gospel and trusting the sovereign Lord to do as He wills.
July 27, 2023
Short booklet; clear biblical teaching/ encouragement; helpful primer to encourage Christian’s to the exercise and discipline of sharing the Goodnews of Jesus!
July 30, 2023
Encouraging.
September 23, 2023
Read in one sitting - a great, concise, and helpful guide for those who feel discouraged in their personal evangelism.
April 22, 2024
This is a great quick read and a tremendous encouragement for all who want to share the joy of the Good News with others.
June 18, 2025
Power packed with 9 helpful reminders for every Christian on the topic of evangelism
April 25, 2024
A good short motivator for evangelism. The author challenges our American evangelistic pacifism and encourages us to rely on God and speak the truth. He also reminds of the importance to cover our evangelism attempts in prayer.
November 17, 2024
Simple, practical, and helpful.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews