Translating Jesus: How to Share Your Faith in Language Today's Culture Can Understand

by Shauna Pilgreen, Mark Batterson (Foreword)

How to Engage Culture with the Good News of Christ

We in the church do not speak the same language as the culture. We use many of the same words, but they rarely mean the same thing. And speaking louder isn't the answer. If we are to faithfully and effectively share the Good News, we have to translate Jesus.

Embracing and unpacking the bilingual nature of spreading the gospel, pastor and teacher Shauna Pilgreen shows you how to learn the language of the culture so that you can clearly communicate the love of God in the three places Christ and culture the gate, the cross, and the table. By learning how to share your story in the language of the culture, you'll not only find spiritual conversations more fruitful but also build a supportive and loving community of bilingual believers excited about inviting others to enter the kingdom of God.

Genres: Christian Non Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2023

About the author

Raised in rural Georgia, Shauna Pilgreen now finds herself immersed daily in the reality of doing life in a global city. She and her husband, Ben, started Epic Church in the heart of San Francisco in 2010 and have been "living sent" ever since. Shauna is a coach, speaker, and writer to ministry families across the country. She is the mother of three boys and an adopted daughter from India. Learn more at www.shaunapilgreen.com.

Reviews

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Translating Jesus
How to Share Your Faith in Language Today's Culture Can Understand
by Shauna Pilgreen
Pub Date 15 Aug 2023
Revell
Christian| Self-Help


Revell and Netgalley sent me a copy of Translating Jesus to review:


Engaging Culture with the Good News

The church doesn't speak the same language as the culture. Even though we use the same words, their meanings are rarely the same. The answer isn't to speak louder. To share the Good News faithfully and effectively, we have to translate Jesus.

As a pastor and teacher, Shauna Pilgreen explains how to spread the gospel in a bilingual way, so you can communicate the love of God in the three places where Christ and culture meet: at the cross, the gate, and the table. Learn the language of the culture and share your story in it. Not only will spiritual conversations be more fruitful, but you'll build a supportive and loving community of bilingual believers.



I give Translating Jesus five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You are His light, let the Father love you … let the world be your mission of love”
The author show you how to learn the language of today’s culture so that you can clearly communicate the love of God, with three main concepts - Jesus loves you, Love Jesus back and Love one another.
It’s all about kindness and compassion - if we are to faithfully and effectively share the Good News, we have to translate Jesus into today’s culture and make Him understood.
You can share the love and goodness of Jesus by noticing and pay attention to people, listening well and being humble, getting out of your comfort zone and praying.
A very helpful, insightful and encouraging book
Thanks @shaunapilgreen @revellbooks & @netgalley for the eARC

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

While all of us may not have the gift of evangelism, as followers of Jesus we are all called and invited to share our faith with others. I love how Shauna takes something that seems really hard for some of us to do and makes it accessible. She acknowledges the vulnerability and courage it takes to translate Jesus to the culture; but with intentionality and the Spirit's power, anything is possible. As you read through this book and encounter the principles and many stories that Shauna shares, I believe you will find yourself seeing those around you (who don't know Jesus) differently, and taking risks that you weren't taking prior to picking up the book. That was my experience. And when we step out in faith in this way, it can have eternal implications.

[Sareen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always steered clear of the idea of evangelism for most of my life, writing it off as ‘not my strength’ and yet living in guilt whenever I read about the great commission as a Jesus follower. I’ve witnessed too many negative examples of how people have evangelized in a way that made me cringe. In Shauna’s book, she shows that evangelism is like learning a new language, or in this case, learning the culture of the world in order to be effective evangelists.

In learning a new language and trying to speak it, I’ve experienced people being incredibly grateful for me trying to meet them where they are, despite how awkward I feel while trying to attempt it. “Translating Jesus” is full of stories that reminds us that more people want to know Jesus than we realize, and that people are grateful for us trying. In the end, we want to meet others where they are people we love and care for them. And it is worth sacrificing our discomfort and awkwardness to do so. Shauna has helped me see that evangelism can be culturally relevant, approachable, freeing, and dare I say, convicting?

[Hassan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just came across Translating Jesus: How to Share Your Faith in Language Today’s Culture Can Understand—and I love how Shauna Pilgreen frames evangelism as learning to speak the culture’s language, not just reciting Christian platitudes. Her “gate, cross, table” framework really sticks with you—it’s practical and heartfelt.On a related note, if anyone’s ever thought about translating books like this—or just needs professional help ensuring nuance, tone, and meaning are preserved—I've heard great things about this service here: https://www.translation.pk/book-trans...
— they specialize in book translation with attention to cultural fidelity.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

the language and tone of the book was gentle, encouraging, and challenging enough to push me to live out my faith in a new, fresh way. it’s been a delight to walk in these principles and see my steps evolve as a follower of the Way.

[Eavan Gilhuly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Evangelist Book

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book but I'm an introvert so it spoke to my introverted self.

[Candace Collette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a page turner, I felt hungry for the next chapter as I read. Full of practical application, learned by stories shared. Excellent read in real language that resonated.