Preparing the Soil
Pre-evangelism to Evangelism
Laying a Firm Foundation for Evangelism

Copyright Liz Godwin 2004

OBJECTIVES

• Why is it necessary to lay a firm foundation before presenting the gospel?
• How do we lay a firm foundation to present the gospel?
• When does pre-evangelism become evangelism?
• What does the journey look like?

Reaching the Whole Person

• Physical—5 Senses
• Social–Community
• Spiritual—Doctrinal Concepts

Notes: Can you think of an example in the Bible where the physical body or the senses were part of the pre-evangelism process? 

Doctrinally-What is pre-evangelism?

• Pre-evangelism lays the necessary foundation for evangelism.
• Doctrinally It answers questions:
• Is there a God? 
• Who is Jesus?
• Is the Bible reliable? 
• What is God like?

Pre-evangelism is Multi-facetted

Notes: pre-evangelism is soil preparation. Our impatience hinders doing a thorough job of pre-evangelism. In some societies pre-evangelism takes years Pre-evangelism is also what the Holy Spirit does in the hearts and minds of sinners to enable them to comprehend the gospel message.

            John 16:8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and

            righteousness and judgment;” 

Socially-What is pre-evangelism?

Pre-evangelism is:

• Building trust
• Finding common ground
• Listening
• Answering questions
• Developing authentic relationships of Love
• Sharing a pre-evangelistic book

Notes: Levels of communication

Level 1 Cliche conversation

Level 2 Reporting facts

Level 3 Expressing ideas and judgments

Level 4 Expressing feelings and emotions

Level 5 Completely open

What does Evangelism cover?

Doctrinally (the Gospel)

• Sin
• Separation
• Substitution
• Resurrection

Notes: The seed that is sown represents the gospel. 

Prerequisites to Understanding Sin

In order to understand sin, one must understand that:

• God exists
• God is personal
• God is the creator
• God is Holy

Memorize this

Notes: Soil preparation

Why is this important?

• If God is the creator, that makes us His creatures who are responsible and accountable to Him.
• If an individual rejects any of these ideas about God (existence, personal, holy, creator) he cannot accept the biblical idea of sin.

Evangelism

What is a Biblical concept of Sin?

• Rebellion against God
• Going our own way
• Defiantly resisting authority
• Stubborn disobedience
• Willful rebellion
• Self-centered focus
• Obsession with empowerment
• Compulsively competitive nature
• Addiction to control

Why do pre-evangelism?

You have to lay the ground work so they can understand what sin is.

• God exists
• God is personal
• God is the Creator
• God is Holy

Notes: Understanding these ideas, gives you a platform to present the Four Laws.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is meaningless to a person who does not know whyJesus died for sin; and one cannot understand sinunless he understands that God is holy and just. Such things as who God is, what sin is, and man’s need for righteousness would be part of pre-evangelism.

Pre-evangelism

• …And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but *sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give the account for the hope that is in you with gentleness and reverence.                       1 Peter 3:15

*Sanctify= set apart.  (know that He is Lord)

Notes: Step #1 You have to know that He is lord in your heart before you can go any father.

Step #2 Be ready ie you better study.

Step #3 Be gentle and respectful.

Pre-evangelism

• “But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.”  Acts 9:22

How do we prove that Jesus is the Christ?

One way is by our community.

• They will know we are Christians by our love.
• Help them belong before they believe.
• Show them a grace-driven community
• Let them taste and see our worship.

Another way we prove Jesus is the Christ, is by being ready to give an answer to the hope that is in us.

Pre-evangelism questions:     

 Is there a God?

• The earliest histories of people around the world show that there was a concept of one God.
• There is a void in people that only God can fill. 
• There is the law of cause and effect.  No effect can happen without a cause. A watch does not make itself.  There must be a watchmaker.
• There is order and design in the universe.
• His spirit bears witness with my spirit.

Is the Bible the Word of God?

• The Bible claims to be the Word of God.

    (2 Timothy 3:16)

• Archaeology has affirmed its historical accuracy.
• The Bible has amazing unity.
• The theme of redemption is seen from beginning to end.
• The fulfillment of prophecies attests to the accuracy of the Bible
• It miraculously transforms individuals

Notes: 1. Jesus, the Son of God and the greatest spiritual authority of all time, attested to the accuracy of the Bible, even to the “smallest letter or stroke.” Matthew 5:18)

2. Biblical manuscripts number in the many thousands and, in some cases, date less than 30 years from the actual occurrence of the events that they describe – giving us by far the best attested historical document civilization possesses.

The Bible’s amazing unity – even though composed of 66 books written over a period of 1,500 years by more than 40 authors from widely different cultures and parts of the world – attests that there was divine superintendence over its writing.

4. The theme of redemption is seen from beginning to end.

5. The fulfillment of prophecies attest to the accuracy of the Bible

6. Its miraculous transformation of individuals, even skeptics, who have believed its message.  Because the word of God is alive and powerful.

Is Jesus really God?

• If he’s a liar–Jesus could hardly be a great moral teacher if he was a deliberate liar.
• If a person believes himself to be God, then he must be a lunatic–However, when you look at His life, there is no evidence of abnormality or imbalance of a mentally ill person.  Under pressure He was calm and serene.
• Jesus spoke the truth–His character coincided with his claims.  Jesus was sinless.  He performed miracles.  He rose from the dead.  His biography was documented by His peers who were willing to die for what they testified to about Him.

Notes: He is either a legion, liar, lunatic, or he is who he says he is, Lord.  So now you have wet their appetite for possibly giving them a Case for Christ for more information.

Did Jesus rise from the Dead?

• The resurrection of Jesus Christ was a fulfillment of prophecy.
• Jesus predicted his resurrection.
• The tomb was empty.
• The stone was rolled away.
• The grave clothes were still there.
• He appeared visibly to many people.

Notes: 1. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was a fulfillment of prophecy Psalms 16:10 (Acts 2:27; 13:35-37); Psalms 22:21 (John 20:17)
Isaiah 53:10; Jonah 1:17; 2:10 with Matthew 12:40

2. Matthew 16:21 (Mark 8:31) “From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his
disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things … and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”

Matthew 12:38-40; 17:9, 22, 23; 20:18, 19; 26:32; 27:63

Mark 9:10, 31; 10:32-34,14:28, 58; Luke 9:22; John 2:19, 21, 22

John 10:17, 18 “… I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…”

3. The tomb was empty.

Matthew 28:6 (Luke 24:1-3, 12; John 20:1-9, Mark 16:2-6)

4. He appeared visibly to many people.

1. First to Mary Magdalene. John 20:14, 16, 18 (Mark 16:9)
2. Then to the other women. Matthew 28:9
3. To Peter. Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5
4. To Cleopas and the other disciple on the way to Emmaus. Luke 24:15
5. In the closed room, to ten disciples. Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19, 20
6. To the eleven. John 20:26, 29
7. In the mountains, to the eleven. Matthew 28:10, 17
8. At the sea, to Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, and two
other disciples. John 21:1, 14, etc.
9. To five hundred brethren at once. 1 Corinthians 15:6
10. To James, and to all the apostles. Acts 1:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:7
11. To Paul. Acts 9:3-6; 22:17-21; 23:11; 1 Corinthians 15:8

A. He talked with them.

Matthew 28:10, 18; Luke 24:15-17, 25-27, 36-49
John 20:15-18, 22, 23, 26-29; 21:5-6, 10-22; Acts 1:3

B. He ate with them.

Luke 24:30, 35, 41-43; John 21:12, 15; Acts 1:34; 10:39-41

C. They touched Him.

1. The women. Matthew 28:9
2. The disciples. Luke 24:39
3. Thomas. John 20:27

Steps to the cross:

• What does the process of coming to faith look like for an International?
• Dr. James Engel, shows what the spiritual steps to the cross look like:

Pre-evangelism

• -10 No belief in any spiritual reality

   (Secularism, Atheism, Agnosticism)

• -9 Belief in a spiritual reality but not in a single Creator God who has personal attributes. (Everything including Mormonism)
• -8 Belief in a Creator God with personal attributes, but not belief in Jesus as God. (Non-Biblical Monotheism, such as Islam)

Pre-evangelism

• -7 Understanding that God made Himself fully known only through Jesus.
• -6 Positive attitude toward the God who has made Himself fully known only through Jesus. (Biblical Monotheism) John 3:16

Notes: This is the level many of us are trying to get our internationals to.  Who is Jesus?

What are the components of evangelism again?

• Sin
• Separation
• Substitution
• Resurrection

Evangelism stages:

• -5 Understanding fundamentals of the Gospel. (Sin, Separation, Substitution, and Resurrection)
• -4 Positive attitude toward the Gospel.
• -3 Recognition of the personal sin problem in relation to God
• -2 Decision to act
• -1 Repentance

New Creation in Christ:
Babe in Christ

• +1 Assurance of salvation
• +2 Adoption of Christian identity
• +3 Conceptual and behavioral growth
• +4 Growth in Bible study
• +5 Understanding and application of Bible doctrine

New Creation in Christ:
Spiritual Maturity

• +6 Recognition and use of Spiritual Gifts.
• +7 Growth in total stewardship
• +8 Development in Christian leadership
• +9 Effective outreach to others
• +10 Vision for future ministry

Cultural Barriers to the Cross
Japanese

• What will my Family say? Importance of ancestor worship.
• Who will take care of our family alter?
• What will my friends say? Ridicule from friends and coworkers, especially if Sundays are given to church attendance or if the Christian does not give in to pressure to participate in drinking and socializing after work.        
• Christianity is seen as a foreign religion (Western).
• Do not have Biblical meaning in the words for ‘sin’ and ‘God’ because they originally were animists, which is worship of many gods. 

Case Study:  Emi’s Testimony

• Red= Roadblocks
• Green= Opportunities
• +/- = Spiritual level
•  = Heart Change

February 20, 2000

A Letter from Emi

I came to America in order to improve my English.  Besides learning English I’ve had a lot of experiences.  It was wonderful to stay wit the DeKoekkoek family.  Although it was hard to acclimate myself to new surroundings when I first came here now that things have to pass I’m really comfortable to stay with this family.  How wonderful I was able to come to U.S. and meet my host family and my friends.  What is more, I was able to learn about the Bible.  (-9)

To go to church with host family was not to know about Christianity.  It was only a practice for my English.  Although host-mom gave me a Japanese Bible I stopped reading it soon.  It was hard to understand, to read and I was not interested in reading the Bible.  And when I went to a Japanese church in Seattle I was afraid of them.   However at the same time it was kind of interesting because they were talking about “What is true”?  So I asked my host dad, according to the Bible, “What is true”?   He showed me some verses of the Bible.  It was my first question about the Bible. (–8)

So I tried to read the Bible again but I gave up to read again because it was more important to study English for me.  Then I met a member of a summer project through Campus Crusade for Christ.  I had a really good time with them at Talk Time.  I also became really good friends with one girl who was a member of the summer project.  She taught me a lot about the Bible.  But I always denied it to be true about the Bible.

It was interesting even though I couldn’t disagree about her opinion of the Bible.  But after the summer team left I stopped reading the Bible again.  My friend asked me, “Are you still reading the Bible?”  When I heard it I felt really sorry to her.  So I started reading the Bible.  But studying the Bible was still not to be Christian for me. 

Anyway I heard that my friend from Talk Time was having a Bible Study for us.  So I started to go to Bible study.   That was a good Bible study but somehow I wanted to deny about the Bible.  Then my friend asked me, “Would you like to go to Japanese Conference?”  I didn’t want to go but I said, “Yes.” 

Anyway I went to Japanese Conference.  I didn’t know how wonderful the conference would be.  After the conference I couldn’t deny about the God and the Bible but still I didn’t want to be Christian.  Then I thought that conference was so good so maybe this strange feeling is only emotion.  Also I thought I should not trust my emotion.   However I was so confused every time I read the Bible because I could accept the Bible even though still I don’t want to be a Christian.  So I tried to write down about my true thinking.  I remember I don’t know why I couldn’t stop my tears.  I read again that letter.  This is that letter:  

I don’t care what my friends and my parents think of me now because people let me down at anytime.  I can not tell everything about myself even though they are my best friends and even my parents.  I know that means my heart is empty.  But I don’t want to trust anybody any more.  It was so sad when friend or boyfriend let me down.  I know that I have done the same thing to my friends.  So maybe I’m looking for a comfort.  So I would put trust only in Him. (–6/-2) I know that saving faith in God is not only for my comfort and I don’t want to believe in God only for my comfort.  I want to believe because God is true.  God has unconditional love to me. (-4)  Human is not perfect.   Sometimes maybe I turn my eyes away from God but still God loves us.  (-6/-3)  People can not keep faith in God by oneself because no human is so perfect.  Only God can keep my faith. (+1)  My strength is from God.  I have to live for glory of God.  (+3)  God can help me from my arrogant sin.  (–3/-1)  That’s why Jesus died for our sin. (-5)

Now my heart is not empty.   Indeed American life has been a very nice experience even though I had a lot of problems to deal with and much to think about.  I know God has wonderful plan for my life and my life is not coincidence.  So I will be able to understand the worth of that time after each experience. Living in American taught me a great deal.  I really want to say to people, who helped me a lot, thank you for much.  Heavenly Father, thank you for adopting me into your family.  It’s such an honor for me to be your child. (+2)  With your help I will be your obedient child throughout this day.  (+3)

Spiritual Awareness and Growth Scale by Dr. James Engel)

(-9 Religious awareness, but no knowledge of God , –8 questioning present religious concept of God, -7 Developing positive attitude toward God, -6 Awareness of the fundamental of the Gospel,  -5 Understanding the fundamentals of the Gospel,  -4 positive attitude toward the Gospel, -3 Recognition of personal sin, -2 Decision to act, -1 repentance, +1 Assurance of salvation,  +2 Adoption of Christian identity, +3 Conceptual and behavioral growth)

Prepare the soil well

Matthew 13:19-23 

19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.

21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”    

Notes:  19 he hears the message, the gospel was cast on the path, but the soil wasn’t worked so he didn’t understand it.

20-21 receive the gospel seed on rocky soil, but no time to take root. They go back to Japan the persecution hits and they fall away. 

22 The gospel seed was cast among the thorns (worries of Life).  Who is in charge? Is it a personal, Holy, Just and God whom we a accountable to?

23 He understands it because the soil was prepared well before the gospel seed was cast.

Pre-evangelism to Evangelism

• Pre-evangelism is the process that lays the foundation for others to build upon.
• Pre-evangelism gives a solid foundation for the gospel to take root.
• Pre-evangelism is meeting them where they are at (physically, socially and spiritually) and taking them to the next step.
• Find where God is already at work and join in.