Learning Evangelism from Jesus

285 Pages·2009·3.33 MB·English

by  Jerram Barrs

L
“ This is not a book about evangelistic technique but about doing evangelism bib- E
lically. There is a difference! Jerram Barrs shows us that Jesus had no wooden A
formula that he followed but rather was about engaging people in the depths
R
of their being. As a result, this is an unusually wise guide to doing evangelism.
N
The great truths of the gospel shine forth undiminished while at the same time
I
the recesses of the human heart are explored with real insight.”
N
David F. Wells, Distinguished Research Professor, Gordon-Conwell
G
Theological Seminary

E
“ I can think of no other living educator who better embodies the gospel’s tough
V
love combined with its unconditional acceptance of fl awed people than Jerram A
Barrs. In this wonderfully moving account of Jesus’ approach to evangelism, N
Barrs shows us the ways in which the Lord’s message penetrates deep into the G
human heart, uncovering its darkest secrets while always defending the dignity E
of its owner.” L
I
William Edgar, P rofessor of Apologetics, Westminster Theological Seminary S
M
“ The fruit of Jerram Barrs’s years of evangelistic experience comes to expression
F
here for our benefi t as he traces Jesus’ interaction in the Gospels with various
R
individuals and groups.”
O
David Clyde Jones, P rofessor Emeritus of Theology and Ethics, Covenant
Theological Seminary M L E A R N I N G

“ In his practical, biblical, and winsome style, Jerram Barrs challenges us to hum- J
bly share good news with our friends who are far from God.” E
Darrin Patrick, F ounding Pastor, The Journey Church, St. Louis, Missouri S
U E V A N G E L I S M
S
JERRAM BARRS, a former staff member at English L’Abri, is the founder
and resident scholar of the Francis Schaeffer Institute at Covenant Theologi-
cal Seminary, where he also teaches apologetics and outreach as professor of B F R O M J E S U S
Christian studies and contemporary culture. His books include Crossway’s The A
R
Heart of Evangelism and Through His Eyes: God’s Perspective on Women in R
the Bible. S
J E R R A M B A R R S
U.S. $15.99
“This is not a book about evangelistic technique but about doing
evangelism biblically. There is a difference! Beginning with some of
the everyday scenes in the gospels and then examining some of the
parables, Jerram Barrs shows us that Jesus had no wooden formula
which he followed, but rather was about engaging people in the depths
of their being. As a result, this is an unusually wise guide to doing
evangelism. The great truths of the gospel shine forth undiminished
while at the same time the recesses of the human heart are explored
with real insight.”
— David F. Wells, Distinguished Research Professor,
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
“It is my privilege to have known Jerram Barrs for forty years, first as
a student, later as a faculty colleague, always as a friend. In this work,
he invites us to follow Jesus’ example in seeking the lost, as he himself
has done over the course of his life since Jesus found him as a despairing
university student. The fruit of those years of evangelistic experience
comes to expression here for our benefit as he traces Jesus’ interaction
in the Gospels with various individuals and groups, as he goes about
his business of seeking and saving the lost. Each retelling brims with
exegetical insight and existential grasp of what’s going on at the time,
followed by a section on ‘learning from Jesus’ that is full of practical
wisdom, encouragement, and contemporary challenge. The whole
book fairly breathes the Spirit of Christ, which is only to be expected
from Jerram (as he is known to one and all) who embodies so well in
his own life the example of Jesus.”
— David Clyde Jones, Professor Emeritus of Theology and
Ethics, Covenant Theological Seminary
“In his practical, biblical, and winsome style, Jerram Barrs challenges
us to humbly share good news with our friends who are far from God.”
— Darrin Patrick, Founding Pastor The Journey Church,
St Louis, MO
LearningEvanJesus.03184.i04.indd 1 3/26/09 2:35 PM
“I can think of no other living educator who better embodies the gos-
pel’s tough love combined with its unconditional acceptance of flawed
people than Jerram Barrs. In this wonderfully moving account of Jesus’
approach to evangelism, Professor Barrs shows us the ways in which
the Lord’s message penetrates deep into the human heart, uncovering
its darkest secrets, while always defending the dignity of its owner.”
— William Edgar, Professor of Apologetics, Westminster
Theological Seminary
LearningEvanJesus.03184.i04.indd 2 3/26/09 2:35 PM
LEARNING EVANGELISM
FROM JESUS
LearningEvanJesus.03184.i04.indd 3 3/26/09 2:35 PM
Other Crossway books by
Jerram Barrs:
The Heart of Evangelism
Through His Eyes:
God’s Perspective on Women in the Bible
CROSSWAY BOOKS
WHEATON, ILLINOIS
LearningEvanJesus.03184.i04.indd 4 3/26/09 2:35 PM
L E A R N I N G
E V A N G E L I S M
F R O M J E S U S
J E R R A M B A R R S
CROSSWAY BOOKS
WHEATON, ILLINOIS
LearningEvanJesus.03184.i04.indd 5 3/26/09 2:35 PM
Learning Evangelism from Jesus
Copyright © 2009 by Jerram Barrs
Published by Crossway Books
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher,
except as provided for by USA copyright law.
Cover design: Josh Dennis
Cover photo: The Riverside Church, New York City
First printing 2009
Printed in the United States of America
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy
Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a pub-
lishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture references marked NIV are from The Holy Bible: New International
Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by
permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the
United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of
either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations marked AT are the author’s translation.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.
Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-0318-4
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-1193-6
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-1194-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Barrs, Jerram.
Learning evangelism from Jesus / Jerram Barrs.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-4335-0318-4 (tpb)
1. Evangelistic work—Biblical teaching. 2. Bible. N.T.—Criticism,
interpretation, etc. I. Title.
BS2545.E82B38 2009
269'.2—dc22 2008035821
VP 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
LearningEvanJesus.03184.i04.indd 6 3/26/09 2:35 PM
To Jesus,
with the prayer that you
will be pleased to be honored
as the greatest evangelist
by all who read this book.
Thank you, Lord!
LearningEvanJesus.03184.i04.indd 7 3/26/09 2:35 PM
LearningEvanJesus.03184.i04.indd 8 3/26/09 2:35 PM
CONTENTS
1 The Christian’s Calling to the World 11
2 Caught in the Act 21
3 The Woman of Samaria 35
4 Jesus and the Bible Teacher 53
5 A Wealthy Young Leader of the Church 69
6 An Unusual Dinner Invitation 83
7 The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin: Parables for 101
a Mixed Gathering
8 The Two Lost Sons: The Good, the Bad, 117
and the Ugly
9 The “Sinful Woman” and the “Righteous Man” 131
10 Revealing the Pharisee’s Heart 149
11 Religious and Moral Traditionalists: The Problem of 163
Rules and Traditions
12 Faith among the Canaanites 179
13 The Faith of the Centurion: An Officer and 193
a Gentleman
14 A Night Visitor 205
15 The Shrewd Manager: Money, Money, Money 219
16 Not the Most Comfortable Guest! 233
Conclusion 249
Study Guide 253
Notes 269
General Index 273
Scripture Index 279
LearningEvanJesus.03184.i04.indd 9 3/26/09 2:35 PM