When presenting the tentmaking model we are often challenged that tentmakers can’t be effective in sharing the gospel because their time is taken up with their work. This book was not written with the tentmaker in mind, but it is a great guide to help tentmakers learn how to integrate work and their faith in the course of everyday activities.
If you are like many people, the idea of sharing your faith in the workplace, or other everyday settings is scary. This book addresses those fears and provides very simple, and practical advice.
The book presents biblical principles to ease the fear of sharing Jesus in these places, and with the people, who most need to know him.
Reid exhorts us to not over complicate it. Too often we create elaborate plans and programs to share our faith. It should be less about delivering a practiced presentation and more like having a personal conversation.
Saving people is not in your power – that is God’s role. But, you are vital to God’s plan. The author shows how to be yourself and through natural everyday interactions share your faith and have an impact.
One of the key factors is to change your paradigm. Often the church develops programs and activities designed to “evangelize” people. Reid says that is the wrong way of looking at it. Instead of thinking about scheduling and making visits, one should make friends and engage with them in the normal activity of being friends. Let Jesus shine through you.
The author dedicates a chapter in the book for each of his eight principles. At the end of the book he outlines a lesson plan to implement each of the them, either individually, or as part of a small group. Each lesson includes questions and exercises to guide the readers to practice the principles laid out in the book.
Here are the Principles in a nutshell:
- God created you for his glory, to advance his gospel with the gifts, talents, and opportunities he gave you.
- In order to share Jesus confidently and consistently with others, first share him confidently and consistently with yourself.
- Shifting from giving an evangelistic presentation to having an evangelistic conversation takes pressure off the witness and relates the gospel more clearly to an audience.
- God has sovereignly placed you in this world at this time with the abilities and gifts you have to bring glory to him and show the joy of the gospel to others.
- Effective evangelistic conversations connect the unchanging gospel with the specific issues people face.
- Expect people to be open to the gospel and learn to share Jesus where they live.
- Talk to the actual person in front of you about the Jesus inside you; let them see and hear the change Jesus makes in you.
- Developing a lifestyle of sharing Jesus consistently flows out of a plan to share Jesus regularly.
Not a reader? Check out the video series on YouTube where the author teaches each of the lessons to a live audience. How to Share Jesus Without Freaking Out Session 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6W69d5XZEo
Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out: Evangelism the Way You Were Born to Do It, by Alvin L Reid
Reviewed by Phill Sandahl