Just One Book - Question

[ThisEbenezer]

Good morning -

As an aspiring author, I am researching a book on evangelism. I'd like to ask a non-scientific question if I may and solicit your opinions.

Question: If you were leading a person to Christ who had never read any part of the Bible before, which book of the Bible would you point them to in order for them to start? After that first book, what would be second? Let's stop at two for now.

I welcome your answers and reasons why.

Thank you!

 

[bling]

I have not found the Bible to be the source of converting the non-believer, but the individual Christian’s use of scripture in changing their personal life can be extremely convicting. The nonbeliever needs to hear and see how you use scripture to solve your personal issues, discover truth and use it to help others.

The nonbeliever need to experience Christ himself listening to them, sharing with them, spending time with them, helping them and mentoring to them. Christ living in and through a true Christian can provide the nonbeliever with that firsthand personal experience.

There are nonbelievers in this world that already believe and trust in a benevolent Creator out of a need they have for a benevolent Creator and the Creator has help him/her already and has now brought you to them. Those individuals need to know about Christ and any of the Gospels would work to give some understanding, but they need to see Christ in you.

 

[ThisEbenezer]

I have not found the Bible to be the source of converting the non-believer, but the individual Christian’s use of scripture in changing their personal life can be extremely convicting. The nonbeliever needs to hear and see how you use scripture to solve your personal issues, discover truth and use it to help others.

The nonbeliever need to experience Christ himself listening to them, sharing with them, spending time with them, helping them and mentoring to them. Christ living in and through a true Christian can provide the nonbeliever with that firsthand personal experience.

There are nonbelievers in this world that already believe and trust in a benevolent Creator out of a need they have for a benevolent Creator and the Creator has help him/her already and has now brought you to them. Those individuals need to know about Christ and any of the Gospels would work to give some understanding, but they need to see Christ in you.

I could not agree with you more, and you communicated it very well. What I am looking for is once you have led the person to a point where they wish to discover the Bible and know Christ, where would you start? Genesis? Matthew? Somewhere else? Looking for opinions. Thank you.

 

[South Bound]

Good morning -

As an aspiring author, I am researching a book on evangelism. I'd like to ask a non-scientific question if I may and solicit your opinions.

Question: If you were leading a person to Christ who had never read any part of the Bible before, which book of the Bible would you point them to in order for them to start? After that first book, what would be second? Let's stop at two for now.

I welcome your answers and reasons why.

Thank you!

Romans
John
1 John

If they're Jewish, then Isaiah, Hebrews, and then Romans.

 

[ebia]

Good morning - As an aspiring author, I am researching a book on evangelism. I'd like to ask a non-scientific question if I may and solicit your opinions. Question: If you were leading a person to Christ who had never read any part of the Bible before, which book of the Bible would you point them to in order for them to start? After that first book, what would be second? Let's stop at two for now. I welcome your answers and reasons why. Thank you!

The Gospel according to Luke.

Number two would depend on their response to Luke

 

[South Bound]

I have not found the Bible to be the source of converting the non-believer, but the individual Christian’s use of scripture in changing their personal life can be extremely convicting. The nonbeliever needs to hear and see how you use scripture to solve your personal issues, discover truth and use it to help others. e]

The nonbeliever need to experience Christ himself listening to them, sharing with them, spending time with them, helping them and mentoring to them. Christ living in and through a true Christian can provide the nonbeliever with that firsthand personal experience.

There are nonbelievers in this world that already believe and trust in a benevolent Creator out of a need they have for a benevolent Creator and the Creator has help him/her already and has now brought you to them. Those individuals need to know about Christ and any of the Gospels would work to give some understanding, but they need to see Christ in you.

Sounds very Joel Osteen-y.

 

[graceandpeace]

First, one of the Gospels - Matthew or Luke (NOT John). The former two are lengthy but easier reading to be introduced to Christ & His ministry. John is just too theological & complex for a newcomer.

Second, I really don't know. Perhaps Romans, as it is a good intro to some Christian doctrine & thought (though admittedly it is confusing at times).

I just really wouldn't suggest an OT book or Revelation.

 

[bling]

I could not agree with you more, and you communicated it very well. What I am looking for is once you have led the person to a point where they wish to discover the Bible and know Christ, where would you start? Genesis? Matthew? Somewhere else? Looking for opinions. Thank you.

What I want and try to do is know the person I am studying with and have us agree on where we will learn together to begin with (so it could be anywhere).
Another thing I have done if he will not let me know his real issues and since I share my problems with the person is for us to go to the scriptures that help me solve my problem at the time. (this is not my first choice). This allows him/her to see how scripture works and will bring them around to want to try it on their issues.
You need to know scripture.

 

[bling]

Sounds very Joel Osteen-y.

I hope not.

 

[ForJesusChrist]

Great question! Sorry I can't simply put two, so here's some:

1+2 Corinthians, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Genesis, Psalms, and Colossians.

God Bless

 

[ViaCrucis]

The Gospel according to Luke.

Number two would depend on their response to Luke

This.

Though I also feel that if someone is completely clueless about Christianity something like the Apostles' of Nicene Creed would be pretty darn helpful here. While everything in the ancient Creeds can be found while studying and searching through Scripture, the Creeds give a solid, concise outline of what Christianity confesses.

Studying Scripture is a lifelong pursuit, something we do both as individuals and as members living together in community confessing our faith corporately. Giving someone a Bible can be pretty overwhelming for someone unfamiliar with our religion, not that they shouldn't read it; but it shouldn't be the only thing. That's why the Creed is so important, that's why many churches have classes you can take, without having to make a commitment or not--to inform people about what it is we do and believe.

For many of us who grew up in the Church we take a lot of what we learned growing up in our church culture for granted. But our parents didn't just put a Bible in our hands and say, "Start here", they taught us, they raised us, and we absorbed the faith, received it, week after week. We were formed and informed within the landscape of faith, nurtured in its soil, and it is within that we took to the Scriptures, hearing them, reading them, and began to know them.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ezeric]

First off, they really need to read you!
They don't come to the LORD because of a book (even the bible, as good as it is).

You are part of the living epistles. 2 Corinthians 3:2

Then when you get to scriptures, let the LORD guide you (HE guides in love) to the
right scripture at the right time.

-eric

 

[ThisEbenezer]

This.

Though I also feel that if someone is completely clueless about Christianity something like the Apostles' of Nicene Creed would be pretty darn helpful here. While everything in the ancient Creeds can be found while studying and searching through Scripture, the Creeds give a solid, concise outline of what Christianity confesses.

Studying Scripture is a lifelong pursuit, something we do both as individuals and as members living together in community confessing our faith corporately. Giving someone a Bible can be pretty overwhelming for someone unfamiliar with our religion, not that they shouldn't read it; but it shouldn't be the only thing. That's why the Creed is so important, that's why many churches have classes you can take, without having to make a commitment or not--to inform people about what it is we do and believe.

For many of us who grew up in the Church we take a lot of what we learned growing up in our church culture for granted. But our parents didn't just put a Bible in our hands and say, "Start here", they taught us, they raised us, and we absorbed the faith, received it, week after week. We were formed and informed within the landscape of faith, nurtured in its soil, and it is within that we took to the Scriptures, hearing them, reading them, and began to know them.

-CryptoLutheran

I really like what you said here, and it sums up what I am trying to do in my writing to a tee. As I was raised in a church, I take a lot for granted. I see many, many Christians using the Bible as their first attempt to witness to someone and in a lot of cases it falls flat.

The point of my question is to say once we get someone past the initial road blocks where they want to learn about Christ, where do we start? We can't hand them this huge book and say "Read this". We need to point them to one of the many books that can help open their hearts and minds to Christ.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[ThisEbenezer]

First off, they really need to read you!
They don't come to the LORD because of a book (even the bible, as good as it is).

You are part of the living epistles. 2 Corinthians 3:2

Then when you get to scriptures, let the LORD guide you (HE guides in love) to the
right scripture at the right time.

-eric

I am seeing a theme here! Thanks for sharing.

 

[ThisEbenezer]

Great question! Sorry I can't simply put two, so here's some:

1+2 Corinthians, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Genesis, Psalms, and Colossians.

God Bless

Thanks. Are these in order? If not, could you put them in order for me?

 

[football5680]

Probably John and Matthew but for something to be effective you must also provide a background for why they should believe it in the first place. The best evidence is the multitude of prophecies that Jesus fulfilled which were in place hundreds of years before he came. We must show somebody why they should believe the Bible over another religious text.