Unbinding the Gospel -- Informational Video

Mainline Protestant Churches struggle with evangelism.  It's not that they don't have people with strong faith.  It's not that they don't have a story to tell.  The reasons for this reluctance are complex.  Some are theological -- most of us don't believe that God consigns people to hell if they don't believe in Jesus.  Some are concerned about imposing their beliefs on others.  Still others equate evangelism with TV evangelists, sidewalk preachers, or those groups that knock on doors.  You know, the people many find annoying.  So, it's better to keep one's faith to one's self!

My congregation has tried to come to grips with this by exploring together a series of books written by Martha Grace Reese.  Martha Grace is a Disciples pastor and a researcher who has provided an excellent set of resources.  These are not a self-contained program that by themselves will change your church over night.  It is simply a process that gets congregations doing two things -- praying and sharing their faith stories. 

There are four books in the series, all published by Chalice Press:  Unbinding the Gospel, Unbinding Your Heart, Unbinding Your Church, and most recently Unbinding Your Soul

Here is a video introduction.  Following that I offer links to my own reviews of the books that have been posted earlier on the blog.



For reviews, click on the title link:

Comments

roy said…
thanks Bob. it looks like a helpful series
Gary said…
"most of us don't believe that God consigns people to hell if they don't believe in Jesus."

Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

The Apostle John said, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36

The Apostle Peter said, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given amoung men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

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