Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions

BOOK: Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions
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In a society filled with so much anti-Christian rhetoric, there is no better book to equip Christians to think clearly, soundly, and inoffensively in the face of the devices employed today in opposition to the Christian faith.

— Norm
Geisler

Author of
Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics
and
When Skeptics Ask

Greg
Koukl
is a master tactician. I know of no one who is more conscientious in his efforts to communicate effectively and winsomely his Christian faith. In this book Greg shares with us his tried and true methods, skills honed through continual practice and revision. Mastering his tactics will make you a more effective ambassador for Christ.

— William Lane Craig Author of
Reasonable Faith

Christian Truth and Apologetics

Just as a course on tactics is a requirement at all military academies, so too Greg
Koukl's
Tactics:
A
Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions
should be required training for all Christians and churches.
Koukl
has made a worthwhile contribution to the literature on apologetics by teaching us
how
to say
what
we say. Witty and winsome, this resource is as fun to read as it is to put into practice.

— Hank
Hanegraaff

Host of the “Bible Answer Man,” author of
Christianity in Crisis:
The
21st Century
and
The Complete Bible Answer Book
,
Collector's Edition

C. S. Lewis once said, “Any fool can write
learned
language. The vernacular is the real test.” In this book Greg
Koukl
passes Lewis's test with flying colors. There are many great arguments in favor of the Christian faith, but many of them are accessible only to professional apologists and philosophers.
Koukl
has developed a memorable and practical way to translate these arguments so that all Christians can become winsome and persuasive apologists in everyday conversations, no matter what their day jobs. This book should be required reading for every thoughtful Christian.

— Jay Wesley Richards Coauthor of
The
Privileged Planet

If you enjoy apologetics, Greg's book
Tactics
is not only a required read, but simply a delightfully entertaining resource. In fact, just try and put it down! Especially for those who struggle with relevant ways to relate to non-Christians while presenting Christian truth, this volume provides many proven methods of natural, non-confrontational dialogue where the purpose is often to simply give an unbeliever something to think about, what Greg calls placing a stone in someone's shoe. Featuring remarkably simple techniques that are easily and fruitfully applied, this incredibly insightful book is one I highly recommend.

—Gary R.
Habermas
Distinguished Research Professor, Liberty University Author of
The
Case for the Resurrection of Jesus

With the advantage of a lifetime of experience, Greg
Koukl
has written what must be considered THE authoritative treatment of how to employ various strategies in conversations with unbelievers about the Christian faith.
Tactics
is not just another apologetics book. It is a sensitive, well-written, widely illustrated treatment of actual situations that often come up when believers share their faith.
Koukl
not only reminds us that it is not enough to know why you believe, but it is also crucial to know how to communicate those beliefs by adapting to various situations. And
Tactics
shows precisely how to do that.

—    J. P. Moreland

Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, and author of
Kingdom Triangle

Greg
Koukl
has been using the methods offered in this book for many years with our Summit students and to great effect. His suggestions, illustrations, and witnessing approach work. This is a well-written, practical, and timely book.

—    David
Noebel
Founder and President, Summit Ministries

In this wise and compelling book, Greg
Koukl
— who has thought long and hard about not only what to say but how to say it — provides a game plan for equipping believers through an artful method of careful thinking and winsome conversation. If you struggle with how to talk about your faith and respond to questions and objections in a meaningful and effective way — and most of us do — there is no better book to buy, read, and put into practice. I could not recommend it more highly!

—Justin Taylor “Between Two Worlds” blog.

Editor,
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God
and
The
Supremacy of Christ in a

Postmodern World

Greg
Koukl
is a wise, seasoned, front-lines apologist. I am happy to recommend a book so full of practical insights and careful guidance for skillfully, winsomely defending the Christian faith.

— Paul Copan

Author of
True for You, But Not for Me
and
Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?

Tactics
is the book I've been waiting for! I love engaging non-Christians in conversation, but in the back of my mind I often think, “What if I get stuck and don't know what to do?” Greg helped me put that fear to rest and gave me practical tools to artfully maneuver in conversations. I enthusiastically recommend
Tactics
. It will revolutionize your conversations with non-Christians.

— Sean McDowell

Author of
Ethix
,
coauthor of
Understanding Intelligent Design
and
Evidence for the Resurrection

When I want someone who can help me train ambassadors for Christ, the first person I call is Greg
Koukl
. Now his proven ideas are in this book. I wish I had known these tactics twenty years ago. They are some of the best I've ever seen to help Christians be more effective ambassadors for Christ. Trust me — if you read
Koukl's
advice and learn his methods, your impact for Christ will skyrocket.

— Frank
Turek

Author of
I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

Greg
Koukl
is a master of the ideas that undergird the Gospel and one of the finest Christian communicators on the planet. He has spent many thousands of hours in front of the most difficult skeptics and their toughest questions and has developed very effective techniques to bring the truth to the surface of any conversation with love and grace.

I have learned so much over the years by studying his persuasive yet respectful approach to giving reasons for faith. This book presents his methods in a way that is engaging and accessible to every believer. I hope Christians in churches all over the country gather together to study this important book and learn to stand firm for the Gospel in these dark times.

— Craig J. Hazen, PhD Founder and Director, Graduate Program in Christian Apologetics

Biola
University

 

Foreword by Lee
Strobel

GREGORY KOUKL

 

ZONDERVAN

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the
New American Standard Bible®,
Copyright ©
1960
,
1962
,
1963
,
1968
, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The
Lockman
Foundation. Used by permission.

 

To
Annabeth
Noelle
A light to my heart By God's grace, a light to her generation

 

Foreword

Acknowledgments

PART ONE: THE GAME PLAN

1.    Diplomacy or D-Day?

2.    Reservations

3.    Getting in the Driver's Seat: The
Columbo
Tactic

4.    
Columbo
Step Two: The Burden of Proof

5.    Step Three: Using
Columbo
to Lead the Way

6.    Perfecting
Columbo

PART TWO: FINDING THE FLAWS

7.    Suicide: Views That Self-Destruct

8.    Practical Suicide

9.    Sibling Rivalry and Infanticide

10.    Taking the Roof Off

11.    Steamroller

12.    Rhodes Scholar

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