This document discusses the need for contextual evangelism strategies due to declining church involvement and rising societal issues. It outlines how the gospel message should be presented in a way that is understandable within the sociocultural context of the target audience. Key aspects of contextualization include understanding the audience's worldview, cultural practices, and communication patterns in order to effectively share an uncompromised gospel message. The strategy emphasizes preparation through prayer, making evangelism a core church purpose, and regularly reviewing/revising the approach.

1. Introduction to
Missiology
Ch.27 Contextual Evangelism
Strategies

2. Why Contextualize?
• The population of the US increasingly
questions the relevance of the church
• Societal dysfunction is on the rise
• Church involvement is declining
• Attitudes have shifted from friendly
toward the church to suspicious of the
church

3. Sociocultural
Changes
Rise in nonreligious from 1% in 1900 to over
21% today due to
• Rise of self-authority
• Growing divergence of wealthy and
impoverished lifestyles
• Growing isolation based on technology
• Rise of privatized morality
• Rise of religious pluralism

4. Contextual Evangelism
• Presenting the uncompromised gospel
• In the sociocultural, ethnic, and
linguistic context of the hearers
• So they may respond and be discipled
into a church

5. The Uncompromised Gospel
• The prophecy of Christ’s coming
• Jesus’ miracles and his teaching
• His atoning death on the cross
• Jesus’ physical resurrection
• The promise of his second coming
• The sending of the Holy Spirit
• Humankind’s need for repentance,
belief, and obedience in baptism

6. The Cultural Context
You need to use a tool to gather
adequate information about a culture
• Worldview
– Religious beliefs, folk religions,
understanding of Christianity
– Core Values
– Which people are important
– Patterns of communication
– Role of family and friends in decisions

7. Cultural Context (Cont)
• General cultural information
– Socio-economic patterns and values
– Education levels present and extent
– Time
– Customs and Special Days
– Food

8. Contextual Evangelism
Strategy
• Preparation – The key activity is prayer
• Purpose – Involve every believer in
communicating a credible message of Christ
in a way that makes cultural sense to the
hearers
• Process – Make evangelism a core purpose
of the church, then recruit and train
champions to advance that purpose. Review
results and revise strategy at least annually

9. Conclusion
• Much of what passes for Christianity in
the South is just folk religion that
emphasizes a certain set of do’s and
don’ts
• What is needed in every place is a
Christian faith that results in lives
transformed from the inside out.