Book Alert: Jesus the Evangelist

 Title: Jesus the Evangelist: Learning to Share the Gospel from the Book of John
 Author: Richard D. Phillips
 Publisher: Reformation Trust
 Publishing Date: July 2007
 Pages: 208
 Format: Hardcover
 ISBN: 1-56769-088-2
 Retail Price: $19.00
 Table of Contents: HERE
 Intro: HERE
 Sample Chapter: HERE 

From Reformation Trust: 

Rev. Richard D. Phillips digs into the early chapters of the Gospel of John to discover principles for Christian outreach that were modeled by witnesses for Jesus and by Jesus Himself. Phillips unfolds biblical principles for evangelism by examining the ministry of John the Baptist and the calling of the first of Jesus’ disciples. Then, through a brief study of the Lord’s encounter with the Pharisee Nicodemus, he presents us with a theology of the gospel. Finally, he focuses in on Jesus’ stirring encounter with the Samaritan woman to show exactly how Christ shared the good news. Phillips’ clear and concise handling of these key stories will both motivate and instruct believers in their witness on behalf of Christ.

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Other books by Richard D. Phillips:

Hebrews (Reformed Expository Commentary)
What Are Election and Predestination?
What Is the Lord’s Supper?
Chosen in Christ: The Glory of Grace in Ephesians 1
Turning Your World Upside Down: Kingdom Priorities in the Parables of Jesus
Mighty to Save: Discovering God’s Grace in the Miracles of Jesus
Encounters With Jesus: When Ordinary People Meet the Savior
The Heart of an Executive: Lessons on Leadership from the Life of King David
Holding Hands, Holding Hearts: Recovering a Biblical View of Dating (with his wife)
Only One Way? Reaffirming the Exclusive Truth Claims of Christianity (contributor)
By Faith Alone: Answering the Challenges to the Doctrine of Justification (contributor)
The Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic (contributor)

Initial Thoughts:

I love books about Jesus.  I also love reading books on evangelism, especially ones that focus on biblical exposition as a foundational approach to evangelism rather than the newest technique or pragmatic trend in the marketplace of ideas.  Anyone familiar with the books relating to evangelism will know that evangelicals have not provided a wealth of great books on this topic.  However, a quick glance at Phillips’ books will reveal that this is now his fourth book specifically focusing on Jesus (the others dealing with His encounters, His miracles, and His parables).  An author so Christ-centered in his studies has now provided what promises to be a biblically enriching journey into the motives and methods of Jesus the Evangelist.  Phillips focuses both on theology and practice, making the essential connection between the two.  He also concludes with an appendix dealing with the sovereignty of God in evangelism – an often debated issue among Christians today.

One of the most repeated caricatures of Calvinists or those in the Reformed community is that holding to the doctrines of grace thwarts evangelism.  Some have even argued that if one holds to Reformed convictions, they will then become anti-Great Commission and will kill evangelism in the local church.  Such gross misrepresentations can never be approached with similar argumentation; rather, faithful biblical exposition and gleaning from the example of Jesus are the best and most adequate means of vindicating the truth that God’s sovereignty in salvation as it builds confidence in both the gospel and the God of the gospel, providing encouragement for Christians to witness in the power of the Holy Spirit.  This addition by Phillips is a welcomed treatise in the same tradition of J.I. Packer’s Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God and Will Metzger’s Tell the Truth.  I encourage everyone, Reformed or non-Reformed, to pick up this book.  It is my hope that such a study will build a deeper theological foundation on the gospel and a wider evangelistic fervor for our world to know Jesus Christ.

Endorsements:

“Richard D. Phillips’ Jesus the Evangelist is exactly what a paranoid and paralyzed church needs to hear in order to do the essential work of witnessing for Jesus Christ! In a day when so-called ‘practical’ books are synonymous with fluffy books, here’s a solid, readable work for the ‘average Christian.’ Phillips’ study of John 1, 3, and 4 takes us beyond clever techniques to biblical faithfulness, and beyond entertaining communication to sound theology in evangelism. He does a masterful job of helping us learn from God’s Word principles for evangelism, the theology of the gospel, and Jesus’ own practice in evangelism. Consequently, the reader is moved beyond apathy to action, to proclaiming the good news that Jesus the Son of God has come into the world to take away the sins of all those who repent and believe on Him. Reader of this volume will learn how to evangelize the real people around them from the only real Savior, Jesus Christ.  Every pastor should buy two boxes of Jesus the Evangelist and give them away to members.”
— Rev. Thabiti Anyabwile, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman  
 
“Richard Phillips has written a very helpful book that every serious Christian should read. Evangelism is not an afterthought in the Christian life. It is how God has ordained to glorify Himself in the salvation of sinners. Rev. Phillips explains this by showing how Jesus is both the evangel and the Great Evangelist. In the process, he challenges both apathy and superficiality in the great work of making disciples. I highly recommend this book!”
— Dr. Thomas K. Ascol, Senior Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Cape Coral, Fla., and Executive Director, Founders Ministries

Richard Phillips is an Alliance Council Member and senior minister of First Presbyterian Church in Coral Springs/Margate, Florida (PCA).  He previously served as minister of preaching at the historic Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.  He is also a board member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and is chairman of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology.  An officer in the United States Army for thirteen years, Phillips commanded tank units and later served as assistant professor of leadership at West Point before resigning with the rank of major to enter the ministry.  He holds degrees from the University of Michigan, the Wharton School of Business and Westminster Theological Seminary.

** Note: Go here to check out Reformation Trust’s “Blog for a Free Book” deal.  This is a great idea!