Evangelism methods that don’t work

General Faith
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Evangelism methods that don’t work

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“…People destroy the chance to lead others to Christ everyday by exuding their own issues of anger, ignorance, and fear under the hole filled umbrella of “telling the truth in love” and turning people away from the gospel. Let’s try hard not to be THAT Christian people try to avoid.”

Forming relationships then allowing those people to ask you about your faith works.

What doesn’t work:

Threatening people with hell

Beating them over the head with scripture

Preaching instead of conversation

Offending the person then blaming them for the offense instead of apologizing

People destroy the chance to lead others to Christ everyday by exuding their own issues of anger, ignorance, and fear under the hole filled umbrella of “telling the truth in love” and turning people away from the gospel. Let’s try hard not to be THAT Christian people try to avoid.

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Do you have proof that these methods don’t work?

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I was outreach pastor at a church for over forty years. What worked and didn’t work in reaching folks for Christ was my job.

There have been several studies from PEW Research through the years. You may find those at their website.

Research articles from major missionary arms of various denominations. Articles are available through those as well

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Thanks, I’ll check them out.

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Your topic about the evangelism that “works” is a bow to pragmatism, which involves reliance on our experiences to show us what’s right. That being said, any approach of control or disrespect for people is not God’s way, which is “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4).

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@Bruce_Leiter

Really?

Love All, Offend None”?

That’s Not the Bible, that’s Sentimentalism in a Sunday Hat.

Let’s be clear-biblical love is not cowardice in a cardigan. It’s not the soft glow of polite tolerance or the sentimental fog of niceness. The Bible’s definition of love often wounds, warns, rebukes, and contends. Truth doesn’t always come dressed in lavender and lace-it sometimes comes with fire in its lungs and a sword in its hand.

Here’s ten verses that utterly shatter the idea that Christian love is always soft-spoken, crowd-pleasing, or pain-averse:

  1. Galatians 1:10
    “Am I now seeking the favor of men or of God?.. If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
    πειθῶ – present active indicative – “am I persuading?”

Paul draws a hard line-people-pleasers don’t preach Christ. Period.

  1. Galatians 4:16
    “Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?”
    ἀληθεύων – present active participle – “truthing”
    When truth becomes offensive, love still speaks. Paul wasn’t allergic to fallout.

  2. 2 Timothy 4:2
    “Preach… reprove, rebuke, exhort…”
    ἐπιτίμησον, ἐλέγξον – aorist imperatives

Timid preachers need not apply. The call is not to whisper but to warn.

  1. Matthew 10:34
    “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
    νομίσητε – aorist subjunctive – “don’t suppose”

Jesus Himself dismantles peace-worship. Truth divides-families, friendships, and hearts.

  1. John 7:7
    “The world hates Me because I testify that its works are evil.”
    μαρτυρῶ – present active indicative – “I testify”

Christ wasn’t crucified for being “nice.” He exposed darkness. Lovingly-but unflinchingly.

  1. Ezekiel 3:18
    “If you don’t warn the wicked… his blood I will require at your hand.”
    תַּזְהִיר – hiphil imperfect – “you warn”

A silent watchman is a traitor. Love that hides truth is bloodguilt, not mercy.

  1. Proverbs 27:5–6
    “Better open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”
    יָכַח – “to reprove”

True friends don’t flatter-they wound to heal. Sentimentality kills slowly; rebuke saves quickly.

  1. Jude 1:3
    “Contend earnestly for the faith…”
    ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι – present middle infinitive – “agonize/fight for”

The gospel isn’t something we simply discuss-it’s something we defend, even if it costs relationships.

  1. Acts 20:31
    “I did not cease… to admonish each one with tears.”
    νουθετῶν – present active participle – “admonishing”

Paul’s love wasn’t passive. He warned with passion, not platitudes.

  1. Revelation 3:19
    “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline.”
    ἐλέγχω, παιδεύω – present actives – “I rebuke… I discipline”

Christ’s love comes with correction. Always. If He’s never correcting you, it might not be Him you’re listening to.

So no-love is not the absence of offense.
No-truth is not obligated to be polite.
No-Scripture does not idolize keeping peace over keeping purity.
Christian love tells the truth, stands firm, and rebukes when needed-even if it splits the room.

Jesus was full of grace and truth-never one at the expense of the other.

Drop the mask of man-pleasing. Pick up the sword of the Spirit.

The gospel isn’t always safe-but it’s always good.

This “love all, offend none” ain’t scriptural.

J.

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Bruce, I hear you on the danger of pragmatism—and amen, the Gospel isn’t a sales pitch. But let’s not confuse calling out bad methods with chasing results. When Paul reasoned in the synagogues and the marketplace (Acts 17), he wasn’t just winging it—he was strategic and Spirit-led.

“Speaking the truth in love” doesn’t mean avoiding critique. It means doing it with Christ at the center and maturity in mind (Eph. 4:15). If our methods dishonor that, they need to be exposed—not to be pragmatic, but to be faithful.

Love doesn’t silence correction. It sharpens it with grace.

—Sincere Seeker. Stay grounded. Stay sharp. Stay in the Word.

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Every single one of your quotes is spoken to the people of God, either Jews or Gentiles or both, not to complete unbelievers.

What I’m advocating is to total unbelievers. Start where they are by finding out more about them so that you have a point of contact with them–something to talk with them about–like sports or work or other things with common interest. Your approach to complete unbelievers would turn them completely off from the beginning. Then, as God guides you, share what God has done for you that is similar to their experience. Then, as your relationship grows and as you sense they are ready, present the Good News. Always, be sensitive to their reactions and bathe your conversations in your prayers for God’s guidance. This approach respects them as God’s creations.

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Threatening people with hell…

Rev12, Those methods worked in the movies.
(:nerd_face: lol, in levity - see Proverbs 17:22)

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@SFsergio, please explain your comment. It’s unclear to me.

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@Bruce_Leiter,
In movies, there are portayals of street-corner preachers’ hellfire and brimstone messages. @Rev12_11 asked for proof so I (jokingly) replied.

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Hi,

Why do you care if a certain method “works?”
If God puts it on your heart to witness, you witness.
We are called to give a reason for the faith we have.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

That’s our function.
It’s the Holy Spirit’s concern to draw the unbeliever to Christ.
If someone doesn’t receive Jesus after you speak to them, do not take it as a personal rejection.

Blessings

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True, you may be one of several witnesses that God will use to save someone. It doesn’t all depend on us individually.