The God Conversation: Using Stories and Illustrations to Explain Your Faith
Think of it this way . . . Our beliefs are challenged from many directions. Every day it seems more difficult to explain to our friends, families, and neighbors what we believe and why. When our ideas and arguments fail to persuade them, what then? Is there another approach we can take? Veteran apologists and communicators J. P. Moreland and Tim Muehlhoff say that the best way to win over others is with a good story. Stories have the ability to get behind our preconceptions and defenses. They appeal to the whole person rather than just to the mind. This expanded edition includes new chapters and updated stories and illustrations throughout. In these pages the authors enhance the logic and evidence found in other books defending the faith with things that your friends, relatives, or coworkers will ponder long after a conversation is over. Here is sound, empathetic coaching for those of us who long to communicate our faith more effectively.
Foreword by Lee Strobel
Preface to the Expanded Edition
Introduction
1. The Power of Illustrations
2. Can God Be Good If Terrorists Exist?
3. Can God Be Good If Terrorists Exist? (Part 2)
4. Jesus, Buddha or Muhammad? Seeking a Guide in the Maze of Religions
5. Jesus, Buddha or Muhammad? (Part 2)
6. The Resurrection: Conspiracy Theory or Fact?
7. The Resurrection (Part 2)
8. What Would Machiavelli Do? Ethics in a Morally Confused World
9. What Would Machiavelli Do? (Part 2)
10. Are We an Accident? Arguing for God Through Design
11. Are We an Accident? (Part 2)
12. Unfulfilled Desires and the Existence of God: Something Isn?t Quite Right
13. Unfulfilled Desires and the Existence of God (Part 2)
A Final Thought: The Dangers of Agenda Anxiety
Acknowledgments
Notes
Name Index
Subject Index
Scripture Index
"This is a must-read for apologists and evangelists—really, for all Christians—who want to be effective in communicating the gospel and good Christian thinking. Muehlhoff and Moreland are master communicators, and herein they reveal many of the secrets of their success. It is worth getting a group together in your church and studying this book. Everyone will be delighted, encouraged, and equipped."
"The God Conversation is one of my favorite apologetics books to recommend. There is value in this book for everyone. Experts will gain practical, memorable ways to communicate critical apologetics truths. And beginners will find helpful stories and illustrations to answer some of the biggest questions asked today. This book is a gem."
"A good story is like icing on the cake. It adds. Enhances. And flavors things up. Stories and illustrations do just that. They make the truth more desirable and digestible, not to mention enjoyable. That's what I love about Tim Muehlhoff and J. P. Moreland's book, The God Conversation. This is not just a book full of stories. Rather, it's a book aimed at making us storytellers. So sit back and relax. And enjoy the journey, as you are about to learn from two master storytellers the art of turning black and white to color."
"Most conversations, let alone ones about God, are either dull, single-sided or competing monologues full of smoke. It simply shouldn't be. Carrying on a vital, passionate, engaging conversation with another human being is an art that has been sufficiently lost that we need wisdom and perspective on how to engage well. The God Conversation is a gift to the church to invigorate our conversations with believers, seekers and unbelievers. J. P. and Tim walk with us through the use of story and authenticity with such masterful delight that one ends by sensing the authors have given us the very gift we are to give to others."
"If you are a headhunting evangelist or an intellectual who must have the last word, put this book down and go home. If you love your pre-Christian friends and want stimulating resources to engage them in meaningful spiritual dialogue on hard questions, J. P. and Tim are the mentors you seek."
"Today's culture is increasingly a story-based culture. As Tim and J. P. help to show, a story-based culture does not have to be a culture without truth. This book is an excellent tool to learn how to better communicate the great truths about God, the world, our faith and human nature through stories, modern-day parables, and by listening and teaching like Jesus. It is a must-read for all who want to help others find faith in Jesus Christ."
"I love stories and illustrations because of the impact they have had on me. If they have had a similar effect on you, this book is for you. It will reinforce your faith, hone your ability to share your relationship to Jesus Christ and delight your imagination. I cannot give it a higher recommendation."
"Moreland and Muehlhoff have written a unique and engaging book. The style is casual, yet the topics are treated with sufficient detail and nuance to be helpful. I commend The God Conversation to anyone seeking to discuss these matters in meaningful ways with family, friends and colleagues."
"The stories are memorable and thought provoking, and the clever writing brings out the authors' message. This is a well-written guidebook for evangelizing the curious and responding to skeptics."
"The God Conversation offers user-friendly help in countering objections to the faith."
"Their stories, coupled with advice on constructive listening, will be helpful to any Christian who wants to move beyond ideas and arguments to communicate the gospel using a softer approach."
"In these pages the authors enhance the logic and evidence found in other books defending the faith with things that your friends, relatives, or coworkers will ponder long after a conversation is over. Here is sound, empathetic coaching for those of us who long to communicate our faith more effectively and more confidently."
Product Details
- Title : The God Conversation: Using Stories and Illustrations to Explain Your Faith
- Authors:
- Moreland, J. P.
- Muehlhoff, Tim
- Strobel, Lee
- Publisher: IVP Books
- Publication Date: 2017
- ISBN: 9780830891818
J. P. Moreland (PhD, University of Southern California) is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, in La Mirada, California. He is the author, coauthor, or contributor to over ninety-five books, including Does God Exist?, Universals, The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology, Consciousness and the Existence of God, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, In Search of a Confident Faith, Love Your God With All Your Mind, The God Question, and Debating Christian Theism. In his distinguished career, Moreland has co-planted three churches, spoken and debated on over 175 college campuses around the country, and served with Campus Crusade for Christ for ten years. The founder and director of Eidos Christian Center, he also previously served as a bioethicist for PersonaCare Nursing Homes, Inc. headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. Moreland?s ideas have been covered by both popular religious and non-religious outlets, including the New Scientist, Christianity Today, PBS's "Closer to Truth," and WORLD magazine. In 2016 Moreland was selected by The Best Schools as one of the "50 most influential living philosophers."
Tim Muehlhoff (PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) is a professor of communication at Biola University in La Mirada, California, where he teaches classes in family communication, interpersonal communication, persuasion, and gender. He is the author of I Beg to Differ and Marriage Forecasting, and the coauthor of The God Conversation: Using Stories and Illustrations to Explain Your Faith and Authentic Communication: Christian Speech Engaging Culture. Muehlhoff and his wife, Noreen, are frequent speakers at FamilyLife Marriage Conferences, and he has served with Campus Crusade since 1986. They live in Brea, California, with their three boys.