Gospel 101: Learning, Living and Sharing the Gospel

by Jeff Dodge

This small group study and practical resource invites readers to develop the biblical literacy needed to share the gospel simply and effectively and without formulas. Designed for Christians who want to put their faith into action and grow in biblical knowledge, Gospel 101 explains the foundational gospel truth with digestible amounts of Scripture without diluting the gospel message.

Christians wondering how to share the gospel effectively will find Scripture-based content on understanding the background of the gospel rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to evangelism. Rather than giving an information overload or too-simplistic view of the gospel, Gospel 101 communicates the good news of Jesus in a clear, understanding, and compelling way, inviting readers to grow in gospel fluency, gospel community, and gospel action. Practical, small group study layout helps readers experience the transforming power of new life in Jesus.

This flexible resource serves as an introductory-level course on the “big picture” message of redemption. It equips church and ministry leaders with the language of the gospel to confidently move past the fear of sharing their faith by living out of gospel community and Scripture knowledge. By defining the gospel and why it matters, readers will learn about God, humanity, Christ, justification, our response, and the implications of the gospel through pointed questions, Scripture reading assignments, and encouraged discussions.

Gospel 101 will provide life-changing biblical truths so readers can speak gospel truth into everyday conversations with friends, family, children, coworkers, neighbors, fellow students, and others.

Genres: Theology, Christian

128 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2021

About the author

Jeff Dodge, M.Div, DMin., PhD, is the teaching pastor and director of theological formation at Cornerstone Church in Ames, Iowa. He also directs the Cornerstone School of Theology as part of The Salt Network, a church-planting movement focused on establishing multi-generational churches in major university communities. Jeff and his wife, Teresa, have four children and several grandchildren. He is the author of Gospel 101: Learning, Living, and Sharing the Gospel.

Reviews

[Elly Hamby]

Thank u Jeff !

[Sarah Solt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this before it became gospel 101 and was TOG (Theology of the Gospel) in a small brown booklet of Maucker Union in Cedar Falls. 4 years later this book is still just as good and honestly should become a frequent read in our cadence to have the gospel on our lips. This book gives theologically sound practical language to the beauty & vastness of the gospel. Praise God that he is our loving creator, supreme authority & final judge.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not always so easy to share the gospel. We say too much or we make it too simple. Dodge wants to help Christians feel more comfortable sharing the gospel so has developed this study. The title is correct. This book contains the basic elements of the gospel. Dodge presents the material in a way that even this seasoned Christian found it interesting and containing some new insights.

I think the strength of this study is the survey. The reader is asked to survey three people about the topic of each study. The emphasis is on being a good listener. There are prompts to further the conversation, depending upon the person's answer. Those exercises are a good way to work into talking to people about Jesus and sharing the gospel.

Dodge provides a Scripture passage and an article to read on each of the basic parts of the gospel. There are questions to answer and the survey to do. The readers then meet in a group setting to discuss.

This is a basic eight week study with an emphasis on preparing people to share the gospel. It would be a good study for new Christians or a refresher course for seasoned Christians. It would also be a good way to form relationships with others learning how to share the gospel.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Theron John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing tool for going with the gospel. It equips Christians to both understand the gospel and share the gospel. If you fear not knowing enough or not knowing what to say in evangelizing, this book would be great for you! Ideal for group use as well!

See my full review at: http://www.entrustedbygod.org/2018/10...

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really exceeded my expectations! I always love and respect a book that is able to take the well known storyline of the Gospel and really help me to consider it deeply. I really enjoyed how he utilized skimming through the whole Bible alongside the main points of the Gospel and how the Church Body should live. It reminds me of a shortened version of Discipleship Essentials, and I would recommend this to anyone who wants a study that reignites and reminds them of the Gospel truths, without being overwhelming or overly difficult with "homework".

There's bible readings, short chapters, a good amount of reflection questions, survey questions (I loved those the most, to help get you out of your comfort zone and apply immediately to friendships and/or strangers your knowledge of the Gospel) and everything is laid out and brought forward with clarity and obvious excitement and passion for the Truth from the author! I highly recommend and can't wait to go through this again (but maybe with others instead of alone) someday.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this book and teaching the class! I took Gospel 101 when I was a freshman and we didn’t have/use the book — the class is much better with Jeff’s book!

Now I just need the subsequent books that help me answer the tough questions in class. Something that falls between Gospel 101 and Grudems Systematic Theology.

[Paul Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very decent book on understanding the gospel and sharing your faith. I appreciate both the overarching story of the Bible being presented and the large amount of Scripture that the book requires you to read.

[Julie D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives us the tools to share the Gospel with others. This is not easy for many of us, but I do think this book gives so much good information for doing so.

This book breaks it down into eight lessons - Gospel, God, Humanity, Christ, Justification, Response, Belonging and Culmination. The introduction to this book gives us the information to use these lessons, which I found helpful, as the author keeps it quite simple.

Each lesson has information on the subject then an application for applying what we've learned. Then the book has a workbook session where we answer questions based on Scripture and what we have read. I really like the survey section where we survey three people. I found this extremely interesting and helpful as asking other's questions helps in understanding how we can better share the Gospel.

I really like this book as it breaks down how we can share the Gospel without fear and with truth. I think it's something that will help others to feel more equipped as they share Jesus with others. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me by New Growth Press. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book

[Anthony Manderfeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for those to learn about the Gospel from a high-scale point of view. The questionnaire's were useful in finding out a lot of information, but the standalone book would be lost without having a readily available bible and others to discuss with. If you are taking the specific class, it is needed and extremely beneficial to the class, otherwise, it is just a basic understanding of the gospel.

[LOGAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

We used this book for a Gospel 101 class at a university in our city and the book does a great job of explaining the Gospel in a simple and engaging way. I would recommend this book to any believer or non-believer to learn about the truths of what the Gospel is all about and to grow in Gospel fluency.

[Aubree Chavez-Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book wanting to learn more about the gospel and how to share it. This book helped me do exactly that! Enjoyed reading this and working through it because it was so digestible and easy to use.

[Heather]

This was more of a skim than an in depth read for me 🫣 but had a lot of good things to say and helped me understand the Gospel for myself so I could communicate it to others
Surveys were absolutely awesome too

[Temi Agbaje · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for anyone, but I feel as though this book is great for those who are already believers.

[Jill Kloewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick but effective read. Jeff, whom I consider a mentor and a friend, guides you through the gospel (good news) and how to apply it to your sin. Ending with the Book of Life passages.

[Alec Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good to read with new believers!

[Noah Sturtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book to grow closer to God!

[Avery Dykstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good challenge in my life right now to learn in depth and share the gospel!

[Kyle Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

goooooooood. Fun to look back on my thoughts from a couple years ago.

[lyndzelizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

rating: 5/5 ⭐️
genre: religion

i read this book over the past semester with a group of people from my church and such great conversation emerged from discussing these chapters. i highly recommend reading this if you are curious to know the basics of the gospel and how to share the gospel with others!!