The Unfolding Gospel

“John Bowen writes as if you were having a conversation at the kitchen table over coffee. He explores the great themes of the gospel with stories that capture the heart and imagination. John invites us to hold firmly to the core of the gospel and lightly to what may need to change. A book for all grappling with the future of the Church!” –Archbishop Linda Nicholls, primate, Anglican Church of Canada

“Who better to remind us afresh of what the gospel is than a thoughtful, experienced, post-Christendom evangelist like John Bowen? He has the gift of discussing the complex, dynamic intersection of gospel, church, and culture in understandable, easy-to-listen-to ways. This is a much needed, back-to-basics book that helps God’s people reaffirm the goodness of the good news.” –Al Tizon, affiliate associate professor of missional and global leadership, North Park Theological Seminary and executive minister of Serve Globally Evangelical Covenant Church

“With wit and wisdom, John Bowen continues his lifelong commitment to equipping scholarly evangelists for church and academy. Bowen acts like a docent, cheerfully guiding the reader through the ‘gospel gallery,’ reinterpreting everything from conversion to church planting along the way. This book is a must read for those curious about how to live, share, and speak the gospel.” –Ross Lockhart, dean of St. Andrew’s Hall, Vancouver, and author of Lessons from Laodicea: Missional Leadership in a Culture of Affluence

“Finally! A book for those who want to follow Jesus and are serious about inviting others to do the same. John has helped many others like me to learn to walk in the way of Jesus. Now, this book, written in his usual winsome and wonderful manner, will help many, many more to live out the good news. I can’t wait to get my hands on multiple copies to give away.” –Cam Roxburgh, global director for Forge Missional Network, Team Leader of Southside Community Church, Vancouver, BC

“Once again John Bowen excels here in communicating with convincing clarity, warmth, grace, and faithfulness about the blessings that abound in sharing and living out the gospel in the world God loves. Lay people, church leaders, and anyone interested in ‘what’s next’ for the church and the Christian movement will find this an engaging and worthwhile read.” –Rev. Dr. Rob Fennell, Academic Dean, Atlantic School of Theology, author of The Rule of Faith and Biblical Interpretation: Reform, Resistance, and Renewal.

“In The Unfolding Gospel, John Bowen brings his gentle humor and his perceptive observations to the business of telling the gospel story. If like me, you sometimes feel that the gospel is ‘other worldly’ or that ‘evangelism’ is best left to the extroverted or a special class of Christian, then this book will restore your confidence. Reading this book reminds you that Jesus journeys with us right we are and that the gospel is always for these times and places.” –Beth Green, Provost of Tyndale University, regional editor of the International Journal of Christianity and Education.

“Encountering John Bowen in print is not unlike encountering him in the flesh. Wise, passionate, and articulate with an occasional dash of welcome irreverence. Each of these is abundantly evident in Bowen’s fulsome exploration of how the Good News has become–and is becoming–alive in Discipleship, Church, Mission, and everything else! You will enjoy this engaging conversation with a trusted friend who knows how to both provoke and inspire.” –Michael J. Pryse, Bishop, Eastern Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

John P. Bowen is Professor Emeritus of Evangelism at Wycliffe College in Toronto, where he was also the Director of the Institute of Evangelism. Before that, he worked as a campus evangelist for Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. For over thirty years, John has been a popular speaker, teacher, and preacher, on university campuses, in churches and in classrooms, and at conferences, across Canada and the USA. His books include Evangelism for “Normal” People (Augsburg 2002).