Want to talk to others about the gospel? Need help overcoming the fears and uncertainties that stop a lot of us from speaking about our faith? Need to regain confidence to tell anyone who will listen about Jesus? Want to encourage and equip your congregation in their Christian walk? Well, the latest resource from Evangelism Ministries fits the bill.
Just Start Talking is a DVD and workbook combo that is designed to give us the tools and the confidence to introduce Jesus into our conversations in a natural and confident way.
This three-week course consists of setting aside one hour a week to come together in either a large gathering, a small study group or with just a few friends in your home.
In the video interviews, some Christians talk honestly about their fears and past experiences that hold them back, others say they felt inadequate and lacked the confidence to communicate, while others feared rejection and ridicule. This course is for ordinary Christians " including the shy, the fearful and the tongue-tied among us.
This course also reminds us that the good news is that God can use any of us " no matter what we’re like. Extroverts and introverts - we’re all different. To be used by God, we just need to be ready and willing to talk about Jesus. We have something important and life changing to give to people " the gospel. All it takes to share Jesus is to “just start talking” " and to have a prayerful attitude.
The course is presented by well-known Australian Christians, Colin Buchanan and Samantha Boog and utilises short DVD segments followed by workshop exercises for the viewers. The DVD is well edited and utilises a variety of interesting locations and the ‘menu’ is clearly set out and easy to navigate. Most of the visual segments are one to four minutes and move the discussion along at an efficient and effective pace.
The layout of the workbook (co-authored by Lesley Ramsay and Baden Stace) allows the group to progress smoothly through the written and visual material each week. In the appendices, they have also included a helpful summary of the essential points of the gospel as an assistance to memorisation and understanding
The two-page list of further resources (websites, course, books and tracts) together with full contact details as to where to buy them, is most helpful. The last two pages consist of notes for the leader and the session timing sheet.
It’s all there in one little booklet and one DVD. There is nothing else to obtain. The DVD even has a two-minute promo (which includes some words from John Chapman) inviting people to join in doing the course. Just Start Talking is indeed a self-paced, self-explanatory training tool " with no preparation needed. All you need to do is secure a venue and invite attendees along.
It was a privilege to review this item - and I plan to use the course in our church soon.
Following on from all the encouragement and challenges from Mark Drisoll and Don Carson in recent weeks, it is a timely resource indeed.
