Equipped To Evangelise

Sources Used:

• Becoming A Contagious Christian - Bill Hybels
• Hell's Best Kept Secret - Ray Comfort. He also has a great website with loads of helpful downloads.
• Effective Evangelism - J Oswald Sanders
• Evangelism that Works - George Barna
• Various Internet Sites

Read Rom 15:14-20

God's desire is for us as priests in His kingdom is to be full, complete and competent (vs 14). One of key areas where this needs to be expressed is in the area of evangelism. Why? Because lost people matter to God! Jesus came to seek and save the lost, when he gazed upon the crowd he was filled with compassion as he saw that they were like sheep without a shepherd (Matt 9:35-38). The last command of Jesus to the disciples was to "Go and make disciples of all nations..." (Matt 28).

Rom 15 tells us evangelism is:

• A priestly duty = moment we come to Christ everyone of us has a responsibility to start reaching the lost. I am not here as an evangelist, but as one who like you has been called to do the work of an evangelist.
• An offering to the Lord
  
  "The greatest incentive in all evangelism is not the need of men but the glory of God; not that they shall receive salvation, but that they shall give to God the honour that is due his name and acknowledge and adore him for ever"
  John Stott
• That Jesus must be the centre = preach and share Jesus and what he has done in our lives - lives are changed when they meet Him.
• We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit = not simple up to our ability but HS has been given to help us in this task.
• It involves going = we go to others, and not wait for them to come to us.

In Luke 15 we find 3 consecutive stories re a lost son, lost coin, and lost sheep are all 3 serve to emphasize that when something is missing, an all out search must be made for it and that there is great rejoicing when they are found. Lost people matter to God, and must also to us!

Let's look at the outcomes of when we are living like this:

• adventure = nothing more exciting and exhilarating than seeing and being involved in someone getting saved! It is an adventure with Him and His Spirit and is often punctuated with the unexpected, miraculous and God-inspired opportunities.
• purpose = start asking yourself the question "Just what might God be up to in this situation?". Even most routine things start taking on a purpose.
• fulfilment = In Jn 4 when Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman at the well, the disciples ask him if he wants food and he says his food is to do the will of Him who sent him - and then goes on to say open your eyes for the fields are whire unto harvest (v34-35)! This is spiritual satisfaction & fulfilment like nothing other.
• spiritual growth = if you are in a rut then you need to start sharing your faith and engaging the lost! Will spice up your prayer life, reading of the word takes on whole new dimension, worship explodes and your personal lifestyle clicks into a new level.
• spiritual confidence = more do something more confident you become!
• enduring investments = We are told not to store up treasures on earth, but to store up treasures in heaven (Mt 6:19)
• the honour of being God's agent!

What are the costs?

• time and energy
• preparedness
• money
• risk of embarrassment, rejection or persecution
• it complicates your life

But the prize far far outweighs the costs. The rewards are high and the costs relatively low, especially when we understand that they are not costs at all but investments that pay permanent eternal dividends!

Bill Hybels gives a useful "formula" for effective evangelism:

HP + CP + CC = MI

HP = High Potency
CP = Close Proximity
CC = Clear Communication
MI = Maximum Impact

High Potency

In Matt 5:13-16 we see Jesus saying that we are "the salt of the earth" and the "light of the world". He said "...Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise you Father in heaven."

We are to be contagious! When read the books of Acts you see that the early church was a contagious church - people wanted what they had! This only comes through having a vibrant personal walk with the Lord. There is no shortcut to being High Potency. The extent to which we engage in the good old spiritual disciplines of word, worship, prayer will determine how contagious we are.

I am not talking just about charisma, but a life that comes from the throne room of heaven. Daily contact with God and His word keep us open to the Spirit's leading, eager to influence others, loving and tender before God and others, and tuned into what is really important. It open us up to His divine power to supplement our human weakness. The way we live our lives can create thirst and shine light into the lives of those around us.

The world is hungry for the authentic, the real - not the super-spiritual. Reality TV is a reflection of that. How do we be authentic?

• Just be you = realize that there is no single mould for what a Christian looks like etc. You will be the most authentic when you are just you! It will encourage those you are trying to reach! It will affect how you talk, interact etc
• Be real on the Inside = people want more than dry eyes and paste-on smiles. William Booth the founder of the Salvation Army spoke about the "curse of a dry-eyed Christianity". The gospel of a broken heart demands the ministry of a bleeding heart. Emotional reality is important.
• Be honest about failure = you are not perfect and how have you dealt with failure and foul-ups in your life. Honesty is a power weapon in testifying to the transforming work of Christ.
• Live like you mean it! One of biggest obstacles to the gospel is that people see Christians as hypocrites ie their words and life do not line up. Jesus did that on the cross and we know that the Roman centurion declared "Surely this was the son of God!" - he saw the authenticity.

Close Proximity

Evangelism needs to be close up. It involves engaging people at a personal level, in fact the most personal level one can go to. We need to position ourselves for success.

See Acts 8:26-40 with Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. 4 keys displayed here:

1. Perception (vs 26-29) = HS tells him to approach the man.
2. Proximity = "Go to that chariot and stay near it." (vs 29).
3. Probing (vs 30 "Do you understand what you are reading?") = use of key questions vs just preaching at him.
4. Precision = Philip started with very passage man was reading ie where he was at and presented the gospel from there.

There are 3 different types of people we can witness to:

• Those we already know = our current family, friends, work colleagues. Look for opportunities to mix saved and unsaved eg dinners, holiday trips, doing sport, watching the footy, get familles together for picnics etc. Tony Campolo "Evangelism is the thing that you do while you do the thing that you enjoy."
• Those we used to know = old school mates, work colleagues, old neighbours etc. Aim is to restore a bridge that was previously there. Aim is not to go back to your former lifestyle, but to seek to draw them into yours. Remember you must always be the dominant spiritual influence in a relationship with people who are unsaved, otherwise it is not a healthy one to pursue. Takes a bit more effort and courage, but the big thing we have working for us is the curiosity factor.
• Those we would like to know = strategic consumerism, parents of kids at school, joining sports clubs/gyms etc. Frequent the same petrol station, the same grocery store, the same restaurants, the same bank etc, with the express purpose of getting to know the people there.

Task: Write for yourself a list of people from each category that you would like to impact over the next while.

There are typically a number of varied approaches that we see in the Bible as to how to maximize close proximity with others and be effective. There is no one size or manner fits all approach, but it will vary from person to person and from situation to situation. They are:

• The Confrontational Method eg Peter in Acts 2 "Repent and be baptised." Direct, bold and unafraid. Some people will not come to Christ unless someone takes them on this way!
• The Intellectual Method eg Paul in Acts 17 where he uses logic and reason with those in Athens as this was their culture. He was a highly educated and logical man as clearly seen in his letters eg Romans. The Athenians would not have reacted well to Peter's turn or burn approach - they needed logical answers. Some people do not want "to just have to accept it." Eg Answers in Genesis guys use this approach.
• The Testimonial Method eg the blind man in John 9 who after he was healed said to those in his home town, "All I know I was blind but now I see." He refused to enter into a theological debate with those questioning him, and he steers away from confrontation, by personalizing what he was saying. People cannot argue with this type of personal approach. You do not need a dramatic testimony to use this approach, just one that tells how you moved into a relationship with Christ. We will examine how to prepare a testimony later.
• The Interpersonal Method eg Luke 5:29 where Matthew throws a party and mixes the saved and unsaved. He was the most unlikely evangelist (a tax collector) but he a relational animal that had a ability to make people from different walks of life feel at ease. Some people will never be reached until some connects with them at this relational level. Long talks over cups of coffee, having people in your home, lengthy meals together are all tools this approach uses.
• The Invitational Method eg John 4 where Samaritan women who had been at the well with Jesus runs to the town and tells everyone "Come and see a man who told me everything about myself." We have an opportunity this Sunday to do just that with the creation seminar. Also things like Real Men, Girlzone, MY Group outings, Business Class, Tribe etc.
• The Serving Method eg Dorcas in Acts 9 of whom it was said did good and helped the poor. She was well known for her loving acts of kindness and service. These people notice needs others often don't, and go out of their way to meet them as a way of establishing relationships. Use what they have to serve eg meals, car, mower, tools etc. This is not as visible an approach as the others, but a vital one.

Just a reminder that you must be yourself. You may be dominant in one of these approaches, but don't be locked into this.

Clear Communication

In the text in Matt 5 we read above Jesus spoke about letting our light shine before men. Light illuminates, it draws, it makes clear what was darkened. How well we communicate can determine our success rate at seeing people saved. We can either make things clearer, or thru poor communication make it darker!

Paul understood this and says in Acts 26:17 that the Lord sent him to the Gentiles to "open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place amongst those who are sanctified."

We have to talk about our faith. Rom 10:13-15 "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

People wont figure the message out on their own. Even watching your life wont be enough - the gospel has to be articulated by spelling out who God is, what kind of damage our sin has caused, and how Christ remedies that.

Starting a conversation is the easy part, whereas transitioning it to talk about spiritual things takes a little more skill. Some tips regarding this:

• Pray hard! The empowering presence of the Holy Spirit is paramount. He is the Counselor, and the one who leads us and guides us and who will give us the words we need to say. Being full of the Holy Spirit is crucial. Trust God to prepare hearts ahead of you. See 1 Tim 2:1.
• Start with some common point of interest eg business, sport, children etc. Always looking for gap to turn the conversation.
• Talk to people as individuals. Folk are more open to talking about serious issues one on one than if you are hunting in a pack!
• Pique curiosity. Drop hints and raise curiosity eg like Jesus did with woman at well when spoke about living water.
• Use questions. Best way to get someone to ask a question about your interests and beliefs, is to ask the same question of them. You can use the direct, indirect or invitational approach.
• Seize split-second opportunities. Means we cannot always play it safe in our conversations. Eg If someone ask you what you are going to do this weekend, what do you say? If they ask you about your interests what do you say?
• Don't underestimate their degree of interest. Ravi Zacharias says everyone wants the answer to 3 important questions: Where have I come from? What happens when I die? What is the purpose of my life?. You may be another link on the chain in the answering of those questions for them.

In order to communicate clearly we need to know what we are communicating! 1 Pet 3:15 says that we must "always be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have in Him." The readier we are beforehand the more we increase our success rate at sharing the gospel. Remember all we have been saying up to this point, points to the fact that the most successful evangelistic efforts are those that are simple, sincere, and take advantage of a credible, trusting relationship, through people who are authentic, real, natural and personal.

Keys for Clear Communication

Clear communication means much more than just speaking well.

Evangelism is a communication process

• Good communication happens in two directions, it is transmitted AND received.
• Good (effective) evangelism therefore is also two way

No matter what our personality type or our evangelism style, much ground can be won or lost by the way that we actually communicate the thoughts in our mind.

Communication is a skill; you can learn it and improve on it.

The communication/evangelism process is a balance of:

• Witnessing (sharing the gospel)
• Relating (connecting with a person)

If all witnessing and little relating - Low Impact

If all relating and little witnessing - Low impact

Let's look at Relating.

1. Get into their Shoes (empathy)

Too often Christians have the attitude "I'm going to impart my information regardless!"

Don't assume you know what makes a person tick, or that one approach fits all.

We have the responsibility to speak to people but we have to earn the right.

Think about what has contributed to making that person who they are:

• Age
• Upbringing
• Nationality
• Education
• Personal triumphs or tragedies etc

These are some possible 'filters' a person may have in their life.

Knowing this helps us understand how they will INTERPRET what we are saying.

2. Respect their Views

Respect doesn't equal 'agreement'; it just means that you are listening.

Nothing closes a person down like disrespect or mockery, yet many Christians brag about how they were able to 'shoot someone down' whilst witnessing to them.

Even if the views are completely false and easily refuted, you can still respect the PERSON who holds the views.

Use phrases like:

• Good point (but.....)
• Good question.....
• I can see why you might think that way....

Do and say things that will elevate (but not flatter) the other person

Jesus elevated the status and esteem of many people he spoke to:

• Notably the woman at the well - Jn 4

Giving respect means that you can expect it in return during your conversation.

It lays a good foundation for future opportunities (remember it is a process)

3. Look for the Clues

You're not just trying to impart information, you need to gather information

Listening - Good evangelism requires as much or more listening as it does talking

• Any common ground?
• Are they asking questions or making statements? What about?
• What's the basis of their position - logic, feelings, experience etc

Watching - take note of a person's demeanor

• Calm or nervous?
• Relaxed or stressed?
• Other obvious body language?

4. Plan your Cues

All evangelistic efforts have an obvious goal, to share the gospel. But getting to that place in a conversation requires planning.

As much as possible, base your responses on the information you are getting from the person, not just what you want to give.

Help the conversation flow, not stagnate. This builds rapport and trust.

Some tips:

• Use the persons name - particularly if you've just met
• Paraphrase their statements - it shows genuine interests and helps to remember things.
• Share (positive) aspects of your own life - don't just interrogate them.
• Use 'W' questions (what, why, where etc)

Remember the old saying "you don't get a second chance to make a first impression"

Sometimes you may only get one opportunity to witness to a person.

For this reason, when it comes to evangelism, use your strengths, don't experiment with your weaknesses on people.

Consciously develop you communication skills to maximize your effectiveness as an evangelist.

Recommended Reading:
Winning With People by John C Maxwell.

The Gospel in a Nutshell

GOD

• He is Loving - 1 Jn 4:16
• He is Holy - 1 Pet 1:15-16. Nothing unholy can stand in His presence
• He is Just - 2 Th 1:6 - sin will be punished

US

• We were created good but became sinful - Rom 3:23
• We deserve death - Rom 6:23
• We are spiritually bankrupt or helpless - Is 64:6, Eph 2:8-9

CHRIST

• He is God, who also became man - Jn 1:1, 14
• He died as our substitute- 1 Pet 2:24, 1 Pet 3:18, 2 Cor 5:21
• He offers His forgiveness as a gift - Eph 2:8-9

YOU

• We must respond - Jn 1:12, Rom 10:13
• We must ask Christ to be our forgiver and leader (Saviour) - 1 Jn 1:9
• We are then spiritually transformed - 2 Cor 5:17

If people respond positively to this then we need to tell them what the bible tells them to do:

• Get baptized in water and Holy Spirit
• Find an alive church and get plugged in so that you can grow
• Quit sinning
• Tell others

There are a number of possible ways to present these 4 basic truths that help demystify the message and make it clear for those who we are sharing it with:

1. DO VS DONE

This address the question as to what part our efforts play in attaining God's salvation - the difference between religion and Christianity. It needs no props, is simple and can therefore be used anywhere.

"There is a difference between religion and Christianity.

Religion is spelt "D-O" - it consists of what people do to try and earn God's favor and forgiveness. But the problem is that you never know when you have done enough! You can never be sure and worse still the Bible says in Rom 3:23 that we can never do enough and that we always fall short of God's perfect standard.

Christianity, however, is spelt "D-O-N-E". That which we could never do for ourselves Christ has already done for us. He lived a perfect life we could never live, and He willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty we owed for the wrongs we have done.

To become a real Christian is to humbly receive God's gift of forgiveness and to commit to following His leadership. When we do that He adopts us into His family, and begins to change us from the inside out."

2. The Bridge

This is the most well-used illustration around and is a good one to memorize and use to illustrate the gospel.

God wants to have a relationship with us.

However, we have rebelled against Him and have broken off that relationship.

Most of us are aware of this and try to do things to get back to God, but it doesn't work.

Furthermore, the sins we have committed have to be punished, and that punishment is death.

But God did for us what we could not do, and that is build a bridge back to Himself.

And He did that by paying our death penalty when He died on the cross.

One last thing. - It is not enough just to know this, we have to act on it, by admitting that we have rebelled, and that we want His forgiveness and leadership.

Concluding Questions: Does this make sense to you? Where do you think you are? Is there any reason why you wouldn't want to cross over to the other side?

3. 4 Spiritual Laws (developed by Bill Bright of Campus Crusade)

1. God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. Jn 3:16, Jn 10:10.
2. Man is sinful and separated from God, therefore he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life. Rom 3:23, 6:23.
3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. Rom 5:8, 1 Cor 15:3-6, Jn 14:6.
4. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. Jn 1:12, Eph 2:8-9, Jn 3:1-8, Rev 3:20

4. The Roman Road

Some prefer to see it for themselves in black and white. It is a good idea to mark these texts in your bible and form a chain that you can easily turn to.

5. Are You A Good Person?

This uses the premise that the law leads us to Christ (Gal 3:24) and is a very effective tool to highlight man's sinful state and therefore need for God. Especially useful when someone says "I am a good person!" Ray Comfort has successfully used this technique of evangelizing for the last 22 years.

Get into the conversation any way you want and then the four stepping stones are WDJD, which stands for What Did Jesus Do -- not What Would He do, but look in the Bible and see What He did do:

W -- Would you consider yourself to be a good person?
D -- Do you think that you have kept the Commandments?
J -- Judgment. If God judged you according to those Commandments, would you be innocent or guilty?
D -- Destiny. So, do you think you would go to heaven or to hell?

Do you consider yourself to be a good person? Most people do. However, most of us differ as to the definition of "good." The Bible says that God is good, and the Ten Commandments are His standard of goodness. So, we will look at God's Law... With a tender conscience, ask yourself if you have obeyed the following:

1. You shall have no other gods before Me. (Have you always loved God above all else?)
2. You shall not make yourself an idol. (Have you made a god in your mind that you're more comfortable with, a god to suit yourself?)
3. You shall not take God's name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder. (God considers hatred to be as murder).
7. You shall not commit adultery. ("Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart" — Matthew 5:27-28; this also includes sex before marriage).
8. You shall not steal. (Have you ever stolen anything? — the value of the item is irrelevant).
9. You shall not lie. (Have you lied even once? Including answering these questions).
10. You shall not covet. (Have you ever jealously desired what belongs to others?)

God will punish all who break the Law. He will even judge our words and thoughts. On Judgment Day, will you be found to be guilty or innocent of breaking His commandments?

Perhaps you think that God is good, and will therefore overlook your sins. But it is His goodness that will make sure that all who break the Law receive justice. He would be a corrupt Judge if He turned a blind eye to injustice. Have you kept the Commandments?

The Bible says that the Law is perfect. It commands you to be perfect (Matthew 5:48). Are you perfect (in thought, word, and deed)? Will you make it to Heaven? You may say that you are still good, but God says you're not (see Psalm 14:2-3). So one of you is lying, and the Scriptures tell us that it is impossible for God to lie. God's Law demands justice, and the penalty for sinning against Him is death.

From here on you can launch into the gospel presentation.

6. Your Personal Testimony

This is perhaps the best of the lot because you are talking about how Christ has changed your life, and we all have a story to tell. It is very hard for people to argue with your personal story. Paul used this approach a number of times (eg Acts 26).

Use can use the following 3 breakdowns to structure your testimony:

1. Before Christ. Where were you spiritually before Christ and how did that affect you (your feelings, attitudes, actions and relationships). What caused you to start considering Christ as a solution to your need?
2. Conversion. What realization did you finally come to that motivated you to receive Christ? What actual steps did you take? (eg I prayed, I asked for forgiveness etc)
3. After Conversion. How did your life begin to change after you trusted Christ? What benefits have you experienced since becoming a Christian?

Some tips:

• There should be a theme running through the testimony that show the contrast in your spiritual outlook before and after.
• Conclude with a question that requires a response.
• Aim for about 4 min in length. Much more and you run the risk of overload!
• Maybe use 1 key scripture that ties your testimony together.
• Avoid church "lingo".
• Remember that the focus is not on you but on the person you are sharing with!
• Be sensitive to where people are at and how they are responding. Backing off is not failure. Sometimes it is better to leave people hungry for more!
• If people reject what you have to say don't be discouraged. They are rejecting Christ in you vs you.

Some Barriers to Effective Witnessing

• The absence of prayer = it must start here and finish here! Without it it is like trying to drive a car with no petrol in it.
• Not owning the responsibility = it is all of our responsibility.
• Lack of bridges with unbelievers = seek to build those relational bridges
• Not seeking the right outcome = we are called to make disciples not decisions. We don't want someone to simply pray the sinners prayer - we want transformed lives!
• Wrong perception of whose responsibility it is to make it happen! We are all the A-team.
• Doing same old things and never changing approach.
• Not seeing the multiple entry points God can use to see people added to the church. Every aspect of church life is a potential entry point eg hospital, prison, business class etc
• What people get saved into is NB ie God will not entrust people to church who are not "A" league churches.

What Do You Do To Help Them Respond?

1. Ask them if they want to take the next step and ask Jesus into their life.
2. Make sure they understand what they are doing. Ask them to explain it back to you in their words.
3. Pray for them. Show them that prayer is simply talking with God in everyday language.
4. Get them to pray out loud in their own words and ask for forgiveness and for Jesus to come and lead their life.
5. Pray for the Holy Spirit to come and fill them and seal the decision they have made.
6. Celebrate with them and affirm them in the decision they have made.
7. Paint a realistic picture of ups and downs they may face, but assure them of God's commitment to them and yours.
8. Explaining the next steps they will need to take:
   • Being baptized in water.
   • Daily prayer and reading the bible. Help them get a bible and show them how to use it. Set realistic goals.
   • Get involved in a good church.
   • Start to tell others.

Dealing With Objections

Not everyone will receive us with open arms the firs time we share with them. Some key points to remember are:

• Questions are legitimate
• Lookout for SMOKESCREENS
• Address the objection, then return to the Gospel message
• Move from the DEFENSE to the OFFENSE
• Questions need to be dealt with in a spirit of gentleness
• It is important to show RESPECT
• Maintain HUMILITY
• Understand that you may be another link in the chain. Don't be discouraged.

There can be a number of reasons why people are resistant:

• Misperceptions. Usually a result of poor examples, bad teaching and natural fears. Good way to deal with these is not to ignore or deny them, but acknowledge their perspective and try verbalizing some fears you yourself once had.
• Intellectual Roadblocks - questions and objections that question the truth of Christianity. Once again don't try and sweep these under the carpet or try and hide your lack of knowledge by saying they will simply "have to take it by faith." 1Pet 3:15 says we are to be ready to give an answer to anyone who wants to know the reason for the hope we have. If you do not have the answer tell them you will do some research and get back to them.
• Moral Misgivings. Some intellectual questions are actually hiding a deeper moral dilemma or sin issue. If you sense this call their bluff and tell them it seems like they are putting more effort into finding questions than answers and there must be a deeper issue at work.

Some Good Resources To Use:

• Questions of Life - Nicky Gumbel
• The Case for Faith - Lee Strobel
• Evidence that Demands A Verdict - Josh McDowell

10 Objections to Christianity and How to Respond

Questions To Help Turn a Conversation

1. People invest time and energy into developing their career, their bodies and relationships, but often neglect the spiritual dimension of their lives. How do you actively pursue spiritual growth?
2. Do you think much about spiritual things? (This usually leads to conversation about what "spiritual" means--i.e. religion vs. relationship.)
3. How has this experience affected the way you look at God?
4. We've never had a chance to talk about your religious background. Where would you say you are in your spiritual pilgrimage?
5. I'd like to tell you how I established a personal relationship with God. (Tell your personal testimony of how you became a Christian. Keep it to three minutes, using the following outline: Before--What characterized my life before I trusted Christ. During--How I came to trust Christ. After--How I am different now.)
6. What is your concept of God? Do you view Him positively or negatively?
7. Have you ever come to a point in your life where you trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, or do you think that is something you're still moving toward? May I share with you how I came to that point?
8. Do you find that faith and spiritual values play a role in your (work) (day) (marriage) (perspective on life)?
9. If you could be sure there is a God, would you want to know Him? Or if you could know God personally, would you want to?
10. Bring a friend to your church or a Christian event, then ask:
    What did you think of it?
    Did it make sense to you?
    Have you made the wonderful discovery of knowing God personally?
    You'd like to, wouldn't you?
11. Do you go to church? Why or why not?
12. I'd hate for you to come to my church and not understand what it's all about. Would you want to get together and discuss our basic beliefs?
13. We've been friends for quite some time now, and I've never really talked to you about the most important thing in my life. May I take a few moments and do so?
14. Is church something that has had an influence in your life? Are you at a point now that you want church to be a bigger part of your life? What prompted this? Would you want to hear our basic beliefs so you'll know if that fits in with what you're looking for?
15. How do you think someone becomes a Christian?
16. Can I share the thing I've found most important to me as a (dad), (mom), (boss)?
17. What do you think about when you go to sleep at night? (If anxiety or guilt rob them of sleep, introduce the peace found in a relationship with Christ)?
18. Most people in America say they believe in God. What does believing in God mean to you?
19. Before I came to know Christ personally, God was a vague concept that I could not relate to or grasp. How would you describe your view of God? Jesus? Is He a reality to you or more of a vague concept?
20. If you were to die tonight are you sure you'd go to heaven? Has anyone ever explained how you can know for sure?

Once you've transitioned to the gospel, what do you actually tell your friend? Whatever approach you use, never argue or condemn the other person's beliefs. Focus on God's love for the person, Jesus' death on the cross for our sins, His resurrection, and the person's need to make a commitment to follow Christ. Invite the person to actually pray with you and commit his or her life to Christ.

The Modified Engel Scale

Please note that the characteristics of our task are cumulative: at stage -9 for example, we are to pray and reveal God's presence. For the sake of clarity this has been omitted from the diagram.

These are some possible questions to help determine where a person is on the revised scale.

No God framework (-12)

• Is it possible there is a God?
• Do you believe God may exist?
• Are you certain there is no God?

Experience of emptiness (-11)

• Is there a purpose to the universe?
• Is life on Earth purely the result of chemical processes?
• Does the human race have a destiny to fulfill?

God framework (-10)

• Do you think you may be mistaken about whether God exists?
• Is it possible you may be mistaken in your ideas about God?

Vague awareness and belief in God (-9)

• Do you think there probably is a God?
• Do you think God is a person?
• Do you think God likes some things?
• Do you think God gets angry about some things?
• Do you think God created the universe?

Wondering if God can be known (-8)

• Do you think a person can know God?
• Do you hope it may be possible to get to know God?
• Do you believe anyone in the past has known God?
• Can you name anyone who you think knows God or has known God?

Aware of Jesus (-7)

• Do you know who Jesus Christ was?
• Do you think Jesus was a historic person?
• Can you name a Christian who has shown something of God's love?

Interested in Jesus (-6)

• Do you think the life of Jesus has anything to show or teach us today?
• Do you think the Bible may have something useful to say to people today?

Experience of Christian love (-5)

• Have you met a Christian who has shown you something of God's love?

Aware of the basic facts of the gospel (-4)

• Do you think Jesus was the Son of God?
• Do you think Jesus was God and chose to become human?
• Do you think Jesus died to save us from our sins?
• Do you think Jesus really died on the cross?
• Do you think Jesus rose from the dead?

Aware of personal need (-3)

• Do you think that a life without God lacks something important?
• Is it important to you to develop a personal relationship with God?
• Do you believe you are responsible for sins you have committed?
• Do you feel in need of God's forgiveness of your sins?

Grasp the implications of the gospel (-2)

• Is it possible to become a Christian and continue to live as before?

Challenged to respond personally (-1)

• Do you feel a need to commit your life to Jesus?

Repentance and faith (0)

• Do you want to give your life to Jesus now?

Servant Evangelism Ideas From The Internet

Note that while these ideas have a USA focus, you can easily adapt them.

Public Places	Sporting Events	Downtown	Parks
Soft Drink Giveaways Newspapers Umbrella Escorts Windshield Washing Coffee Giveaways Restroom Deodorizer Bag Packing at Self-Serve Grocers Grocery Cart Returns Coins Attached to Cards for Phone Calls or Parking Meters Donut Giveaway during Morning Traffic Cookies Chewing Gum Lollipops Gourmet Chocolates (Truffles) Bottled Water Giveaway Flower Seeds	Coffee Giveaways Soft Drink Giveaways Popcorn Popsicles Windshield Washing Peanuts Sunglasses (cheap ones!) Hand Cleaning Towelettes Freshen-up packs - (mints & moist towelettes) Trash Pick Up Bottled Water Giveaway Glow in the Dark Necklace Giveaway	Windshield Washing Soft Drinks for Shoppers Parking Meter Feeding Umbrella Escorts Business Window Washing Toilet Cleaning Cart Token for Shopping Carts Soft Drink Giveaway to Employees Cookies Cappuccino Polaroid Photos at Carriage Rides Shoe Shines Hand Cleaning Towelettes Stamps in Front of Post Office Business Blasts Seeds on Cars	Doggie Treats Pet Festivals Hot Dog Grilling Helium Balloons for Kids Polaroid Family Photos Picnic Ice Cream Coupons Gatorade at Biking Trails Pictionary in the Park Flower Seed Packets Face Painting Doggie Dirt Cleanup Doggie Wash Golf Balls Golf Tees Golf Ball Cleaning Pump-up Spray Water Bottles Lambs Lunch Matthew's Party Clowning Bottled Water Giveaway
Automobiles	Roadsides & Traffic Lights	College Campuses	Malls & Shopping Centres
Car Wash Windshield Washing Check Oil and Fill Single Mom's Oil Change Washer Fluid Fill Tire Pressure Check Interior Vacuuming Interior Window Cleaning Bulb Replacement Windshield Ice Scraping at Apartment Complexes Windshield Ice Scrapers Freeing Cars Stuck in the Snow Car Drying at Car Washes Windshield Washing at Self-Serve Gas Stations Buy Down Gas to Bargain Price Hand Cleaning Towelettes at Gas Pumps	Parking Meter Feeding Summer Car Washes Soft Drink Giveaways Winter Car Washes/ Desalting Popsicle Giveaways Trash Pickup with "Kindness in Progress" Signs Towelettes Giveaway on Side of the Road	Trash Pick-up for Students near Campuses Bike Fix-Up Pen and Pencil Giveaways Post Cards and Stamps Photocopying Floppy Discs Tutoring Soft Drinks, Gatorade, and Lemonade at Class Sign-up Dorm Room Cleaning Drinks at Intramural Athletic Events Drinks at Greek Events Breakfast Pop Tarts Test Essay Booklets Exam Answer Sheets Coffee and Tea during Late Night Study Sessions Pizza on Move-In Day at Dorms Quarter Drop Phone Cards for Long Distance Calls Ice Cream Coupons Care Packages for Students Gum, Blow Pops Snacks (chips, crackers)	Christmas Gift Wrapping Dollar Drop Meal Purchasing at the Food Court Quarters in Coin Returns Long Distance Phone Cards Ice Cream Cone Coupons Package Check-In Childcare during Christmas Shopping Coffee/Hot Chocolate Coupons Boxes to Merchants with your Logo and Number Imprinted Business Blast
Holidays	High School (and College Sports Teams)	House To House	Miscellaneous
Chocolate Hearts on Valentine's Day Roses on Valentine's Day Green Foiled Coins at St. Patrick's Day Parades Easter Baskets for Business Blast Door to Door Butterfly Cocoons for Easter Easter Candy Giveaway Flower Seeds for Spring Mother's / Father's Day Carnation Giveaways Independence Day Festival Giveaways: Glow in the Dark Necklaces Independence Day Picnics House to House Independence Day Festival Giveaways: Blow Pops, Gum Balls Labor Day - School Supplies House to House Halloween - Reverse Trick or Treat (House to House to give them candy) Thanksgiving - Door to Door Holiday Thanksgiving - Door to Door Turkey Door to Door: Mums Fall Candy Giveaway Fall Leaf Raking Christmas: Gift Wrap at Mall Christmas: Giveaway Special Christmas Candy Christmas: Caroling and Candy Canes Christmas: Door to Door Poinsettias Christmas: Giveaway Scotch Tape Christmas: Tree Giveaway Winter: Snow Shoveling Winter: Winter Survival Kit	Oranges for High School Football Practice High School Sports Party Watermelon after practice Gatorade after a hard practice Facilitate a community service project Make hospital visits Greet students and parents and help the freshmen move in Baby-sit for the coaches Physical therapy rehab Care packages during finals week Offer tutoring Honor a team at your athletic meeting Shag, throw and rebound Go to lesser followed sports Set up social settings Copy great talks and hand them out to the athletes Capture seasonal times with high touch ideas Take a camera to practice/games Make up your own Appreciation Day Clean up after a sporting event Meet with the freshmen for a coke Organize surprise mini-birthday parties Give away peanuts/popcorn at sporting events Offer to do videoing of a team's practice Offer to keep stats Free car washes for the athletic department	Fruit give away Sunday Morning Paper and Coffee Giveaways Leaf Raking Lawn Mowing Grass Edging Screen Cleaning Rain Gutter Cleaning Garbage Can Return from Street Food Delivery to Shut -Ins Kitchen Cleanup General Yard Cleanup Door to Door Carnation Giveaway Tulip Bulbs Potted Plant Giveaways Flower Seed Packet Giveaways Sidewalk Sweeping Windshield Washing Snow Removal from Walks and Drives Window Washing Minor House Repairs General Interior Cleaning Community Dinner Doggie Yard Cleanup Weed Spraying Tree Limb Trimming Light Bulb Replacement Seal Blacktop Driveways Fireplace Ash Removal Radon Detectors Carbon Monoxide Detectors Smoke Detector Batteries Fragrance Spraying Dog Washing Filter Change for AC / Heater Garage Cleaning Fireplace Kindling Bark and Mulch for Yards Desalting House Number Painting on Curbs Shopping Assistance for Shut-ins Poinsettias at Christmas Picnics at Independence Day Easter Baskets	Steaks and Salmon for Firefighters Gasoline for Your Neighbor Cleaning Up at Food Courts Toilet Seat Covers Hand Out Coffee Packets for Time Change Weekend or Anytime! Birthday Party Organizing Pay Library Fines Winter Survival Kit Suntan Lotion Surf Wax Summer Survival Kit "Biggie Size" Food Orders in Fast Food Drive Thru Lanes Blood Pressure Screening Mother's Day Carnation Giveaways Car Drying at Self-Serve Car Washes Grocery Store Bag Packing Free Bird Feeders and Refills to Convalescent Hospital Patients Christmas Tree Collection Christmas Tree Giveaways Bait at Local Fishing Spots Coffee at Bus or Subway Stops Pay Laundromat Washer and Dryer Carnations to Cemetery Visitors Easter Baskets Pizza on Moving Day at Apartments Move In Welcoming Party Lawn Mower Tune-up Time Change Reminder Flyer Cocoons on Good Friday Match Books Scotch Tape at Christmas