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    God Talks, Sharing Christ In Our PostChristian Culture
    God Talks, Sharing Christ In Our PostChristian Culture
    God Talks, Sharing Christ In Our PostChristian Culture
    Ebook90 pages2 hours

    God Talks, Sharing Christ In Our PostChristian Culture

    By Steve Hughes

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    About this ebook

    God Talks is a guide to help Jesus followers share the message of Christ to our unchurched and dechurched friends. A “God Talk” uses a relational and discussion oriented process to help friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors discover the loving and saving power of God in their lives. Pastor Steve has over twenty years of experience in utilizing God Talks with friends and has taught this evangelism method as a seminary and Christian university Instructor. The book’s goal is to help churches and Christians develop life skills for sharing the message of Christ to the unchurched and dechurched in our postChristian culture.
    Some surveys say that a majority of people believe in God. However, active and consistent attendance at Christian churches in America applies to only 14% of our population. High school students and young adults who were active in church are leaving the church. Only about ten to twenty percent remain in the church after graduation from high school. We do live in a postChristian culture in North America.
    The church has for decades used a legalistic, formula based, confrontational, and simple “sinner’s prayer” approach to evangelism. Jesus modeled for us a relational and process oriented style of sharing the message of God and calling individuals to follow him.
    The book helps us understand the postChristian culture and how that translates into our approach in sharing and modeling the life and message of Christ. A helpful description is given of how to begin a God Talk. Tips are provided on how to have a discovery oriented discussion with a friend about Christ in contrast to an argumentative debate. Included are chapters that provide help in not using “Christianese” when we talk with our friends and how to paraphrase and share a “Jesus story” from scripture.
    A resource section of the book provides examples of how to respond to a friend’s beliefs and statements that continues the discussion and not end it. Role plays, from real life examples, are provided to help prepare for a God Talk with a friend. Small group discussion questions and Biblical references are given. Contact information is included to book Pastor Steve for a training webinar or workshop.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSteve Hughes
    Release dateMay 4, 2015
    ISBN9781311960719
    God Talks, Sharing Christ In Our PostChristian Culture
    Author

    Steve Hughes

    Pastor Steve Hughes has served as a pastor, missionary, and minister to postChristian young adults in California, the Northwest, and Colorado. As an adjunct instructor, he has taught seminary and undergraduate courses in postChristian ministry and has a B.S. in Education and a Master’s degree in Christian Education. Steve has varied life experiences as a public school teacher, an EMT, a professional wilderness guide, Manager of a Ronald McDonald House, and managing volunteers for a rape crisis center, a program for homeless teenagers and for the Foundation for Private Enterprise Education. Pastor Steve lives near Mount Rainier National Park where he volunteers as wilderness patrol ranger and leads a small group at his church. He and his wife enjoy being close to their two sons, daughter-in-law and grandson who live in Portland, Oregon.

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      Book preview

      God Talks, Sharing Christ In Our PostChristian Culture - Steve Hughes

      God Talks,

      Sharing Christ in our PostChristian Culture

      Pastor Steve Hughes

      Published by Steve Hughes at Smashwords

      Copyright 2015 Steve Hughes

      Smashwords Edition License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Table of Contents

      Forward, Recommendations

      Introduction

      Chapter 1 America is Not a Christian Nation

      Chapter 2 Become a Better Christian by Not Going to Church So Much

      Chapter 3 What the Hell Was God Thinking?

      Chapter 4 Elements of a God Talk

      Chapter 5 Is Christianese Your First Language?

      Chapter 6 Jesus Story or Do you know what the Heaven you’re talking about?

      Chapter 7 What to Say to Begin a God Talk

      Chapter 8 When & How to Ask a Friend About Becoming a Christian

      Chapter 9 Becoming a Follower of Christ

      Resource, Response to PostChristian Statements

      Resource, God Talk Role Play Scenarios

      Resource, Training Workshops & Webinars

      Contact Pastor Steve

      Forward, Recommendations

      "In the two years I worked with Pastor Steve in the post-Christian ministry he directed in Yosemite National Park my view of ministry and evangelism was forever changed. Steve has a gift for relating to people and building relationships that allow him to bring to light what lies deep within ones heart and mind that keeps that person from believing in, trusting, and loving Jesus. He then can use his deep friendship with that person, and keen perception of their thought processes, to build a practically irrefutable case for faith in and love of Jesus.  

      Steve is also a great teacher. I've seen him teach dozens of people his technique for relational evangelism; though it's less a technique than it is a lifestyle of caring deeply for and relating to people in all the ways that truly matter. Any church or ministry organization would be lucky to have Pastor Steve on their team to train people in post-Christian relational evangelism.

      Shea Overman - former student missionary, Church Planter, Husband & Dad

      God used Steve in my life to revolutionize how I relate with other people, particularly the un-churched and de-churched. Many people are turned off to Christianity, but don’t actually know WHO Jesus is, or what he said. Steve helped me recognize that we are all on a spiritual journey; after all, we are spiritual beings! Through Steve’s passion and teaching, I learned to apply a new intentionality in my relationships, to not shy away from difficult conversations and to meet people exactly where they are. He has a genuine, natural way of sharing the good news of Jesus with those who don’t even know what they are looking for!  

      Lauren Arnett - former student missionary, Nurse

      "Steve does an incredible job of seeing people where they are at and not forcing religion on them. He connects with people, lives life with them, builds friendship and shares the depth of his relationship in a way that draws people to Jesus instead of pushing them away. He loves and serves people through relating the stories of Jesus to the situation they are in, inviting them into God's story.

      I learned how to share the truth with young adults without steamrolling over them, how to build relationships, instead of converting a stranger, how to love everyone in my path without judgment of their lifestyle & do it in a way that drew people in instead of pushing them away. Steve has deep wisdom and practical application in this area because he has lived it every day. I am thankful for my time serving in his ministry and am thankful for the way he equipped me to love and serve others.

      I know when my husband and I move to Salt Lake to start a church there will be moments where I reflect on what Steve has modeled and desire to serve and love people the way he does!"  

      Kate Wasion, former student missionary; Church Planter, Wife

      Steve Hughes has a God given ability to share Christ with those who do not yet know Him. His ability to relate, connect and empathize with people is simply from God. He has a big heart and can feel for people. That was evident to me the first day I met him. When talking with others, Steve can get to the hard, heart subjects and can minister to people almost instantly. His ability to teach other Christ followers how to share the gospel in a very personal, non-threatening and Jesus like way is amazing. He stresses the importance of having relationships with people and sharing your life with others is the way to point people to Christ. Steve has had a big impact on my life in the way I live for God and share Christ with my friends, family and coworkers.  

      Kelly Jones, former student missionary; Wife, Mom, and Teacher

      Introduction

      When I first began to serve as a missionary pastor at Yosemite National Park, there was one way we distinguished the California spiritual culture from the Bible Belt culture. In the Bible Belt your neighbors would think something’s not right with you if you didn’t attend or associate yourself with a local church. In California if you went to a local church your neighbors would tell their kids, I don’t want you kids hanging out at the Jesus people’s house. If you went to church something was wrong with you.

      Despite what optimistic church leaders teach at ministry conferences, your

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