Resources
 Book Reviews
 The
Best Kept
Secret of Christian Mission
By John Dickson
Zondervan – 2010 – Grand Rapids – ISBN: 978-0-310-61740-2
John Dickson’s latest book is one of great interest to local church
Sports and Recreation Ministers. It is an easy to read and yet still a
meaty book. It outlines how to think about and how to implement
relational evangelism. His overarching rubric fits well within the
programmatic mission of a local church’s Sports Outreach. It is
profound and yet simple. It is full of theory and theology and yet
engagingly practical. It is solidly Biblical and will be a great aid to
any Sports Minister who is looking to infuse new life into their
evangelistic endeavors. If you’ve not had the privilege of reading a
book by Dickson, make this your first, I’ll bet its not your last.
Chapter Highlights
 Chapter
#1 answers the question: “why get involved in mission” by
sharing insights into verses most will find familiar and sets the table
for the book’s connecting theme of “promoting” the gospel.
Chapter #2 is an excellent treatise and explanation of what
pluralism is and how Christians can effectively navigate the
treacherous waters of lovingly sharing their faith in Christ with those
of other faith traditions or even totally secularized non-believers. It
may well be the most helpful guide to effectively reaching out to other
cultures ever written.
Chapter #3 uses Jesus as the ultimate model of reaching out to
those of other faiths and world views – under the theme of being a
“friend to sinners.” Dickson also provides helpful practical advice
about how to walk the fine line of reaching out to “sinners” without
surrendering to temptations of the culture.
Chapter #4 is a refreshing emphasis on the “hidden mission” of
prayer being the foundation for all true outreach. While not as good as
Steve Quatro’s chapter about prayer it presents a welcome reminder of
this most essential mission.
Chapter #5 is a succinct but powerful call for “promoting the
gospel with our money.” This chapter is powerful in its call to “put
our money where our mouth is.” Either we believe in gospel outreach or
not. We will know by becoming a financial partner in evangelistic
outreach.
Chapter #6 is a great explanation of how to “promote the
gospel through the works of the church.” This is the chapter most
Sports and Recreation Ministers will resonate with and will feel
affirmed by. It gives a great rationale for Sports Outreach without
ever mentioning Sports Outreach directly.
Chapter #7 piggy backs on chapter 6 by taking the theme of
corporate good works and giving it personal specifics for “promoting
the gospel through Christian behavior. It provides great insight into
how individuals within a Sports Outreach can personally their outreach
through Christ-like behavior.
Chapter #8 is a lengthy but wonderful outline of the specifics
of the “gospel we promote.” This solid Biblical treatise will be
especially helpful to anyone needing clarity in their personal
understanding of what gospel really means and its verbal proclamation.
It should be read in conjunction with Chapter 11 and Appendix #1
Chapter #9 supplies a Biblical study on what constitutes an
evangelist of the New Testament and combines that with some thoughts on
how to recognize evangelists today.
Chapter #10 is a rather unique chapter on how to “promote the
gospel through public praise.” It is a very helpful and thought
provoking treatise on the role public worship plays in the process of
evangelism.
Chapter #11 should be read with Chapter 8 and Appendix #1. It
gives excellent advice on how to “promote the gospel in daily
conversation.” This is full of powerful and practical tips on how local
church sports ministry coaches and participants can share Christ in
their everyday relationships and conversations.
Chapter #12 tells a real life story that gives a living
example of all the principles shared in this book and by so doing, ties
the entire book together.
New Concept Found in this Book
I’m not sure it’s a
totally new concept but Dickson’s call to distinguish between
“proclaiming the gospel” (verbally speaking about the gospel) and
“promoting the gospel” (actively being involved in gospel endeavors) is
a most helpful distinctive. It is very reminiscent of Peterson’s
delineations of “proclaiming the gospel with our lives and affirming
the gospel with our words.” The importance of these clarifications can
not be overlooked. It is vital for anyone who wants to “tell” the
gospel, to first “live” the gospel.
Catch Phrases Worth Remembering
“Promoting the gospel” is
certainly worth remembering because it empowers each individual
Christian by setting them free to live out the gospel each and every
day of their life. It provides a vision for how a person with the most
stuttering of tongues can be effective in gospel ministry.
Overall Assessment
This is a must read for all local
church Sports Ministers and for that matter all Christians. The chapter
on how to promote the gospel in a pluralistic society is worth the
price of the book. Chapters 8,11along with the first appendix will be
greatly appreciated by anyone who is trying to personally engage in
relationships and conversations with friends and family members who are
not followers of Christ.
Other Complementary Books on this Topic
This book mirrors many standards in this genre and those
should be revisited including: “Living Proof” and “Church Without
Walls” by Jim Peterson; “Out of the Salt Shaker” Rebecca Pippert;
“Celtic Way of Evangelism” and “How to Reach Secular People by George
Hunter; Words to Winners of Souls by Horatio Bonar; “How to Bring Men
to Christ” by R. A. Torrey and “Life-Style Evangelism” Joseph Aldrich.
Point of Contention
How can you contend with someone who
is helping people to promote the gospel in relevant, loving and
sensitive ways. Yet I would like to challenge Dickson on one main
point. Dickson would greatly benefit from an understanding of how a
Sports Ministry could greatly augment a church’s evangelistic outreach.
Providing individual church members with a systematic missional based
sports outreach would greatly improve evangelistic efforts. Such
endeavors would be attractive to non-churched friends, co-workers and
family members like little else the church has to offer. It is amazing
to me how this is completely overlooked.
Recommendations for a Second Edition
- Add a chapter on how Sports Outreach Ministry fits
perfectly with the theme of this book.
- Allow a co-author who is a Sports Outreach Director
to co-write this chapter
- Include a discussion guide that would enable local
church and
para sports ministries to contemplate these themes during staff and lay
training.
How can a local church sports ministry use this book
1. As a thank you gift to volunteers in your ministry
2. As a small group discussion starter for leadership training
3. As a gift to your Sr. Pastor and elders
Where to get the Book – Zondervan
Disclaimers
None – I don’t know John Dickson, nor is there any relationship between
the author, publisher and myself or CSRM.
Book Review: The Best Kept Secret of Christian Mission by John Dickson
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