Tactics Study Guide, Updated and Expanded: A Guide to Effectively Discussing Your Christian Convictions

by Gregory Koukl

In a world increasingly indifferent to Christian truth, followers of Christ need to be equipped to communicate with those who do not speak their language or accept their source of authority.

In this updated and expanded study guide, apologist and radio host Gregory Koukl demonstrates how to get in the driver's seat in discussions about faith, keeping any conversation moving with thoughtful, artful tact. Readers will learn how to maneuver comfortably and graciously through potential minefields, stop challengers in their tracks, turn the tables, and--most importantly--get people thinking about Jesus with conversations that look more like diplomacy than D-Day.

Drawing on extensive experience defending Christianity in the public square, Koukl demonstrates how to:


Initiate conversations effortlessly
Present the truth clearly, cleverly, and persuasively
Graciously and effectively expose faulty thinking
Skillfully manage the details of dialogue
Maintain an engaging, disarming style even under attack
Designed to be used alongside the updated and expanded Tactics Video Study, this study guide provides a game plan for communicating the compelling truth about Christianity with confidence and grace.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Theology

173 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2020

Reviews

[Christian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tactics lays out some easy steps to be a better thinker, listener, and ambassador of Christ. This book is full of real life examples and tips on how to have others think about their own worldview and to get them to think seriously about their need for Jesus Christ. This book highlights just how easy it is to bring about a serious, intellectual, and spiritual conversation if you are only willing to listen to what others have to say. For those unsure of how to even approach a spiritual conversation with those around you, this book is for you.

[Chelsey Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book and the videos that went along with it were very useful. The author talks about how to defend your faith, ask questions, and how to put a stone in someone’s shoe. There are many different tactics you can use and he has many examples he presents. Most importantly he talks about how you should practice the tactics and reflect on it, so you get better every time.

[Georgia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zzzzzzz

If your really wanting to study apologetics, and the see the way people defend their faith don’t read this book.

[Bob]

An excellent book for Christians & other Debaters.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good quotes and a few worthwhile activities, but you could easily do a thorough study of Tactics without it. Much of the information was redundant.

[Kevin Vigneault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book

I have read tactics multiple times and used it for a couple of small groups and evangelism classes. Thanks Greg!

[Savanna Ammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will be rereading (or relistening) to this. It’s changed my view of how to have conversations about Jesus and how to even think about the culture. Worth reading or listening to.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't an audiobook (narration of a published book), but a set of lectures. The content is simply a subset of the content from Koukl's valuable book Tactics, with a few different examples. Each session begins with review of last session and ends with review of current session and homework.

If you're looking for video content, then these lectures could be worthwhile, otherwise I recommend listening to the audiobook of Tactics instead of listening to this.

Notes
The Columbo Tactic
Challenge: "Prove to me that …"
Ask, "What would you count as proof?" before giving evidence, otherwise they can dismiss any evidence you give.

Challenge: "Give me a good reason for believing God exists."
Ask, "Do you think that things exist?" then, "Do you think the things that exist have always existed, or did they come to existence at some time?" then, "What caused those things to come into existence?" then, "There are only 2 options: something caused the universe to come into existence, or nothing. Which do you think?" then, "If something caused the universe, it would have to be something outside the universe; something supranatural, if not supernatural. And it could not be anything, but something very powerful, and probably very smart. Do you see how it's reasonable to conclude that God created the universe?" If they disagree, say, "If you don't want to say something caused the universe, are you saying nothing caused it?"


Using Questions to Draw Them Out
Challenge: "It's wrong for you to try to change others' religious views."
Say, "As a Christian, part of my religion is to tell others about my religion. Are you trying to change my religious views?"

Challenge: "I'm an animal-rights activist. Animals have a right not to suffer."
Say, "I believe I have a right to half your income. What's the difference between our statements? You made up a right regarding animals, and I made up a right regarding money. Real rights can't be made up; they're given by a transcendent lawmaker, God. If there's no God to give rights, all we're doing is expressing preferences. How can there be animal rights, or any rights, without God?"

Taking the Roof Off
Challenge: "I'm not hurting anyone with my belief/practice, so it's fine."
Ask, "Do you think it's wrong for a hospital worker to touch patients while they're unconscious? Do you think voyeurism is wrong? There's more to morality than not hurting people."

Mini-Tactics
Challenge: "You're only a Christian because of where/how you were raised."
Say, "That's probably true. So? Even if it's true, what does it say about the merits of Christianity versus another religion, or theism versus atheism? It doesn't say anything about the truth or error of any religious claim. If you were raised in certain countries, you probably wouldn't be an atheist. Does that make atheism incorrect?"

[Rana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did this study guide for church as a Sunday School class and took 2 weeks to go over each session. Watched the video the first week & had some discussion. The second week we discussed the session further as a class and how we could apply various tactics to our own lives. This is a great book to do for a Sunday School Class, Small Group, Homeschool or even a personal study. The principles that are learned can be applied to ALL kinds of life situations. They encourage you to be a good thinker, questioner, listener and to be gracious in your attitude toward others. (Things Christians ought to be doing anyway). The goal isn't to win an argument but to be a seed planter (or as the author likes to say "put a pebble in their shoe" to give the other person something to consider when parting ways. One is encouraged to know what they believe & why & to be able to explain it-when appropriate & given the opportunity-- but also to know when it is a fruitless attempt and to just walk away. This is a very practical book about godly living as applied to our communication with others. I HIGHLY recommend the study guide, videos, & the actual Tactics book (for a more in depth study).

[Cory Shumate · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 for content 3 for tone

Lots of solid practical tips here but it’s hard to get over the pervasive condescension, especially when “manner” of evangelism is one of the main points.