PDF Tactics A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions Gregory Koukl 0025986282929 Books
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Download As PDF : Tactics A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions Gregory Koukl 0025986282929 Books
In a world indifferent or even opposed to Christian truth, followers of Christ must be better equipped to communicate the timeless of the Christian faith. But how do you have a conversation with someone who is intent on proving you wrong and won't accept the Bible as a source of authority?
In Tactics, Gregory Koukl demonstrates how to artfully regain control of conversations, keeping them moving forward in constructive ways through thoughtful diplomacy. You'll learn how to maneuver comfortably and graciously through the minefields of a challenging discussion, how to stop challengers in their tracks, and how to turn the tables on question or provocative statement. Most importantly, you'll learn how to get people thinking about Jesus.
Drawing on extensive experience defending Christianity in the public square, Koukl shows you how to
- Initiate conversations effortlessly
- Present the truth clearly, cleverly, and persuasively
- Graciously and effectively expose faulty thinking
- Skillfully manage the details of dialogue
- Maintain an engaging, disarming style even under attack
Tactics provides the game plan for communicating the compelling truth about Christianity with confidence and grace.
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PDF Tactics A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions Gregory Koukl 0025986282929 Books
"As a student in high school I learned that it isn’t good to tell a teacher that she is wrong, even when you know the subject better than she does. It is better to ask a question and to shape that question in such a way that the teacher will realize her mistake while attempting to answer the question. I never formalized that method, but Gregory Koukl does in his book Tactics. But rather than addressing how not to offend someone who has the ability to influence your grade, Koukl approaches this from the standpoint of how to share your faith. These days, we encounter many people who are offended by Christian beliefs. The tactics Koukl outlines in his book can help us to reduce the conflict and help them discover the truth of what we are saying for themselves. And even if they don’t, perhaps the people listening will.
The meat of the book is three questions that we can ask that will cause people to consider what they are saying. Often, people are just repeating things that other people have said, without giving any thought to the validity of the argument. These three questions may cause the person to see the weakness in their argument.
• What do you mean by that?
• How did you come to that conclusion?
• Have you ever considered?
The great thing about these questions is that they aren’t limited to a adversarial situation. You might be talking to a close friend and hear them say something that doesn’t sound quite right. “What do you mean by that?†Your child might say something like, “I don’t think I should play with Jane anymore.†You might ask, “How did you come to that conclusion?†or simply, “Why?â€
One of the things that Koukl brings out about asking questions is that you can direct the conversation without taking sides on an issue. You don’t even have to be certain of what the right answer is. Perhaps, once you discover what the other person is saying and why they are saying it, you will agree with them. But when they are wrong, those questions may help them to see where they went wrong.
This is the best book on sharing your faith that I’ve read. Unlike other books that tell you what to say about the gospel, this book focuses more on the practical ways we can improve communication. While there are a few things I’m not sure I agree with him on, this is a book that every Christian who wishes to improve communication with non-believers should read. But the people who will benefit the most are the people in leadership positions who must deal with people who disagree with them. I can see where a teacher of a small group might put this to use if there is a student who insists on pushing strange doctrine during class. Rather than getting into an argument that disturbs the other class members, one could ask questions of the person and bring them around, or at least, make the other students aware that the person’s ideas are not correct."
Product details - Paperback 208 pages
- Publisher Zondervan (February 4, 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10 0310282926
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Tags : Tactics A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions [Gregory Koukl] on . In a world indifferent or even opposed to Christian truth, followers of Christ must be better equipped to communicate the timeless of the Christian faith. But how do you have a conversation with someone who is intent on proving you wrong and won't accept the Bible as a source of authority? In <em>Tactics</em>,Gregory Koukl,Tactics A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions,Zondervan,0310282926,Christian Theology - Apologetics,Apologetics,Apologetics.,Christian Ministry - Evangelism,Christian theology,Christianity,General Adult,How-to/Do-it-yourself,Inspirational/Devotional,Non-Fiction,RELIGION / Christian Living / Spiritual Growth,RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Discipleship,RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Evangelism,RELIGION / Christian Theology / Apologetics,RELIGIOUS,Religion,Religion - Christian Life,Religion/Ethics,TOPICAL / Christian Interest,United States
Tactics A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions Gregory Koukl 0025986282929 Books Reviews :
Tactics A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions Gregory Koukl 0025986282929 Books Reviews
- As a student in high school I learned that it isn’t good to tell a teacher that she is wrong, even when you know the subject better than she does. It is better to ask a question and to shape that question in such a way that the teacher will realize her mistake while attempting to answer the question. I never formalized that method, but Gregory Koukl does in his book Tactics. But rather than addressing how not to offend someone who has the ability to influence your grade, Koukl approaches this from the standpoint of how to share your faith. These days, we encounter many people who are offended by Christian beliefs. The tactics Koukl outlines in his book can help us to reduce the conflict and help them discover the truth of what we are saying for themselves. And even if they don’t, perhaps the people listening will.
The meat of the book is three questions that we can ask that will cause people to consider what they are saying. Often, people are just repeating things that other people have said, without giving any thought to the validity of the argument. These three questions may cause the person to see the weakness in their argument.
• What do you mean by that?
• How did you come to that conclusion?
• Have you ever considered?
The great thing about these questions is that they aren’t limited to a adversarial situation. You might be talking to a close friend and hear them say something that doesn’t sound quite right. “What do you mean by that?†Your child might say something like, “I don’t think I should play with Jane anymore.†You might ask, “How did you come to that conclusion?†or simply, “Why?â€
One of the things that Koukl brings out about asking questions is that you can direct the conversation without taking sides on an issue. You don’t even have to be certain of what the right answer is. Perhaps, once you discover what the other person is saying and why they are saying it, you will agree with them. But when they are wrong, those questions may help them to see where they went wrong.
This is the best book on sharing your faith that I’ve read. Unlike other books that tell you what to say about the gospel, this book focuses more on the practical ways we can improve communication. While there are a few things I’m not sure I agree with him on, this is a book that every Christian who wishes to improve communication with non-believers should read. But the people who will benefit the most are the people in leadership positions who must deal with people who disagree with them. I can see where a teacher of a small group might put this to use if there is a student who insists on pushing strange doctrine during class. Rather than getting into an argument that disturbs the other class members, one could ask questions of the person and bring them around, or at least, make the other students aware that the person’s ideas are not correct. - Synopsis This book may not be what you would initially expect from one filed under the category of Apologetics. The author doesn't set out to pen an in-depth A to Z defense of the Christian faith as so many volumes before have already accomplished in staggering detail. No, Gregory Koukl is determined to help Christians be wise as serpents and harmless as doves when confronted with challenges to their faith. Hence the title, Tactics.
Koukl differentiates between strategy and tactics when it comes to defending the Christian faith. Strategy concerns the overall big picture of Apologetics. This panoramic vista consists in comprehensive knowledge of every aspect of Christianity. This insight can then be utilized in striking against all the Satanic powers that exalt themselves above the knowledge of God via both offensive and defensive attacks.
This is all well and good, for there are many volumes available that do just that. However, the author deliberately does not broach this broad subject matter. Instead he engages in the tactics needed in order to get to the end goal of proving Christianity and debunking all arguments against it.
Koukl writes, "A sharp lawyer needs more than facts to make his case in court. He needs to know how to use his knowledge well. In the same way, we need a plan to artfully manage the details of dialogues we have with others. This is where tactics come in."
Tactics, therefore in Christian Apologetics refers to the way we communicate our knowledge of the faith in order to disarm our opponents' arguments.
Koukl has several valuable methods of dialoging with our opponents. I'll outline some of these below
The Columbo method - named in honor of the television detective from a bygone era. This tactic instructs us that when someone disputes your worldview don't respond with a diatribe defending your view, simply ask questions.
Koukl writes, "The key to the Columbo tactic is to go on the offensive in an inoffensive way by using carefully selected questions to productively advance the conversation. Simply put, never make a statement, at least not at first, when a question will do the job."
The Columbo method has three steps. Step one is to gain information. This is done by asking clarifying questions, such as 'What do you mean by that?"
Step two attempts to reverse the burden of proof. Again, Koukl, "In any dispute, the person who advances an opinion, claim, or point of view has the job of defending it. It's not your duty to prove him wrong. It's his duty to prove himself right."
The related question to toss into the dialog would be, "How did you come to that conclusion?"
Step three has us ask leading questions to aid us in steering the conversation in the direction we desire it to go. A carefully worded leading question will help you take charge of the situation instead of letting the critic take it to unholy places. To launch these tactical verbal missiles a person will need two things knowledge of the subject matter and a plan of attack.
Other methods include the suicide tactic. Many ideologies are self-refuting. For example the statement "There is no absolute truth" cannot possibly be true if absolute truth doesn't exist. Using the Columbo questions this falsehood can quickly be exposed.
The author explores several other methods in succeeding chapters. As well, he also dedicates a couple of chapters guiding readers on how to deal with overbearing personalities and pseudo academic arguments.
Recommendations I admit, I profited greatly from this little book. it wasn't what I expected, but that ended up being beneficial. If I had first read a massive tome on Apologetics my arsenal would have been well stocked yet I'd have been woefully under-trained on how to actually fire any of my weapons. Tactics teaches the fundamentals of maneuvering a conversational obstacle course. It does it in a winsome manner, peppered with personal experiences from Koukl's many encounters. I especially benefited from the chapter on taking the roof off. It contained many arguments that critics use and how to dismantle them quickly and effectively. It is a section I will commit to memory and return to often.
I think this book should be required reading for every Christian. Much like I think Logic 101 should be a core class for all high school students. The world of ideas is becoming increasingly hostile to Christian beliefs. We should always stand ready with a reason for the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Tactics does an excellent job of starting us done the daunting path of Christian Apologetics.
