Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People's Hearts the Way Jesus Did

There was a time in which evangelism is about declaring the gospel outright, spouting out the promises of faith and the perils of non-belief. Then comes the popularity of apologetics where the skills of defending the gospel take on a more prominent role. The ministries such as RZIM and Lee Strobel's Reason for Faith help to fill in the increasing demand for training in defending the gospel. Building upon these two core skills of declaring and defending the gospel in evangelism, author Randy Newman zooms in on a third core skill appropriate for a postmodern climate: dialogue. It is about engaging people where they are. It asks the tough questions of life and goes beyond mere defending toward greater understanding. It prompts people to know that even Christians ask the same set of questions. Legitimate questions are never bounded by faith positions. In fact, learning to ask questions and to respond to them well is key to engaging people these days, just like Jesus did during His days. Use these questions as bridges to foster dialogue and sustain meaningful conversations. Newman shares about the power of questions even as he deals with basic words such as "God," "love," "sin," etc. We tend to be easily frustrated when we struggle with finding out pin-point answers to complex questions. We can learn from the way of "Rabbinic Evangelism" where we respond to questions with questions. It is not simply to give a logical, rational answer, but to open up the conversation for open learning by all. We learn about Solomon's four lessons: Avoiding arguments Recognizing a fool Remembering people are people Remembering the power of the tongue. Evangelism is not about winning arguments. It is about winning souls. Even though questions may not give us answers, they can pave the way for meaningful responses. Newman gives us five principles and five operative questions to help us along. They cover a wide variety of possibilities which would open up the conversation. Through the process, we can also uncover important questions asked by many in the secular and atheistic culture: "Why are Christians so intolerant?" Why does a good God allow evil and suffering? Why does God allow 9/11 to happen? Why should anyone believe in an ancient book? "Why are Christians so homophobic?" "What's so good about marriage?" "If Jesus is so great, why are some of His followers such jerks?" ... Many of these questions are also difficult for Christians to deal with directly. Sometimes, the best answer when we don't know how to respond is to admit we don't know. The final part of the book touches a little bit about that when questions and answers alone are no longer enough. It is good to be able to dialogue in the open, but there are journeys in which every individual would have to take and decide for themselves. Such questions include matters of the will rather than reason or in matters of the heart instead of the head. There is also a time where the best thing to do is to be quiet. Notice how Jesus refused to answer some of the taunts and jests by the religious leaders of His day? Throughout the entire book, Newman gives us examples of how Jesus had dealt with opposition and issues during His day. Jesus uses a host of skills to deal with threats and traps. He uses Rabbinic style of replying to questions with questions. He often points people toward the more eternal things of life. He does not mince his words when proclaiming truth. The author believes that the way of "Questioning Evangelism" is essentially the way of Jesus. Jesus adopts all forms of declaration; defending; and dialogue. There are many issues addressed in the book. One of the main areas is how to respond to skeptics and critics in an increasingly hostile climate. One can respond to the hypocrite charge with a simple question, "Do you seriously think that ALL Christians are hypocrites?" One can seek to understand the reasons behind the charge through questions that open up bridges of understanding

No book outside the Bible has been used by our Lord to make me a more effective witness for my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ like Questioning Evangelism. I desire that God will use it to give others a passion for lost souls!!!

I read this book over vacation, and I ended up highlighting and underlining the heck out of it! Not only does it aid you in answering the questions that some use to stump Christians and shut them up, it helps you discover different ways of relating the Gospel to the unchurched who are genuinely interested, but lacking the most basic understanding of what Christianity is about. It has example conversations and other ways to get the Gospel across, but most importantly, it stresses the need for genuine caring for the unsaved, and the need to be "transformed" youself, so that you approach the unsaved not as potential notches in your "belt", but out of love for them as persons and recognition of their need (like your own) for God's Grace. I can't recommend this book too much!

Randy: How's the weather down there? Grandma Belle: How could the weather be in Florida in the middle of July? Randy: How's your family? Aunt Vivian: Compared to whom? In this way Randy Newman starts off his book on evangelism. Responding to a question with a question was the daily routine for Newman as he grew up in a Jewish home. Yet he points to Jesus, the master evangelist, as the supreme example in this. For Jesus answering a question with a question was the norm; a clear concise direct answer was a rarity. Take the rich young ruler for example - if ever there was a great opportunity to demonstrate how to explain the gospel this was it. Yet when asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?", Jesus responds, "Why do you call me good?" Newman argues that so often we are too quick to answer, and that as we answer with our perfectly accurate answer, they aren't listening anyway. His point is that we need to engage their minds as well as simply present the truth. He says, "Answering a question with a question... brings to the surface the questioner's assumptions. It also takes the pressure off you... this is important because as long as we're on the defensive, the questioners are not really wrestling with the issues. They're just watching us squirm." Throughout the book Newman illustrates with excerpts from his own work as a college evangelist over the last 20 years. With great openness he shows, not only the times he got it right, but also the times he got it wrong, and the lessons he learned from each occasion. He also gives practical suggestions throughout for questions you could ask, as well as giving dialogues to show how a conversation might go. These illustrations go along way to making the book practical, applicable, and easy to read. There is also a gentleness throughout the book that is extremely winsome. His way is not a triumphalist approach to evangelism, seeking to display wisdom and crush the opposition with knowledge, but a gentle way, seeking to understand the questioner, and seeking to provide real answers. The book is divided into three sections, each full of useful content: Part 1 - "Why ask questions?" - deals with the rationale and principles behind asking questions. In Part 2 - "What questions are people asking?" - Newman shows how to, and how not to, answer questions like, `Why are Christians so intolerant?' `Why are Christians homophobic?' `Why does a good God allow suffering?'. There is a lot of practical wisdom packed into these chapters. The third part - "Why aren't questions and answers enough?" - he turns the focus towards ourselves and deals with our lack of compassion for the lost, the problem of when our disgust at sin becomes disgust at the sinner, and how we can fail to listen. Newman speaks about recognising the `fool' of Proverbs who shouldn't be answered, of how and when to ignore questions, he speaks of asking questions to discover what really lies behind the original question, of

QUESTIONING EVANGELISM is a somewhat humorous collection of questions and answers to engage people in the discussion of how to follow the teachings of Jesus. Important lessons are scattered throughout this text, such as immorality prevents us from turning to Christ. Real tools to open a dialogue with others are included, instead of situations that would turn away people from learning about Jesus. For instance the text includes guides about when and who to engage, as well as who to leave alone ( fools). It also includes information about how to know the difference. Are they interested in the truth? QUESTIONING EVANGELISM is not just a guide it has many roles to play and offers many useable answers to common questions. Those of us eager to witness to other people, but unsure of how to do it, will find answers to how to address issues such as homosexuality, adultery, idolatry, abortion and other combustible issues. QUESTIONING EVANGELISM points out that using a question, instead of an answer, to a question, follows the teachings of Jesus. And we all know Jesus did this very well. By questioning someone's question, we can then open a dialog that is neither threatening nor invasive. Instead we can then began to chat with others about the true meaning of Christ and His teachings, and we can come to deeper understandings within ourselves as we also offer others a way to find deeper understanding. Newman addresses questions such as: * Why are Christians so intolerant? * To why does a good God allow evil and suffering? * Why should anyone worship a God who allowed 9/11? * Why should we believe an ancient book written by dead Jewish males? * If Jesus is so great, why are some of his followers such jerks? Additionally, Newman answers questions Christians have, too: * What if I don't care that my neighbor is going to hell? * What if I really want my neighbor to go to hell? * When is it time to shut up? Audience: Evangelistic and witnessing groups, youth groups, and adults, both collectively and individually. This book is especially helpful by providing hypothetical questions and gives the reader(s) a guide, which can be used to role-play such a situations. These are real tools to address real situations. Ages: Sixteen to Adult.

I have read quite a few evangelism books and many were good, but none of them connected with me and made complete sense the way this book did. I could not set it down. Newman's approach is loving yet can lead people to the truth. His approach is also the first I have read that adequately describes how to respond to those more hostile to the Gospel. I plan on recommending it for our small group study.

Mr. Newman's book does a wonderful job of sensitivly expressing what many in the church have probably felt for a long time...we many times in our relationships talk TOO much and listen very little. His suggestion that we not learn a new tool but carry a mindset of the use of questions in our relationships is insighful (something used for thousands of years by Rabbi all over the world). He really does expound on the Scripture of being quick to listen and slow to speak.His chapters on the problem of evil and homosexuality are compelling making one anxious for the next conversation with a friend. And I have to say this book contains one of the best chapters I have ever read on the issue of evangelism..."when is it time to shut up?" A question I don't think I have ever heard in the Church.Be prepared to be challenged by the insight's Mr Newman makes in "Questioning Evangelism".