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Out of the Saltshaker and Into the World: Evangelism as a Way of Life
Rebecca Manley Pippert's evangelism classic, thoroughly revised and expanded, contains new chapters on the stages of evangelism, new stories of God's work in people's lives and added material on me
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 1980
106 people are currently reading
907 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Manley Pippert
52 books52 followersRebecca Manley Pippert regularly speaks on spiritual renewal, evangelism and character formation for church conferences, at schools and colleges and in pastoral training seminars. Becky has written several books on evangelism and Christian living, including the best-selling Out of the Saltshaker. and the LiveGrowKnow DVD curriculum. She and her husband Dick divide their time between Belfast, Northern Ireland and Michigan, USA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
August 27, 2020
This book is absolutely fantastic! I highly recommend it to any Christian who has regretted a missed opportunity to share the gospel, or wondered how they could be pursuing the Great Commission more faithfully.
The theology is sound, the stories are moving, and the advice is both practical and flexible, recognizing the uniqueness of the individual and the power of the Holy Spirit in every situation.
I especially loved the perspective of seeing every person as an image bearer of God. It’s amazing how much your perspective on an individual changes when you are searching out the imago Dei present in them!
The theology is sound, the stories are moving, and the advice is both practical and flexible, recognizing the uniqueness of the individual and the power of the Holy Spirit in every situation.
I especially loved the perspective of seeing every person as an image bearer of God. It’s amazing how much your perspective on an individual changes when you are searching out the imago Dei present in them!
June 8, 2024
“What brings us home is not our discovery of the way home but the call of the Father who has been waiting there for us all along, whose presence makes home…home.”
Enjoyed the practical tips, resources, and strategies in this book.
Enjoyed the practical tips, resources, and strategies in this book.
September 13, 2023
While "Out of the Salt Shaker" is a helpful resource, containing sound mindset and heart and examples about *sharing* the Gospel, I cannot recommend it. Rebecca taught an incomplete and different Gospel than what is found in God's Word!
When answering the question what can we do to be saved, she said, we "do this in prayer by inviting Him into my life." This is not in Scripture! Not only did she teach a way to salvation that is not in scripture, she entirely left out of her book Paul and Peter's teaching about the matter.
"Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:37-38)
Col 2:11-12 "and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."
Ro 8:3-5 "do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become [a]united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [b]in the likeness of His resurrection, "
1 Pet 3:21 " Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God [q]for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
When answering the question what can we do to be saved, she said, we "do this in prayer by inviting Him into my life." This is not in Scripture! Not only did she teach a way to salvation that is not in scripture, she entirely left out of her book Paul and Peter's teaching about the matter.
"Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:37-38)
Col 2:11-12 "and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."
Ro 8:3-5 "do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become [a]united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [b]in the likeness of His resurrection, "
1 Pet 3:21 " Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God [q]for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
December 20, 2016
Rebecca Manley Pippert is a gifted evangelist but she shares lots of lessons she has learned herself about evangelism, through sometimes getting it wrong, or sometimes stumbling upon ways of doing evangelism that happen to have worked.
The main message of the book is that evangelism is not something we 'do', it is a way of life.
Sometimes I felt that her "success" stories may have been because she is American, or may be because she is Rebecca Manley Pippert! But that does not mean there is nothing here for all of us to learn. She provides a lot to inform and challenge us all to live out the gospel and share the good news as a way of life. It was a helpful stimulus to me.
I think it is written mainly with university students in mind, but it can be of great benefit to anyone want to know more about evangelism or needing some encouragement to get back into living the evangelism way of life! I recommend it highly!
The main message of the book is that evangelism is not something we 'do', it is a way of life.
Sometimes I felt that her "success" stories may have been because she is American, or may be because she is Rebecca Manley Pippert! But that does not mean there is nothing here for all of us to learn. She provides a lot to inform and challenge us all to live out the gospel and share the good news as a way of life. It was a helpful stimulus to me.
I think it is written mainly with university students in mind, but it can be of great benefit to anyone want to know more about evangelism or needing some encouragement to get back into living the evangelism way of life! I recommend it highly!
December 17, 2020
This book describes a wholistic approach to evangelism: not something we do on occasion, but as the title says, a way of life. The book structures witnessing into three categories: declaring god's truth, displaying God's love, and demonstrating God's power.
I really enjoyed reading the personal examples she provided of talking to unbelievers, especially the ones where the outcome was negative, since otherwise it might imply all efforts must be successful. I also appreciated her acknowledging that different people have different gifts and we are to be our genuine selves and utilize our strengths, while also working on our weaknesses.
I really enjoyed reading the personal examples she provided of talking to unbelievers, especially the ones where the outcome was negative, since otherwise it might imply all efforts must be successful. I also appreciated her acknowledging that different people have different gifts and we are to be our genuine selves and utilize our strengths, while also working on our weaknesses.
October 7, 2020
I'll be honest: I was expecting to not like this book. But, I came away challenged and inspired. I really appreciated her posture of kindness, listening, and empathy.
Some of it felt pretty dated, but overall, a helpful resource.
Some of it felt pretty dated, but overall, a helpful resource.
August 31, 2011
More in-depth than I expected, and still relevant 30+ years after it was written
September 13, 2023
This is one I will keep and reread because of the accounts of naturally sharing the gospel in everyday interactions. I cannot recommend this book because it completely leaves out the essentialism of baptism.
January 10, 2026
This book talks of evangelism as a way of life, and has tips as to how to live for God. Found this in our Church Library.
October 18, 2013
A fabulous book that will change a Christian's view of witnessing to Christ - unfortunately in today's culture, the word "evangelism" has become a scary word - to both Christians and non-believers alike...for Christians due to fear of rejection or fear of inadequacy and for non-believers because of what they have heard from TV or what our post-modern culture has told them. Ironically, many adults who today reject Christianity (“I blindly accepted it as a child”) now “blindly” reject it as an adult without ever really studying the bible or investigating who Jesus was for themselves while an adult. I’m sure they can all tell stories about how they see all Christians as hypocrites, or how they got hit over the head by a bible-thumping evangelist. But ask them what part of the bible or Jesus they find offensive and many cannot point you to the exact spot – they can only give generalizations based on what culture has told them. They haven’t set foot in a church other than the one they were raised in for decades…they just know they reject everything they stand for. The author has heard all of this before…and takes a step back to talk about the true base work necessary before you can witness to Christ…and the necessity for getting away from deciding on “technique” as most important. Having worked with college age students for years, the author knows of what she speaks about encountering today’s cultural stereotypes of Christianity. Every person out there who calls themselves a professing Christian needs to read this book. As the author reminds us, we are not called to be experts in the bible, or to be experts in theology or experts in the church – we are called to witness to Christ, who He was and what He did for us personally…to tell what our story is and how Christ transformed us..
November 11, 2024
Read this a couple months back for work, parts were encouraging but the theology was a bit sketch at times
August 9, 2019
I've always thought that evangelism was best done by personal relationships with others. I'm so glad that this book says that not every conversation has to do with Jesus, that you in fact can build personal relationships that will lead to conversations about God but not every single conversation. You can have a good time and not bring up God or Jesus at all, as there will be opportunity later. This is so counter to any other evangelical strategy I've ever come into contact with.
It was also comforting to read that even if I mess up God will still continue to call that person and it is the spirit that convicts and converts. So it's ok if you mess up. God's got this but his favorite way to do it, is through his children.
After reading this I feel more willing to befriend others outside my usual circle of people. To really seek them out and befriend them. There is so much more I have to learn about people and I look forward to doing so.
I'm glad I decided to purchase a copy because now it is all written on, underlined, highlighted, and sticky noted all over the place. Some things came natural to me but others were completely new. I liked the parts about her personal experiences with others more than the cut and dry parts.
It was also comforting to read that even if I mess up God will still continue to call that person and it is the spirit that convicts and converts. So it's ok if you mess up. God's got this but his favorite way to do it, is through his children.
After reading this I feel more willing to befriend others outside my usual circle of people. To really seek them out and befriend them. There is so much more I have to learn about people and I look forward to doing so.
I'm glad I decided to purchase a copy because now it is all written on, underlined, highlighted, and sticky noted all over the place. Some things came natural to me but others were completely new. I liked the parts about her personal experiences with others more than the cut and dry parts.
March 4, 2021
When I was in university, this was the book everyone recommended reading when it came to evangelism. For some reason I've never read it until now. My loss at having not read it sooner. Though 40 years old, the book is still amazingly relevant in guiding young adults into evangelism that is less a project and more a lifestyle. Except for one chapter near the end, the author avoids discussing strategies and techniques which Christians can use to evangelize. Her main focus is that by allowing Christ to do a work in your life, by simply being yourself and allowing your friends into your life, you can share your faith with others in an effective way. Pippert gives many personal examples of her failures and successes in personal evangelism, taking the pressure off the reader in many ways by reminding them that it is the Holy Spirit's work to convert people to Christ, not our clever oratory or technique. By being real, by asking more questions than giving answers, at least at first, by sharing with others our journey with Christ, Pippert argues that people will be more apt to consider Christ and may even embark in a life of faith than if we engages in slick evangelism programs. Still a relevant and potentially life-changing book.
March 18, 2021
Though this book is dated, it’s still refreshing to come back and read through again. Though I don’t agree with all of Becky’s methodology, and I think there’s still a some considerably work to be written about the cross-cultural skills needed to engage in spiritual conversation and evangelism (this book reads “very white culture is normative”), what makes this book great in my opinion, is Becky’s ability to tell stories. One of the things that makes evangelism hard for many, is the fear of potential failure, or the doubt that what we’re doing and saying isn’t working, or the questioning of “if we got what it takes.” Becky’s stories have a way of increasing faith and seeing how God can work through broken, inexperienced works in progress to participate in His sovereign work of calling all people to Himself. And her stories do that. Grateful to learn from her legacy, wisdom, and experience.
December 17, 2025
What a wonderful book to finish the end of the year with and enter into a new one with more power and purpose learning what it means to be an ambassador of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I took my time learning; soaking in the author's suggestions and personal testimonies of evangelism. We are certainly living in challenging times where it seems evil has a stronger platform; however, as believers, we are called to be authentic, firm and confident in our faith; giving an answer to why we still believe in God, providing evidence of his grace, mercy and loving kindness displayed through our witness.
How do we draw those who are agnostic or atheist? Those who have backslidden from the spiritual foundation that once held their attention? How do we find balance in acceptance of our own truths in how we share the message of salvation? All of these answers can be found throughout this book, OUT OF THE SALTSHAKER AND INTO THE WORLD by Rebecca Manley Pippert.
I took my time learning; soaking in the author's suggestions and personal testimonies of evangelism. We are certainly living in challenging times where it seems evil has a stronger platform; however, as believers, we are called to be authentic, firm and confident in our faith; giving an answer to why we still believe in God, providing evidence of his grace, mercy and loving kindness displayed through our witness.
How do we draw those who are agnostic or atheist? Those who have backslidden from the spiritual foundation that once held their attention? How do we find balance in acceptance of our own truths in how we share the message of salvation? All of these answers can be found throughout this book, OUT OF THE SALTSHAKER AND INTO THE WORLD by Rebecca Manley Pippert.
December 9, 2019
Current reading as one of the reading list this vacation. I remember this book because Richard Zhang, one of my best friend gave me 5 years ago. Couldn't remember what's the situation that day, but I can remember those days we preached and spread gospel together. Though it has been a while for reading this book. It's really a classial for some reasons.
This book encouraged us get out of the saltshaker and into life itself. We need to witnesses to Jesus as Lord and Savior, as the one who alone gives life and meaning to a dying world.
This book answered the question, what's the meaning of evangelism is. And it was successful because : respects seekers and desires to have authentic relationship with them, and encourages a style of witnessing that is true to one's own being. (pp. 9)
Thanks for inviting this book to me. R. Z.
This book encouraged us get out of the saltshaker and into life itself. We need to witnesses to Jesus as Lord and Savior, as the one who alone gives life and meaning to a dying world.
This book answered the question, what's the meaning of evangelism is. And it was successful because : respects seekers and desires to have authentic relationship with them, and encourages a style of witnessing that is true to one's own being. (pp. 9)
Thanks for inviting this book to me. R. Z.
February 21, 2023
The author is basically encouraging christians toward evangelism. Know your audience, relate personal stories if applicable with possibly a combination of Biblical stories. Try to make your approach and conversation as natural as possible. Our job is to simply plant the seed. God is the only one who can bring a person to Him. It's always in God's time. Conversion may take years or it can happen quickly. Many people have been seeking for a long time. It takes what's in their heart to make the final step to Christianity. Saying you're a Christian is not enough. Your actions and how you live your day to day life tells the true story for all of us. The book was rewritten several years ago but it's still very relative.
June 17, 2020
Rebecca Pippert does something most aren’t willing to do in this book. She recognizes that evangelism is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and that she doesn’t have it all figured out. In fact, she also admits that the methods and ideas she presents are not exhaustive and that they will not always work. Most importantly, she recognizes that nothing works without the power and authority of the Holy Spirit who goes before us. She calls us to rely on Him in any evangelistic approach we take. Thanks Rebecca for sharing your life and experiences, and encouraging people to continue making disciples of all nations.
July 9, 2020
See, I'm struggling to even type the freakin' word: evangelism. If it has such unloving connotations for me, a longtime Christian, I can't even imagine what a roadblock it must be for others. Pippert only briefly addresses that dynamic. Since this book is obviously written for her fellow Christians, my impression is that she wishes sisters like me would get over our dang selves already...which is an understandable attitude when you consider what is at stake. She confesses that she is an extrovert, and it shows. What also shows is the strength and sincerity of her faith. This is a worthwhile book for Christians who want to challenge themselves.
April 25, 2019
You can tell that Becky is very experienced in what she's writing. She has a wealth of knowledge and covers every aspect and angle of evangelism. The advice is very practical but grounded in truth, always reminded the readers that conversion is through the work of Holy Spirit alone. She shows that evangelism is an integral part of any Christian's life while guiding us in how we might best use the gifts God has given us to do this in our own individual way.
January 10, 2021
Although written in the late 70's there is still much to commend about this classic book on sharing your faith in Jesus. While in a post-Christendom, secular culture it may not have as much import as it would when it was first written, it still provides some great insights in how to share your faith both verbally and in actions. At a time when most are dismissive about all things "religious" Rebecca's insights might help you raise the curiosity quotient about Jesus.
October 29, 2021
Pippert's writing style is very easy to read and includes many stories that illustrate her points. She does a magnificent job encouraging people to go out and evangelize without succumbing to one-method madness. Her style may be dated and her conversations a little too neat to be believable, but her thesis holds even to today: go out, talk to people, listen to them, and trust that God will help you see a need that only He can fill. That message is timeless.
January 23, 2024
En herlig bog - jeg er vild med Pippert! Synes hun har et meget afbalanceret og nuanceret syn på evangelisation.
Nogle steder er jeg uenig med hende - der er måske lidt mange succes-historier
Jeg tror i den grad, at det er sjældent, vi får lov at se frugt af vores arbejde på den måde, hun gør!
Opmuntrende læsning - det er Guds arbejder og hans mennesker. Vi må øve os i at blive venner med mennesker, interesserer os for dem og invitere dem ind i vores fællesskaber!
Nogle steder er jeg uenig med hende - der er måske lidt mange succes-historier
Jeg tror i den grad, at det er sjældent, vi får lov at se frugt af vores arbejde på den måde, hun gør!
Opmuntrende læsning - det er Guds arbejder og hans mennesker. Vi må øve os i at blive venner med mennesker, interesserer os for dem og invitere dem ind i vores fællesskaber!
April 17, 2020
This book feels like discipleship - the author reminds you of the glories of the gospel, tells lots of stories that allow you into her own life, reiterates that you should NOT try to be a cookie cutter version of her, and sets you up with resources and food for thought to continue to grow.
Convicting, life giving, and an easy, reflective read!
Convicting, life giving, and an easy, reflective read!
January 12, 2021
I remember this book being around the house when I was younger living with mom and dad. The author has written a new book I'm interested in, so I thought I'd check this one out first. I was encouraged by this book. Lots of stories and examples, given from a solid theological foundation, to prompt Christians to go out and bring the Good News to the people God is sending them to.
July 19, 2021
This is an absolutely amazing read on how to incorporate evangelism into one's daily life. Pippert does an excellent job of teaching how to bring Jesus into every aspect of life and people group through engaging writing that includes many personal stories. Great read for anyone looking to learn more about practical evangelism!
September 30, 2021
This book is fun to read and generally inspiring. Becky is a great communicator and I love her stories. Her collegiate setting makes the book most applicable to those in similar situations, but it's not just a how-to book. It's a book about Jesus and the gospel and how winsome and wonderful he is and should be through us.
October 16, 2017
The author provides encouragement, examples and advice for personal evangelism. Although the book is dated (1979), the information is still relevant and provoking. This is an excellent resource for those desiring to go beyond door-knocking to share the Gospel.
March 30, 2019
A helpful and instructive guide on how to evangelise better. I enjoyed the frankness and diversity of her evangelistic stories. A book not simply for evangelists but for all Christians. Such is the scope of this book that anyone can find something of worth. It's a slim and easy read too.
May 20, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! It was engaging and helpful at a heart level as well as a practical level. As Christians, we are to live on mission for Gods' glory, and this author gets that and wants to help her readers do the same. I hope there is noticeable fruit in my life from reading this book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews