Which do you recommend?

[Notthemama1984]

For my upcoming Evangelism class I have to write a book report on either Spurgeons' Soul Winner or Packer's Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. I own both books, but have never read either one. Putting the fact aside that I should read both, which would you recommend to tackle first for the book report?

 

[jason d]

Packer is a good start

 

[Ivan]

Packer.

 

[jambo]

Jim Packer. The book is not that big and should not take that long to read.

In terms of evangelism, Joseph Alliene's Alarm to the Unconverted is a must

 

[Notthemama1984]

I forgot about the Alliene. I can recommend a book that is not on the list. Maybe I can see if the prof would go for that one.

 

[Michael]

Definitely J.I. Packer on this one.

 

[Archlute]

Why Packer? The work was alright, but I don't remember being bowed over by it.

In contrast, I believe I read a small section of Spurgeon's work in a second hand bookstore once, and thought it to have been much more pointed, vivid, and effective.

It would be nice to hear some reasoning behind the recommendations.

 

[Michael]

It would be nice to hear some reasoning behind the recommendations.

It's a matter of taste on the subject really. Packer is a theologian and approaches the subject of evangelism more theologically in this work. Spurgeon was an evangelist and reading him on the topic is more like hearing a sermon on evangelism.

 

[SolaScriptura]

I think that you should read both of them - seriously, not being trite- but I would consider Spurgeon. For two reasons. First, Packer's work is the "modern" go to book to "prove" that Calvinism is compatible with evangelism. It is almsot a cliche by this point. Spurgeon would be a bit more "fresh" in this regard.Second, and probably m ore substantively, Spurgeon wrote first. If I remember correctly, Packer cites him. But even if I'm remembering incorrectly, it still is reasonable to presume that Spurgeon has influenced Packer.

 

[Notthemama1984]

Well, I chose Packer and just about finished it up. I couldn't decide so I did the manly thing, I picked the shortest one.

 

[Michael]

I couldn't decide so I did the manly thing, I picked the shortest one.

Slacker.

 

[Notthemama1984]

I wear that badge with pride.

 

[tommyb]

I would probably have chosen Spurgeon just because of the quality of his prose. He writes in a very poetic literary style that is quite rare in theological or even pastoral works. If F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote bible commentary or theology, it would probably resemble Spurgeon very much. With Spurgeon style, meter, language and word choice are often just as important as the didactic being communicated. Change just one world and you destroy the rhythm of the passage. It makes for more difficult reading, but it's usually worth the effort.