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Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel Wholly by Grace Communicated Truthfully Lovingly, By Will Metzger alt

Tell the Truth

The Whole Gospel Wholly by Grace Communicated Truthfully Lovingly

Fourth Edition

by Will Metzger

Tell the Truth
Ebook
  • Length: 272 pages
  • Published: October 03, 2012
  • Imprint: IVP
  • ISBN: 9780830866038
Other Formats:

Will Metzger's training manual on the message and methods of God-centered evangelism is now in its third edition!This revised and expanded version of the original guide published in 1981 is written to address the concern that many Christians, entrusted with the gospel message, have forgotten the message and their responsibility to accurately convey it.The recovery of a God-centered and grace-centered gospel is imperative, says Will Metzger. In the third edition of his critically-acclaimed training manual he expands on the topics of grace and worship. And he emphasizes the centrality of sovereign, saving grace that completely exalts God. In addition, he offers a narrative approach to witnessing with the story "Come Home," training materials for Christians who want to learn God-centered evangelism, and a study guide on evangelism suitable for individuals or groups.More than ever, Tell the Truth is ready to serve the church as a comprehensive, accessible and effective guide toGod-centered evangelism.

REVIEWS

"This new edition has made a good book even better. You must have it!"Rev. Ernie Reisinger, Southern Baptist pastor, evangelist and author
"Carl F.H. Henry, lamenting the wedge that is sometimes driven between theology and evangelism, said to the World Congress on Evangelism in Berlin in 1966, 'In these next years we must strive harder to become theologian-evangelists, rather than to remain content as just theologians or just evangelists.'"I am delighted that Will Metzger is a theologian-evangelist. His book, Tell the Truth, has long been a personal favorite of mine and required reading in my evangelism classes. Metzger cuts through much of the theological confusion surrounding evangelism and the gospel message and sets forth biblical and practical wisdom in an easily understood and applied manner."I am delighted he has revised and updated this significant work and commend it to you as essential reading for anyone involved in evangelism."Timothy Beougher, Ph.D., Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism and associate dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
"A very good book just got better. Twenty years ago Tell the Truth moved us so deeply that we brought Will Metzger to our church for a seminar on glad-hearted, God-centered evangelism. Now updated and with powerful new sections on sovereign grace and whole-souled worship, this book soars with a fresh passion for the supremacy of God in truth-driven evangelism. May God use it to move thousands to make much of Christ among the perishing."John Piper, author of Desiring God
"This is one of the best and most useful books on evangelism for ordinary Christians. Will Metzger has drawn upon a lifetime of personal ministry to write a biblically based, theologically sound, practically relevant book on how to share the gospel. Tell the Truth will help you--yes, even you!--learn how to develop an evangelistic way of life. Instead of relying on manipulative, man-centered methods of evangelism, Metzger explains how to introduce people to Jesus Christ in a way that glorifies God."Philip Graham Ryken, senior minister, Tenth Presbyterian Church
"An outstanding tool for those who long to reach their campus or community with the gospel of grace."Dr. David G. Sinclair Sr., former campus minister and senior pastor
"Christianity is for sharing, and Christians who love their neighbor want to do that persuasively. Pizzazz-free and nonmanipulative, Metzger's training manual on helping people to care about truth and face the truth about Jesus is first class of its kind."J. I. Packer, Board of Governors Professor of Theology, Regent College, and author of Knowing God
On the 2nd edition: "We recommend it to everyone who asks for practical help in personal evangelism."Dr. John MacArthur Jr., senior pastor, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California
"Will Metzger writes Tell the Truth for a reformation of personal evangelism. He laments the evangelism that encourages nice people to be nice to others, in the hope that they will be nice to God. Such nice, uncoverted 'Christians' have lost the gospel. This probing book presents the key to evangelism in the power of grace, the sovereign grace of the gospel. Salvation is the Lord's work, accomplished by his Spirit for his glory. Awe, freedom and delight in the Lord are its fruit."Dr. Edmund P. Clowney, author, former president, Westminster Theological Seminary (PA)
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CONTENTS

Preface to the Revised and Expanded Edition
Introduction: The Whole Gospel to the Whole Person Wholly by Grace by Whole People: Our Task in Evangelism
Part One: The Whole Gospel: Content of Our Message
1. Personal Witness as Planting and Watering
What Is Witnessing?
The Difference Between the Gospel and Our Testimony
Distinguishing Our Role from God's
2. The Gospel Reduced
Packaging the Gospel
Whole Gospel/Shrunken Gospel
Message-Centered/Method-Centered
God-Centered/Me-Centered
Is the Gospel Really Being Compromised?
Truth: The Measuring Stick of Evangelism
3. The Gospel Recovered
Gospel Grammar: The Five Primary Points of the Gospel
Gospel Telling: "Come Home" Diagram
Part Two: To the Whole Person: Conversion of the Total Person
4. Professors but Not Possessors
Mere Conversion
A Partial Response to the Gospel
5. The Whole Gospel tothe Mind
All Head Knowledge
Little Head Knowledge
The Balance: Thinking God's Thoughts, Not Judging God's Ways
6. The Whole Gospel to the Emotions
Only Emotional Reaction
No Emotional Reaction
The Balance: Emotions Led by Truth
7. The Whole Gospel to the Will
The Balance: God Moving Sinners Through Persuasion
The Labeling Fallacy
Reaching the Whole Person
Part Three: Wholly by Grace: The Foundation for Evangelism
8. Grace Is Only for the Powerless
Salvation Is Impossible for Nice People
Three Myths That Obscure Grace
Unable yet Responsible
9. God Is Grace-Full
Grace Makes Salvation Possible
Our Re-creating God
10. Sovereign, Saving Grace
Grace Discriminates
Not Free Will but a Freed Will
Because It Pleases Him
11. Worship
Motivation for Evangelism: Encountering a Macro-God
Worship: The Passion for and the Purpose of Evangelism
Real Converts Really Worship
God-Centered Evangelists Worship
Part Four: Offered by Whole People: Character and Communication in Witnessing
12. Ordinary Christians Can Witness
Pluralism and the New Definition of Tolerance
Christ, the Only Way to God
Reasoning with People
Speaking to the Conscience
Our Fears
Wholeness in Attitudes and Motivation
Prayer and the Spirit
13. How to Communicate Personally
No Perfect Methods, but Help for Starting
Different People, Different Places
Getting Started
Conversation Turners
Conversation with a Direction
The Uninterested
Using a Summary of the Gospel
Bloom Where YouAre Planted
Practical Effects of Grace-Centered Evangelism
Our Goal: Disciples
Plans to Obey
Appendixes
Appendix A: Training Materials for Learning God-Centered Evangelism
The Kind of Person God Usesin Evangelism
Preparing Your Testimony
Learning to Say What You Mean
Being a Good Listener
How to Ask Good Questions
Friendship Evangelism
Language Barriers
Four Role Plays for Learning to Witness
Evaluating the Content of a Gospel Presentation
Questions Non-Christian Ask
Guidelines for Organizing Contact Evangelism
Spiritual Interest Questionnaire
Schedule for a God-Centered Evangelism Training Seminar Weekend
Appendix B: Learning the Gospel Diagram "Come Home"
Procedures for Learning the "Come Home" Gospel Diagram
Come Home: Overview for Memorization
"Come Home: Simplified Version"
Telling the Gospel Through Stories
God's Test for Everyone: Measure Yourself by God's Law
Do You Dare Look Inside Yourself?
Appendix C: Study Guide: Twelve Sessions for Individuals or Groups
Appendix D: Doctrine Is Not an Obscene Word
Notes
Scripture Index
Permissions

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ABOUT Will Metzger

Will Metzger has been a campus minister at the University of Delaware since 1965. His evangelism ministry has taken him to every continent, and he has witnessed to people from varied nationalities both on campus and through a church that he pastored. He and his wife, Suzanne (an artist and homemaker), have two sons, who, with their wives, are all graduates of the University of Delaware. Six grandchildren complete the family.

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