A few years back, in a sermon titled, “I’m Sending You to Open Their Eyes,” John Piper said,
Be a lavish giver. Be known as a generous person, not a stingy person. Jesus said, “Lend, expecting nothing in return” (Luke 6:35). Combine this reputation with giving books, if you know someone is a reader. Give a Christian book that cost you seven or ten or fifteen dollars. Tell them what it meant to you and that you would love to talk about it sometime. If you don’t know the person, ask for their permission to give them a book that meant a lot to you.
This is what I regularly do on the plane. Sometimes conversations are easy to get into about Christ because I am a pastor. Other times they’re not. But in either case, I often say, “I wrote a book that I would love to give to you. May I give you one?” They almost never say no. I have written two books mainly with unbelievers in mind: Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ and Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. These are the ones I carry in my briefcase on the plane. Develop the habit of thinking this way: How can I commend Christ today? Be lavish in your giving.
Easter is a great opportunity to give the gospel seed of a great book about Jesus. And the two books that Pastor John gives away on airplanes are the ones we recommend for this season especially. Many churches have used them to give to Easter guests, and many Christians have used them to give to friends, co-workers, and neighbors.
We’re less than four weeks away from Resurrection Sunday. But it’s not too late! And we’d love to help you be gospel-givers this Easter by making these books available in cases of 48 for a donation of $79. You can also purchase single copies of Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die from WTS Books for just $3 per book.
Be lavish in your Easter giving and watch the Lord turn your investment into eternal dividends of joy for someone else!