Rick Richardson, Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News. InterVarsity Press, 2000.
Referenced in: Theology and Practice of Evangelism: Emergent
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This resource is produced by InterVarsity Press, which specializes in equipping students for effective witness on university campuses. And while this is not focused on that context, it does reflect a strong awareness of the currents of college culture at the time of its publication.
The “box” he refers to is the event-type evangelism that was so popular in the late modern era. Believing this to have waned in effectiveness, he wants help people experience the good news in different ways. A newer volume by Richardson, Reimaging Evangelism seems in many ways to be an update to Evangelism Outside the Box, so one may wish to consult the newer volume first.
Also, chapter 13 of this text appears in a booklet form: Circles of Belonging. It is designed to be read by nonbelievers as a means of reaching them. Richardson taps into the universal desire to belong, stressing how Jesus unconditionally accepts us, reconciles us to God, and transforms our relationships with people.
From the Publisher
It used to be that providing clear evidence for the resurrection of Jesus or the reliability of the Bible was a pretty effective way to reach people with the Good News. But today, many folks think all truth is relative, even our historical and scientific data about Christianity. So how can we reach them?
We need new ways of telling people the old, old story. We need to look again at our usual mental habits if we want to reach people who have a brand new mindset of their own. We need to get outside the box of ideas and practices that are sacred to us but are not sacred to God. That’s what Rick Richardson’s book is all about.
Here are fresh perspectives on relying on the Holy Spirit, awakening spiritual interest in others, appealing to what they value (instead of what we think they should value) and leading them into a transforming experience with God. Also included is Richardson’s Circles of Belonging, a new, straightforward presentation of the message of Jesus (yes, it can even be sketched out on a napkin!) that is true to Scripture and true to the new way people live and think.
As an experienced evangelist and leader of evangelism programs, Richardson offers in this helpful book the principles and practices that will help us all grow in love for—and communicate effectively with—people who need Jesus.
Features & Benefits:
- Introduces a fresh, simple and effective evangelism tool
- Acknowledges that traditional models of evangelism don’t “connect” with men and women today
- Helps us get “outside the box” of familiar ways of thinking and communicating that just aren’t effective
- Offers engaging stories of mistakes and successes
- Provides suggestions on how to awaken spiritual interest in others
- Shows that by appealing to what people value (instead of what we think they should value) they can be led into a transforming experience with God
- Contains an appendix full of evangelism resources and ideas
- Contains a chapter addressed directly to non-believers
About the Author
Rick Richardson (M.Div., Northern Baptist Seminary) is associate professor and director of the masters in evangelism program at Wheaton Graduate School, associate national director for evangelism with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA and an ordained priest with the Anglican Mission in America.
His book Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News has been widely used by campus ministries, by Emergent churches and in seminary classes on evangelism. Richardson has also published four Bible discussion guides for seekers and skeptics: Sex, Spirituality, Finding God and Following After God. With Brenda Salter McNeil, he is the coauthor of The Heart of Racial Justice: How Soul Change Leads to Social Change.
***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.***
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