Evangelism Through the Local Church [Paperback]

In this book Evangelism through the Local Church, Michael Green delivers what his subtitle promises: "A comprehensive guide to all aspects of evangelism." I cannot think of a single element of personal or church evangelism that Green has neglected this ultimate resource on the topic. Green includes in-depth writing about the biblical basis for evangelism and the church's historical evangelism from the early church to the modern church. He teaches about evangelizing in the secular, pluralistic culture in myriad arenas including citywide events or one-on-one conversations. He guides readers on apologetics, sharing the gospel for the purpose of decision for Jesus, how to share a testimony and what it means for someone to become a Christian. The appendices include step-by-step practical guides for doing evangelization in methods such as small groups, church missions, drama or sports evangelism. From the big picture to the smallest elements of evangelism, Green covers it in this book. He writes from his firm conviction that, "We need a thoughtful, sustained, relevant presentation of the Christian faith, in word and in action, embodied in a warm, prayerful, lively local church that has a real concern for its community at all levels." (xiii) Green believes that through the local church such evangelism is not only necessary but possible and adventurous. While his demands of the church may intimidate his reader at first, his careful instructions will set him or her at ease, as Green points to God as the ultimate resource and necessary element to evangelism. Evangelism is the work of God in which we are privileged to share.

Green begins by defining evangelism. For Green, Jesus is the supreme and perfect example for evangelism. Green explains, "His social concern and His spiritual concern went hand in hand. His presence embodying the kingdom of God was matched by His words explaining the kingdom." (5) These are themes that Green covers throughout the book in several ways. Evangelism includes caring for the well-being of people holistically and always includes the message of the gospel in one form or another. He will repeatedly turn to the example of Jesus illustrated in the Bible of how to evangelize. Green unpacks the gospel stories of the women at the well (John 4), Zachaeus (Lk 19), and Nicodemus (Jn 3), among others that allow him to identify the evangelistic style and methods of Jesus.

There are three definitions of evangelism that Green has found helpful and on which he reflects:
1. Overflow - when someone is so full of the joy of Jesus Christ that it overflows to others.
2. Spurgeon's definition of evangelism being "one beggar telling another beggar where to get bread."
3. William Temple's definition - "To evangelise is so to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, that men shall come to put their trust in God through him, to accept him as their Saviour, and serve him as their King in the fellowship of the church." (8-9)

Having stated the definitions of evangelism, Green examines the reason why Christians do or do not evangelize. The main reasons for doing evangelism flow from the Trinity of God. We evangelize others because of the love of the Father, the commands of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Christians who evangelize also understand the nature of salvation and conversion. Green emphasizes throughout the book that salvation, according to Scripture and Christian tradition, comes only through belief in and acceptance of Jesus Christ. For Green, the purpose of evangelism is conversion. He explains that Christian conversion has three facets: conversion to God, conversion to the church and conversion to the world for which Christ died. Evangelism is not complete in a person's life until he or she has been converted in all three areas.

Green makes an effective effort in the book to explain the orthodox teachings of Christianity and how it engages a pluralistic and secular culture. The context of the church has led to what Green calls its sickness in much of the West. He writes of the church, "It has lost its drive. It no longer really believes in the Savior passionately enough to proclaim Him with vigor. It no longer believes that men and women need this Savior desperately." (79) Green emphasizes that a passion for the kingdom of heaven based on a staunch belief in Jesus is at the core of evangelism.

Green describes the sort of church God can use for evangelism. It is a church full of people who exhibit transformed lives by the presence of God in their lives. Green emphasizes that Christians who evangelize need to have lives that are "attractive" to non-Christians. Some may misinterpret Green's idea of an "attractive life" to mean we must conform to the world's image of success and achieve it in order to attract people of the world. I think that is a danger in the Western church; however, Green is speaking of living lives that are attractive by biblical standards.

Part of being an attractive Christian to the world is being able to defend the faith and live it. Green offers instructions for defending the faith to the secular, agnostic, atheistic and genuinely questioning unbeliever. This is solid teaching for Christians who may have been influenced by doubters or have never been able to articulate answers to objections to things like the resurrection, miracles and suffering, the incarnation of Jesus or the problem of evil. Green fortifies the reader with explanations to these questions and questions for atheists and agnostics to ponder themselves.

Green's two pronged approach to evangelism has instructions for the church in addition to individual believers. For the local church, Green suggests and provides guidelines for different types of missions activity, inquiry groups and discovery groups at the church. The basis for the evangelical church is to model the apostolic church described specifically in Acts 2:42. Although Green offers practical methods of evangelism, and some of these are spelled out more elaborately in the appendices, he admits that there are many ways to do evangelism that are come down to the simple practice of sharing the good news about Jesus. He writes,

"There is only one evangelism, the sharing of the good news about a God who cared and came and died and rose and knocks...It is the Holy Spirit who initiates evangelism, motivates for it, and empowers it. The ways of carrying it out are legion. No, it is not the methods we need, but a close walk with the Spirit of God, a willingness to launch out and if necessary fail, a passionate longing that others shall come to share what we enjoy in Christ. The crux of the matter lies in motivation, not methods." (321)

This is the summary of his book. Green tries to motivate readers to seek the Spirit of God for his guidance and leadership in doing evangelism.

Green reminds readers that the early church made evangelism its number one priority. Green directs the minister who wants to lead evangelism in the church:
1. You must gain a passion for evangelism.
2. You need to teach about it.
3. You need to model it.
4. You need to review the worship of your church.
5. You need to build up a core of committed people (frontline troops in evangelism).
6. You need to take great care in staff appointments.
7. You need to teach the church the importance of the spiritual weapons (prayer, spiritual warfare, Scripture, openness to the Spirit, holiness and love). (414-415)

By following these and the other suggestions by Green and by using the practical guides in the appendices, the reader will be well prepared for evangelism. This is a book that I expect will be a useful resource to have on hand.