Discipleship and Evangelism Outline 240418

Discipleship and
Evangelism
Outline
VIMIN-1020
Stephen Van Dop, D.Min.

Extension Pastor Vineyard Columbus
Rich Mendola
Executive Director of International Friendships
Edited by:
Angela Suarez
Quinton Howitt
©Vineyard Institute ™ 2014 i

Lecture 1 – What is Evangelism? (Stephen VanDop) ................................................................ 1
1. What Is Mission?.................................................................................................................................................. 1
2. What is Evangelism? ............................................................................................................................................ 3
3. What is Salvation?................................................................................................................................................ 6
4. What is Conversion? ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Lecture 2 – Understanding Christian Conversion (Stephen VanDop) ..................................... 8

5. A Story of Conversion ......................................................................................................................................... 8
6. What is Conversion? ............................................................................................................................................ 8
7. Key Biblical Words/Concepts in Conversion ...................................................................................................... 8
8. Key Distinction: Salvation vs. Conversion .......................................................................................................... 8
9. Key Players in Conversion ................................................................................................................................... 9
10. The Core Pattern of Conversion ........................................................................................................................... 9
11. Live Reports from Those “Looking for God” ...................................................................................................... 9
12. Reports from Those “Embracing Christ” ............................................................................................................. 9
13. Common Language from New Believers ........................................................................................................... 10
14. The Dynamic of Conversion .............................................................................................................................. 10
15. Methodological Idolatry ..................................................................................................................................... 14
16. The Evidence of Conversion: the Trinity as the Paradigm ................................................................................ 14
17. Developing Your Story with a Purpose ............................................................................................................. 15
Lecture 3 – Whom Do We Evangelize? (Stephen VanDop) .................................................... 16

18. Four Provisions in the Church’s Commission from Acts 1:8 ............................................................................ 16
19. Contexts for Evangelism from Acts 1:8 ............................................................................................................. 16
20. Confronting Cultural Barriers to Evangelism .................................................................................................... 16
21. Recognizing the Kinds of People God Draws .................................................................................................... 17
22. Common, Trans-Cultural Needs Involved in Evangelism ................................................................................. 17
23. Developing Your F.R.A.N.K. List ..................................................................................................................... 18
24. Evangelism in Dynamic Collaboration with God through Prayer ..................................................................... 18
25. Identify Your Common Ground ......................................................................................................................... 19
Lecture 4 – How Do We Evangelize (Stephen VanDop) .......................................................... 20

26. Foundational Assumptions for Effective Evangelism ........................................................................................ 20
27. The Modes of Evangelism (reflect the pattern of Jesus’ ministry) .................................................................... 20
28. Historical Reports from the Kingdom Front ...................................................................................................... 21
29. A Strategy: Living in 3D .................................................................................................................................... 22
30. Knowing the Essential Points of the Gospel ...................................................................................................... 24
31. Specific Styles of Evangelism ............................................................................................................................ 25
32. Encounter Evangelism: A Critique .................................................................................................................... 26
33. Process Evangelism: Theory .............................................................................................................................. 27
34. Process Evangelism: Practice ............................................................................................................................. 28
Lecture 5 – The Necessity of Cross-Cultural Evangelism (Rich Mendola) ............................ 30

35. God is a Missionary God.................................................................................................................................... 30
36. Currently, many people groups have not received the promised blessing of the Abrahamic covenant............. 34
37. God utilizes two primary methods of ensuring that nations are blessed ............................................................ 36
38. Crossing cultures to share the gospel changes us (Acts 10) ............................................................................... 37
©Vineyard Institute ™ 2014 ii
Lecture 6 – Understanding Culture and Developing Cross-cultural Relationships (Rich
Mendola) ....................................................................................................................................... 38
39. Understanding culture enhances our worship of God ........................................................................................ 38
40. Understanding culture is vital to building friendships ....................................................................................... 38
41. Practicing Biblical Hospitality is the Key to Developing Cross-cultural Relationships .................................... 43
42. Understanding culture can help to prepare the way for sharing the gospel ....................................................... 44
Lecture 7 – The Gospel and Culture (Rich Mendola) .............................................................. 45

43. The Gospel needs to be contextualized .............................................................................................................. 45
44. The Gospel Message Addresses the Problem of Sin and its Results ................................................................. 48
45. God has prepared the nations for the gospel ...................................................................................................... 53
Lecture 8 – Case Studies from Scripture and Life (Rich Mendola) ....................................... 54
46. Differences between the way Paul shared the gospel with Jewish and non-Jewish audiences.......................... 54
47. Current case studies on the difficulties of sharing the gospel cross-culturally .................................................. 55
48. Overcoming major Non-Western Objections to the Gospel .............................................................................. 56
Appendix 1 – Developing Your Story with a Purpose.............................................................. 57
Appendix 2 – Developing Your F.R.A.N.K. List....................................................................... 59
Appendix 3 – Conversation Sketch ............................................................................................ 60
Appendix 4 – The Story Triangle ............................................................................................... 62
Appendix 5 – A Six-Point Evangelistic Assessment Scale ........................................................ 63
Appendix 6 – Methods on How to Share Christ ....................................................................... 64
Appendix 7 – Illustrations of The Good News .......................................................................... 67
Appendix 8 – Personal Witness & Communication Style Assessment ................................... 71
Appendix 9 – How Do I Handle Hard Questions?.................................................................... 77
Appendix 10 – Modern, Post-Modern and Theism Chart ....................................................... 83
Appendix 11 – Selected Reading List......................................................................................... 84
Appendix 12 – Unreached People Groups................................................................................. 87
Appendix 13 – The 10/40 Window ............................................................................................. 91
Appendix 14 – The Globe at a Glance ....................................................................................... 92
Appendix 15 – Characteristics of Foreign Born Residents in the USA (in percent) ............. 94
Appendix 16 – Coping with Cultural Differences ................................................................... 96
Appendix 17 – How to Become More Culturally Sensitive...................................................... 97

©Vineyard Institute ™ 2014 iii
Appendix 18 – How Western Are You in Terms of Traditional Values?............................... 98
Appendix 19 – Form and Function in the Church ................................................................... 99
Appendix 20 – Bible Studies for Further Study ..................................................................... 100
Appendix 21 – Kingdom of God Illustrations ......................................................................... 106
Appendix 22 – Selected Reading List....................................................................................... 108
Appendix 23 – Language Resources & Cultural Resources .................................................. 109
Appendix 24 – World Key ........................................................................................................ 110
©Vineyard Institute ™ 2014 iv

Discipleship and Evangelism
Lecture 1 – What is Evangelism? (Stephen VanDop)

1. What Is Mission?
Stott, John R. W. Christian Mission in the Modern World. Downer’s Grove: InterVarsity 1975. 15f
1.1 Two Extreme Views

1.1.1 “Mission is synonymous with evangelism.”
1.1.2 “Mission is synonymous with social activism.”
1.2 Mission: Finds its Origin and Essence in the Trinity

1.2.1 The Reality of the Trinity
1.2.1.1 True Personhood
1.2.1.2 True Community
1.2.1.3 True Love
1.2.2 The Motivation of the Trinity
1.2.2.1 For “each other”
1.2.2.2 For “others”
1.2.3 The “Sharing” Action of the Trinity
1.2.3.1 Father – a mission to create. Genesis 1:31
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless
and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was
hovering over the waters. Genesis 1:1-2
26
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule
over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and
over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26
31
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31a
1.2.3.2 Son – a mission to restore
• His Commission
18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
©Vineyard Institute ™ 2014 1 of 110

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19
• His Goal
11
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us
to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright
and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the
glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for
us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his
very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14
• His Authority
18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Matthew 28:18
1.2.3.3 Holy Spirit – a mission to empower the Church’s witness

45
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them,
“This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47
and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you
what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with
power from on high.” Luke 24:45-49
4
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do
not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me
speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with
the Holy Spirit.”
6
So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to
restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his
own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and
you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of
the earth.” Acts 1:4-8
1.3 Mission in the Church – Both Evangelism and Justice

The two main tasks of mission in the church:
1.3.1 The Great Commission — evangelism

18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to
me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew
28:18-20

1.3.2 The Great Commandment — justice

26
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27
He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:26-
27
2. What is Evangelism?
Ibid., 35f
2.1 A Priority
2.2 Meaning of Evangelism (Greek – euangelizomai)

2.2.1 To bring or announce the (Greek – “euangelion”) good news
2.3 What evangelism is not

2.3.1 The recipients
2.3.2 The result
2.3.3 The Method

Scholars’ Debate – Issue of Debate
Definitions of evangelism have varied over the years

• 1918 – William Temple – Evangelism means the conversion of people from worldliness to Christ-
like godliness.
• 1961 – Evanston Assembly – Evangelism is the winning of men to acknowledge Christ as their
Savior and King, so that they may give themselves to his service in the fellowship of his Church.
• 1961 – J. I. Packer – According to the New Testament, evangelism is just preaching the gospel, the
evangel. It is the work of community in which Christians make themselves mouthpieces of God’s
message of mercy to sinners….The way to tell whether in fact you are evangelizing is not to ask
whether conversions are known to have resulted from your witness. It is to ask whether you are
faithfully making known the gospel message.
• 1970 – Michael Green – Proclaiming the good news of salvation to men and women with a view to
their conversion to Christ and incorporation in his church.
• 1980 – C. Peter Wagner – Is evangelism merely preaching the gospel so that many hear, or does it go
further and insist on bringing the hearers into a personal relationship with Christ? Proclamation
evangelism measures success against the yardstick of how many people hear and understand the
gospel message …Persuasion evangelism evaluates success only in terms of how many new
disciples are made, how many persons previously without Christ and without Hope in this world
commit their lives to him and become members of the household of God.
• 1989 – William Abraham – We can best improve our thinking on evangelism by conceiving it as that
set of intentional activities which is governed by the goal of initiating people into the kingdom of
God for the first time.
Summary
• Packer’s goal is proclamation.
• Green’s goal is good intention.
• Wagner’s goals are proclamation and persuasion. This is a results orientation.
• Abraham’s goals are good intentions and results.

Definition of evangelism
Evangelism is the sharing of the gospel message by announcing it, demonstrating it and summoning
people to respond to it.
2.4 Three Activities of Evangelism

2.4.1 Announcing
2.4.2 Demonstrating
2.4.3 Summoning
2.5 Six Aspects of Announcing the Gospel Message
2.5.1 The Gospel Events – Cross and Resurrection (death, burial, resurrection, appearance)
2.5.2 The Gospel Witnesses – Old Testament and Apostles
2.5.3 The Gospel Claims – Jesus, fully human and fully divine, is Savior and Lord
2.5.4 The Gospel Promises – Forgiveness of Sins …
2.5.5 The Gospel Demands – Repentance and Faith and Baptism
2.5.6 The Gospel Invitation – CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE
2.6 Love - the Motivation and Demonstration of Evangelism

2.6.1 Love is what you need – love is all you need
2.6.2 Our call is to build bridges
2.6.3 Love is expressed in community
2.6.3.1 Worship
2.6.3.2 Unity

2.6.3.3 Care and Nurture
2.6.3.4 Service
• Nehemiah 1
—Authentic Christian service begins with weeping
—Precondition for joy is sowing in tears
• Persistence in your call

—This means that you cannot do anything else
3. What is Salvation?
Ibid., 82f
3.1 What it is not

3.1.1 Psycho-physical health
3.1.2 Political liberation
3.2 What it is
3.2.1 Personal freedom from sin and its consequences
3.2.2 Personal freedom for God and his Kingdom
3.3 Three phases of salvation

3.3.1 Past – saved from the wrath of God, from His just judgment on our sins
3.3.2 Present – we are being saved
3.3.3 Future – our final salvation lies in the future
4. What is Conversion?
4.1 A contemporary distaste for the idea of conversion
4.1.1 Social superiority
4.1.2 Imperialism
4.1.3 Syncretism and universalism

4.2 What conversion is

4.2.1 The positive human response to Jesus and his Gospel without which salvation is impossible
4.2.2 To “turn,” “turn around”
4.2.3 Signifies to turn from one direction to another
4.2.4 Christian – to turn from sin, the devil and the world and to turn toward God
9“
for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to
God from idols to serve the living and true God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9
15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good
news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven
and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” Acts 14:15 (NRSV)
4.3 Elements of conversion

4.3.1 Repentance – to renounce, “mortification”
4.3.2 Faith – to embrace, “vivification”
4.4 Implications of conversion
4.4.1 Submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ
Sources
Stott, John R. W., Christian Mission in the Modern World (Downer’s Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1975), 39.
Packer, J. I., Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (London: InterVarsity Press, 1961), 41.
Wagner, C. Peter, Frontiers in Mission Strategy (Chicago: Moody, 1971), 128, 132-133.
Green, Michael, Evangelism and the Early Church (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans), 1970), 7.
Abraham, William, The Logic of Evangelism (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989), 95.

Lecture 2 – Understanding Christian Conversion (Stephen VanDop)
5. A Story of Conversion
6. What is Conversion?
6.1 How we conceive of conversion determines how we do evangelism.
6.2 Conversion definition

Conversion is the positive human response to Jesus and his Gospel without which salvation is
impossible.
7. Key Biblical Words/Concepts in Conversion

7.1 Key Words
7.1.1 Hebrew – shubh – “turn around”, “return”, “restore”
7.1.2 Greek – metanoeō – to “turn”, “turn away from”
7.1.3 Greek – epistrepho – to “turn”, “turn toward”
7.2 Key Concepts/Actions (1 Thessalonians 1:9; cf. Acts 14:15)
7.2.1 Repentance – to renounce sin – turn away from sin – “mortification”
7.2.2 Faith – to humbly embrace Jesus – turn towards God - “vivification”
8. Key Distinction: Salvation vs. Conversion

8.1 Salvation – the work of God
8.2 Conversion – the choice of humanity. It is the decisive human response of faith to
God’s grace-filled invitation to enter into a personal relationship with this God with a
person’s whole life.

9. Key Players in Conversion

9.1 The Holy Spirit
9.2 The Witnessing Church
9.3 The Seeker
10. The Core Pattern of Conversion

Peace, Richard V., Conversion in the New Testament: Paul and the Twelve (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans,
1999), 25-26
10.1 Insight (repentance)
10.2 Turning
10.3 Transformation
11. Live Reports from Those “Looking for God”

Van Dop, Stephen W., Connecting with God: Exploring the Language, Motivation, and Three Strategic
Evidences in Conversion to Christ, Doctoral dissertation (Lexington: Asbury Theological Seminary, 2004),
150-65.
11.1 The influence of prior religious background
11.2 The role of a life crisis

11.2.1 Intrapersonal
11.2.2 Interpersonal
11.2.3 Situational
11.3 The role of a credible witness
11.4 The reality of personal resistance
12. Reports from Those “Embracing Christ”

Ibid., 165-66.

12.1 Willingness to trust again
12.2 The absence of the language of sin and repentance
12.3 Felt presence of the Holy Spirit
13. Common Language from New Believers

Ibid., 172-80.
13.1 What language is often missing?

13.1.1 The word “sin”
13.1.2 The word “repentance”
13.2 What they communicate they are seeking

13.2.1 God
13.2.2 Personal Wholeness
13.2.3 Community/Belonging
13.2.4 Life Purpose
13.3 How they communicated acceptance of Jesus

13.3.1 Having a life need
13.3.2 Trusting in the claims of Jesus
13.3.3 The reality of a spiritual struggle
14. The Dynamic of Conversion

Peace, p. 25
14.1 Two basic types of conversion: The Encounter and The Process

14.2 The Encounter: the conversion of the Apostle Paul in Acts.

14.2.1 Acts 9:1-9
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He
went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he
found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as
prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven
flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do
you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and
you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see
anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So
they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or
drink anything. Acts 9:1-9
14.2.2 Acts 22:3-21
3
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was
thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are
today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women
and throwing them into prison, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even
obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people
as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6
“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around
me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8
“ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.
“‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the
light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
10
“‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.
“‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been
assigned to do.’ 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of
the light had blinded me.
12
“A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly
respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive
your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.
14
“Then he said: ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the
Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what
you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash
your sins away, calling on his name.’
17
“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw
the Lord speaking. ‘Quick!’ he said to me. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will
not accept your testimony about me.’
19
“‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison
and beat those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I
stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
21
“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” Acts 22:3-21

14.2.3 Acts 26:1-23
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself
fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the
Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and
controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4
“The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my
life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can
testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a
Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am
on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they
earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing
me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9
“I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of
Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put
many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11
Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force
them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute
them.
12
“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of
the chief priests. 13 About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven,
brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I
heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for
you to kick against the goads.’
15
“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your
feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen
of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the
Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place
among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19
“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in
Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that
they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why
the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But I have had God’s help to
this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing
beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Christ would suffer and,
as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
Acts 26:1-23
14.2.4 Summary: the three core elements of conversion
14.2.4.1 Insight (repentance)
14.2.4.2 Turning
14.2.4.3 Transformation

14.2.5 A Contemporary Story of Encounter Evangelism
14.3 The Process: the conversion of the twelve disciples in Mark

14.3.1 Two themes
14.3.1.1 Jesus is the Messiah (1:16-8:30)
14.3.1.2 Jesus is the Son of God (8:31-15:39)
14.3.2 Prologue: Theme of conversion (1:1-15)
14.3.2.1 Key words
• “Gospel”
• “Baptism”
• “Repentance”
• “Faith”
• “Kingdom of God”
• “Spirit”
14.3.2.2 The task of evangelism (Peace, p. 117)
“The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in
the ‘good news.’” (1:14-15).
14.3.3 Part One: Jesus is the Messiah (1:16-8:30)
14.3.3.1 Teacher
14.3.3.2 Prophet
14.3.3.3 Messiah
14.3.4 Part Two: Jesus is the Son of God (8:31-15:39)
14.3.4.1 Son of Man
14.3.4.2 Son of David
14.3.4.3 Son of God

14.3.5 Summary
14.3.5.1 Insight
14.3.5.2 Turning
14.3.6 A Contemporary Story of Process Evangelism
15. Methodological Idolatry

Morris, George E., The Mystery and Meaning of Christian Conversion (Nashville, TN: Discipleship
Resources, 1970), 148.
15.1 There is no uniformity in New Testament conversions
15.2 Types of “Formula” Idolatry
15.2.1 Confirmation
15.2.2 Revival
15.2.3 Salvation Plan
15.3 One salvation, infinite ways to be converted
16. The Evidence of Conversion: the Trinity as the Paradigm

16.1 Restored Personhood – intrapersonal wholeness
16.2 Restored Community – interpersonal wholeness
16.3 Restored Mission – shared purpose

16.4 All of these factors point to the need to build awareness of the call of Christ to full
Christian maturity
17. Developing Your Story with a Purpose

(See

Appendix 1 – Developing Your Story with a Purpose.)
Paul’s testimony in Acts 26:4-23 includes three elements of a person’s testimony:
17.1 Life Before Christ
17.2 How You Met and Engaged Christ
17.3 Life after Accepting Christ
Sources
Fee, Gordon, God’s Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson,
1977).
Gaventa, Beverly Roberts, From Darkness to Light: Aspects of Conversion in the New Testament (Philadelphia
PA: Fortress. 1986).
Smith, Gordon T., Beginning Well: Christian Conversion and Authentic Transformation (Downer’s Grove IL:
InterVarsity, 2001).
Peace, Richard V., Conversion in the New Testament: Paul and the Twelve Disciples (Grand Rapids MI:
Zondervan, 1999).
Van Dop, Stephen W., Connecting with God: Exploring the Language, Motivation and Three Strategic
Evidences in Conversion to Christ, Doctoral Dissertation (Lexington KY: Asbury Theological
Seminary. 2004).

Lecture 3 – Whom Do We Evangelize? (Stephen Van Dop)

18. Four Provisions in the Church’s Commission from Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
18.1 Provision of Power
18.2 Provision of Vocation/Calling
18.3 Provision of Awareness
18.4 Provision of Purpose
19. Contexts for Evangelism from Acts 1:8

Van Engen, Charles, You Are My Witnesses (New York: Reformed Church Press. 1992), p 48.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
19.1 Jerusalem
19.2 Judea
19.3 Samaria
19.4 Ends of the earth
20. Confronting Cultural Barriers to Evangelism

The cultural barriers that evangelists need to navigate in order to present an effective gospel message are:
20.1 Racial

20.2 Ethnic
20.3 National
20.4 Economic
20.5 Educational
20.6 Religious
21. Recognizing the Kinds of People God Draws

Evidences in Conversion to Christ, Doctoral Dissertation (Lexington: Asbury Theological Seminary, 2004).
During evangelism, we see the Holy Spirit typically moving in these kinds of people:
21.1 Those who are seeking more
21.2 Those who are connected to a credible person
21.3 Those who are in pain
21.4 Those who are empty
21.5 Those who are in transition
21.6 Those who are tired and broken
21.7 Those who are hostile
22. Common, Trans-Cultural Needs Involved in Evangelism

Tuttle, Robert, G, Jr., Can We Talk? Sharing Your Faith in a Pre-Christian World (Nashville: Abington,
1999), 61 – 72.
These trans-cultural needs are true for all evangelistic contexts:

22.1 The need to measure up (Law)
22.2 The need to understand one’s origin
22.3 The need to overcome temptation
22.4 The need to experience community
23. Developing Your F.R.A.N.K. List

See Appendix 2 – Developing Your F.R.A.N.K. List.
23.1 Friends
23.2 Relatives
23.3 Acquaintances
23.4 Neighbors/Co-workers
23.5 Kid connections
24. Evangelism in Dynamic Collaboration with God through Prayer

24.1 Jesus’ example
19
Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only
what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. John 5:19
24.2 Jesus’ Promise and the Holy Spirit
10
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are
not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles
themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will
do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask
in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my
name, and I will do it. John 14:10-14
15
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you
another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him,
because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in
you. John 14:15-17

25. Identify Your Common Ground

See Appendix 3 – Conversation Sketch.
The areas for finding common ground in an evangelistic conversation are:
25.1 Interests
25.2 Needs
25.3 Gifts and Skills
25.4 Location
25.5 Concerns
Sources
Tuttle, Robert, G, Jr., Can We Talk? Sharing Your Faith in a Pre-Christian World (Nashville: Abington, 1999).
Evidences in Conversion to Christ, Doctoral Dissertation (Lexington: Asbury Theological Seminary,
2004).
Van Engen, Charles, You Are My Witnesses (New York: Reformed Church Press, 1992).

Lecture 4 – How Do We Evangelize (Stephen Van Dop)

26. Foundational Assumptions for Effective Evangelism
26.1 Everyone is on a spiritual pilgrimage
Peace, Richard V., Holy Conversation: Talking About God in Everyday Life (Downer’s Grove, IL:
Inter-Varsity Press, 2006), 27.
26.2 All evangelism is the work of God
26.3 All evangelism represented by the truth of Jesus Christ
26.4 All evangelism is empowered by the Holy Spirit
26.5 All evangelism is relational or propositional
26.6 All evangelism is contextual
26.7 All evangelism is effective through the praying Church
27. The Modes of Evangelism (reflect the pattern of Jesus’ ministry)

Kraft, Charles, “What Kind of Encounter Do We Need in our Christian Witness?” Evangelical Missions
Quarterly, 27:3 (July 1991).
27.1 Announcing the Gospel to People (encounter with the truth)

27.1.1 Goal – Understanding
27.1.2 Mode – Teaching
27.2 Demonstrating the Gospel to People (power encounters/healing)

Tippett, Alan, People Movements in Southern Polynesia (Chicago: Moody, 1971), 81, 206.
Wagner, C. Peter, How to Have a Healing Ministry (Venture, California: Regal 1988), 150.
Wimber, John, Power Evangelism (New York: Harper Row, 1985), 29-32.
Kraft, Charles, Christianity with Power (Ann Arbor: Servant, 1989)
27.2.1 Goal – Freedom
27.2.2 Mode – Spiritual Warfare
27.3 Summoning People to the Gospel (allegiance encounter)

27.3.1 Goal – Relationship
27.3.2 Mode – Witness
28. Historical Reports from the Kingdom Front

Green, Michael, Evangelism in the Early Church (London: Hodder & Stroughton, 1970).
28.1 Ordinary people who were confident in the truth of the Gospel
28.2 Ordinary people who had a strong sense of urgency about sharing the Gospel
28.3 They completely persuaded that people would perish without the Gospel
28.4 Ordinary people who were sensitive to cross-cultural factors and creative in
presenting the Gospel
28.5 Ordinary people who had a powerful witness because of the impact of their
transformed lives
28.6 Ordinary people who communicated a “high demand” conversion
28.7 Ordinary people whose methods were strategic

29. A Strategy: Living in 3D

Hybels, Bill, Just Walk Across the Room (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006), 59ff.
29.1 Develop Friendships – by engaging in the lives of people around you.

29.1.1 The evangelistic life cycle of most Christ-followers
29.1.2 The evangelistic life cycle Christ encourages
29.1.3 See Appendix 2 – Developing Your F.R.A.N.K. List
29.1.4 Be courageously intentional
29.1.4.1 Pray for opportunities to develop new relationships
29.1.4.2 Make room in your calendar
29.1.5 Be motivated
29.1.5.1 By love
29.1.5.2 By truth
29.1.6 Be focused
29.1.6.1 Spot potential in people
29.1.6.2 Note the movement of the Holy Spirit in a relationship
29.2 Discover stories – before sharing your story and God’s redemptive story
29.2.1 Discover the other person’s story
29.2.1.1 Adopt a posture of listening and discovering people’s stories.
29.2.1.2 Identify themes of alienation from God, others and themselves.

29.2.1.3 Note expressions of a desire for “more” …..
29.2.1.4 Assess where they are in the journey
29.2.2 Discover the other person’s stories of the presence of God
29.2.2.1 Answers to prayer
29.2.2.2 Experiences with God as a child, teenager and adult.
29.2.2.3 How God met a person in failure.
29.2.2.4 Where God rescued someone.
29.2.2.5 Dramatic encounters in worship, a healing or service.
29.2.2.6 Quiet encounters in worship, small group, or a relationship.
29.2.2.7 Experiences of joy, peace, longsuffering, or the gifts of the spirit.
29.2.3 Connect the stories
(See Appendix 4 – The Story Triangle and Appendix 5 – A Six Point Evangelistic Assessment
Scale)
29.2.3.1 God’s Story

• Creation
• Fall
• Incarnation
• Redemption
• Community of Love and Mission
• Jesus Name
29.2.3.2 Your Story

• Alienation from God
• Encounter with Jesus
• Rescued and Captured by Jesus

29.2.3.3 Their Story

• Themes of alienation from God, others and self
• Movements of God in their life.
• Indicators of a desire for “more”….
29.2.4 Understanding How Stories Intersect

• Stories are accessible for everyone
• Stories engage the listener
• Stories make emotional impact that is memorable
29.3 Discern Next Steps – by following the Holy Spirit’s direction.

29.3.1 Adapt to an individual’s needs and personality
29.3.2 Talk about Jesus
29.3.3 Share Good News
(See Appendix 8 – Personal Witness & Communication Style Assessment and Appendix 7
– Illustrations of The Good News)
29.3.4 Apply God’s truth to the individual’s life
29.3.5 Summon them to a decision about Jesus Christ
29.3.6 Talk about commitment: “Follow Me!” (Jesus)
30. Knowing the Essential Points of the Gospel

30.1 Sin is a reality.
30.2 Jesus is fully human and fully God.
30.3 We need to be forgiven of our sin, turn away from sin and turn to God.
30.4 Salvation is a free gift from God; no one can earn it.

30.5 We accept salvation by faith.
30.6 The Bible is God’s Word.
31. Specific Styles of Evangelism

(See Appendix 8 – Personal Witness & Communication Style Assessment)
31.1 Prophetic
31.1.1 Description
31.1.2 Caution
31.2 Proclamation
31.2.1 Description
31.2.2 Caution
31.3 Intellectual
31.3.1 Description
31.3.2 Caution
31.4 Storyteller
31.4.1 Description
31.4.2 Caution
31.5 Testimonial
31.5.1 Description

31.5.2 Caution
31.6 Interactive
31.6.1 Description
31.6.2 Caution
31.7 Invitational
31.7.1 Description
31.7.2 Caution
31.8 Service
31.8.1 Description
31.8.2 Caution
31.9 Power Encounter

31.9.1 Description
31.9.2 Caution
32. Encounter Evangelism: A Critique

Peace, Richard V., Conversion in the New Testament: Paul and the Twelve (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999),
285ff.
32.1 The Apostle Paul’s Experience as a Model
32.2 Challenge of the Church

32.3 Encounter-Oriented Evangelistic Activities

32.3.1 Mass
32.3.2 Personal
32.3.3 Media
32.3.4 The problem of over familiarity
32.3.5 Assessment of Encounter Evangelism
32.3.5.1 Insight
32.3.5.2 Turning
33. Process Evangelism: Theory

Ibid, 309ff.
33.1 Spiritual Pilgrimage

33.1.1 Quest
33.1.2 Commitment
33.1.3 Formation
33.2 A Model for Process Evangelism (The Gospel of Mark)

33.2.1 Jesus as the Great Teacher
33.2.2 Jesus as the Powerful Prophet

33.2.3 Jesus as the Messiah
33.2.4 Jesus as the Son of Man
33.2.5 Jesus as the Son of David
33.2.6 Jesus as the Son of God
34. Process Evangelism: Practice

34.1 Church Planting Evangelism
34.2 Small Group Evangelism
34.3 Growth-Oriented Evangelism
34.4 The Spiritual Disciplines
34.5 Worship Evangelism
34.6 Service Evangelism

Sources
Green, Michael, Evangelism in the Early Church (London, England: Hodder & Stroughton, 1970).
Hybels, Bill, Just Walk Across the Room (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006).
Kraft, Charles, Christianity With Power (Ann Arbor, MI: Servant, 1989).
___________, “What Kind of Encounter Do We Need in Our Christian Witness?” Evangelical Missions
Quarterly, 27:3 (July 1991).
Peace, Richard V., Holy Conversation: Talking About God in Everyday Life (Downer’s Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity
Press, 2006), 27.
______________, Conversion in the New Testament: Paul and the Twelve (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans,
1999).
Richardson, Rick, Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News
(Downer’s Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 2000).
Tippett, Alan, People Movements in Southern Polynesia (Chicago, IL: Moody 1971).
Wagner, C. Peter, How to Have a Healing Ministry Venture (CA: Regal, 1988),10.
Wimber, John, Power Evangelism (New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1985).

Lecture 5 – The Necessity of Cross-Cultural Evangelism (Rich

Mendola)
35. God is a Missionary God

The Bible cannot be properly understood without understanding God as a missionary God. God’s zeal for
His glory reveals itself in God’s plan to bring all nations before Him in worship. Seeing God for who He is
and what He wills to do will necessitate our involvement in seeing worshippers of God from every tribe and
tongue and people and nation. All history is marked by this theme and will end when nations come before
him in worship: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all
nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14
35.1 God makes nations with a view of his glory

26
“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he
determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that
men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one
of us.” (Acts 17:26-27)
35.2 God makes a covenant with Abraham with nations in mind

1 “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go
to the land I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make
your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses
you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’” (Gen 12:1-3) – (1st Promise -
to Abraham)
35.2.1 God reinforces this promise by repeating it and swearing by Himself
35.2.1.1 Genesis 18:18 – (2nd Promise - to Abraham)
“Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will
be blessed through him.”
35.2.1.2 Genesis 22:16-18 – (3rd Promise - to Abraham)

16
“…and said, ‘I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this
and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your
descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your
offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.’”
35.2.1.3 Hebrews 6:13-18

13
“When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to
swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, ‘I will surely bless you and give you many

descendants.’ 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
16
Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said
and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature
of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an
oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for
God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly
encouraged.”
35.2.1.4 Genesis 26:3-5 – (4th Promise - to Isaac)
3 “Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you
and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to
your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the
sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth
will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him,
keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.”
35.2.1.5 Genesis 28:14 – (5th Promise - to Jacob)
“Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west
and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed
through you and your offspring.”
35.3 God’s Covenant people understood the promise given to Abraham to be the basis of
God’s actions
35.3.1 Exodus 3:15
“God also said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers--the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' This is my name
forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.”
35.3.2 Deut. 28:9-10

9
“The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the
commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see
that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you.”
35.3.3 Joshua 4:24
“He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is
powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”
35.3.4 1 Samuel 17:45-46

45
“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I
come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom
you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and
cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air
and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.’”
35.3.5 Psalm 67:7
“God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.”
35.3.6 Psalm 72:17
“May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed
through him, and they will call him blessed.”
35.3.7 1 Kings 8:41-43

41
“As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant
land because of your name-- 42 for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and
your outstretched arm--when he comes and prays toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven,
your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the
earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this
house I have built bears your Name.”
35.3.8 1 Kings 8:59-60

59
“And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord
our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people
Israel according to each day's need, 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the
Lord is God and that there is no other.”
35.4 The gospel has nations in its message

35.4.1 Galatians 3:8
“The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel
in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’”
35.4.2 Luke 24:45-48

45
“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, ‘This
is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and
repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.’”

35.4.3 Romans 1:5
“Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from
among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.”
35.4.4 Romans 16:25-26

25
“Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus
Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now
revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God,
so that all nations might believe and obey him—“
35.5 The Bible is a unified story of God bringing glory to His name by fulfilling His
promise.
35.5.1 Rev. 5:9
“And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because
you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language
and people and nation.’”
35.5.2 Rev. 7:9
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from
every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.
They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”
35.5.3 Matthew 8:11
“I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the
feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”

36. Currently, many people groups have not received the promised blessing
of the Abrahamic covenant
36.1 42 % of people groups (“nations”) are A "people group" is an ethnolinguistic

unreached group with a common self-identity that is shared by
the various members. There are two parts to that
A people group is unreached if there is no word: ethno and linguistic. Language is a primary
indigenous community of believing Christians and dominant identifying factor of a people group.
with adequate numbers and resources to But there are other factors that determine or are
evangelize this people group. Sociologists have associated with ethnicity.
recently researched what percentage of a
population needs to be influenced to impact the Usually there is a common self-name and a sense of
whole group and the answer was 2%. (See common identity of individuals identified with the
Appendix 12 – Unreached People Groups). group. A common history, customs, family and clan
identities, as well as marriage rules and practices,
age-grades and other obligation covenants, and
inheritance patterns and rules are some of the
36.2 There are 16,788 ethnic people groups common ethnic factors defining or distinguishing a
identified in the Joshua Project database. people. What they call themselves may vary at
different levels of identity, or among various sub-
Of these, 6,955 are identified as groups.
unreached representing 41.2 %. Of these “People groups” are similar to the Biblical concept of
3,501 are unengaged. “nations.”

36.3 The world’s population is approximately 6.8 billion. The number of people living in
unreached people groups is 2.84 billion, which represents 41.6% of the world’s
population.
36.4 There are about 6,800 living languages in the world, as identified by the Ethnologue.
4,024 are without Scripture portions available, with some 450,000,000 speakers.
36.5 About 40% of the world’s language groups (divided by country) still do not have any
gospel recording in their language (approximately 4,100 total groups when divided
by country).
36.6 The largest number of unreached people groups live in the 10/40 Window.
36.6.1 The 10/40 Window includes the regions of the eastern hemisphere located between 10
and 40 degrees north of the equator.
36.6.2 The top 10 countries with the largest “unevangelized populations” are located in the
10/40 window. 85% of the world’s poorest of the poor live in the 10/40 window. 43 of the
top 50 countries with the greatest persecution of Christians are also in the 10/40 window.
(See Appendix 13 – The 10/40 Window.)
36.7 The largest least-reached group is the Japanese, with over 120,000,000 individuals.
36.8 3,101 groups are primarily Muslim, totaling nearly 1,300,000,000 individuals.
36.9 2,409 groups are primarily Hindu, totaling about 900,000,000 individuals.
36.10 India has the largest number of ethnic people groups, 2,327 in the Joshua Project
database.
36.11 If every Christian reached out to share the gospel in the sphere they are presently
in, a large segment of the non-Christian world would still not hear the gospel. (See
Appendix 14 – The Globe at a Glance.)

37. God utilizes two primary methods of ensuring that nations are blessed
37.1 God sends His people to the nations
(E.g., Jonah, nation of Israel in Exile, Daniel, Ezekiel, Acts 13:2, Matthew 28:19)
• “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas
and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (Acts 13:2)
• “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
37.2 God sends the nations to His people

(E.g., I Kings 8, 10, Ruth, Psalm 87, Isaiah 61:1-4, Acts 2, 8, 9, 10, 16)
4
“I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me--Philistia too, and Tyre, along
with Cush and will say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”5 Indeed, of Zion it will be said, ‘This one and
that one were born in her, and the Most High himself will establish her.’ 6 The Lord will write in the
register of the peoples: ‘This one was born in Zion.’ Selah” (Psalm 87:4-6 (NIV))
37.2.1 Internationals play a prominent role in redemptive history: Abraham, Moses, Ruth,
Daniel, Nehemiah, Magi, Jesus, and Paul.
37.2.2 God has special instructions concerning how to treat internationals (Leviticus 19:33,
Deuteronomy 10:17-19, Deuteronomy 31: 10-12, Hebrews 13:2)
• “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him.” (Leviticus 19:33)
17
• “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and
awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18 He defends the cause of the
fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. 19 And you are
to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.” (Deut. 10:17-19)
• “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels
without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)
37.2.3 Five types of internationals are included in the Acts accounts
• Refugees/Immigrants
• Trainees
• Business people
• Diplomats
• International students

37.2.4 Currently there is an influx of internationals into the USA
The United States, a country with a rich immigrant heritage, is experiencing a profound
demographic and cultural transformation. The number of immigrants in the US is at its highest
point in history, and the rate of immigrant-driven transformation, which began in earnest in the
1960s, is expected to continue to accelerate. (See Appendix 15 – Characteristics of Foreign
Born Residents in the USA (in percent).)
38. Crossing cultures to share the gospel changes us (Acts 10)

38.1 It forces us to deal with prejudices (Acts 10:14)
38.2 It helps us to deal with fears
11
“When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.
12
Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he
began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who
belonged to the circumcision group.” (Galatians 2:11-12)
38.2.1 Of our peers
38.2.2 Not knowing what to do
38.2.3 Defilement
38.2.4 Not being understood
38.2.5 Motives
38.3 It strikes a blow to the idea that missions is for the few (Galatians 2:7-8)
7
“On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the
Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an
apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.” (Galatians 2:7-8)
38.4 It helps us to depend on the Holy Spirit
38.5 It requires us to recognize the kingdom of God rather than nationalism
CONCLUSION: Even though Peter was “called” to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles, God saw that it was vital that
Peter embrace God’s heart for the nations. Similarly, God calls each of us to embrace His heart for the nations.

Lecture 6 – Understanding Culture and Developing Cross-cultural

Relationships (Rich Mendola)
39. Understanding culture enhances our worship of God
39.1 What is culture?
Definition: Culture is an integrated system of learned behavior and thinking patterns that are
characteristic of the members of any given society. Culture refers to the total way of life of particular
groups of people. It includes everything that a group of people thinks, says, does, and makes – its
systems of attitudes and feelings. Culture is learned and transmitted from generation to generation.
39.2 Examples of Culture:

• Diet • Dealing with Conflict
• Manners • Arts & Artifacts
• Ways of Making Decisions • Tools
• Customs • Beliefs
• Communication • Myths and legends
• Use of Time • Religious Beliefs
• Rituals • Values
• Space • Morals
• Social Institutions • Concept of Self
• Cognitive Approach to Reality • Ideals
• Laws (written & unwritten) • Knowledge
• Ceremonies
39.3 Culture is an expression of the diversity of God

No one culture contains the full expression of God’s character. Together cultures enhance our
appreciation for who God is.
31.3.1. Different cultures emphasize different values, both of which can be biblical.
39.4 Every culture is fallen but contains reflections of the character of God. (Culture is
not absolute.)
40. Understanding culture is vital to building friendships

40.1 Love is culturally defined
• To better love people, we need to understand their culture and how they define love (their love
language). Can we truly love someone we do not in some measure understand? Love requires some
understanding of its object.

• E.g., American Christians often view missions as a way of “helping people.” In cultures that value
humility, such “helping” is often viewed as aggressive, superior and not humble.
40.2 Conflicts occur because of cultural misunderstandings
40.2.1 The story of the Monkey and the Fish
A typhoon had temporally stranded a monkey on an island. In a secure, protected place, while
waiting for the raging waters to recede, he spotted a fish swimming against the current. This
monkey had never seen a fish before, but it seemed obvious to the monkey that the fish was
struggling and in need of assistance. Being of kind heart, the monkey resolved to help the fish.
A tree precariously dangled over the very spot where the fish seemed to be struggling. At
considerable risk to himself, the monkey moved far out on a limb, reached down and snatched
the fish from the threatening waters. Immediately scurrying back to the safety of his shelter,
he carefully laid the fish on dry ground. For a few moments the fish showed excitement, but
soon settled into a peaceful rest. Joy and satisfaction swelled inside the monkey. He had
successfully helped another creature. (Elmer, Cross-Cultural Connections, 14)
40.2.2 The Story of Gas Station Attendants in South Africa
• A Caucasian visitor asked for directions and was sent the wrong way, twice.
• Are the South Africans devious? Dishonest? Untrustworthy?
• In South African culture it is better to make up an answer to a question than to say you do
not know. If someone asks for help, you must help them. It is rude and disrespectful to not
give help. It is better to try and give the wrong directions than to give no directions.
40.2.3 Our attitudes in entering another culture will affect our conclusions drawn from our
experiences.
40.2.3.1 The problem of negative attribution
40.2.3.2 Six essential attitudes necessary to love cross-culturally
• Openness – welcoming people into your life by making space for them
• Acceptance – placing value on people and communicating respect for them
• Trust – over time building someone’s confidence that our intentions are honorable
• Learning – gaining vital information through relationships with others
• Understanding – seeing how things fit together through another’s eyes
• Serving – helping others to reach their potential by meeting needs in humble ways

40.2.3.3 Helpful skills in building successful cross-cultural relationships
• Willingness to try new things and have new experiences
• Suspending judgment/avoiding negative attribution/practicing positive attribution
• Language study
• Expansion of category width and avoidance of dogmatism
• Admitting wrongs, learning culturally appropriate way to express and receive

forgiveness; clarifying misunderstanding
• Learn about others through personal study; learning from others in a teachable way;
learning with others in mutual sharing
• Listening carefully and responding wisely
• Recognizing and overcoming egocentrism and ethnocentrism
For more information, see Appendix 16 – Coping with Cultural Differences and Appendix
17 – How to Become More Culturally Sensitive.
40.2.4 Ethnocentrism is a sin
Ethnocentrism is the belief that your own culture is superior. It causes you to make value
judgments about another culture from perspectives of your own cultural system.
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly
than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the
measure of faith God has given you.” (Romans 12:3)
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans
12:10)
40.3 Major Western and Non-Western cultural differences that affect relationships
40.3.1 Direct vs. Indirect methods of communication
• Western styles of communication are more direct
• Non-Western styles of communication are more indirect
40.3.1.1 Statements that illustrate the value of Direct Communication

• Tell it like it is
• Don’t beat around the bush
• Put your cards on the table
• Give it to me straight
• Be up front with me
• Lay it on the line
• Level with me

• Straight from the horse’s mouth
40.3.1.2 Advantages of Direct Communication
• Decreases the possibility of misunderstanding
• When it works out, it strengthens the relationship
• Is more time efficient
40.3.1.3 Disadvantages of Direct Communication
• Increases the possibility of wounding someone
• Can create distance in the relationship
• Places blame
40.3.1.4 Advantages of Indirect Communication
• Decreases the possibility of wounding
• Can create closeness in the relationship
• Reduces blame
40.3.1.5 Disadvantages of Indirect Communication
• Increases the possibility of misunderstanding
• When it does not work out, it weakens the relationship
• Is less time efficient
40.3.1.6 Differences in Direct and Indirect Communication are reflected in ways of

handling conflict
• Western Styles
• Win-Lose Strategy
• Carefronting (Matthew 18 model)
• Non-Western Styles
• Mediator
• The Down One position and Vulnerability (honor/shame)
• Storytelling and Proverbs
• Inaction, Misdirection, and Silence

40.3.2 Individualism vs. Collectivism
• Westerners are extremely individualistic. They tend to “look out for number one”,
emphasize personal preferences and tend to be more impatient. The individual is
responsible for his/her own actions and takes pride in his/her own efforts.
• Non-Westerners emphasize unity. The group is more important than the individual. When
an individual does something that brings pride or shame, the group is affected in the same
way.
40.3.3 Sense of Time
• Westerners are extremely focused on time, right down to the minute. They have a more
present or future orientation to time. Time is broken down into small segments. They
emphasize productivity, accomplishments, being effective and efficient.
• Non-Westerners are more laid back about time. 7 p.m. may mean 7:30 or 8 or 9 p.m. Their
past orientation to time values preserving culture and history. Time is more fluid and not
broken into small segments. People do not make a lot of plans but are spontaneous and
flexible. They emphasize opportunities. Spending time with people is the main goal rather
than accomplishing a task together. Scheduling an appointment with someone implies a
business relationship rather than a friendship.
40.3.4 View of Authority
• Westerners respect authority less and have relationships that are more egalitarian and
informal.
• Non-Westerners respect authority more and have relationships that are more hierarchical
and formal. Being informal can mean disrespect.
40.3.5 View of Change
• Westerners tend to embrace change and are used to it. Social progress is valued.
• Non-Westerners tend to resist change. Preserving culture and society is very important.
40.3.6 Respect for Age
• Westerners respect and celebrate youth.
• Non-Westerners respect and highly value age.
40.3.7 Family
• Westerners have nuclear families (of only parents and children).
• Non-Westerners have more extended families (parents, children, grandparents, aunts,

uncles, cousins, etc.).

41. Practicing Biblical Hospitality is the Key to Developing Cross-cultural

Relationships
41.1 Biblical hospitality involves welcoming strangers
41.1.1 Hospitality is different than fellowship
41.1.2 Definition of hospitality
Hospitality is welcoming strangers into your presence by providing safe space (physical,
emotional, and spiritual), food, and drink and treating them as family.
41.1.3 Old Testament Illustrations
41.1.3.1 The Shunamite woman, Lot (2 Kings 4:8-27)
41.1.3.2 The Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:9-24)
41.1.3.3 Rahab (Joshua 2)
41.1.3.4 Abraham (Genesis 18)
41.1.3.5 Lot (Genesis 19:1-5)
41.2 Biblical hospitality is based on God as a host

41.2.1 God is the host of the nation of Israel
41.2.2 Jesus’ style of relating to people involved hospitality
41.2.2.1 The Son of Man came eating and drinking (Luke 7:34) and modeled grace,
community, and mission
41.2.2.2 The book of Luke is full of stories of Jesus eating with people:
• Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Levi (Luke 5:29-30)
• Jesus welcomes a sinful woman during a meal at Simon the Pharisees house (Luke
7:36-50)
• Jesus feeds 5,000 in the wilderness (Luke 10-10-17)
• Jesus is host as well as guest in the house of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42)
– This is a great study of the different views of hospitality. The meal is only the
means not the end.
– Many thought hospitality meant preparing a great meal for Jesus but Jesus brought
the meal.
• The way Jesus ate demonstrated to the Pharisees the Kingdom of God (Luke 11:32-
52)

• Jesus teaches about how meals are to be a means of extending God’s grace to the
poor at a meal (Luke 14:1-12)
• Jesus’ salvation comes to Zacchaeus at a meal (Luke 19:1-10)
• Jesus’ celebration of the Passover was rich with meaning (Luke 22)
• Jesus, post resurrection, eats with his disciples (Luke 24:30, 42-43)
41.2.2.3 Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven where he will serve us a meal (John
14:2-3; Luke 12:37; Luke 13:22-30)
41.3 Biblical hospitality is a requirement of leadership (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8)
41.4 Biblical hospitality embodies and enacts a mission

Biblical hospitality represents a new world, a new kingdom, and a new outlook. Jesus announced the
coming kingdom as a banquet and he demonstrated it in his own living.
41.5 Biblical hospitality conveys great honor on the host and the guest
42. Understanding culture can help to prepare the way for sharing the gospel
42.1 We need to value other cultures, not view them as un-Biblical or inferior.
42.2 We need to learn other people’s cultures in order to love them better and share the
Gospel cross-culturally.
See Appendix 17 – How to Become More Culturally Sensitive.

Lecture 7 – The Gospel and Culture (Rich Mendola)
43. The Gospel needs to be contextualized

43.1 It is easy for people going from one culture to another to add cultural components to
the presentation of the gospel.
43.1.1 Contextualization is communicating the message of the gospel in a known form and
language that is understandable to the listener.
43.1.2 Contextualization recognizes the difference between functions and forms
43.1.3 The early church faced the issue of contextualization – Acts 15
• See Appendix 20 – Bible Studies for Further Study – Peter and Paul.
• Basic question, “Must a person become a Jew to enter the kingdom of God?”
• Basic question, “Is it necessary to become a Christian to enter the Kingdom of God?”
• “Christian” does not mean needing to adopt American Christian culture (e.g., “Inductive
Bible study is the best type of study and the best way to grow spiritually”).
• Rather, “Christian” means to believe in Jesus as Lord, repent, trust Christ for forgiveness of
sins and be a follower of Jesus.
• “Christian” does not mean the same thing to everyone in every culture. In many cultures,
“Christian” has extremely negative associations (e.g., for Muslims, it means loose morals,
drinking alcohol and eating pork).
43.2 There are three main areas of contextualization

43.2.1 Lifestyle (the Messenger) – “Why should someone listen to me?”
43.2.1.1 1 Corinthians 9:18-23 (NLT)

18
What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging
anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.
19
Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to
bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews
to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law.
Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who
are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I
too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of
God; I obey the law of Christ.

22
When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the
weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can
to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
43.2.1.2 Questions a person asks her or himself

• Who do I say I am?
• What is my identity?
• What are the areas of common interest?
• How do I operate as an insider?
• How do I serve with humility?
43.2.2 The Message – “What do they understand I am saying?”
43.2.2.1 Methods: orality, chronological storytelling, proverbs and parables, speaking

without notes, and memorization of Scripture.
43.2.2.2 Levels of contextualization in the Muslim world – the C1-C6 Spectrum
The C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6
C1-C6
Spectrum Foreign C1 using C2 using C3 with C4 with a Secret
church local, non-Islamic some "Muslim believer,
transplant, non- cultural biblically for may or
foreign in Islamic elements acceptabl Jesus" may not be
culture language (e.g. dress, e Islamic self- an active
and music, diet, practices identity member in
language artwork) the
religious
life of the
Muslim
community
Self- "Christians" "Christians "Christians" "Followers "Muslims "Christians,"
definition " of Isa" for Jesus" "Followers of
Isa," or
"Muslims for
Jesus"

Scholars’ Debate – How far can we contextualize?

The issue of how far we can contextualize without becoming syncretistic has been highlighted in
discussions about the Muslim community. The debate has been focused on those who advocate a C-5 level
of contextualization versus those who feel this compromises essential Biblical concepts.
C-5 removes obstacles to the gospel among C-5 compromises vital Biblical truth and is
Muslims syncretistic
• Believers should keep in their Muslim context. • Believers must separate from traditional Muslim
• Believers should be called Muslims (and can practices.
add terms such as Messianic or Followers of • Believers should be clearer about their
Isa). identification with Christ to avoid giving the
• 1 Corinthians 7 supports the position of impression that the tenants of Islam are still truth.
Muslims remaining maximally Muslim. • 1 Corinthians 7 refers to believers remaining in
• Going to the Mosque, praying 5X’s a day, their financial and social status but does not refer to
reading the Koran, and reciting the creed are believers being encouraged to continue in their
not only not in conflict with following Jesus former religion.
but help in the flow of the gospel. • Should stop going to Mosque and begin association
• Should avoid the use of the “Son of God” and with a community of believers.
substitute with the word “Messiah.” • Should explain the term “Son of God” rather than
changing the Bible.
43.2.2.3 Example of contextualization in the Hindu world: Hindu Insider Movements
43.2.3 The Community – “What do they see as an expression of church?”
43.2.3.1 Differences between form and function
See Appendix 19 – Form and Function in the Church.
CONCLUSION: Contextualizing the message of the gospel involves an appropriate lifestyle and
character of the messenger, appropriate methods that are culture sensitive, a message that removes
cultural baggage, and a community that can welcome new believers.

44. The Gospel Message Addresses the Problem of Sin and its Results
44.1 Results of sin are different than God’s punishment of sin.
44.1.1 The punishment of sin involves separation from God, pain, death, sickness, frustration,
work, pain in childbirth, etc.
44.1.2 The three major results of sin: guilt, shame and fear
44.1.2.1 Guilt
Guilt
• Experienced right from wrong A sense of having disobeyed a
• Conscious moral law and done wrong. This
sense can be removed through
• Condemnation was experienced punishment or pardon. At a
spiritual level, guilt is the
• They tried to justify their actions
awareness of having broken
• Opposite of guilt: Innocence God’s law and deserving
punishment.
• Was passed on to all
44.1.2.2 Shame
• Based on socially accepted behavior
• Individuals’ identities are connected to their status in a group. When shame is

exposed, the consequence is usually relational separation of some kind: death,
banishment, or emotional distancing.
• Rejection/revenge oriented. A deliberate act of shaming needs to be paid.
• They saw the effects of sin on each other
• They were forced out of their home
• They tried to cover their shame
• Opposite of shame: honor
• Shame was passed on
Shame
44.1.2.3 Fear A sense of embarrassment or
unworthiness in another’s
• They were afraid of being punished presence. Shame requires
banishment or covering and
• Opposite of fear: Power reconciliation. At a spiritual
level, shame is the awareness of
• Fear was passed on being naked before God and
being unable to cover oneself.

44.2 The Gospel Message addresses all three results of sin

Cultures can be guilt-based, shame-based or fear-based.
• Redemption – addresses guilt
• Reconciliation – addresses shame
• Propitiation – addresses fear
• Scripture that links all three: Romans 1:16-17, 1 Cor. 15:42-43
44.2.1 The Message of Redemption
44.2.1.1 Justification by faith
44.2.1.2 Character of God – justice
44.2.1.3 Legal language – penalty paid
44.2.1.4 Most understandable to those in Western culture and the Western church (e.g.,
The Four Spiritual Laws, Romans Road, and Steps to Peace)
44.2.1.5 Key passages:
• Romans 3:21-26
21
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to
which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith
in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by
his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ
as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by
faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had
left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his
righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who
have faith in Jesus.
• 1 John 3:4-5
4
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that
he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
• 1 Corinthians 5:21
21
God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become
the righteousness of God.

• Isaiah 53:4-5
4
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
44.2.1.6 Key stories: Matthew 18:21-35
44.2.1.7 Key concepts: payment, justice, law, scapegoat
44.2.2 The Message of Reconciliation
44.2.2.1 Restoration to family
44.2.2.2 Character of God – honor
44.2.2.3 Relational language
44.2.2.4 Most understandable to Eastern cultures and the Eastern church
• Gen. 3:21
21
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
• Hebrews 12:2 – Jesus as our shame-bearer

2
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before
him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.
• Romans 10:11
11
As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
• Heb. 11:16
16
Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is
not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

• Phil. 2:6-8
6
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
• 1 Pet. 2:6
6
For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”
• Heb. 2:9-11
9
But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now
crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God
he might taste death for everyone.
10
In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom
and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation
perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those
who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them
brothers and sisters.
44.2.2.6 Key stories: Prodigal son (Luke 12), Samaritan woman (John 4), Woman caught
in adultery (John 8:1-11), woman who was bleeding (Luke 9:43-48)
44.2.2.7 Key concepts: clothing, cleansing, washing, honor
44.2.3 The Message of Propitiation
44.2.3.1 Removal of wrath
44.2.3.2 Character of God – victorious
44.2.3.3 Power language
44.2.3.4 Most understandable to those from animistic cultures
Animism generally is a belief in numerous personalized, supernatural beings that are

endowed with reason, intelligence and/or volition and inhabit both objects and living
beings and govern their existences. For example, some tribal cultures of Africa, Asia,
Australia and the Americas are animistic.

• Eph. 2:1-2
1
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to
live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the
air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
• Acts 26:17-18
17
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you
to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place
among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
• Col. 1:12-14
12
and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the
inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from
the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in
whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
• Acts 10:38
38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he
went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil,
because God was with him.
• Heb. 2:14-15
14
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by
his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is,
the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of
death.
• 1 John 3:8
8
The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning
from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s
work.
• Col. 2:13-15
13
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God
made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge
of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it
away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he
made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
44.2.3.6 Key stories: Mark 1:21-28, 5:1-20, 7:24-30, 9:14-27, Luke 11:21-22
44.2.3.7 Key concepts: freedom, deliverance, victory, triumph

45. God has prepared the nations for the gospel
45.1 Are we bringing or taking the gospel?

45.1.1 God has left a witness of himself in every culture. Find a reference point. Look for a
bridge.
45.1.2 Avoid thinking, “God is not in their culture, so we have to bring ours.”
45.2 Redemptive analogies
45.3 Proverbs and stories

• Jesus used stories a lot. Re-tell or re-contextualize a parable. Become a good storyteller. Ask God
for stories to tell people.
• Proverbs are very important in some cultures. Learn their proverbs. Ask them to teach you their
proverbs.

Lecture 8 – Case Studies from Scripture and Life (Rich Mendola)

46. Differences between the way Paul shared the gospel with Jewish and non-
Jewish audiences
46.1 In cases where Peter, Stephen or Paul spoke to a primarily Jewish audience, the Old
Testament was used extensively
46.1.1 Acts 2:14-36—When Peter addressed the crowd at Pentecost
46.1.2 Acts 7—When Stephen was seized and made his speech to the Sanhedrin
46.1.3 Acts 13:14-41—When Paul spoke in the Pisidian Antioch synagogue on the Sabbath
46.2 In cases where Paul spoke to a primarily Gentile audience, he used trans-cultural and
intra-cultural connecting points for sharing the gospel
46.2.1 Acts 14:11-18
In Lystra, Paul did not start by referring to Scripture because the people were unfamiliar with
it. He appealed to creation and their knowledge of God as Creator.
46.2.2 Acts 17:16-31
With the Athenians, Paul looked for reference points: he quoted from their own poets and from
an altar inscription, “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.”

47. Current case studies on the difficulties of sharing the gospel cross-
culturally
47.1 Buddhist world view
47.2 Atheistic world view
47.3 Hindu world view
47.4 Muslim world view

48. Overcoming major Non-Western Objections to the Gospel

48.1 Christianity is a Western Religion
48.1.1 The Bible has a powerful message: God desires to bless all nations.
48.1.2 God reveals himself in all cultures.
48.1.3 Some aspects of non-Western cultures are more like Biblical culture (e.g., unity, revering
the elderly, arranged marriages).
48.1.4 Most Christians in the world today are non-Westerners.
48.1.5 We need to repent. Some missionaries forced non-Biblical, Western values on people.
48.2 The Bible is a corrupted book
48.3 Christianity supports imperialism/colonialism

48.3.1 This is a major issue for many other countries.
48.3.2 Present U.S. foreign policy reminds people of the Crusades, foreign conquest and
missionaries who forced Western culture on them. Do not be naïve about why people have
been hurt by the actions of “Christian” nations.
48.3.3 It is very important that Christians do not align Christian faith with things that are not
inherent to the Gospel (e.g., capitalism and democracy).
48.4 Christianity has failed in the West
SUMMARY: Non-Westerners major objections to Christianity are not about Jesus but about people’s sinful
behavior.

Appendix 1 – Developing Your Story with a Purpose

Developing Your Story with Purpose — Instructions

*Use a separate sheet of paper to form your thoughts. Spend time thinking about how to make your
testimony believable, relatable, and transparent. It will be helpful if you have a person or persons in your
mind who you would like to share your testimony with while developing your testimony.
I. RAPPORT – Build a bridge and introduce your "theme."
II. BEFORE CHRIST – Identify an attitude or emotion that describes your life before salvation.
Share two or three personal experiences that picture that attitude.
III. HOW YOU CAME TO KNOW CHRIST – Give the specific steps in salvation while telling how
you came to know the Lord personally. Keep it conversational, while explaining how you
recognized that Jesus, the sinless Son of God, came to this earth, died on the cross, and rose again.
Share how you realized your sin and its consequences, accepted Christ's forgiveness, and received
Him as Lord. Use Scripture to illustrate and document.
IV. AFTER CHRIST – Talk about how you now are free from the fear of death and hell. Also,
identify the positive change in the attitude or emotion you described in Part II. Share two or
three experiences that show the wonderful difference that Christ has made in your life.
V. CONCLUSION
A. Tell a concise illustration.
B. Include a spiritual application at the end of that illustration.
C. Give clear instructions. Example: "In just a moment I'm going to pray. In that prayer I will
give you an opportunity to pray a prayer like I did many years ago, when I invited Jesus Christ
into my life. If this is something you desire to do today, please pray silently with me, while I
pray aloud." Then proceed to give a gospel message.
D. Pray. Be sure to mention the following:
1. Lead them to acknowledge their sin nature.
2. Confess a desire to be forgiven and cleansed from sin.
3. Confess belief and trust in Christ’s death for sin.
4. Confess belief and trust in Christ’s resurrection.
5. Ask Christ to come into "my" life and to lead “your” life.
6. Thank Him for His gift of eternal life.
E. Give a word of assurance. Example: "For those who prayed with me just now, WELCOME to
the family of God!" Encourage them to share their decision with
you or with the person who brought them.
F. Leave with a challenge.
1. A meaningful quotation.
2. Specific, measurable challenge for growth, like signing up for small group Bible study. Be
prepared to offer help for further growth.

Appendix 2 – Developing Your F.R.A.N.K. List
Friends
•
•
•
•
Relatives
•
•
•
•
Acquaintances
•
•
•
•
Neighbors/Co-workers
•
•
•
•
Kid connections
•
•
•
•

Appendix 3 – Conversation Sketch

Life Experience. Beliefs. Turning Points. Worldviews. Spiritual Journeys.
The Other Person’s Information Your Information
Name:_______________________ Name:_______________________
Age: ________________________ Age: ________________________
Job:_________________________ Job:_________________________
Marital Status:_________________ Marital Status:_________________
Last Book Read: _______________ Last Book Read: _______________
Favorite TV Shows: ____________ Favorite TV Shows: ____________
_____________________________ _____________________________
Spiritual Beginnings: Spiritual Beginnings:
“There are no ordinary

people. You have never
Touch Points: talked to a mere mortal. Touch Points:
Nations, cultures, arts,
• civilizations-these are •
mortal, and their life is to
ours as the life of a gnat.
But it is immortals whom
we joke with, work with,
• marry, snub, and exploit- •
immortal horrors or
everlasting splendors.”
C.S. Lewis
• •
Openness to Spirituality: Openness to Spirituality:
Obstacles to Spirituality: Obstacles to Spirituality:
Relevant Connecting Point: Relevant Connecting Point:

Conversation Sketch Instructions:
VI Students: prior to Lecture 3, complete an entire conversation sketch for one non-believer that you know. Do not
show the sketch to the person or fill it out with the person. You may use previous conversations with the person to
fill out what you already know on the sketch. Thus, for this assignment, you do not necessarily need to have 3-4 new
encounters with the person.
Relationships are a great gift to us. Our lives are filled with people who we think we know better than we actually
do. Other relationships remain underdeveloped due to lack of time and intentionality. Using a conversation sketch
over the course of 2-3 significant encounters will help us prepare to know how to relevantly share Christ with people
in our lives. The above tool is intended to be used over the course of a few days or a couple of weeks. It is intended
to help us understand ourselves and connect what is true in our experience with those we are in relationship with.
Please plan at least 3-4 encounters with one particular person you are already in relationship with who does not
currently follow Jesus.
During the first encounter, gather the data for your contact in the personal information section on the left.
During the second and if need be third encounter, gather the data for your contact from the right side –
spiritual beginnings.
Finally, during the third encounter, gather the data from the three areas on the bottom right side.
Below, find further details on each section.
1. Personal data sections - take time to fill out the left and right top sections (name, age, etc.). The top right
section is to be filled out with data about you. The top left section is to be filled out with data about a
person you are in relationship with (for example, a neighbor, friend, or relative).
2. Following the above pattern, fill out the middle sections for you and your contact person. Put your
information on the right and their information on the left.
a. Spiritual Beginnings: Record 1-2 major descriptors of how you and your contact experienced
spirituality growing up.
b. Touch Points: Cite at least 3 major spiritual experiences, memories, or events that impacted your
and your contact’s spiritual worldviews.
3. Openness and Obstacles to Spirituality sections - again, following this same pattern, in the last section
on the right, record your “pre-Christ” openness (areas of interest in Christ) as well as obstacles. Then,
through conversation, determine the same areas of openness and obstacles for your contact and enter them
on the left side of the last section.
4. The Relevant Connecting Point is the one major issue, event, or theological idea that is most likely to
connect with your contact. What was this for you “pre-Christ?”
5. Using the information gathered, make arrangements to sit down and share Christ with your contact in a
personally relevant way.
After all information has been gathered, compare the similarities and differences between you and your contact.
Spend some time reflecting on these areas of contrast and overlap. Answer the following questions before
scheduling a time to formally present the gospel and invite the contact to come to Christ:
1. How are I and my experiences similar and different from this person?
2. How might my differences help and how may they hinder sharing Christ?
3. How might my similarities help and how may they hinder sharing Christ?
4. What areas do I need to focus on to prepare to share Christ with this person?
5. How should I begin the conversation about Christ?

Appendix 4 – The Story Triangle
God’s Story
2. 3.
Holy Spirit
Your Story Their Story

1.

Appendix 5 – A Six-Point Evangelistic Assessment Scale
1. No Awareness of God
• Assessment
o No religious experience or biblical training
o No evidence of any reflection on the existence of God
• Action
o Be patient and pray for an opportunity to talk about God
o Build a caring friendship and listen to their story
2. Awareness of God
• Assessment
o Some religious experience and biblical training
o A verbal acknowledgement of the existence of God
• Action
o Listen for common themes in their story
o Pray for an opportunity to tell your story and share the gospel
2. Initial Reaction
• Assessment
o Hostility – indicates an emotional investment
o Indifference – neither hostile nor curious.
o Curiosity – indicates an intellectual and emotional interest
• Action
o Discern the Holy Spirit leading regarding hostility and curiosity
o Pray for further opportunities to share the gospel
4. Active Interest
• Assessment
o Demonstrating active interest in the gospel
o Reflects on the gospel
• Action
o Answer questions and encourage dialogue
o Pray for opportunities to invite the person to church
5. Excitement and Decision
• Assessment
o Is open for a relationship with Jesus
o Is experiencing the presence of God
• Action
o Invited them to accept Jesus
o Explain the call to follow Jesus
6. Dissonance
• Assessment
o Experiencing doubts about recent decision for Christ
o Confused about how to live the Christian life
o Continuing to struggle with life issues
• Action
o Bring encouragement through the bible and prayer
o Connect them with Christian community
o Assist them in dealing with ongoing sinful patterns

Appendix 6 – Methods on How to Share Christ

When you give a testimony you are not simply disseminating information. You are sharing what Christ has done in
your life (John 4:1-18) and how he can be Lord and Savior of the person’s life with whom you are sharing. Sharing
in a definitive way is important. You should know how to share what you believe. Reliable statements of fact are
imperative for a proper belief in the living God (Acts 8:26-40, Romans 10:17). Yet, only when the Holy Spirit works
and reveals does revelation become a source of life in one’s heart (Romans 8:1-17). Therefore, as Christ’s
ambassadors, we have a responsibility to share, pray and be examples that the world might believe in Jesus Christ.
1. A FIVE POINT DETAILED EXPLANATION

The following five points are to be used only as general areas that, hopefully, should be covered to give a
person a proper understanding of what is involved in making a commitment to Christ.
1.1 Humankind is sinful and separated from a loving God.
The radical-ness of man’s condition must be understood if a person is going to be a radical disciple.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death.”
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
1.2 Humankind needs to turn to God.
John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter and Paul all started out their ministries by saying we need to repent, i.e.,
turn or change one’s mind (Matthew 1:15, 6:123; Acts 2:38, 26:30). There are many popular methods
of sharing Christ today that drop this aspect of faith or radically decrease its significance. The surest
way to see a “half-baked” decision for Christ is by conveniently sharing the love of Christ, but not the
sinfulness of man.
Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore and return that your sins may be wiped away, in
order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
1.3 God loves humankind and desires them be under His Lordship (government) and not under the rule of
this earth.
Christ died so man could have this fullness of life and forgiveness of sins. In Christ, you are forgiven
and free from past guilt!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 10:10 “…I came that they might have life and might have it more abundantly.”
1.4 Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for man’s sin. Through him man can enter into God’s Kingdom of
love and justice and turn from his own efforts and philosophies.
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
John 14:6 “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one
comes to the Father but through me.”

Think about it:

• If you could work yourself to Heaven why would God even send Jesus?
• Why would he allow His only unique son eternally in relationship with the Father to be separated
from Him if it were not an act of supreme sacrifice?
Think about it:

• I know the Father sending His Son was good, yet I need to do this in order to help me get to
Heaven. We are saying 2 things: Jesus isn’t quite enough and I’m a partial Savior
1.5 We must turn from ourselves and receive Jesus Christ through faith (commitment – biblical “belief”).
This is faith based on face (the crucified and resurrected Christ). When a person received Christ he
leaves one kingdom (this world) and enters another (the Kingdom of God).
John 12:2 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even
to those who believe in His name.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.”
Additional Notes for follow up:
After a person makes a commitment, emphasize his departure from the old
life, forgiveness and the need to be with new “family members” (i.e., the
church) to fully experience the Lordship of Christ. If you desire to have a
discipleship ministry in their lives, you should quickly share about how to be
filled with the Holy Spirit and baptism.
2. THE “ABCD” METHOD
2.1 Something to Admit (Rom 3:22-23)

2.2 Something to Believe (1 Pet. 3:18)
2.3 Something to Consider (Mark 8:34)
2.4 Something to Do (Say “I will”)
(This method is from David Watson, Call & Committed: World Changing Disciple (Harold Shaw
Press, 1982), p139-157)
3. ROMANS ROAD METHOD
1. Everyone needs salvation because we have all sinned.
Romans 3:10-12, and 23 — As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”
... For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (NLT)
2. The price (or consequence) of sin is death.
Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our
Lord. (NLT)
3. Jesus Christ died for our sins. He paid the price for our death.

Romans 5:8 — But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still
sinners. (NLT)
4. We receive salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:9-10, and 13 — If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right
with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved ... For “Everyone who calls on the
name of the Lord will be saved.” (NLT)
5. Salvation through Jesus Christ brings us into a relationship of peace with God.
Romans 5:1 — Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God
because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. (NLT)
Romans 8:1 — So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. (NLT)
Romans 8:38-39 — And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death
nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the
powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed,
nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus
our Lord. (NLT)
Responding to Romans Road
If you believe Romans Road leads to the path of truth, you can respond by receiving God's free gift of
salvation today. Here's how to take a personal journey down Romans Road:
1. Admit you are a sinner.
2. Understand that as a sinner, you deserve death.
3. Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from sin and death.
4. Repent by turning from your old life of sin to a new life in Christ.
5. Receive, through faith in Jesus Christ, his free gift of salvation.
4. ONE VERSE METHOD
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23

Appendix 7 – Illustrations of The Good News
1. “DO/DONE”
This simple verbal illustration can be used alone or together with other illustrations. It makes a
distinction between religion and Christianity. Religion is spelled “D-O” and it is the plan most people
are on, trying to DO enough to earn God’s favor. Christianity is spelled “D-O-N-E”, because Christ
has DONE for us what we could never do for ourselves. He paid for out sins fully by dying on the
cross, and he freely offers us his forgiveness and leadership.
(Paul Little, How To Give Away Your Faith, 2nd edition, (IVP, 1988), pp. 96-97.)
2. THE BRIDGE
2.1 Step 1 - God’s purpose: peace and life.
God loves you and wants you to experience peace and life –abundant and eternal.
The Bible says…
“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
Question: WHY don’t most people have this peace and abundant life that
God planned for us to have?
2.2 Step 2 - The Problem: Our Separation
God created us in His own image to have an abundant life. He did not make us as robots to
automatically love and obey Him. God gave us a will and freedom to choice.
We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This
results in separation from God.
The Bible says…
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.”
Romans 6:23
Statement: Our choice results in separation from God.
(Draw separation)

NOTE: Our attempts to reach God fail!
People have tried in many ways to bridge this gap between themselves and God.
• Good works
• Religion
• Philosophy
• Morality
The Bible says …
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”
Proverbs 14:12
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face
from you, so that he will not hear.”
Isaiah 59:2
Statement: None of the bridges reach God … except one.
2.3 Step 3 – God’s Bridge: The Cross
Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged
the gap between God and people.
The Bible says …
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 2:5
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to
God.”
1 Peter 3:18
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Statement: God has provided the only way …

Each person must make a choice …
(Draw bridge connecting God and People)
2.4 Step 4 – Our Response: Receive Christ
We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive him by personal invitation.
The Bible says …
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
Revelation 3:20
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he

gave the right to become children of God.”

John 1:12
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe
in your heart that god raised him from the dead, you will be
saved.”
Romans 10:9
Question: Where are you?
(Draw picture of bridge connecting with questions on left side saying “here?” and the
question of the right side saying “or here?”)
(From Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, “Steps to Peace with God” pamphlet, World Wide Publications.)
3. THE MARRIAGE VOW
Many people do not understand that a decision at a point in time is needed. Just as being in love does not
make you married, dating Jesus by attending church, learning more about Him, growing in our understanding
does not make someone a Christian. An exchange of vows is needed.
Jesus vows to save us, to protect us, to provide for us, and one day to raise us from the dead.
We respond: “I sinner take you Jesus, to be my Lord and Savior. By your grace and with your help, I will
forsake all other lovers and remain faithful to you alone – promising to love, honor, obey and worship you
for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health for all eternity.”
4. JUDGE
This story can be used on its own or as an excellent supplement to the other illustrations. It helps you answer
questions such as, “If god is so loving, why can’t He just forgive and forget? Even I can do that!”
An incident that took place several years ago in California illustrates what Jesus did on the cross in order to
solve the problem God had in dealing with the sin of humanity.
A young woman was picked up for speeding. She was ticketed and taken before the judge. The judge
read off the citation and said, ‘guilty or not guilty?” The woman replied, “Guilty.” The judge brought
down the gavel and fined her $100 or ten days.
Then an amazing thing took place. The judge stood up, took off his robe, walked down around in front,
took out his billfold, and paid the fine.
What’s the explanation of this?
The judge was her father. He loved his daughter, yet he was a just judge. His daughter had broken the
law and he couldn’t simply say to her, “Because I love you so much, I forgive you. You may leave.” If
he had done that, he wouldn’t have been a righteous judge. He wouldn’t have upheld the law. But he
loved his daughter so much that he was willing to take off his judicial robe and come down in front and
represent her as her father and pay the fine.
The illustration pictures to some extent what God did for us through Jesus Christ. We sinned. The
Bible says, “The wages of sin is death.” No matter how much he loved us, god had to bring down the
gavel and say “death”, because he is a righteous and just God.

And yet, being a loving God, he loved us so much that he as willing to come down off the throne in the
form of the man Christ Jesus, and pay the price for us, which was Christ’s death on the cross.
(From Josh McDowell, More Than A Carpenter (Tyndale Press, 1977), pp 114-115.)
5. PAID CHECK
Some people do not understand that they must accept Jesus’ payment. Imagine being at a restaurant and
discovering that you don’t have your wallet. A kind person at the next table offers to pay the bill. At that
moment you have a choice – will you accept this offer or will you turn it down and try to work the debt off
yourself.
By Jesus death on the cross, God is offering to pay the price for all of our sins – past, present and future. But
we have to make a choice. We can accept God’s offer gratefully or we can insist on trying to pay our debt by
ourselves. Ultimately all of humanity will be divided between those who said yes to God’s offer of payment
(they will be saved) and those who insisted on paying the bill themselves (they will be lost).

Appendix 8 – Personal Witness & Communication Style Assessment

“You Are You”
VI Students: Complete this assessment prior to Evangelism Lecture 3.
If you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you are, by that fact, a witness. You have firsthand knowledge of who
He is & what He has done in your life-in other words you have experienced Jesus. Because God has made you a
unique person, there are most likely one or more ways in which you naturally manifest your experience of Jesus.
One’s heritage, personal experiences, spiritual encounters, academic likes & dislikes, & a myriad of other factors all
merge into making you a unique & valuable witness to Jesus. With this in mind, answer the following questions.
Don’t spend a great deal of time thinking about your answer-your first immediate response is what you should
record.
Record only one value per question according to the following scale:
0=This does not describe me at all 1=This describes me somewhat

2=This describes me pretty well 3=This describes me totally
1. In conversations, I like to approach topics directly, without much small talk___

2. I prefer to read books about the evidence for Christianity & reasons for belief___
3. I often tell stories about my experiences in order to illustrate my point___
4. I am a people-person; I place a high value on friendships___
5. I enjoy including or inviting new people to activities & events___
6. I see the needs in people’s lives that others usually overlook___
7. I often initiate conversations with others, even when I don’t know them___
8. I often find myself expressing my thoughts through using analogies___
9. I have prayed for people who are sick or hurting & they have gotten better___
10. I don’t shy away from putting a person on the spot when it is necessary___
11. I tend to be an analytical person___
12. I find that I want to clearly present my thoughts & ideas in conversations___
13. When in conversations, I frequently use phrases like, “I used to think that too,” and “I can
totally relate to what you’re saying.”___
14. I’m always open to, and often develop, new friends___
15. I’m most comfortable having someone “more articulate” explain Christianity to my friends__
16. I find fulfillment in helping others, often in “behind the scenes” sort of ways___
17. The way I often explain my ideas are with phrases like, “It’s like,” and “It’s as if”___
18. I often have random encounters with people where I feel especially able to help them___
19. It’s more important to tell someone the truth than to be concerned about their feelings___
20. In a conversation, I tend to question the other person’s theological assumptions___
21. I am often able to quickly understand issues people have about Christianity___
22. I’ve found that people can relate well to the story of how I became a Christian___
23. I’d rather delve into personal life issues than abstract theological ideas___
24. It’s not unusual for me to attend outreach events in order to bring my friends___
25. I’d rather show love through my actions than my words___
26. I feel what is most important is that people are presented with information so they can draw their own
conclusions___
27. I have found artistic or musical expression to be a helpful way to express myself___
28. I prefer to meet conflict in a relationship head-on rather than ignore it___
29. I really enjoy discussion and debate on tough issues___
30. I am not shy when telling others about my mistakes as well as my successes___
31. If I were to talk about Jesus with someone, I would prefer to have a prepared presentation to walk through with
them___
32. When I’m telling someone about Jesus, I usually find myself relating stories to them___

33. I prefer getting involved in discussing a person’s life before getting to what they believe___
34. When I have invited friends and acquaintances to events, they usually come___
35. When people are opposed to talking about Jesus, I find Christian love to be more accepted___
36. I’ve suddenly gotten impressions or knowledge about persons I find myself talking to___
37. A motto that would fit me is, “Make a difference or make a mess, but do something!”___
38. Often, when I watch TV or movies I mentally question the actors’ positions & logic___
39. When I’m talking with someone, I sometimes feel a strong urge to pray for them or have insight into how to
pray for them___
40. When I overhear a conversation, I sometimes feel like speaking up about Jesus___
41. Sometimes, details elude me, but stories will stay with me for a long time___
42. I listen carefully to what other people tell me about their lives so that I can help them by applying lessons from
my own experiences to their situation___
43. I enjoy long talks with friends___
44. I wanted to find a church or group on campus that I could take my friends to___
45. I feel more comfortable in physically helping someone than talking about Jesus___
46. I sometimes get into trouble for being insensitive when interacting with others___
47. I like to get at the underlying reasons for opinions that people hold___
48. I am aware of God’s ongoing work in my life and like to share that with other people___
49. When I get to know someone, I tend to become deeply involved in their lives___
50. A highlight of my week is when I can take a friend to church or my Christian group on campus___
51. I am a good story teller___
52. I tend to be more practical and action oriented than philosophical or idea oriented___
53. In the classroom, I like a straight-forward and clear presentation of the information___
54. I feel God telling me to speak to individuals, even at times when I don’t know them___

“You Are You” Scoring Sheet
Instructions: Next to the question number, write the value you recorded for that question. For example, if
for question 1 you recorded a “2” than transfer that “2” to the right of the question number below. It will
help if you tear this page off and put it alongside the questionnaire. After you’ve done that for each
question, tally each category at the bottom. Next, read through the descriptions given for each category
below, paying particular attention to those you were high and low in. You will want to pay particular
attention to the weaknesses and strengths of the categories you were low and high in.
Prophetic Proclamation Intellectual Storyteller Testimonial Interactive
1___ 7___ 2___ 8___ 3___ 4___
10___ 12___ 11___ 17___ 13___ 14___
19___ 26___ 20___ 27___ 22___ 23___
28___ 31___ 29___ 32___ 30___ 33___
37___ 40___ 38___ 41___ 42___ 43___
46___ 53___ 47___ 51___ 48___ 49___

: Totals
________________________________________________________________________
Invitational Service Power Encounter
5___ 6___ 9___
15___ 16___ 18___
24___ 25___ 21___
34___ 35___ 36___
44___ 45___ 39___
50___ 52___ 54___

: Totals
________________________________

“You Are You” Description Sheets
Introduction:
In this course, the styles listed below are not so much styles of evangelism rather than our natural default ways of
relating to people. Via nature, nurture, and spiritual gifting, we arrive at a place where we naturally like to relate to
people and feel comfortable in conversation. In various circumstances and with different individuals, we are
required to operate either within or outside our areas of strength. In the ministry of Jesus, I believe we see Him
operating on a regular basis both within and outside His natural predisposition in terms of relating to people.
Joining Jesus in His work of seeking to save the lost will require the same of us.
Understanding our strengths and weaknesses, however, is key in doing effective evangelism. In short, becoming
more like Jesus will require us to pursue character traits and behaviors that do not come easily to us and may present
challenge. As you make your way through the description sheet, pay particular note to those styles you scored high
on and note their strengths and weaknesses. For those areas you scored low on, ask yourself where you might need
to operate within that style for the sake of lost people or how you might add the strengths of that style to your
character over time.
Prophetic:
People with a prophetic style attempt to use scripture when confronting people’s sin and calling for repentance. In
public or private interaction, they prefer to skip small talk in order to get to the point. They have strong convictions
and opinions, but are more likely to communicate Biblical principles than personal bias. They have a sense of
urgency in obtaining a response. They are willing to say hard things to anyone and hold people and structures
accountable for their values. They are bold, direct, and face to face-type people. Biblical examples include people
like Stephen (Acts 7), John the Baptist (Mark 6), and Jesus (Matthew 15).
Strengths: 1) Cuts through smoke screens; 2) People hear the Word of God instead of men;
3) Respects Scripture and its ability to bring conviction; 4) Prophetic people are usually verbally articulate.
Weaknesses: 1) They may fail to consider the listener’s feelings; 2) May lack sensitivity;
3) At times, they may be more offensive than the gospel warrants; 4) May need to be reminded that love
through action/service is important too.
Proclamation:
Proclaimers seek opportunities and circumstances to communicate a clear gospel outline and the need to respond. In
public or private interaction, these people take initiative and utilize a straightforward approach to the gospel. They
have a sense of urgency that people need to hear the gospel. They are direct, and verbal. Biblical examples include
Peter (Acts 3), Philip (Acts 8), and Jesus (Luke 4).
Strengths: 1) Provides clear, insightful and Biblical communication; 2) They are always prepared to share
the gospel verbally; 3) They are initiators, not passively waiting for opportunities, but creating them.
Weaknesses: 1) They may not “connect” with all types of people; 2) They may confuse information
transfer with communication; 3) They may rely on an outline instead of considering and responding to the
unique person or situation; 4) May be rigid and unadaptable.
Intellectual:
Intellectuals attempt to make a case for Christianity. They use a breadth of knowledge — historic proof, philosophic
constructs, scientific analysis, and common reason to make a rational appeal for Christianity. They seek to appeal to
people’s will through their minds. They often enjoy reading books. They are philosophical, theological, inquisitive,
and logical. Biblical examples include Paul (Acts 17), Jesus (Matthew 22).
Strengths: 1) Validates/protects the truth of the gospel for all contexts & situations;
2) Contextualizes the gospel to current events and trends; 3) Takes down intellectual barriers that keep
people from Jesus; 4) Intellectuals tend to be teachable and good learners.
Weaknesses: 1) They may get stuck on academic points and evidence instead of focusing on the gospel; 2)
They may present the gospel as a mere intellectual concept rather than an incarnational reality; 3) Tendency
to forget the role of the Holy Ghost in bringing people to faith; 4) They may overwhelm or humiliate
people in the process of explaining Christianity and the gospel.

Storyteller:
Storytellers try to communicate theological truths through analogies or parables. Narration connects felt needs and
contemporary stories to Jesus’ story with creativity and personal impact rather than a memorized gospel outline.
They think metaphorically. They often are artists and/or musicians. They are talkative, sociable, and down to earth.
Biblical examples include King Solomon (Proverbs 7), and Jesus (Luke 15, Matthew 12 & 13).
Strengths: 1) Communicates the gospel in a captivating and memorable style; 2) Appeals to people’s
imagination through stories; 3) Brings Scripture to life by connecting Biblical stories with people’s needs
and blindness.
Weaknesses: 1) May get caught up in the story and fail to connect it with the gospel message;
2) They may limit the listener’s understanding of the gospel by the limitations of the analogy being used
(there are no “perfect” stories or analogies); 3) They may need to learn to tell stories that are
confrontational in nature.
Testimonial:
Testimonially-oriented people emphasize openness with their own life’s story. As they listen to others, they are
reminded of their own story and how God has worked in their own lives. Connections with others are made through
shared experiences. Their personal stories point to Jesus. They tend to be vulnerable about their personal life,
especially their ups and downs. Biblical examples include the blind man (John 9), Paul (Acts 26), and Jesus (John
14-15).
Strengths: Appeals to the imagination and life experiences; 2) Identifies with people and makes them feel
affirmed; 3) Builds relationships through empathy and vulnerability.
Weaknesses: 1) May rely too much on experiences rather than the gospel; 2) Can communicate that the
gospel is subjective; 3) may fail to tell the whole gospel by concentrating solely on their testimony; 4) May
assume that their listener’s experiences are like their own.
Interactive:
Interactive people tend to focus on establishing relationships as an avenue to verbalize the gospel. They are able to
create space for people. They reach out to people and quickly feel accepted and included by others. They wait
patiently for strategic, teachable moments to verbalize the gospel. They are prepared to apply the gospel to the
various situations and friendships they find themselves in. Biblical examples include Andrew with Simon (John 1),
and Jesus with the Samaritan woman (John 4).
Strengths: 1) People usually feel affirmed and listened to; 2) They easily develop friends with many types
of people; 3) They value the uniqueness and individuality of others.
Weaknesses: 1) Their relationships can become idolatrous-they may not be willing to risk the relationship
by sharing the gospel with others; 2) They may never get to the point of sharing the gospel; 3) They may
need to work on boldness and speaking the truth to friends; 4) They may need to learn not to shy away from
appropriate conflict.
Invitational:
The Martha Stewarts of evangelism! These people are hospitable and always are inviting people to events. They
network well to help the Christian community to be effective with their friends. They are bringers, includers, and
may be the life of a party or simply a quiet mobilizer. They are social, persuasive, and down to earth. Biblical
examples include the Samaritan woman (John 4), Levi (Matthew 5), and Jesus (Mark 1).
Strengths: 1) They make outreach successful; 2) They are aware of many opportunities being opportunities
for outreach; 3) They act as a bridge from the world of the lost to the Church.
Weaknesses: 1) They may rely too much on others to verbalize the gospel; 2) They may fail to experience
God working through their direct ministry to others; 3) They may need some work on dealing with the
natural conflict the gospel itself brings; 4) They may need to realize that the gospel itself saves and not
Church, events, concerts, etc….

Service:
The Mother Teresa’s of the Church. Servers attempt to care for the real needs of people. Servers are empathetic and
sympathetic. They place a high value on actions, even menial tasks. They seek to bring relief to others through
practical service. They tend to have a concern for social justice. Their kindness usually comes at a personal cost.
They are patient, gentle, and sacrificial. Biblical examples include the paralytic’s friends (Mark 2), the disciples
(Acts 6), and Jesus (John 13).
Strengths: 1) They speak love in practical ways; 2) Strong and appealing life-style;
3) They demonstrate kindness and mercy; 4) Their service can break down a person’s negative stereotypes
about Jesus and the gospel; 5) Their service can predispose someone to really listen and hear the gospel.
Weaknesses: 1) They may never get to the gospel; 2) They may need to sharpen their ability to verbally
express the gospel; 3) They may need to connect their service with the reason for the service; 4) They often
can focus so much on action that the purpose for service can be lost.
Power Encounter:
These people may see dramatic physical or emotional change in people as a result of their prayers. Operating with
spiritual discernment and insight, God gives these people divine appointments and opportunities. They may uncover
deep-rooted issues and often have a keen sense of following the lead of the Holy Ghost. Biblical examples include
Elijah, Philip (Acts 8), the apostles (Acts 5), and Jesus (John 4).
Strengths: 1) They demonstrate God’s power; 2) They get people’s attention; 3) They increase the
plausibility of the gospel message; 4) They are open to God’s direction in potentially risky ways.
Weaknesses: 1) They may rely too much on experience and emotion; 2) They may need to sharpen their
personal ability to verbally share the gospel; 3) May create a situation where people seek the “power”
visible in their lives instead of the God behind the power; 4) They can over-spiritualize situations.
Three Highest Scored Styles Three Lowest Scored Styles
________________________ ________________________
________________________ ________________________
________________________ ________________________
Weaknesses to Grow Away From: Strengths to Grow Toward:
____________________________ ________________________
____________________________ ________________________
____________________________ ________________________
____________________________ ________________________
____________________________ ________________________
Practical Application: In what ways is Jesus calling me to be more like Him?

Appendix 9 – How Do I Handle Hard Questions?

1. Definitions and Descriptions
1.1. Apologetics and Related Terms
1.1.1. Apology – A specific effort or work in defense of the faith (worldview).

1.1.2. Apologetist – Someone who presents an apology or makes a practice of defending the faith
(worldview).
1.1.3. Apologetic – A particular approach to the defense of the faith (worldview).
1.1.4. Apologetics – The branch of theology concerned with the defense or proof of Christianity, and
refutation of opposing worldviews.
1.1.5. Metapologetics – Refers to the study of the nature and methods of apologetics.
1.2. Cultural Definitions
1.2.1. Basic Beliefs – The ideas people accept about the nature of reality, human nature, values and truth.
Basic beliefs are the foundation of a worldview.
1.2.2. Epistemology – The study of how we know things, and a search to answer the question “Is our
knowledge reliable?” and “How can we be sure?”
1.2.3. Modernism – A term for a perspective on the life centered on confidence in human progress.
Reason is accepted as the ultimate source of authority. As a result, the supernatural is devalued in favor of
understanding the natural through the power of science.
1.2.4. Postmodernism – The movement in late 20th century thought that rejects modernism. The
movement is pessimistic about human progress. It rejects the idea of absolute truth. The only truth is
relational and personal.
1.2.5. Theism – The belief in an infinite, personal God. The religious worldview based on the Old
Testament that includes Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Also referred to as Monotheism.
1.2.6. World View – A philosophy of life. What people base their life upon. Patterns and behaviors is
culture at a surface level. Worldviews are culture at a deep cultural level. A worldview is a set of
interrelated basic beliefs, values and feelings. It is the heart of a culture.
2. Tracking the Western Mind

2.1. The Pre-modern Period (ancient and medieval historical periods).
2.1.1. Brief Description
There was believed to be a purpose or purposes in the universe during this time within which humans fit
and were to be understood. This purpose was to be worked out within the world. As varied as were the
ideas during this long pre-modern period of time, there were certain common elements throughout.
2.2. Key Beliefs and Common Elements of the Pre-modern Period
2.2.1. A belief in the rationality of the universe.

2.2.2. Truth is religious and universal.
2.2.3. The belief that observable nature was not the whole of reality.
2.2.4. The purpose of the universe was understood in the Western world in the belief of an omnipotent,
omniscient God who had created the entire universe and the human race and had a plan for that human
race. In other words, there was a pattern to history.
2.2.5 Language referred to objective truth.
2.2.6. There was a belief in an objective world.
2.2.7. There was a belief in a theory of truth: propositions were true if they correctly described the realities
they intended to describe, false if they did not. (Post-Modernizing the Faith, Millard, Erickson, pg. 15).

2.3. Modernism (The Enlightenment)
2.3.1. Brief Description
The enlightenment understood freedom largely in individual terms. The ideal modern champion is an
autonomous self, the self-determining subject to exist outside of any tradition or community. The
modernistic view of the world, including humans, was one of one gigantic machine. The moderns’ placed
their faith in rationality and empiricism. Rationality was understood as the ability of humans to understand
their world. Empiricism was understood as the belief that knowledge can only be gained through our
senses, (i.e. eye, ear, nose, mouth, and touch). Moderns also believed in the application of rationality and
observation through science and technology.
2.3.2 Key Beliefs of Modernism
2.3.2.1. Humans are biological machines.

2.3.2.2. People are self-determining.
2.3.2.3. People can use unaided reasons to find truth. Truth is always scientific and universal.
2.3.2.4. Humankind is progressing. The individual self is elevated to the center of the world.
2.3.2.5. Science will eventually free us from our vulnerability to nature, as well as from all social
bondage.
2.4 Post Modernism
Although the current day is characterized by great diversity of opinion, there is widespread agreement that our
world is changing rapidly. This present intellectual atmosphere has come to be known as post modernism.
2.4.1. A Brief Description
Postmodernism was a term first coined in the 1930’s. The term gained widespread attention in the 1970’s
following the rise of a literary theory called deconstructionism. It rejects the enlightenment project and the
foundational assumptions upon which it was built.
Definition – Postmodernists believe that things like reason, rationality, and confidence in science are
cultural biases. They contend that those who trust reason – and things based on reason, like science,
Western education, and governmental structures – unknowingly act out their European cultural
conditioning. This conditioning seeks to keep power in the hands of the social elite. They believe that this
is the modernistic agenda and it is imperialistic and self-serving. (The Death of Truth, Dennis McCallum,
p. 20)
2.4.2. Key Beliefs
2.4.2.1. Truth is experiential and personal or communal.

2.4.2.2. Humans are cogs in a social machine.
2.4.2.3. People are never really self-determining.
2.4.2.4. People are never objective or rational.
2.4.2.5. There is no unified grasp of objective reality. The world has no center, only differing
viewpoints and perspectives.
2.4.2.6. What unifies the diverse strands of post-modernism is the questioning of the central
assumptions of the enlightenment epistemology. Post-moderns have a gnawing sense of pessimism
and doubt.
2.4.3. Conclusion – Two Summaries
2.4.3.1. Three Key Transformations

2.4.3.1.1. Experience comes before explanation.
2.4.3.1.2. Belonging comes before believing.
2.4.3.1.3. Image comes before word. Evangelism: Outside the Box, Rick Richardson, pp. 51,52)
2.4.3.2. Four E.P.I.C. Transformations

2.4.3.2.1. Experiential
2.4.3.2.2. Participatory
2.4.3.2.3. Image
2.4.3.2.4. Communal (Soultsunami, Leonard Sweet)
3. An Apologetic Strategy
3.1. Knowing the Questions That Heat Up the Room
Here is a summary of some of the new postmodern questions we face.
3.1.1. Questions of power and motive.

3.1.2. Questions of identity.
3.1.3. Questions of pain and suffering.
3.1.4. Questions of character, trust and attractiveness.
3.1.5. Questions of love and meaning.
3.1.6. Questions of interpretation.
3.1.7. Questions of relevance and relativism.
3.1.8. Questions of impact.
3.2. Key Questions and Answers (largely for the modernist)
3.2.1. Can you prove that God exists? Example of responding to an appeal to modernistic agenda
with a modernistic approach.
There is no “scientific proof” that God exists, that is like asking, “How can you prove that love exists?
However I will go through a few examples here.
Ask, “What do you mean by proof? Empirical? Scientific? Empirical proof is relying on experience or
observation alone – often without systems or theory. Scientific proof is obtained through scientific method
– logical: consists of questions, hypothesis, observations, collection and experimenting. My evidence of
God is empirical, which is valid. For instance: can you prove to me that your mother loves you? Prove to
me that she will not poison your coffee tomorrow?
Why is the burden of proof on me? Can you prove that God doesn’t exist?
An intelligent Designer: all designs imply a designer. There is a great design in the universe. Therefore
there must be a great designer of the universe.
Argument from Creation: The basic idea of this argument is that since there is a universe, it must have
been caused by something beyond itself. It is based on the law of causality (cause), which says that every
limited thing is caused by something other than itself.
3.2.2. What about the hypocrisy in the church and the history of oppression and violence in the
church?
First of all it is important not to confuse hypocrisy with sin. All Christians are sinners, but not all are
hypocrites. To call oneself a Christian is to admit to being a sinner. (1 John 1:5-2:2) Just because a
person is not perfect does not mean he is phony. Jesus did not condone hypocrisy (Matt. 23) In fact; he
had very harsh words for them.
Secondly, Christianity does not stand or fall on the actions of people today. It stands and falls on the
person of Jesus.
3.2.3. How can a good God allow evil?
God does not wipe out evil because we would be wiped out.
Why do we blame God for the evil in the world when “we” do most of it?
Ex. There is enough food in the world to feed everybody but we hoard it.

God did not create the world evil. He created it good. But we have a free will and make our own
decisions. God gave us a choice. God is a God of love and He desired to create a person and eventually a
race that would love him. But genuine love cannot exist unless freely given through free choice and will.
And thus man was given the choice to accept God’s love or reject it.
If the point is there is no God because of evil, where did this standard of goodness by which we judge
evil come from? There must be a standard of goodness for you to believe in evil in the first place.
Pain produces character. C.S. Lewis says God shouts to us in our pain. It’s God’s megaphone to waken
a deaf world. What will you do with your pain? Will you go to Christ with it?
3.2.4. Isn’t Christianity just a non-rational leap of faith or a psychological projection?
We all need a crutch: the real question is…is this crutch we call Christianity true?
The God of the Bible is awesome and a threat to mankind. A God who is all powerful, all knowing,
righteous, holy and just, and who is going to judge the world for its sin, is an extremely imposing figure.
Thus it is only fair to point out that some people need the crutch of denying God’s existence in order to live
their lives as they please without fear of judgment. The agnostic or atheist may be using agnosticism or
atheism as a crutch to avoid the responsibility of God’s demands.
Faith is not believing something you know is true. Faith is a commitment to something on the basis of
what you believe to be true.
Personal experience is regarded today – speak of your own experience with God.
Many bright people have believed – Pascal, Newton, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy.
Wanting something to be true does not make it any less likely to be true. I want my husband/wife/best
friend to love me, it is very likely that they do, in fact they do. My wanting it to be so does not negate that.
If God were a projection I would change a lot about him. For instance he would just be a loving grandpa
and not my judge.
Hebrews 11:1-2 what is faith…
3.2.5. You have your truth, I have mine. Sincerity is all that’s important, as long as I believe in
something; isn’t it enough to be a good person?
The classic argument for sincerity is it’s possible to be sincerely wrong. The men who followed Hitler
were sincere. Sincere enough to kill for what they believed in. They were sincerely wrong.
On being a good person: You cannot “earn” your way to heaven. Good works have nothing to do with
entering heaven or being in right relationship with God. (Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8,9; Hebrews 11:6) If we
could earn our way by being good then God would not have had to send Jesus to die on the cross.
A religious person has no advantage if he is worshiping the wrong God, no matter how sincere. The
apostle Paul teaches that simply practicing religion does not excuse anyone; rather, it may compound the
person’s guilt. In examining the pagan’s religion, Paul points out that it is a distortion of the truth.
(Romans 1:25, 3:23)
3.2.6. It’s narrow-minded to say that Christianity is the only way. All religions lead to the same God.
We did not invent the claim that Jesus is the only way to God – he did. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12)
If man could have reached God any other way, then Jesus would not have had to die.
We are not saying that Christians are better than others; we are sinners saved by grace.
Christianity is not the only religion that claims exclusivity. Muslims for instance claim radical
exclusivity, not just theologically, but linguistically. They believe that the sole, sufficient miracle of Islam
is the Koran and only the Arabic translation.
3.2.7. The Bible is full of errors…it can be interpreted to mean anything. Man wrote the Bible.
Ask, “What are the contradictions?” Often, these are just different perspectives of the same event.
The writers of the New Testament claim to be eyewitnesses. How many history books that you have
read have that claim? (John, Peter, 2 Peter 1:17, 18)

Is it the parts of the Bible that you don’t understand that have you stuck or is it really the parts of the
Bible that you do understand that you have a problem with? God has definite moral standards and we are
guilty of breaking them.
None of the claims in the Bible have ever been disproved by archeology. In addition, no prophecy has
been proven wrong, in fact may have come to pass.
3.2.8. What about those who have never heard of Christ? How can God judge them?
God is just. We know that he will judge everyone fairly. No matter what we think.
No one will go to hell for never hearing the gospel anymore than anyone will go to hell for having a low
IQ. People will be separated from God because they have lived their whole lives telling him they can live
without Him.
God cares about the person who has not heard the gospel, in 2 Peter 3:9 it says that he does not want
anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
God is not a respecter of persons and even those with limited knowledge of Him, if they seek the truth
will be accepted by God. Rahab the prostitute had only limited knowledge of God but the Bible refers to
her as a woman of faith.
3.2.9. What about hell? A loving God would never torture people in hell.
The punishment of hell is not torture; it is separation from God, bringing shame anguish and regret. And
because we will have both body and soul in the resurrected state, the misery experienced can be both
mental and physical. But the pain that’s suffered will be due to the sorrow from the final, ultimate,
unending banishing of God, his kingdom and the good life for which we were created.
If there is no judgment, that means we are in heaven with unrepentant people, like Hitler. But God cares
about evil and wrongs done to us. They are real problems. God cannot treat evil and good the same way.
He is a just judge.
If everyone is already saved then why don’t we all go to heaven right now? Why put us through 70-80
years of pain on earth?
God does not “send people to hell”. We send ourselves there by not choosing the solution he has
supplied for us: Jesus’ death and resurrection on the cross.
Gehenna – Teaching on Lust – (Matthew 5: 29,30; Mark 9:43-47; Luke 16:18)
Reference to the Valley of Hinnom – a place where infants were sacrificed and where the repulsive
idol of Molech was worshipped. There perversions occurred during the reign of Ahaz and Manasseh.
King Josiah converted that area into a city dump where fire smoldered continually. Thus it became a
fitting symbol of hell. The N.T. used the word Gehenna to describe the place to which unrepentant
sinners go. Its fire is unquenchable and the torment unending. Bible readers may be confused when
translators use the English word hell for both Hades and Gehenna. These texts refer to Gehenna.
Judgment – Matthew 25:41, Jude 7:23, Revelations 20:11-15, 21:8
Unrepentant Sinners - Revelations 20:15
Unrepentant sinners will be thrown into the lake of fire. Some have challenged whether these
souls will consciously experience eternal punishment, either by assuming that humankind will
ultimately be saved or that unrepentant sinners will be annihilated and cease to exist. But the
doctrine of eternal, conscious punishment is clearly indicated in the Scriptures by such expressions
as (1) eternal fire (Matthew 25:41); (2) the fire is never quenched (Mark 9:48); and (3) the lake
that burns with fire and sulphur (Rev. 21:8). Furthermore, the Greek term for the adjective
“eternal” is the same, whether it modifies “life” or “death” and the phrase ‘forever and ever’
(literally, “unto the ages of the ages”) is used both for endless life and for endless death (cf. 1:18,
11:15; 14:11; 20:10). If the one is conscious, the other is as well. (Notes from NRSV Rev.
20:15)
3.2.10. Since miracles contradict science, they cannot be true.
Natural laws have an implicit condition which states “all other things being equal”. So natural law
assumes no other force, natural or unnatural is interfering with the operation the law describes. For
instance, if an apple falls from a tree it will hit the ground…unless someone reaches up and grabs it first.
And that is essentially what God does when he causes a miracle to occur.
Miracles lie outside of science; they are not contradictory to science. Science seeks natural explanations.
Therefore, miracles lie outside of the scientific realm.
The resurrection; I would agree that it is largely improbable for Jesus to have been resurrected naturally,
without any sort of divine intervention. But that’s not the hypotheses. The hypothesis is God raised Jesus
from the dead. That doesn’t say anything against the laws of nature, which says dead men don’t come back
to life naturally.
3.2.11. I still have doubts so I can’t be a Christian.
Having doubts doesn’t mean you can’t be a Christian. Abraham had doubts and yet at the same time he
believed. There is a story in the New Testament of a man who brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus
and asks him to heal him. Jesus tells him all things are possible for those who believe. The man’s response
is, “I believe, help my unbelief”. And Jesus heals the boy. Jesus honored the man’s prayer and his honesty
of where he was at and where he wanted to be. He just wasn’t there yet. It didn’t prevent him from
seeking the Lord. Jesus says, “Seek and you shall find.” If we seek, I believe Jesus will meet us where we
are.
Faith isn’t always having emotional highs or positive feelings. It’s ok to not have great feeling about
God or life.
People often use doubts to deflect their problem of really committing. Often they know the truth but do
not want to give up their current lifestyle.
3.2.12. If I feel it, it must be right, or part of my nature. Why would God let me FEEL that way?
(Homosexual thoughts, lust aggression, greed, etc.)
First of all we are all fallen human beings (Romans 3:23). Our first inclination is not going to be towards
the “right” choice, but rather what feels good. Just because it would bring pleasure does not mean it is
God’s intention for us. God has not just arbitrarily made up rules to take away our fun but rather to protect
our hearts, bodies and our souls. The rudiments of the Ten Commandments are found in every culture on
earth. We know instinctively that it is healthy and good for us to follow certain rules for society. It makes
sense for people to follow driving rules so that it is safe for everyone. I don’t drive on the left side of the
road so that I can enjoy the view better. REFERENCE POSTMODERNISM – there are absolutes and we
believe them – ex. Airplanes, paychecks.
Being tempted is not sin. The Bible says that Jesus was tempted in every way yet was without sin.
(Hebrews 4:15) James talks about the anatomy of temptation and sin in 1:12-16. Temptation in vs. 13
means a solicitation to evil. So, there is comfort in knowing that Jesus understands how you feel and you
can find strength in your weakness through Him!
The bottom line is Jesus. We are to imitators of Jesus. What does his life show us?
(Largely taken from The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel)

Appendix 10 – Modern, Post-Modern and Theism Chart
Subject Modernism Postmodernism Biblical (theism)
Human Nature Humans are, purely No opinion on this issue, Humans are the only
material machines. We but suspicious of such beings on earth created in
live in a purely physical dogmatic claims to the image of God. They
world. Nothing exists knowledge are spiritual and material.
beyond what our senses
perceive.
Free Will Humans are self-governing People are the product of Human free will has been
(autonomy) and free to choose their their culture and only drastically diminished by a
own direction. imagine they are self- moral fall from grace, but
governing. they are still responsible
for the use of their
remaining free will.
People's desire to be
autonomous is sinful—we
were created to depend on
God.
View of Reason People should be There is no such thing as Reason is necessary but
"rationalistic optimists." objective rationality (i.e., not sufficient for
They should depend only reason unaffected by bias) understanding reality.
on the data of their senses in the sense modernists use Reason can disclose truth
and reason. the term. Rationalism is a about reality, but faith and
myth. revelation are needed in
addition.
View of Progress Humankind is progressing "Progress" is a code word Humans aren't progressing
by using science and used by modernists to toward any glorious future.
reason. justify the domination by However, advances which
European culture of other relieve suffering and
cultures. prolong life are good.

Appendix 11 – Selected Reading List
The following is a partial list of books that I recommend providing a greater perspectival understanding of
evangelism.
Books on Evangelism
Abraham, Wiiliam J. The Logic of Evangelism.
Barna, George. Evangelism That Works.
Brueggemann, Walter. Biblical Perspectives on Evangelism.
Coleman, Robert E. The Master Plan of Evangelism.
Eriks, Kenneth. Reach Out and Receive: Qualities of an Evangelizing Congregation.
Ford, Leighton. The Power of Story.
Gabriel, Nash, Ronald H. and Sanders, John. What About Those Who Have Never
Heard?
Hunter, George. How to Reach Secular People.
---- The Celtic Way of Evangelism.
Hybels, Bill and Mittelberg, Mark. Becoming a Contagious Christian.
Little, Paul. How To Give Away Your Faith.
Morgenthaler, Sally. Worship Evangelism.
Packer, J. I. Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God.
Petersen, Jim. Living Proof: Sharing the Gospel Naturally.
Pippert, Rebecca Manley, Out of the Salt Shaker and into the World.
Pohl, Christine D. Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition.
Posterski, Donald C. Reinventing Evangelism.
Richardson, Rick. Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good
News.
Sjogren, Steve. Conspiracy of Kindness
Stiles, J. Mack. Speaking of Jesus.
Van Engen, Charles. You Are My Witnesses.
Willimon, William H. and Hauerwas, Stanley. Preaching To Strangers.
Wimber, John. Power Evangelism.
Related Books and Articles on Conversion

Conn, Walter. Christian Conversion: A Developmental Interpretation of Autonomy
and Surrender
Conn, Walter., ed. Conversion: Perspectives and Social Transformation.
Elwell, Walter A., ed. “Conversion,” by Bloesch, D.G. Evangelical Dictionary of
Theology.
Gaventa, Beverly Roberts. From Darkness to Light: The Next American Spirituality:
Finding God in the Twenty-First Century.
Hiebert, Paul G. Missiological Implications of Epistemological Shifts.
Jones, E. Stanley. Conversion.
McKnight, Scot. Turning to Jesus: The Sociology of Conversion in the Gospels.
Westminster John Knox Press, 2002
Morris, George E. The Mystery and Meaning of Christian Conversion.
Rambo, Lewis R. Understanding Religious Conversion.
Routley, Erik. Conversion
Smith, Gordon T. Beginning Well: Christian Conversion and Authentic Transformation.

Related Books on The History of Evangelism

Green, Michael,
Stark, Rodney, The Churching of America 1776-1990.
---- For the Glory of God: How monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-
Hunts, and the End of Slavery
---- The Rise of Christianity
Related Books on Apologetics

Boa, Kenneth D. Faith Has Its Reasons.
Kreeft, Peter and Tacelli, Ronald K. Handbook of Christian Apologetics.
Little, Paul. Know What You Believe.
McDermott, Gerald R. Can Evangelicals Learn From World Religions.
McDowell, Josh. Evidence That Demands a Verdict.
---- More Than A Carpenter.
Stackhouse, John G. No Other Gods Before Me?
Strobel, Lee. The Case for Christ.
---- The Case for Faith.
---- What Jesus Would Say.
Related Books on Church Growth

Bast, Robert. Attracting New Members.
---- The Missing Generation: The church’s Ministry with the Baby Boom.
Dethmers, David G. Revive Us Again!: Hope for Stagnant, Stuck, and Sterile
Churches.
Hunter, George. Church for the Unchurched.
Related Books on Mission

Bosch, David. Transforming Mission.
Guder, Darrell L. Missional Church.
Hiebert, Paul G., Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues.
---- Missiological Implications of Epistemological Shifts.
Hunsberger, George R. The Church between Gospel and Culture: The Emerging
Mission in North America.
Lingenfelter, Sherwood, G. and Mayers, Marvin K. Ministering Cross-Culturally.
Newbigin, Lesslie. The Open Secret.
-----. Foolishness to the Greeks.
-----. Gospel in a Pluralist Society
Richardson, Don. Eternity in Their Hearts.
Van Engen, Charles. God’s Missionary People.
Related Books on Postmodernism

Clapp, Rodney, Border Crossings.
Dockery, David S. The Challenge of Postmodernism.
Erickson, Millard J. Postmodernizing the Faith
Grenz, Stanley J. A Primer on Postmodernism.
Grenz, Stanley and Franke, John R. Beyond Foundationalism.
Guiness, Os. Time for Truth.
McLaren, Brian D. A New Kind of Christian.
Sweet, Leonard. Postmodern Pilgrims.
World Religions
Stackhouse Jr, John G. ed. No Other Gods Before Me?
Culture and Social Conditions

Putman, Robert D. Bowling Alone.
Bellah, Robert et al. Habits of the Heart

Appendix 12 – Unreached People Groups

People Groups by Country
# People Groups 15,890
# Unreached People Groups 6,721
% of Unreached People Groups 42.3 %
Individuals
World Population 6.44 billion
Population in unreached People Groups 2.51 billion
% Population in unreached People Groups 38.9%
Ethne: All Regions Listing

|-------Countries-------| |------Peoples-by-Country------| |------------------Population------------------|
with Least- Least- % Least- In Least- % in Least-
Region Region Name Total Reached Total Reached Reached Total Reached Reached
11 Central and South America 21 21 1,064 97 9.1 % 413,836,000 1,624,000 0.4 %
5 Central Asia 11 11 1,023 849 83.0 % 397,366,000 385,495,000 97.0 %
7 East and South Africa 27 27 1,290 349 27.1 % 392,605,000 59,426,000 15.1 %
9 Eastern Europe and Eurasia 20 20 656 188 28.7 % 334,261,000 24,836,000 7.4 %
6 Middle East and North Africa 19 19 591 366 61.9 % 278,847,000 183,092,000 65.7 %
12 North America and Caribbean 30 30 984 83 8.4 % 475,755,000 5,619,000 1.2 %
3 Northeast Asia 7 7 605 454 75.0 % 1,522,533,000 332,013,000 21.8 %
4 South Asia 7 7 3,216 2,899 90.1 % 1,288,215,000 1,109,345,000 86.1 %
1 South Pacific 27 27 1,500 26 1.7 % 32,972,000 510,000 1.5 %
2 Southeast Asia 11 11 1,809 663 36.7 % 551,352,000 271,769,000 49.3 %
8 West and Central Africa 24 24 2,210 520 23.5 % 356,110,000 112,418,000 31.6 %
10 Western Europe 29 29 942 227 24.1 % 397,249,000 19,761,000 5.0 %
Totals: 12 Regions 233 15,890 6,721 42.3 % 6,441,101,000 2,505,909,000 38.9 %

100 Least-Reached People Groups

People % % Least Progress Primary
(Click name for Profile) Country Population Evangel Adherent Reached Scale Religion Pho Map Txt
Ansari India 10,074,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Islam
Arab, Algerian Algeria 19,846,000 0.20 % 0.24 % Y 1.2 Islam
Arab, Iraqi Iraq 17,648,000 0.10 % 0.70 % Y 1.2 Islam
Arab, Moroccan Morocco 14,742,000 0.15 % Y 1.2 Islam
Arab, Saudi - Hijazi Saudi Arabia 9,472,000 Y 1.2 Islam
Arab, Saudi - Najdi Saudi Arabia 8,017,000 Y 1.1 Islam
Arab, Ta'izz-Adeni Yemen 9,522,000 Y 1.2 Islam
Arab, Tunisian Tunisia 6,812,000 Y 1.2 Islam
Azerbaijani, Azeri Turk Iran 14,441,000 Y 1.1 Islam
Azerbaijani, North Azerbaijan 6,388,000 0.02 % 0.02 % Y 1.2 Islam
Badhai, Hindu India 5,601,000 0.00 % Y 1.1 Hinduism
Bania India 23,109,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Bengali Bangladesh 93,877,000 0.50 % Y 1.2 Islam
Bhoi, Hindu India 5,541,000 0.00 % Y 1.1 Hinduism
Brahman India 59,011,000 0.01 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Burmese Burma (Myanmar) 28,153,000 0.07 % 0.10 % Y 1.2 Buddhism
Dhobi, Hindu India 11,518,000 0.01 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Dosadh, Hindu India 4,728,000 Y 1.1 Hinduism
Fulani, Toroobe Nigeria 6,490,000 0.30 % Y 1.2 Islam
Gadaria, Hindu India 5,745,000 Y 1.1 Hinduism
Gujar India 5,982,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Non-
Hakka China 32,170,000 0.48 % 2.50 % Y 1.2
Religious
Non-
Han Chinese, Xiang China 37,056,000 0.22 % 1.10 % Y 1.2
Religious
Hausa, Ajawa Nigeria 25,066,000 0.04 % Y 1.2 Islam
Hui China 10,970,000 0.00 % Y 1.1 Islam
Japanese Japan 122,351,000 0.40 % 1.50 % Y 1.2 Buddhism
Jat India 13,899,000 0.04 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Other /
Jat, Sikh India 11,688,000 0.01 % Y 1.2
Small
Jawa Banyumasan Indonesia 6,687,000 0.30 % 2.00 % Y 1.2 Islam
Jawa Pesisir Lor Indonesia 21,017,000 0.02 % 0.02 % Y 1.2 Islam
Kachhi, Hindu India 5,273,000 Y 1.1 Hinduism
Kahar India 7,010,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Kashmiri Muslim India 6,009,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Islam
Kayastha India 7,281,000 0.02 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Kazakh Kazakhstan 8,339,000 0.36 % 0.36 % Y 1.2 Islam
Khmer Cambodia 12,232,000 0.44 % 0.80 % Y 1.2 Buddhism
Koiri India 6,802,000 Y 1.1 Hinduism
Koli India 11,441,000 0.26 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Non-
Korean Korea, North 22,325,000 1.10 % 1.40 % Y 1.2
Religious
Kumhar India 13,563,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Kunbi India 25,010,000 0.08 % Y 1.1 Hinduism
Kurd, Northern Turkey 6,465,000 0.00 % Y 1.1 Islam
Kurd, Turkish Turkey 5,747,000 Y 1.2 Islam
Kurmi India 15,683,000 0.00 % Y 1.1 Hinduism
Lingayat India 9,282,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Lodha India 6,110,000 0.27 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
2014
©Vineyard Institute ™ 89 of 110

Lohar India 8,276,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Madiga India 6,897,000 Y 1.1 Hinduism
Madura Indonesia 13,678,000 0.00 % 0.00 % Y 1.2 Islam
Mahar, Hindu India 8,375,000 Y 1.1 Hinduism
Mahishya India 9,688,000 0.24 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Mahratta India 27,124,000 0.00 % Y 1.1 Hinduism
Mahratta Kunbi India 6,581,000 Y 1.1 Hinduism
Mala India 5,321,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Mali India 8,671,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Non-
Manchu China 13,015,000 0.20 % 0.20 % Y 1.2
Religious
Mappila India 9,574,000 Y 1.1 Islam
Minangkabau Indonesia 8,207,000 0.00 % 0.02 % Y 1.2 Islam
Mongol China 5,972,000 0.40 % Y 1.2 Buddhism
Mutrasi India 4,837,000 0.01 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Nai India 10,509,000 Y 1.1 Hinduism
Nair India 6,918,000 0.23 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Namasudra, Hindu Bangladesh 5,056,000 Y 1.0 Hinduism
Nau Buddh India 7,318,000 0.05 % Y 1.2 Buddhism
Pasi, Hindu India 6,789,000 Y 1.1 Hinduism
Pendalungan Indonesia 6,586,000 0.01 % 0.01 % Y 1.2 Islam
Persian Iran 23,534,000 0.01 % Y 1.2 Islam
Punjabi, Southern,
Pakistan 15,426,000 0.23 % 3.10 % Y 1.2 Islam
Saraiki
Punjabi, Western Pakistan 67,544,000 0.72 % 2.70 % Y 1.2 Islam
Pushtan, Southern India 11,732,000 0.00 % Y 1.1 Islam
Pushtan, Southern,
Afghanistan 13,542,000 0.02 % 0.02 % Y 1.2 Islam
Afghani
Pushtan, Southern,
Pakistan 12,340,000 0.02 % Y 1.2 Islam
Afghani
Rajput India 37,633,000 0.03 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Rohingya Bangladesh 13,531,000 0.02 % 0.50 % Y 1.2 Islam
Sanaani, Northern
Yemen 9,015,000 0.01 % Y 1.2 Islam
Yemeni
Sayyid India 7,171,000 0.00 % Y 1.1 Islam
Serbia and Non-
Serb 6,585,000 0.19 % Y 1.2
Montene Religious
Shaikh India 72,502,000 0.00 % Y 1.1 Islam
Sindh Pakistan 18,511,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Islam
Sinhalese, Singhalese Sri Lanka 14,253,000 1.30 % 4.00 % Y 1.2 Buddhism
Somali Somalia 6,406,000 0.00 % 1.00 % Y 1.2 Islam
Sonar India 6,719,000 Y 1.1 Hinduism
Sunda Indonesia 30,675,000 0.07 % 0.20 % Y 1.2 Islam
Tai, Northern Thailand 6,262,000 0.23 % 0.60 % Y 1.2 Buddhism
Tai, Southern Thailand 5,111,000 0.19 % 0.50 % Y 1.2 Buddhism
Tajik Afghanistan 6,868,000 0.01 % 0.01 % Y 1.2 Islam
Tatar Russia 5,998,000 0.04 % 3.00 % Y 1.2 Islam
Teli India 16,483,000 0.02 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Thai, Central Thailand 18,455,000 0.40 % 0.40 % Y 1.2 Buddhism
Thai, Northeastern Thailand 18,664,000 0.20 % Y 1.2 Buddhism
Ethnic
Tujia China 7,555,000 0.41 % Y 1.2
Religions
Turk Turkey 52,329,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Islam


Urdu Pakistan 12,032,000 Y 1.2 Islam
Uyghur China 9,290,000 0.00 % Y 1.2 Islam
Uzbek, Northern Uzbekistan 20,587,000 0.04 % 0.04 % Y 1.2 Islam
Vakkaliga India 6,796,000 0.13 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Vanniyan India 11,418,000 0.26 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Viswakarma India 7,801,000 0.13 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Yadava India 54,522,000 0.01 % Y 1.2 Hinduism
Ethnic
Zhuang, Northern China 11,886,000 0.35 % Y 1.2
Religions
Totals: 100 Peoples-by-Country 1,634,761,000 100 85 55 55
Taken from Joshua Project

Appendix 13 – The 10/40 Window
Map from Time magazine, June 30, 2003 issue

Appendix 14 – The Globe at a Glance
NOTES
1. In the past, we have relied on a variety of expert sources for our figures and estimates for our “All Humanity in
Mission Perspective” chart. We are now using information supplied by Todd M. Johnson of the World
Evangelization Research Center. Todd is familiar with the unimax principle and is a caretaker of the data underlying
the World Christian Encyclopedia (David B. Barrett, ed.). His table reflects Todd’s interpretation of missiologically
significant groups within larger ethnolinguistic peoples and gives estimates of the numbers based upon analyzing
statistical clues and making adjustments where necessary. No attempt has been made to adjust the estimates to make
them more in line with previous estimates. If you were to compare with previous charts, you would notice that some
of the numbers for unimax groups within a bloc have gone up instead of down. In fact, the overall number of
estimated unimax groups has increased back to our earlier published estimate of 10,000 from several years ago. This
can be attributed to a change in sources and methodology.
Other changes from previous versions of this chart: 1) the Jews and non-Religious/Atheist categories have been
added; 2) because of the inclusion of the Non-Religious/Atheist category, the Chinese bloc was split between that
category and the Chinese Folk bloc.
2. The global foreign mission force includes all kinds of Christians (Protestants, Anglican, Roman Catholic,
Orthodox, etc).
3. The graphs for the Protestant Mission Force were generated from data derived from Appendix 3, Protestant
Missionary Force, found in the 1993 edition of Operation World. The country figures were analyzed based on
Patrick Johnstone’s extensive knowledge of mission work around the world. The separation of the cross-cultural
work force into the different religious blocs was a preliminary analysis done specifically for the Perspectives
Reader. Missionaries in church development ministries within non-Christian peoples are not included in the pioneer
categories. Our thanks to Patrick Johnstone and his assistant Jason Mandryk for their willing hearts and expedient
labor.

Appendix 15 – Characteristics of Foreign Born Residents in the

USA (in percent)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2009
• There were over 38.5 million foreign born in the United States, representing 1 in 8 residents of the United
States (12.5%).
• Between 2000 and 2009, the foreign-born population increased by 7.4 million persons, or by about 24
percent. Of the total foreign born, 42.4 percent arrived between 1990 and 2000.
• The top two countries of birth are Mexico and China.
• Philippines, India, Vietnam, El Salvador, Korea, and Cuba are each considered the third country-of-birth
with 1 million foreign born each year.
• Over half (53%) of the foreign born are from Latin America.
US Census Bureau, Place of Birth of the Foreign-Born Population: 2009, American Community Survey Beliefs,
Elizabeth M. Grieco and Edward N. Trevelyan, Issued October 2010

Appendix 13 (cont.) – Characteristics of Foreign Born Residents in the USA

(in percent)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2010
US Census Bureau, The Newly Arrived Foreign-Born Population of the United States: 2010, American Community
Survey Briefs, Nathan P. Walters and Edward N.Trevelyan, Issued November 2011

Appendix 16 – Coping with Cultural Differences
Coping With Cultural Differences
Approach The Facts of Crossing

(Mindset) Coping Results
Cultures
Skills
U
Openness C D
N U I C
C Acceptance L F H Rapport
D
E Trust T F I O Observe &
R U E S Frustration I Listen Understand
R R S Confusion C Enquire
T A E E ing
O Tension
A L N N S
I C A Embarrassment Criticize
Suspicion E Alienation
N N Rationalize
Fear S C &
T Withdraw
Prejudice E Isolation
Y
(Tendencies) (Inevitables) (Tendencies)
SCRIPTURES
Romans 12:10
12: 3

Appendix 17 – How to Become More Culturally Sensitive

Adapted From,Living Overseas:A Book of Preparation (Free Press New York 1984)
1. Become aware of the ways in which cultures can differ.
2. Accept that your cultural values are not the norm in the world.
3. See differences not as a deviation from what is normal but that other cultures have differing starting
places for understanding than we do.
4. We must enter into cultural exchange as a opportunity to give, and as a opportunity to receive.
Our growth and maturity as effective cross-cultural communicators can be observed along the following
continuum of change:
Cultural Cultural Cultural Cultural Cultural

Isolationist Imperialist Generalizer Adapter Integrator
Cultural Isolationist Cultural Imperialist Cultural Generalizer Cultural Adapter Cultural Integrator
You perceive your You know little about You recognize With your increased In time, you come to
world as the only way other cultures and superficial differences knowledge of a place where you
to live. You are general insecurity in cultures, such as customs and begin to relate to
intentionally leads you to judge food and customs. But expectations of a your new culture as
uninformed about others solely on the you overestimate your new culture, you your own. This stage
other peoples and basis of their knowledge of other begin to experiment of cultural
cultures. You choose technology and cultures, believing that using its language development
not to interact with material prosperity. common sense is all and cultural requires one to
people from different You tend to criticize that is needed to practices. Over actually live in a
races or cultures if others different than understand any people time, your new culture. You
you can help it, and you. You are or culture. Your saying appreciation for this develop a bi-cultural
criticize using broad generally is, “People are people, new culture or multi-cultural
generalizations. Your unsympathetic to the wherever you go.” motivates you to live frame of reference to
saying is “Why don’t plight of other and act in ways that perceive the world
they leave us alone.” peoples, and blame are different than around you. Your
them for creating your home culture. saying is, “This is
their own problems. Your saying is, good. Let me live it
Your saying is “Why “This is fun let me out.”
can’t they get it right? try it out.”

Appendix 18 – How Western Are You in Terms of Traditional

Values?
1. Do you believe that it is good to be goal oriented and have specific goals that you can obtain? Yes No
2. Do you think that there is more than one way of solving a problem & that creative solutions Yes No
to problems should be encouraged?
3. Do you believe that competition is best for business and that the best companies will succeed? Yes No
4. Do you believe it is okay to move many times if moving brings you better opportunities and a Yes No
brighter future, but is away from your extended family?
5. Do you believe that it is good for children who marry to live separately from their parents? Yes No
6. Do you think that you can make a decision for yourself? Yes No
7. Do you think a person should have a higher social standing just because they are older? Yes No
8. Do you believe that your privacy is important and people should check first with you before Yes No
stopping by your house?
9. Do you think that it is better to keep an appointment with a friend and be on time rather than Yes No
stop to chat with a friend who happens to stop by?
10. Do you believe that working children do not necessarily have to send financial support to Yes No
parents who are not in need?
11. Do you think it is intrusive to ask someone how much money they earn? Yes No
12. Do you think that everyone’s opinion is of equal value? Yes No
13. Do you believe it better to be direct and share with someone your concerns even if it makes Yes No
them uncomfortable?
14. Do you think that it’s better to be self reliant rather than be dependent on others for solving Yes No
your problems?
15. Do you think that it is better for children to become independent of parents as soon as they Yes No
turn 18?
Scoring
# Yes Answers HowWestern

15 You are thoroughly Western.
10 – 14 You are very Western.
5 – 10 You are a mixture.
1–5 You are either in a state of denial, live in another culture, or have rejected Western culture.

Appendix 19 – Form and Function in the Church

Form — the Gospel message must always be expressed in cultural terms in a language, cultural symbols and
behavioral practices that will, in part, mold the message—the message forms can change.
Function — Christianity claims that its message is universal and transcends any one culture— the message
functions need to be preserved.
1. Is the gathering of believers on Sunday morning an issue of form or function?
2. Are bread and juice part of the function or form of communion?
3. Is reading the Bible out loud in church an issue of form or function?
4. Is wearing a suit with a tie a question of form or function in church?
5. Is the order of activities during the church service – worship, prayer, and sermon – part of function or form?
6. Is the altar call part of form or function?
7. Is the celebration of the birth of Jesus an issue of form or function?
8. Is the building (architecture) of a church part of form or function?
9. Is having a worship team or choir an issue of form or function?
10. Is baptism with complete immersion in water an issue of form or function?
11. Is baptism done by ordained ministers an issue of form or function?
12. Is prayer with eyes closed part of form or function?
13. Is the sacrifice of a sheep as a means of forgiveness of sin an issue of form or function?
14. Could the phrase “bread of life” be contextualized to “rice of life”? Is this a form or function?
15. Muslims customarily kneel and pray five times a day. Is this an OK practice for a follower of Christ to continue,
or should a Muslim-background believer be encouraged to avoid it?
16. Can a believer worship God in a mosque? Or should s/he never go to a mosque again after beginning to follow
Christ?
17. Can a believer honor the virgin Mary and other saints or martyrs that have lived sacrificial lives in the past?

Appendix 20 – Bible Studies for Further Study

1. Remaining in context: the identity issue
Identity is what we ourselves perceive ourselves to be.
Image is what others perceive us to be.
As we wrestle with remaining in context, we need to understand that we have two identities. God has given us a
natural identity that we received at birth. God has also given us a spiritual identity that we received at our rebirth.
Think about a typical (Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist) friend. What things define his natural identity as a (Muslim,
Hindu, Buddhist)? Think in terms of culture, religion, social behavior, attitudes, family values, etc.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Jesus’ identity. Look at Matthew 16:13-20

• How did Jesus describe His natural identity? His spiritual identity?
• How did people around Jesus perceive His natural identity? Other verses?
• How did Peter and the disciples figure out or come to understand Jesus’ true identity?
The Corinthian believers lived in an idol-worshipping, immoral community.

• What was Paul’s advice to them in 1 Corinthians 7:17-24? Note verses 17, 20 and 24.
• Why did Paul emphasize this teaching in all his churches?
• What did he say the Corinthians did need to do regarding their natural identity which they received at birth?
Note: the ‘circumcised’ community denotes a religious community having its own culture, language, etc.

• What should our emphasis be as expressed in verse 19? Note Romans 14: 17, 1 Peter 2:9.
In Colossians 3:11-14, Paul helps the Colossians to understand their two identities.
• What natural/ physical/ religious/ cultural identities are mentioned in Col. 3:11? Add any other from
Gal.3:28.
• Despite the very different natural/ physical/religious/ cultural identities, what does Paul assure the
Colossians in Col.3:11?
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT
• How do these passages apply to the people among whom you minister?
• What issues will your people face as they remain in their context and live out the gospel?
• How should we deal with those that try to impose their religious systems upon believers?
• How should we deal with those believers who want to change their natural identities?
2. A First Century Struggle Over the Gospel

The year was AD 46 or 47 when Paul and Barnabas set out on their first missionary journey. It took them into the
towns in the region of Galatia as God had revealed it to Paul: There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.
Justification is by faith in Christ, apart from the Law.
Some people, probably from Jerusalem, did not agree at all. They retraced Paul and Barnabas’ route on a counter-
missionary journey of their own. Their purpose was to correct Paul’s gospel, to complete it.
The letter to the Galatians is Paul’s immediate response to all this. As the book opens, he is clearly very upset.
• What did he have to say about these messengers and their message?
Gal. 1:6-9

• What were they adding to Paul’s message?

Gal. 2:14
Gal. 3:1-3
Gal. 4: 10, 11
Gal. 5:2-4
• In their teaching, these visitors didn’t deny the deity of Christ, His death or His resurrection. Why, then,
was Paul so agitated?
What would have been the effects on the gentile believers if they had continued in this other teaching?
Gal. 4:3-10 Note: “basic principles (stoicheia) of this world,” vs. 3 “weak and miserable principles”
(stoicheia), vs. 9, deification of the elements, the worship of air and matter—in short, the pagan religions
out of which the Gentiles had come (cf Col.2:8, 20-23).
• What means did Paul use to help the Galatians get “grace by faith” straight and keep it straight?
• What motivated the visiting teachers to do what they did?

Gal. 4:17
Gal. 6:12, 13
QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT
• What parallels do you see between this first century example and what we face today as we take the gospel
to people of other cultural/religious backgrounds?
• What traditional practices and conduct do Christians tend to impose on believers from other backgrounds
such as Muslim?
• Do you think these impositions are a problem? Why?
• What were the first century solutions to this matter? How could they be applied today?

• What should we encourage new to do or not to do
3. Jews, Gentiles and the Mobility of the Gospel

Peter and Cornelius
In the book of Acts, we see the early church struggling with two major issues:
1. Understanding that the gospel was for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews.
2. Coming to grips with the diversity of ministry in these two communities.
Look at Peter’s ministry to Cornelius in Acts 10:1-29.

• What obstacles did Peter face in going into a Gentile home and community?
• Peter was transformed through the Cornelius experience. What understandings did he gain?
• What feelings did he experience or come to grips with?
Peter returned to Jerusalem where other believers criticized him for going to Cornelius’ house.
• Why was he criticized, Acts 11:1-3?
• What was his explanation of his actions, Acts 11: 4-18?
Antioch
In Acts 11:19-26, the church at Jerusalem faced a new issue that needed to be examined.
• What was the issue?
Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council

Barnabas and Saul began their first missionary journey in Acts 13. They began to focus on Gentiles in Acts 13:46-
48. Before long there were disputes about what was required of Gentile believers.
• Describe the dilemma in Acts 15:1 and 15:5
• What solutions did the early church reach regarding requirements for Gentile believers in Acts 15: 6-29?
Acts 21
Many years later in Acts 21:17-25, we find a further issue arising regarding Jews who lived among Gentiles.
• Thousands of Jews in Palestine had believed. But what was also important for them (Acts 21:20)?
• What was Paul accused of teaching all the Jews who lived among the Gentiles (Acts 21:21)?
• What did the Palestinian Jews still expect of the Gentile believers in Acts 21:25?
Ephesians 2:11-22
In the passage “you” and “we” are repeated frequently. “You” refers to Gentile believers; “we” refers to believers of
Jewish background. The Gentile believers are treated with equal significance as the Jewish believers.
• What gives Gentile believers their significance?
• When Gentile believers received this letter, how do you think they felt and responded to God? How does
this passage contribute to giving the Gentiles a greater sense of ownership of the Gospel?
• Spiritual unity is experienced in diversity. What evidence do you see of that principle in this passage?
4. Sowing, Watering, Reaping

SOWING
Matthew 5:16; Mark 5:19
1. Find out their religious background
2. Understanding the process of evangelism

2.1 Engels Scale
Tilling, sowing, watering, reaping (Isa. 28: 23-26; 1 Cor. 3:5-9)
3. Clarify the concept of Christian

3.1 Do they understand that America is not a Christian country?
3.2 Do they identify me as a serious Christian rather than a cultural one?
3.3 Are they aware that my Christian faith goes beyond religious duties and church activities?
3.4 Have they heard my testimony of conversion, including what Christ means to me today?
3.5 Do they know other genuine Christians? Have they heard their testimonies?
4. Understanding the God of the Bible

4.1 Do they understand the God of Creation: supreme, personal, just and loving?
4.2 Do they understand how sin entered the human race?
4.3 Do they know how Christ fits into God’s plan of history?

SOWING AND WATERING (Investigation)

Acts 8:30-31: Acts 17:11
1. Discuss the Bible

1.1 Do they have a bible? Do they read it?
1.2 Have you studied the Bible together?
1.3 Have they attended church or a Christian meeting where the bible is taught? Was it
discussed afterward?
2. Explaining the Life of Jesus

2.1 Do they have a biographical knowledge of Jesus?
2.2 Is their information based on the Bible or hearsay?
2.3 Have they seen a visual portrayal of Jesus in films or plays?
3. Understanding the Gospel Message

3.1 Do they know the irreducible core of the gospel that must be believed to be saved?
3.2 Have they verbalized a clear understanding of the gospel?
3.3 Do they sense a personal need to respond?
REAPING (Repentance and Faith)

Acts 16:30-31
1. Making the decision
1.1 Have they considered the implications of becoming a Christian?
1.2 Do they know that a personal decision has to be made?
1.3 Do they know how to receive Jesus Christ?
1.4 Do they believe I’ll remain their friend no matter what they decide?

Appendix 21 – Kingdom of God Illustrations
Kingdom of God
One King Two Subjects
Constitution (Laws)
Nature — Eternal, Invisible, Spiritual,

Unshakable
Peter Paul
Jewish, sent to Jews Sent to Gentiles
Sabbath Different day – no restrictions
Circumcision Uncircumcised
Dietary laws Eat all foods
Old Testament festivals Different festivals
Hebrew Different languages
Worship at the temple in Don’t worship in Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Ritual washings No ritual washings

Kingdom of God
One King Two Subjects
Constitution (Laws)
Nature — Eternal, Invisible, Spiritual,

Unshakable
Rich Mohammed
American Saudi Arabian
English Arabic
Italian Arab
Olive skin – physical features Brown skin – physical features
One brother/sister Three brothers
Born 1956 Born 1968
Male Male
Christian Muslim
Eats pork Men and women Does not eat pork Separation of sexes in
worship together worship
Goes to No set fasts Goes to mosque/Friday Fasts during Ramadan
church/Sunday
Name given at baptism Sits in church Muslim name Kneels in mosque
Celebrates Christmas Prays before meals Celebrates Aladua Prays 5x/day
Wears shoes Takes shoes off

Appendix 22 – Selected Reading List

Books on Understanding Culture
Brown, Ina C. Understanding Other Cultures
Chew, Jim When You Cross Cultures: Vital Issues Facing Christian Missions
Elmer, Duane Cross-Cultural Conflict
Elmer, Duane Cross-Cultural Connections
Hesselgrave, David J. Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally
Lane, Patty A Beginner’s Guide to Crossing Cultures: Making Friends in a Multicultural World
Lingenfelter, Judith E. and Lingenfelter, Sherwood G. Teaching Cross-Culturally
Lingenfelter, Sherwood G. and Mayers, Marvin K. Ministering Cross-Culturally
Muller, Roland Home & Shame
Nussbaum, Stan Why Are Americans Like That
Storti, Craig The Art of Crossing Cultures
Books on Understanding Hospitality

Halverson, Delia The Gift of Hospitality in church in the Home in All of Life
Hershberger, Michele A Christian View of Hospitality
Oden, Amy G. And You Welcomed Me
Pohl, Christine D. Making room
Books on Understanding Missions

Blackaby, Henry T. and Willis, Avery T, Jr. On Mission With God
Bolt, Peter and Thompson, Mark The Gospel to the Nations
Bothwick, Paul A Mind for Missions
Graham, Bruce D. Everything You Need To Know to Become a World Christian
Glover, Robert H. Biblical Basis of Missions
Lewis, Richard D. The Cultural Imperative
Lingenfelter, Sherwood Agents of Transformation
McQuilkin, Robertson The Great Omission
Padinjarekara, Joseph Christ in ancient Vedas
Peters, George W. A Biblical Theology of Missions
Piper, John Let the Nations Be Glad: The supremacy of God in Missions 2d ed.
Sanneh, Lamin Translating the Message
Van Engen, Charles God’s Missionary People
Walls, Andrew F. The Cross- Cultural Process In Christian History
Willis, Avery Jr. Biblical Basis of Missions
Winter, Ralph D. and Hawthorne, Steven C. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

Appendix 23 – Language Resources & Cultural Resources

Multi- Language Media
http://www.multilanguage.com/
Chinese Materials
Ambassador for Christ
Arabic Materials
Hoskins, Edward J., A Moslem’s Heart: What Every Christian needs to Know to share Christ with a Moslem.
(IBN # 0-9672480-6-x) www.dawsonmedia.com
American Scripture: Scripture booklets & Tracks in over 400 languages

http://www.gospelcom.net/
Audio Treasure: Free MP3’s of the Bible for download in variety of Languages
http://www.audiotreasure.com/
Japanese Materials
The Jesus Film Project

http://www.jesusfilmstore.com/
Gospel Recordings

Appendix 24 – World Key

1. What misconception about Christianity/ Bible/God do they possess?
2. What cultural obstacles have they overcome?
3. What witness did God use in their life?
4. What event/ situation helped his/ her make a decision?
5. What were the consequences of the decision?
6. How did they bridge back to their own culture?

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Discipleship and

Stephen Van Dop, D.Min.

©Vineyard Institute ™ 2014 i

Lecture 2 – Understanding Christian Conversion (Stephen VanDop) ..................................... 8

Lecture 3 – Whom Do We Evangelize? (Stephen VanDop) .................................................... 16

Lecture 4 – How Do We Evangelize (Stephen VanDop) .......................................................... 20

Lecture 5 – The Necessity of Cross-Cultural Evangelism (Rich Mendola) ............................ 30

Lecture 7 – The Gospel and Culture (Rich Mendola) .............................................................. 45

Appendix 1 – Developing Your Story with a Purpose.............................................................. 57

Appendix 2 – Developing Your F.R.A.N.K. List....................................................................... 59

Appendix 3 – Conversation Sketch ............................................................................................ 60

Appendix 4 – The Story Triangle ............................................................................................... 62

Appendix 5 – A Six-Point Evangelistic Assessment Scale ........................................................ 63

Appendix 6 – Methods on How to Share Christ ....................................................................... 64

Appendix 7 – Illustrations of The Good News .......................................................................... 67

Appendix 8 – Personal Witness & Communication Style Assessment ................................... 71

Appendix 9 – How Do I Handle Hard Questions?.................................................................... 77

Appendix 10 – Modern, Post-Modern and Theism Chart ....................................................... 83

Appendix 11 – Selected Reading List......................................................................................... 84

Appendix 12 – Unreached People Groups................................................................................. 87

Appendix 13 – The 10/40 Window ............................................................................................. 91

Appendix 14 – The Globe at a Glance ....................................................................................... 92

Appendix 16 – Coping with Cultural Differences ................................................................... 96

Appendix 17 – How to Become More Culturally Sensitive...................................................... 97

Appendix 19 – Form and Function in the Church ................................................................... 99

Appendix 20 – Bible Studies for Further Study ..................................................................... 100

Appendix 21 – Kingdom of God Illustrations ......................................................................... 106

Appendix 22 – Selected Reading List....................................................................................... 108

Appendix 23 – Language Resources & Cultural Resources .................................................. 109

Appendix 24 – World Key ........................................................................................................ 110

©Vineyard Institute ™ 2014 iv

Lecture 1 – What is Evangelism? (Stephen VanDop)

1.1 Two Extreme Views

1.1.2 “Mission is synonymous with social activism.”

1.2 Mission: Finds its Origin and Essence in the Trinity

1.2.1.1 True Personhood

1.2.1.2 True Community

1.2.1.3 True Love

1.2.2 The Motivation of the Trinity

1.2.2.1 For “each other”

1.2.2.2 For “others”

1.2.3 The “Sharing” Action of the Trinity

1.2.3.1 Father – a mission to create. Genesis 1:31

1.2.3.2 Son – a mission to restore

©Vineyard Institute ™ 2014 1 of 110

and recovery of sight for the blind,

1.2.3.3 Holy Spirit – a mission to empower the Church’s witness

1.3 Mission in the Church – Both Evangelism and Justice

1.3.1 The Great Commission — evangelism

©Vineyard Institute ™ 2014 2 of 110

1.3.2 The Great Commandment — justice

2.2 Meaning of Evangelism (Greek – euangelizomai)

2.3 What evangelism is not

2.3.2 The result

2.3.3 The Method

©Vineyard Institute ™ 2014 3 of 110

Scholars’ Debate – Issue of Debate

Definitions of evangelism have varied over the years

©Vineyard Institute ™ 2014 4 of 110

2.4 Three Activities of Evangelism

2.5 Six Aspects of Announcing the Gospel Message

2.5.2 The Gospel Witnesses – Old Testament and Apostles

2.5.4 The Gospel Promises – Forgiveness of Sins …

2.5.5 The Gospel Demands – Repentance and Faith and Baptism