Street Smarts by Gregory Koukl helps Christians better engage in
productive conversations with those who challenge their convictions on a
variety of issues. A follow-up to Koukl's best-selling Tactics, this
book focuses on revealing the fundamental flaws in common, current
challenges to Christian beliefs and values. It then provides individual
strategies to exploit those shortcomings by offering model questions and
sample dialogues to help guide believers in genial, yet persuasive,
conversations.
Koukl begins by explaining the important difference in evangelism
between a harvest approach (reaping) and a gardening approach (sowing).
He then provides an overview of the tactical game plan he uses to have
fruitful "gardening" conversations with those who are not yet
Christians. Subsequent chapters tackle specific areas of challenge that
Christians frequently face in discussions "on the street," as it
were--in those conversations with friends, family, or critics that
believers often avoid because they feel out of their element,
vulnerable, or exposed.
With the specific challenges he addresses, Koukl shows precisely how and
why each falters. instructing the reader in a lucid, well-organized, and
easy-to-follow fashion. He then provides a specific set of
questions--the same questions Koukl uses in his own encounters--that are
embedded in sample mini-dialogues the Christian can use to exploit those
flaws in an amicable, yet incisive, way.
Some questions are used to get the discussion moving forward in a
disarming fashion. Others are aimed more directly at the flaws or
liabilities of the typical challenges people raise. Questions encourage
challengers to think more carefully about their objections or consider
problems with their own views that they may not have considered or even
have been aware of.
Street Smarts equips Christians to handle tough challenges in a
straightforward and user-friendly way. It provides the practical tools
they need to keep them in the driver's seat of otherwise difficult and
discomfiting conversations. It enables them to stand up for Christ in a
safe, genial, yet effective way.
