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Tips for Evangelism in a Post-Christian Era

By New Churches Team

In every generation, people have defeater beliefs. The question is, how do you deconstruct them? Defeater beliefs cause them to think Christianity can’t be the only way because there can’t be anything that only has one way. Our goal now should be addressing that belief and convincing them that there is only one way, and that it is through Christ.

The Engel Scale

The Engel Scale ranges from awareness of a supreme being but no effective knowledge of the gospel, initial awareness of the gospel, awareness of the fundamentals of the gospel, grasp of the implications, positive attitude, personal problem recognition, decision to act, to finally, personal faith in Christ. This is a helpful tool. When someone is a new believer they may have a grasp of the implications, but it takes longer to move down the scale. People assume that Jesus was real and He died for their sins, but they are waiting until later in life to let that affect their behaviors. The Engel Scale helps people realize they do have some kind of belief system. Whatever it is they believe is a belief system. They are not completely neutral.

The Unseeded Field

Some Christians are used to reaching people who are already familiar with the gospel. But now we are living in an unseeded field. We are going to have to throw seed in new places and ways, through apologetics and lifestyle evangelism, so that it causes interest and leads to questions that are answered through the gospel. We should consider new programs and approaches that reach people. Things that worked before may not work anymore. Having conversations in the workplace and the home through existing relationships may be much more effective now than in the past.

Adapted from the New Churches Q&A Podcast Episode 447: Evangelism in a Post-Christian Era. Click here to listen to more to church planting, multisite, and multiplication tips.