Reese, Unbinding the Gospel

Share this:

Martha Grace Reese, Unbinding the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism. 2nd Edition. Chalice Press, 2008.

Referenced in: Evangelism Approaches – Missional

LifeandLeadership.com Summary

This is a well-researched and very popular approach to evangelism that has been used by over 12,000 churches, predominately mainline denominations. It is designed for small group Bible study, and comes with a series of tools to saturate an entire congregation with training in real life evangelism. From the standpoint of strategy, it is an effective church-wide approach to getting people involved. It leans to the left theologically, i.e. it does not share evangelical assumptions about eternity, Heaven, Hell, etc., so some pieces may not enjoy use among evangelicals. It still, however, a great source for transferable ideas and action steps.

This is the foundational text to all the resources in the Unbinding the Gospel series. It is divided into four parts:

Part One looks at the state of evangelism in churches day. The first question is “What is Evangelism?” This is a biblical discussion of the theological grounding of evangelism. The second question is “Why do it?” This is focused on mainline Protestant denominations who are both theologically and practically uncomfortable with evangelism, though it contains useful ideas for more conservative and evangelical types. The third question is “How are mainlines doing it?” Reese describes the four-year study, the Mainline Evangelism Project, sponsored by the Lilly Foundation on mainline denominational churches that were doing evangelism effectively. Only 150 out of 30,000 churches (one-half of one percent) fit the criteria. Over 1,200 people were interviewed.

In Part Two, Reese tells “Three Stories of Victory” that shows how the effective churches in her study thrived in evangelism. It highlights actual churches, and is not a compilation. She presents proven, concrete methods for churches to make a difference. One chapter discusses the role of congregational prayer. Chapter 5 discusses the three sets of healthy relationships found in the effective churches. Chapter 6 looks at how to nurture new members in to a church.

Part Three shows how this can be translated into each local church with their unique opportunities. Chapter 7 discusses nine types of evangelism, with a special look at practices that make it difficult to build bridges. Chapter 8 talks about “Who does what?” with a special word to denominational leaders. Chapter 9 lays out the struggles, growing pains, and distractions that can occur when churches try to activate these new practices. Chapter 10 offers a year-long strategic action plan for conducting a year of evangelism.

Part Four is a 40-day (six-week) personal prayer journal.

The book is organized for group use, and the program is optimally conducted over eight sessions. Each chapter begins with “Honest to God” discussion questions for personal and group reflection. At the end of chapter, there are helpful action ideas.

Several supplemental volumes make up the series:

From the Publisher

Based on a major, four-year study of superb evangelism, funded by the Lilly Endowment, Unbinding the Gospel sparkles with life, practicality and spiritual depth. Unbinding the Gospel: Real Life Evangelism is a book for pastors who want to know the truth about the state of evangelism. Recently selected by The Christian Century as a featured “Take and Read”book (2007 book issue), Unbinding the Gospel is a book for Christians who want a hopeful, powerful, joy-filled way to learn to share their faith. (It’s also a book for people who cringe when they hear the “E” word!) This book for congregational use has been enthusiastically endorsed by 8 heads of denominations, Brian McLaren, Richard Peace, as well as by countless pastors and church leaders.

Unbinding the Gospel, 2nd ed. is the foundation of the Unbinding the Gospel Series, which can, lead to a six-week, all-congregation saturation study with individual prayer, small group study and all-church worship and prayer dimensions. See Unbinding Your Heart (the 6 week version of GOSPEL, with a different 40 day prayer journal) and Unbinding Your Church (the Pastor’s Guide). Follow-up your all-church saturation study (the “E-vent”) with a small group-based Experiment in Christian Prayer & Community, using Unbinding Your Soul (available 9/09). Small groups will double when members invite their unchurched friends into the Experiment.

Unbinding the GOSPEL is in more than 12,000 congregations, in 49 denominations, all 50 states and 8 countries. The new second edition contains a personal 40 day prayer journal.

About the Author

Martha Grace Reese embodies the experience of a researcher, corporate attorney, congregational pastor, middle judicatory minister and consultant. She directed the only major study of evangelism in mainline churches, funded by the Lilly Endowment. The Unbinding Series is grounded in four years of research and more than 1,200 interviews.

***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***

Related Areas

See Other Resources on Evangelism:

See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership:

Ministry Resource Guide Index

Evangelism