Fishing Baits

Methods of Evangelism: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Introduction: We want to examine three models of telling people about Jesus that appear in the New Testament. Just as different fish respond to different bait, we must learn to listen to God as He guides us in our witnessing. Everyone can be an evangelist. It may simply be a question of finding the right model for you.

1. The “Straight to the Point” Approach. The first model is Peter preaching to the crowd on the Day of Pentecost, which is found in Acts 2:22-41. This is the bold, street preacher type approach, or the kind of message you might hear at a Gospel rally or evangelistic church meeting.

Strengths: This approach communicates the Gospel fully and unashamedly. It isn’t watered down or made politically correct and it also gives people the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ and be converted at once. It does not rely on any personal connection with the hearer.

Weaknesses: It can be very non-relational and relies upon its hearers having prior knowledge of God’s ways. Peter to speaking to Jewish people who both knew and feared God, and had a devout respect for the Torah (Law) Scriptures from which Peter spoke.

2. The Gentle Discussion Approach. The second model is Paul preaching to the stoic Greeks at Athens in Acts 17:16-34. Paul realises that these non-Jews will take a little more time to respond and he carefully explains the Gospel to them, speaking of God as Creator rather than Law Giver.

Strengths: Its strength is that it is relational, non-threatening and gives its hearers time to assimilate and respond to the message thoughtfully. This is very much the procedure adopted in “The Alpha Course” and similar evangelism courses. It does not rely upon an emotional moment in a church setting or a fear of hell.

Weaknesses: Its weakness is that it can become sowing rather than reaping. While we are dropping in “little seeds” time may run out! A strong example of this is found in the next verse (Acts 18:1) where Paul leaves Athens and travels to Corinth. We can only presume that those who had not responded initially were never able to.

3. The Honest Testimony Approach. The third model is the testimony of the blind man in John 9:13-34. The blind man is healed but he doesn’t understand much. “I was blind, but now I can see” (v.25).

Strengths: A testimony is usually irrefutable, usually interesting, and almost anyone can tell a story.

Weaknesses: This approach can be theologically shallow (ignoring 1 Peter 3:15) and be neither commanding nor demanding. The hearer may not associate your testimony with God’s power either and have not truly heard the message of Jesus Christ.


Conclusion: While it may be helpful to find a model that we like, it is also vital to use the approach that best works for the fish! A combination of patient discussion, bold at times, while offering our testimony, would be great. This was the model of Jesus in John 4:1-26.