Understanding Evangelism: Biblical Foundations, Historical Developments, and Contemporary Issues
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Southwestern Journal of Theology 2025 Book Award (Evangelism / Missions / Global Church)
When seeking to understand evangelism, it can be difficult to know where to begin due to the wealth of written material available on the topic. This one-stop textbook offers a comprehensive introduction to evangelism from an evangelical perspective. It draws from the diverse and vast literature on the topic to help readers share the gospel at home and throughout the world.
Understanding Evangelism emerges from the author’s experiences as a pastor, missionary, evangelist, and professor of evangelism and from his expertise as a scholar in the field. The book provides the necessary biblical knowledge, cultural awareness, and practical insights for every Christ follower to participate in the privilege of partnering with the Spirit in the world.
The first part of the book covers contemporary definitions of evangelism, the global status of world evangelization, and personal motives and ethics for evangelism. The second part addresses its biblical and theological foundations, while the third part offers a historical overview. The fourth part focuses on cultural contexts and effective communication of the gospel. The book concludes with contemporary issues that offer practical guidance in the ministry of evangelism. Pedagogical tools--including case studies, sidebars, figures, and reflection questions--help students retain information.
From the Back Cover
”A key resource for anyone teaching or studying evangelism"
When seeking to understand evangelism, it can be difficult to know where to begin due to the wealth of written material available on the topic. This comprehensive introduction draws from the diverse and vast literature on evangelism to help readers share the gospel at home and throughout the world.
Understanding Evangelism emerges from J. D. Payne’s experiences as a pastor, missionary, evangelist, and professor of evangelism and from his expertise as a scholar in the field. This book provides the necessary biblical knowledge, cultural awareness, and practical insights for every Christ follower to participate in the privilege of partnering with the Spirit in the world.
“Payne’s work is a masterful and expansive journey into the heart of evangelism. With remarkable depth and clarity, he weaves together insights from diverse denominational traditions, cultural contexts, historical developments, and theological frameworks. The result is a rich and textured exploration that both informs and inspires. This book stands out as a key resource for anyone teaching or studying evangelism--offering the breadth and nuance so often missing in contemporary texts."
--W. Jay Moon, Asbury Theological Seminary
"In Understanding Evangelism, Payne provides an accessible textbook that combines solid biblical exegesis, theological rigor, and missiological grounding with hands-on evangelistic strategy and methodology. He interacts with diverse scholars and ideas to provide a valuable theoretical and practical guide that roots itself unabashedly in the evangelical tradition. His book is contemporary and contextual while remaining biblically faithful, delightfully engaging, and practically helpful."
--Anna Daub, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
This is a Logos Reader Edition. Learn more.
- Connects theological principles to the practical, on-the-ground work of Christian mission.
- Emphasizes the importance of understanding culture, context, and strategy in sharing the gospel effectively.
- Serves as both an academic introduction and a practical guide for those who want to understand the theory and practice of evangelism more deeply.
Part 1: Introductory Issues
1. What Is Evangelism?
2. Contemporary Definitions of Evangelism
3. One Gospel for a Multicultural World
4. Global Status of Evangelization
5. Motives and Ethics
Part 2: Biblical and Theological Foundations
6. The Mission of God in the Old Testament
7. Evangelism and the Great Commission
8. Jesus and the Apostolic Church
9. Divine Sovereignty and Election
10. Atonement and Grace
11. Repentance, Faith, Conversion
Part 3: Historical Overview
12. Means of Evangelism: AD 100-300
13. Influencers (Part 1): AD 300-1500
14. Influencers (Part 2): AD 1500 to the Present
15. A Century of Global Evangelization Gatherings: AD 1910-2024
Part 4: Culture and Communication
16. Crossing Cultural Gaps
17. Apologetics and Worldview
Part 5: Contemporary Issues
18. Testimony
19. The Sinner’s Prayer
20. Pastoral Leadership
21. Reaching Children
22. Overcoming Personal Concerns
23. Sharing and Responding Conclusion
Case Study 1: Group Conversion
Case Study 2: Not Being Offensive
Indexes
- Title: Understanding Evangelism: Biblical Foundations, Historical Developments, and Contemporary Issues
- Author: J. D. Payne
- Publisher: Baker Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2025
- Logos Release Date: 2025
- Pages: 344
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- ISBNs: 9781493451937, 9781540963581, 1540963586, 1493451936
- Resource ID: LLS:9781493451937
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-12-05T23:25:52Z
J. D. Payne (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is a writer, speaker, church planter and currently serves as the pastor of church multiplication with The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. He previously served with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and as an associate professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he directed the Center for North American Missions and Church Planting. J. D. has written extensively in the areas of missions, evangelism and church growth and he speaks frequently for churches, networks, conferences and mission agencies. He is the author of books such as Missional House Churches, The Barnabas Factors, Discovering Church Planting, Strangers Next Door, Kingdom Expressions and Pressure Points. In addition to these works, he and Mark Terry coauthored Developing a Strategy for Missions and he coedited Missionary Methods with Craig Ott. J. D. has pastored five churches in Kentucky and Indiana and has worked with four church planting teams. He formerly served as the executive vice president for administration for the Evangelical Missiological Society and as the book review editor for the Great Commission Research Journal. He and his wife Sarah and their three children live in Birmingham, Alabama.