Updated: April 2019
A Fresh Old Perspective on
Evangelism & Witnessing
Prepared by Jack Kooyman

Old or Familiar Western/U.S. Model New (Old) Model__________
Evangelism model = sales  Evangelism as more show than tell
Sales Call/Closing the Deal  Conversations with Friends
Conversion as Event  Conversion as Journey or Process
View people primarily as sinners  View people primarily as image
bearers
Formula/Script oriented  Relationship/interest oriented
Agenda based relationships  Friendship based relationships
Salvation = afterlife/individual  Salvation/New Life begins now;
includes all of creation/culture (see
John 3:16; Rom. 8:22-23)
Saving /Rescuing /Winning  Inviting/Welcoming/Introducing
Gospel as fire escape  Gospel as “Good News” of God’s
Kingdom/Reign/Shalom

People are In or Out  Moving toward or away from Jesus***
Witness only as individuals  Witness primarily as community 
Share the “way of salvation”  Be aware of Holy Spirit provided
opportunities in conversations
with others.
Proving; convincing; defending  Sharing transformation/grace stories
Same starting point for everyone  Meet people where they are
Believing before belonging  Belonging before believing

Some Relevant New Testament Scripture
Questions to consider and discuss after reading each of the
following Scripture passages:
①What does the passage teach us about how people come to know
and follow Jesus
②Which, if any, of the previous models are represented in the
following passages?
•Jesus and the Samaritan woman: John 4:7-30
• Jesus and the man blind from birth: John 9 1-11 / 24-38
•Jesus’ prayer for those who will follow him: John. 17:20-23
•Paul in Athens: Acts 17: 22-23
•Peter & Cornelius: Acts 10:1-48
•I Peter 3:15 (NIV)

The Role & Work of the Holy Spirit
“The Holy Spirit is always and everywhere the first and primary Witness.
We are partners and collaborators with the Holy Spirit….[Our] first
tasks…are learning to listen to God and collaborate with the Holy
Spirit.”
(p. 34 in Re-Imagining Evangelism, by Rick Richardson)
Acts 1:8
“. . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Prayer & Witnessing
Pray for opportunities to have spiritual conversations.
Pay attention to Holy Spirit promptings/nudgings.
Ask and depend on the Holy Spirit to speak through you
and to the heart of the person with whom you are having
a conversation.
Pray for those with whom you have had “spiritual
conversations.”