Randy Newman, Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People’s Hearts the Way Jesus Did. Kregel Publications, 2004.
Companion volume: Newman, Corner Conversations
Referenced in: Approaches to Evangelism – Conversational/Relational
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Newman writes in a non-technical, humorous style on the value of questions in evangelism. He is quite respectful of classical/evidential apologetics authors such as Josh McDowell and Lee Strobel. His conviction base is seemingly conservative evangelical (e.g. he upholds the use of the Four Spiritual Laws and addresses the reality of heaven and hell). Readers of a missional/emergent mindset will also appreciate Newman’s emphasis on questions.
Newman makes the distinction between three skills. The first is declaring the Gospel, which he calls “the ability to clearly and concisely articulate the message of salvation.” The second is the ability to defend the gospel by “anticipating common questions, acquainting oneself with helpful discoveries from the past, and planning how to deliver this information in a logical sequence.” The third skill is dialoguing the Gospel, the “skill of giving and taking – asking questions and bouncing ideas back and forth.” It is this third skill of dialoging that Newman believes is important for the postmodern context, and it is the focus of this book. His thesis is that in today’s climate, questions are better than answers. (14-15)
Newman’s hope is that his text will not be used as a technical handbook, but as a catalyst to developing
“a different way of thinking about people, their questions, and our message. And because of that difference, our evangelistic conversations will sound less content/persuasion driven and more relationship/understanding driven. They’ll sound like rabbinic dialogues than professorial monologues. They’ll be an exchange of ideas that lead both participants to the truth of the gospel. …The goal of Questioning Evangelism is to help people know how to think about an issue more than what to think. This will help followers of Jesus to develop their minds (“the mind of Christ”) more than their methodologies, giving readers a sense of what to say. More important, though, readers will grow in confidence, knowing what to ask, because this book is about questions – questions that Christians can ask to move the conversation in a Christ-ward direction, questions that non-Christians are asking (either directly or indirectly), and questions that Christians can use as answers.” (15-16)
In Part One, Newman surveys the Old Testament Proverbs to demonstrate the value of questions, and discusses how well-crafted questions pave the way to answers. In Part Two, Newman looks at how questions may be used to deal with several issues that concern people today. Some of the questions are the same ones people have asked for millennia, but the tone is more intense. Some of them are new as compared to twenty years ago (e.g. homosexuality). Some of them have always lurked quietly but come out more boldly now (e.g. chastity, marital fidelity):
- Why are Christians so intolerant?
- Why does a good God allow evil and suffering such as Columbine and AIDS? The ultimate why question (Part 1)
- Why should anyone worship a God who allowed 9/11? The ultimate why question (Part 2)
- Why should we believe an ancient book written by dead Jewish males?
- Why are Christians so homophobic?
- What’s so good about marriage?
- If Jesus is so great, why are some of his followers such jerks?
In Part Three, Newman gets at the heart of Christians and their motivations for evangelism. He entitles the section, “What Aren’t Questions and Answers Enough?” He deals with three issues:
- The question of compassion: “What if I really don’t care that my neighbor is going to hell?”
- The question of anger: “What if I really want my neighbor to go to hell?”
- The question of silence: “When is it time to shut up?”
This is an excellent text on the conversational dimension of evangelism. The companion volume by Newman, Corner Conversations, offers seven conversational examples that show Newman’s method in action.
From the Publisher
A much-needed look at sharing Christ with unbelievers, based not on the techniques of guerrilla hard-sell tactics, but on engaging questions and caring interaction. Filled with humor and stories, this book provides a challenging yet encouraging look at evangelism in our world today. This volume argues that asking questions and starting meaningful conversations is a far better method for sharing faith than prepared lectures or statements. It gives advice on what people need to hear in response to the world around them.
About the Author
Randy Newman has worked with Campus Crusade for more than twenty years. In this time he has also taught many seminars on evangelism and had numerous conversations concerning the gospel. He speaks every week at the Pentagon for Campus Crusade’s Christian Embassy, which is made up of officers and civilians.
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