Jesus Creed

Jesus Creed

Evangelism: Jesus Style

posted by Scot McKnight

Barrs.jpgFor a long time I’ve thought we needed a sensitive, historically-nuanced study of how Jesus interacted — at the gospeling level — with his contemporaries. But the book I had in mind couldn’t be in search of the “method” of Jesus or the “program” of Jesus, and the reason I say this is because Jesus didn’t have a “method” or a “program.” And neither did he have a technique. So the book would have to be sensitive to the variety of ways Jesus interacted.

That book arrived on my desk not long ago and I’d like to give it a high recommendation. It’s by Jerram Barrs and it’s called Learning Evangelism from Jesus
.The book contains 15 studies and it does not synthesize them into the golden nuggets that will make you evangelize just like Jesus. Each study sifts through the text with solid observations and then has lessons that reflect how Jesus related to that person in that context. Instead of moralizing at this point, Barrs simply observes and connects what Jesus did to our lives.
I like the sensitivity to context and the variety that emerge from this careful study. Well-written and from a Reformed perspective.


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Comments read comments(4)
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John W Frye

posted December 29, 2009 at 4:14 pm


Scot,
Thanks for the heads up on Barr’s book. It’s sounds like a good read.
John



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Steve S

posted December 29, 2009 at 6:58 pm


What about Coleman?



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Christine

posted December 29, 2009 at 8:43 pm


I’ve not yet read this book, but am glad to see your recommendation of it. I studied at English L’Abri for a year when Jerram was a worker there. He is such a gentle, wise person whom God has greatly gifted. Am eager to read this book as well as another of Jerram’s on women.
Christine



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derek leman

posted December 30, 2009 at 9:37 am


Sorry to be a wet blanket, but how does the author deal with the apocalyptic-prophetness of Jesus? I suspect (and a amazon reviewer says so) that the book focuses on the feel-good encounters.
Would we emulate Jesus in telling people, “The things you trust in will burn, you brood of vipers”?
I hope you see my point. Does Barrs suggest that we can emulate some of Jesus but not all? What about the supernatural knowledge that aided his impact on people? What about his edgy, negative side?
Is it possible that Messiah did not give us models per se for evangelism? Perhaps God-talk from the servants looks very different than from the Master.
Derek Leman



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