A Tool for Going with the Gospel (Book Review)

Dodge, Jeff. Gospel 101: Learning, Living, and Sharing the Gospel. New Growth Press, Greensboro, NC. 2018. 128 pages.

We read the commands in Scripture. We hear the pleas from the pulpit. We even desire to do it. Yet, we feel inadequate and fret about the task at hand. What are we talking about? Evangelism. The topic of sharing your faith with unbelievers often produces fear of not knowing enough and not knowing what to say. As a result, sharing the gospel is handled with anxiety. However, it does not have to be this way. Sharing the gospel can be approached with anticipation. This happens as the believer understands the gospel and the Holy Spirit empowers the believer with boldness to engage with others in gospel conversations. In Gospel 101: Learning, Living, and Sharing the Gospel, Pastor Jeff Dodge equips and encourages Christians to do just that.

Understanding and Sharing the Gospel

Too many study guides on evangelism either overload the reader with information or are too simplistic in their explanation of the gospel. This is not the case with Gospel 101. In eight lessons, Pastor Dodge takes the participant through the Gospel (Lesson 1), God (Lesson 2), Humanity (Lesson 3), Christ (Lesson 4), Justification (Lesson 5), Response (Lesson 6), Belonging (Lesson 7), and Culmination (Lesson 8). The width of this study does not lack depth but equips the believer well to understand the gospel and share the gospel. In each lesson, Pastor Dodge encourages Christians to engage in the text with a Bible reading assignment, to expand their understanding on the lesson’s theme with an article related to the Bible reading assignment, and to apply the content by answering workbook questions and using survey questions to start conversations with skeptics and unbelievers.

Groups Going with the Gospel

The uniqueness of this study guide is how it explains the gospel in a clear and faithful manner while it also equips Christians to evangelize in a considerate and fresh manner. The survey section in each lesson reminds believers the gospel is not merely good news to be studied. The gospel is good news we need to share. With a resource full of such gospel gold, this feature may be the best. The survey questions give the Christian the tools they need to be equipped in evangelizing. Those who fear not knowing what to say will find out one of the best ways to interact with unbelievers on this matter is to ask questions and simply listen to them before speaking and sharing.

Gospel 101: Learning, Living, and Sharing the Gospel is a call to action. If you are a Christian who does not recognize the urgency of the gospel and who plans to study the gospel only to sit on this knowledge, then this study guide is not for you. Gospel 101 is for the Christian who wants to know the gospel and share the gospel clearly and faithfully. Ideal for small group use, churches can help Christians in their congregations face their fears of not knowing enough and not knowing what to say by recommending to them Gospel 101: Learning, Living, and Sharing the Gospel. Go with the gospel by going through Gospel 101!

I received this book from New Growth Press in exchange for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and are my honest review of the book.