Pre-evangelism How to listen and speak so you can be heard.

Jesus Christ Our goal in evangelism is for everyone to take a step closer towards our Lord and in time, for them to consider the claims of Jesus Christ so that they can choose to surrender their lives to Jesus, as their Lord and Savior.

Genuine Faith in Christ Genuine faith in Christ means embracing Jesus as Lord and Savior, as evidenced by at least one of the following (1 Jn. 5:13): 1. A desire to obey God (1 Jn. 2:3; 3:10; 5:18) 2. Desire for fellowship with other believers (1 Jn. 2:19; 4:6) 3. Love for fellow believers (1 Jn. 3:10-15; 4:20) 4. A sensitivity to the voice of God’s Spirit within (1 Jn. 2:27; 3:24; 4:13; cf. Rom. 8:16) 5. A new attitude toward the world (1 Jn. 2:15-16) 6. Opposition from the unbelieving world (1 John 3:13; cf. John 15:18-21) 7. Acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord and Savior (1 Jn. 2:23; cf. Rom. 10:9-10) - Greg Haskell

Questions How do we communicate the Gospel to Filipinos (our friends and classmates)? What is the best way to communicate the Gospel to Filipinos? Are the methods or approaches that we learned from the west effective in communicating the Gospel to Filipinos?

Changing Perspectives We’ve been taught that to evangelize means to teach and have all the right answers (to do the talking) – bridge to life, four spiritual laws, one- verse bridge, etc. Is it possible to evangelize by asking right questions and then listening? How do we engage others in conversation about Jesus? Instead of evangelism in teaching-mode, can we adapt a discussion-mode?

How did Jesus evangelize? John 4 Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman 1 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])a 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” Jesus was thristy and asked for a drink. The woman was concerned about acceptable cultural/religious practices. Jesus was concerned about meeting physical and spiritual needs. The woman was asking the Lord’s credentials for making such statements. Jesus does not answer her question but rather describes the gift He is offering. The woman is persuaded to try Jesus’ offer to ease her suffering. Jesus tells her to call her husband. The woman honestly says that she has no husband. Jesus reveals that He knows her situation but that He still offers her living water. The woman goes back to discussing religious concerns when she realizes that Jesus is no ordinary man. Jesus teaches her about true worship. The woman reveals her hope in the Messiah. Jesus declares Himself to be the Christ.

Can we adapt Jesus’ style of evangelism? Yes. But inherent in Jesus’ style is a real concern for the person/individual. So for our words (and questions) to have real meaning to the person we are discussing with, we must first and foremost, care for the person. In other words, the focus of evangelism is the person and how Jesus can answer his/her need, not the “delivery” of the gospel presentation.

Asking questions in a non- threatening way Ask questions in a way that surfaces uncertainty about their own perspective Minimize their defensiveness Create in them a curiosity to want to hear more

Gentle and Respectful Answers 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:15-17)

Source for “Answers” God the “Holy Spirit” - Inspired Word of God – the Bible Books on apologetics - Know Why You Believe by Paul Little - Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell - etc., etc., etc.