The Diversity Culture

What a great book! I recommend this book for anyone who might want to figure out how to talk with people who are "different" from them but primarily for those who call themselves Christians and want to have a positive - God-focused influence on those outside their Christian circles.
The author ties Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman with an encounter the "average" church-going person might have in a "post-modern" cafe.
What an excellent job of creating a story where Biblical principles can come to bear on how we interact with each other outside of the standard church event.
When people have asked me how to talk about Jesus to their friends and co-workers, I've shared methods that I've learned over the years but, until recently, rarely did I suggest that they listen to their friend's story before bringing the Gospel to bear on their need.
The author demonstrates how Jesus heard beyond the culture the Samaritan woman exhibited and was able to meet her where she really needed Him. He then builds principles that we can utilize today if we really care for those who are without Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
The simple idea is that everyone has a story, everyone has a need, and everyone has a mask. How then do we hear, meet needs, and share Jesus? It's up to us (Christ followers) to learn how to take steps to be given an ear to share the truth found in God's Word. We must get outside our Christian bubbles and meet people on their level and be able to hear their stories and questions so that we can give direct and focused answers to their earnest questions.
The best chapter in this book (in my opinion) is chapter nine (9). This chapter was the "ah-ha - I get it" chapter for me. The author talks about two styles of conversation- ideological and relational. Ideological involves a debate-style attack where the opponents try to get points for making better arguments. This style is characterized by attack, defense, and spin (page 122). The relational style is characterized by trust, openness and risk (page 123) and the risk is often taken first by the one opening up the conversation but is reciprocated by the one answering or entering into the conversation.
Ideological conversation most often says: I don't care about you - I just want to make my point. Relational conversation, on the other hand says: I care about you - my point is less than the health and authenticity of our relationship - you matter to me.
Get this book (or borrow mine) and let's talk.