Don't You Long for That Kind of Church?

I do. There aren't that many truly helpful books on evangelism these days. Books that scratch us where we should be itching. However, Mack Stiles is one of those guys, one of those guys who really understands the dilemma the American church is in - we've skated for too long. Easy street, safe Christianity within the confines of the Christian rabbit hole is over. The culture has changed and we must adapt. Hopefully its not too late, hopefully we still remember, hopefully there are leaders that read the New Testament plainly...prayerfully...

Mack Stiles’ new book is called simply Evangelism. Here are a few selected passages:

"I long for a church that understands that it—the local church—is the chosen and best method of evangelism."

"I long for a church where the Christians are so in love with Jesus that when they go about the regular time of worship, they become an image of the gospel."

"I long for a church that disarms with love, not entertainment, and lives out countercultural confidence in the power of the gospel."

"I long for a church where the greatest celebrations happen over those who share their faith, and the heroes are those who risk their reputations to evangelize."

"I yearn for a culture of evangelism with brothers and sisters whose backs are up to mine in the battle, where I’m taught and I teach about what it means to share our faith; and where I see leaders in the church leading people to Jesus."

"I want a church where you can point to changed lives, where you can see people stand up and say, ‘When I came to this church two years ago, I didn’t know God, but now I do!’ I long to be part of a culture of evangelism like that. I bet you do, too."

"Evangelism:How the Whole Church Speaks of Jesus" at Crossway.org