The Gospel and Personal Evangelism

Recently, the Albert Mohler Program featured guest Dr. Mark Dever on his new book
The Gospel and Personal Evangelism. You can access that program HERE.

Dever is passionate about personal evangelism but he doesn't exactly fit the mold of American Evangelism. I think he makes it clear that he is not after decisions, but disciples. He does what most authors on evangelism do not do by defining the evangel. He actually takes time in his book to say what the Gospel is, and maybe more importantly, what it is not.

What I appreciate most about Mark Dever on evangelism is that he keeps the roles of God and man where they should be. He understands that we cannot open the eyes of the blind, manipulate someone into a true conversion, or cause someone to be born again by repeating some words like a magic spell. Success in evangelism, he says, does not rise or fall by how may we see saved. Dever writes:

"The Christian call to evangelize is not simply a call to persuade people to make decisions, but rather to proclaim to them the good news of salvation in Christ, to call them to repentance, and to give God glory for regeneration and conversion. We do not fail in our evangelism if we faithfully tell the Gospel to someone who is not subsequently converted. We fail only if we do not faithfully tell the Gospel at all" (qtd from the Albert Mohler Radio Program).

Audio lectures by Mark Dever on evangelism can be downloaded from Sovereign Grace Ministries. Mark Dever is the Pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington and founder of 9 Marks.