Not many Christians find evangelism a delight. For some, it is always a struggle, while a good number do not engage in it at all.
The reasons are simple. Many believers do not know how to share their faith. Those who have the confidence to express themselves often do not know what to say. There is yet another group who know what to say but do not know how to say it. The bottom line is that the gospel is not being preached, and the enemy gains more ground by the day.
This scenario gave birth to the book, Evangelism by the Word, by Don Cimbert.
Spanning 80 pages, this book is a ready tool for any believer who desires to win souls. The author carefully itemizes the basics of evangelism, taking the reader through a sequence that culminates in winning hearts for Christ.
It is not just a book; it is a “word book” in the sense that the author brings relevant scriptures into play at every step of the journey to Christ.
He establishes from the onset that the Word of God—rather than our own words and philosophy—plays the prime role in engaging the heart of an unbeliever. And then he posits that Christians must allow the Word of God to speak for itself during evangelism.
The author also counsels that, if they are literate, the person being preached to should be allowed to read the scriptures themselves during the encounter.
This advice is contained in the prelude, where the author outlines how to use the book effectively. While warning that the book is not a replacement for the Bible, he notes that using it will ultimately direct the reader back to the scriptures.
What the author succeeds in doing is compartmentalizing the practical steps that lead a soul to Christ and supplying relevant scriptures for each stage. The purpose is to guide the user through a systematic format for soul-winning.
In the first chapter, “The Power of the Word,” the author explains that the Word of God is all an evangelist needs, while emphasizing that it must be applied diligently when preaching to lost souls. The second chapter dwells on the love of God. This is critical in the arithmetic of soul-winning because it is God’s love that draws people to Him. Here, the author supplies relevant scriptures to demonstrate the enormous love God has for humanity.
Subsequent chapters of the book are devoted to “Sin” , Sins Consequence on earth”. The scriptures used in these sections speak for themselves. This is followed by a chapter explaining what the gospel is all about, and another titled “Invitation,” which focuses on bringing the sinner to the point of saying “yes” to Christ.
Other chapters in the book include “Faith Mixed with Repentance,” “The Righteous Judgment of God,” and “The Responsibility of the Soul Winner.”
These sections address critical steps in the business of soul-winning, preparing the evangelist for this crucial assignment.
The ultimate strength of the book lies in the author’s ability to assemble key scriptures that the believer can easily deploy during soul winning exercise.
These scriptures carry the message directly to the heart of the inquirer. The fear of boredom is absent, as the book takes only about three hours to read. However, the book does not leave you after you close it; it goes with you to the mission field, where its practicality comes in handy.
Recommendation
Every believer, evangelist, and church worker will find this book useful. The author writes from his wide field experience as a missionary across Benin Republic, Uganda, and Kenya. It is, without a doubt, an invaluable evangelism tool for the 21st century.
For inquiries contact; +22943231667, +2347043667832
Email: smartville2020@gmail.com