Jerram Barrs, Learning Evangelism from Jesus. Crossway Books, 2009.
Referenced in: Approaches to Evangelism – Missionally Responsive/Evangelical
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is a sequel to Barrs’ earlier work, The Heart of Evangelism. The first was a meditative reflection on evangelism, this is a look at how Jesus did evangelism through is diverse encounters with people. It is of a similar genre as Lynn Anderson’s The Jesus Touch, yet Anderson is not focused on evangelism but simply on the genuinely impacting encounters Jesus had with people and how this should shape our relationships. Barrs looks at Jesus’ encounters through the evangelistic lens and helps “religious people” to see themselves more honestly as they try to follow Jesus. Both Anderson and Barrs are excellent. They deal with many of the same stories from the Gospels. If you must choose one, read Anderson, but you will profit from both.
The theme of this book is that Jesus, the Son of God, shows us the way to be in the world. It is my deep conviction that our evangelism, both in theory and practice, must be shaped not only by the general teaching of Scripture but also, indeed most of all, by imitating the pattern of Christ. (14-15)
He continues:
When we look at Jesus’ life and ministry we also see he was the greatest evangelist. …As we read the four Gospels we learn that Jesus is the best example of how we are to relate to those we meet, whatever their views, whatever their way of life. He is the best example of how we are to live before unbelievers and how we are to love them, serve them, and speak truth to them. (16-17)
Each chapter is a reflection one story from the Gospels, with an attempt to extract regulative principles for today. Here is a representative list of the stories Barrs draws from:
- John 8 – The woman caught in adultery
- John 4 – The woman at the well
- Luke 10 – The parable of the Good Samaritan (special focus on the context in which Jesus tells the story in interaction with a teacher, or “an expert in the law”)
- Mark 10 – The rich young ruler
- Luke 17 – The story of Zacchaeus
- Luke 15 – The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost sons
- Luke 7 – The sinful woman at the house of Simon
- Mark 7 – The encounter with religious traditionalists
- Mark 7 – Jesus and the Syro-Phoenician Woman
- Luke 7 – The encounter with the Centurion
- John 3 – Jesus and Nicodemus
- Luke 16 – The parable of the shrewd manager
- Luke 14 – Jesus at the home of the ruler of the Pharisees
Barrs is especially good at helping “religious people” (i.e. average “mature” Christians) see themselves more honestly through Jesus’ disarming authenticity and genuine love for lost people. The questions he provides at the end of each chapter are helpful toward that end. It is more application and reflection than careful interpretation, so read with appreciation for what it is. Again, look closely at Lynn Anderson’s The Jesus Touch to get another valuable perspective on Jesus’ encounters with people. Either or both are great tools for preachers, Bible class teachers or small group leaders.
From the Publisher
Studying Jesus’ conversations with diverse people in his day, Jerram Barrs draws lessons and principles for attractively communicating the gospel to unbelievers in our day. Living in a culture that is opposed to Christianity tempts God’s people to conform, to retreat, to be silent. But Jesus showed the way to live faithfully before an unbelieving world.
As the greatest evangelist, Jesus exemplified how to attract people to the gospel. He modeled how to initiate spiritual conversations full of grace and truth. Christian evangelism, then, both in theory and practice, must be shaped by his pattern.
Seeking to articulate the passions and principles present in Christ’s life and words, longtime L’Abri staff member Jerram Barrs has studied Jesus’ diverse encounters with people throughout the Gospels. Each chapter of Learning Evangelism from Jesus recounts one of those stories, draws useful lessons for readers’ lives and communication of the gospel, and concludes with questions for further reflection and application. This highly practical book will guide Christians in how to live before unbelievers and how to love them into the kingdom, just as Jesus did.
About the Author
Jerram Barrs is the founder and Resident Scholar of the Francis Schaeffer Institute at Covenant Theological Seminary. He also teaches apologetics and outreach, among other subjects, as Professor of Christianity and Contemporary Culture at Covenant. He and his wife were on staff at English L’Abri for many years.
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