SOWING,
REAPING,
KEEPING
A paradigm shift
Four changes
to shape a strategy for evangelism
Change 1
Evangelism is not so much
about
‘telling the
truth’ as the
‘outworking of love’.
Change 2
Evangelism is not so much
about requiring people to
‘make a decision’ as being
part of a process and
what the Holy Spirit is
doing in a person’s life
over time.
Change 3
Evangelism is not so much about
making converts as about making
disciples.
Change 4
Evangelism is not so much
about a few gifted evangelists
proclaiming ‘the truth’ as
about every Christian
being good news in their
neighbourhood.
Evangelism is about:
- the outworking of love
- being involved in what the Holy
Spirit is doing over time (process)
- making disciples
- everyone being involved
Two important questions
Question 1: Where on the scale are most
people in England?
At the lower end
Question 2: Where on the scale has our
evangelism been directed?
At the higher end
The Engel Scale: Sowing and Reaping
Steps 1 - 3
“God is good and
Christians are OK.”
Steps 4 - 6
Basics of the gospel
message
Steps 7 - 10 Counting the cost and
making a response
An evangelistic strategy
needs to include:
Sowing 1 activities
Sowing 2 activities
Reaping activities
Keeping activities
Having a Strategy
Paul’s basic strategy is clear in Acts
1Go first to the Jews or God-fearers
2Establish an evangelistic church
plant
Having an evangelism strategy is not
unspiritual
Examples: Sowing 1 activities
 Be a secret pastor
 Offer practical help
 Hold a party for your
neighbours (The Big Lunch)
 Family Fun Days
 Become a school governor
 Play sport for a local team
Examples: Sowing 2 activities
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Family ‘café style’ services
Alpha / Journeys /Wellsprings
Fair Trade / Christian Aid concert
Prayer Spaces in schools
Songs of Praise
‘Fresh Expressions’ eg Messy Church
Make the most of Christmas, Easter etc
Examples: Reaping activities
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Retreat (Quiet Day, large Christian event)
Pointing people in the right direction
Alpha
ALF Club
Keeping strategies
What helps people stay?
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a sense of belonging, small groups KEY!
a place to serve and grow
healthy, open and trusting relationships
leaders able to lead, motivate and equip
What next?
Encourage leaders to read
Sowing, Reaping, Keeping
Share with the church members
Use the training materials to
involve the whole church
Sowing
One
(Network)
Children
Teens
Adults
Baby
Boomers
Seniors
Family
Other
Sowing
One
(Pioneer)
Sowing
Two
Reaping
Keeping