He says later, “In ministering to the Bible Belt, don’t fight against the Christ-haunting culture of the South-use it as a means to preach Christ” (177). “In the Bible Belt, identifying as a Christian is a way of life, but sadly, believing the gospel and following Jesus often are not” (169). I found Inserra’s insights into the Bible Belt especially helpful given my context. However, the first few chapters lay the ground work so I would recommend you read those first. If there is a certain demographic that you find yourself in, whether that be the Bible Belt, Generational Catholics, Mainline Protestants, etc., you can flip straight to that chapter and read it. I personally recommend reading this book cover-to-cover, but you will notice when you open it that chapters are laid out in a way that serves the reader. Dean writes with honesty and transparency in a way that I feel will leave the reader hopeful and encouraged. He also is an advisory member of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s Leadership Counsel with the Southern Baptist Convention. He has an MA in theological studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is pursuing a DMin from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you’re like me, The Unsaved Christian by Dean Inserra may be just the book you’ve been looking for.ĭean Inserra is the founding pastor of City Church in Tallahassee, Florida.

Yes, many people in the area I live need help getting lost so they know that they need to be found. That is why chapter one of this book is immediately grabbing for me- Help Them Get Lost. Ministry is really hard because most people would tell you they are saved. There is a lot of Cultural Christianity here.

help you lovingly and confidently preach the gospel to the cultural Christians in your lifeĬultural Christianity is a huge mission field in desperate need of laborers.Living in the Bible belt, this books title immediately grabbed me.

offer appropriate starting points that lead to deeper conversation.

teach you how to identify and fully understand different types of cultural Christians.

Today he leads a thriving church in the Bible Belt of America. But the truth is cultural Christians are just as lost as their atheist counterparts and we need a game plan for reaching them.ĭean Inserra used to be a cultural Christian, too.

That’s why we often just leave cultural Christians alone, hoping someday they’ll get serious about Jesus on their own. You want your friends and family to follow Jesus whole-heartedly, but broaching the topic of true conversion can feel intimidating and confusing. How do you share your faith with people who call themselves Christians but don’t know Christ?