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Today's Evangelism: Its Message and Methods
While some possess zeal without knowledge, others fail to share the truth they well understand. Pastor Reisinger blends doctrinally sound methods with a burden to reach the lost for Christ.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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October 23, 2013Paul washer said this book had a big impact on him.
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September 30, 2008"Through 38 years of active personal witness and preaching to sinners, the author has gained a keen practical insight concerning evangelism. This small work informs us what the unconverted must be told, and it directs us to techniques consistent with our noble message. Pastor Reisinger's material on both these matters is uncommonly rich in biblical content and in full accord with the old Baptist standards. He has made a needed identification of modern abuses in evangelism.
The present-day church is filled with folks like David's servant Ahimaaz of long ago. Many are eager to run with a message but cannot deliver an accurate report when they arrive. Others today understand the gospel quite well but do not run with it. In his life the author has attempted to unite truth and zeal. His book assists us toward the same worthy goal."
--Walter J. Chantry, Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Qtd. at http://www.monergismbooks.com/Todays-...)
The present-day church is filled with folks like David's servant Ahimaaz of long ago. Many are eager to run with a message but cannot deliver an accurate report when they arrive. Others today understand the gospel quite well but do not run with it. In his life the author has attempted to unite truth and zeal. His book assists us toward the same worthy goal."
--Walter J. Chantry, Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Qtd. at http://www.monergismbooks.com/Todays-...)
May 31, 2022
I have never heard of Reisinger before reading this book, and that is a shame because his theology is great. He is a baptist, so a massive L there, regardless he has some really good things to say about evangelism in this book that I'm definitely going to use as the basis for a class at some point.
Reisinger wrote this book in response to the "decisionism" of his day, which is still very much alive in a lot of Evangelical theology. The idea that you, as an individual, have the power to make a decision to give your life over to Christ and that it is up to you to decide and maintain. Reisinger calls this "man-centered evangelism," which he contrasts with "God-centered evangelism." It is a good distinction and he goes into great detail, and weaves in the doctrines of grace throughout. He especially likes to make it clear that if someone becomes a Christian it is due to the working of the Spirit and not dependent on churches catering to people to keep them coming back.
One of the takeaways that I found very impactful was his idea of "effectiveness." He makes a strong case that all God-centered evangelism is effective, not because a ton of people end up coming to the front of a church (never to be seen again), but because when confronted with the gospel either response glorifies God. Either the person repents and turns to Christ and God is glorified that way, or they spurn God's love and they are glorified through him bringing justice upon them. I had never really though about evangelism in this way, but I find it helpful. Especially when it comes to convincing people to do evangelism, because many people feel that if they do outreach and no one new comes to church than it was a failure or they are bad, but this isn't the case, God is glorified either way.
My only problem with this book is that Reisinger is very unforgiving in many respects and can be uncharitable to his opponents. I also found him taking a "my way or the highway" approach when it came to the Christian life. This is especially evident in the final chapters and the appendix, where he lays out what the Christian life is supposed to look like and it seems as though if someone doesn't fulfill all of these things then they aren't a Christian. I'm sure this isn't what Reisinger intended but that's how it came across.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in evangelism and wants to read something that would be very different from the typical fare in this area of theology.
Reisinger wrote this book in response to the "decisionism" of his day, which is still very much alive in a lot of Evangelical theology. The idea that you, as an individual, have the power to make a decision to give your life over to Christ and that it is up to you to decide and maintain. Reisinger calls this "man-centered evangelism," which he contrasts with "God-centered evangelism." It is a good distinction and he goes into great detail, and weaves in the doctrines of grace throughout. He especially likes to make it clear that if someone becomes a Christian it is due to the working of the Spirit and not dependent on churches catering to people to keep them coming back.
One of the takeaways that I found very impactful was his idea of "effectiveness." He makes a strong case that all God-centered evangelism is effective, not because a ton of people end up coming to the front of a church (never to be seen again), but because when confronted with the gospel either response glorifies God. Either the person repents and turns to Christ and God is glorified that way, or they spurn God's love and they are glorified through him bringing justice upon them. I had never really though about evangelism in this way, but I find it helpful. Especially when it comes to convincing people to do evangelism, because many people feel that if they do outreach and no one new comes to church than it was a failure or they are bad, but this isn't the case, God is glorified either way.
My only problem with this book is that Reisinger is very unforgiving in many respects and can be uncharitable to his opponents. I also found him taking a "my way or the highway" approach when it came to the Christian life. This is especially evident in the final chapters and the appendix, where he lays out what the Christian life is supposed to look like and it seems as though if someone doesn't fulfill all of these things then they aren't a Christian. I'm sure this isn't what Reisinger intended but that's how it came across.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in evangelism and wants to read something that would be very different from the typical fare in this area of theology.
April 25, 2022
Talks about differences between God-centered evangelism and man-centered evangelism, turns out the latter is quite popular today.
February 15, 2016
One of the best books on evangelism I have ever read. Highly recommend it.
5 stars = Yearly re-read
4 stars = Re-read eventually
3 stars = Very Good
2 stars = OK
1 stars = Pass on this one.
0 stars = Couldn't finish it.
5 stars = Yearly re-read
4 stars = Re-read eventually
3 stars = Very Good
2 stars = OK
1 stars = Pass on this one.
0 stars = Couldn't finish it.
September 29, 2012
One of my top 5 books on evangelism.
April 28, 2017
Quality and worthwhile read.
July 24, 2014
Great book filled with much biblical truth. I made more underlines than I usually do!
March 29, 2017
Read this a couple years ago in a pastoral internship and plan on re-reading it sometime soon. One of the most helpful books I've read on evangelism.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews