Turn, Dear Reader

Throughout the course of history, billions of lives have been changed by Jesus Christ and His gospel. The greatest question you can answer is one that Jesus Himself asked: “Who do you say that I am?” So let me ask you, dear friend: who do you say Jesus is? A wise man, a prophet, a revolutionary, a misguided rabbi, or what He claims to be—the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God, and the risen, reigning, and returning King? Your answer to that question will determine your eternal destiny. This book will bring you face-to-face with the Jesus of the Bible, His claims, and His cross. Whether you are a skeptic of Christianity, know little about the Bible, or have been a Christian for many years, this book is for you. If you have not yet been transformed by Jesus, I plead with you to read this book for the eternal good of your soul. In the glorious gospel presented here, you will find life out of death, light out of darkness, and salvation out of a world of sin. If you happen to be on a university campus somewhere in Texas, chances are you’ll hear Ryan Denton preaching in the open air. He has proclaimed the gospel to thousands of people for hundreds of hours from street corners, sidewalks, and campus commons, all because he loves souls. In this book, you have a chance to pull up a chair and hear him speak to you. But look beyond Ryan to the infinitely glorious One he proclaims. The question is, how will you respond to the earth-shattering claims of Jesus Christ?

This unputdownable book is simple, but not simplistic. It is powerful, but it does not shout. The author has determined that nothing will distract the reader's mind from knowing the truth. He heralds the message from the King of the universe. He is not seeking to impress the reader with the depth of his learning, but to bring the reader into vital contact with the meaning of the Christian religion. I have several people in mind to whom I am going to give this book.

Calvin said that the "whole gospel is contained in Christ." In this short book, Turn, Dear Reader: The Call of Christ to a Dying World, Ryan Denton lovingly, urgently, and clearly calls readers to consider the deadly nature of sin and the necessity of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the substance of the gospel. In doing so, he demonstrates there is no other name by which men are saved (Acts 4:12). Written primarily to non-Christians, this resource is a wonderful evangelistic tool. It can also be used to better equip Christians to faithfully share the gospel with those in their lives. I will be using this resource and highly recommend it to you.

What makes it a special joy to endorse Dr. Ryan Denton’s books on evangelism is that he is a living epistle on the subject matter. As a Presbyterian of the highest caliber and a convictional Calvinist, Ryan is a veteran in the field of personal and public evangelism in the market place, whether on university campuses or on the streets of the cities where God sends him. His recent book by Christian Focus, A Student’s Guide to Evangelism, is a marvelous manual on the art and practice of biblical evangelism. This newest book, Turn, Dear Reader: The Call of Christ to a Dying World, is a masterpiece of a gospel call to those who do not yet know the Savior. It is a remarkably quality volume, about which Dr. William VanDoodewaard, Professor of Church History at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary glowingly says, ’This is a great book—the best practical book on evangelism I have read’. I heartily recommend this newest volume by Dr. Denton as a superb evangelistic tool to reach the unconverted. It is too valuable and beneficial to pass up if we want to continue taking the gospel of Christ to a lost world all around us.

In our age infatuated with novel insights, we must fight the temptation to comfortably neglect the old paths—those truths of religion which are unchanging, foundational, and utterly unoriginal. Ryan Denton has done a masterful job appealing to the soul far from Christ, exhorting readers to consider the reality of eternity, the necessity of the new birth, the call to repent and believe, and the strength of the Christian witness against the opposition of unbelieving worldviews. To the wandering soul: you need this book. And to the soul already at home in Christ: share this with someone you love.