As we study the New Testament, we see that Christ, and the disciples, used a variety of ways to share the Gospel. However, we also see that, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they carefully discerned what type of audience they had, so they would approach each person, or group, in the most appropriate way. In this topic, and the next three, we will be sharing about four different approaches that were used in sharing the Gospel. These are: confrontation, clarification, compassion, and creation. Today, we will be discussing when to use confrontation.
Some of the people we meet, are like the Pharisee Christ described in Luke 18:10-14, where we read: “‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’” As we can see, this Pharisee thought he was a very good man. In fact, we could say that he had “I” trouble (not the kind that requires glasses).
Today, because of the strong emphasis on self-esteem, by the world, there are many people who are just like this Pharisee. They are doing exactly what 2 Corinthians 10:12 warns against. “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” Such individuals feel they are a “good person” because they do like the Pharisee and compare themselves with those they feel are “bad persons”. Of course, if you take your good points and compare them with all the bad points of someone else, you will win the comparison in your own mind.
Christ, and the disciples, always used confrontation when they were talking to someone who thought they were a “good person”. A few illustrations: Nicodemus - John 3:1-21; the rich young ruler - Mark 10:17-22; the Pharisees in many passages, such as Luke 15:1-2, 25-32 or John 8:1-9; the Sadducees - Luke 20:27-38; and the scribes - Luke 20:39-47. Peter used confrontation, when he spoke to the Jewish religious leaders, in both Acts 4 and Acts 5. Stephen certainly used confrontation, when he was facing the Jewish religious leaders, in Acts 6:9-7:54.
Today, most of the approaches to evangelism are based on confrontation. These are very helpful when we are talking to people who need confrontation. From the passages above, and others, we see that we should use confrontation when:
When we use confrontation:
One of the things you probably noticed, as you looked up the passages mentioned, is that confrontation was usually used with people who knew the Old Testament fairly well. In their own thinking, they had come to the conclusion that they were right with God, because they were trying to follow the Old Testament. Today, there are many people, who go to church and are somewhat familiar with the Old Testament, who are trying to earn their way to heaven, by going to church or trying to keep the law. They may even try to follow the law so completely that they confess their sins to a priest, rabbi, or some other religious leader, instead of Christ. These people, who think that what they are doing, in their own strength, makes them acceptable to God, need to be confronted with their sin and separation from God, followed by a call for true repentance. May the Lord give you wisdom to recognize those who need to be approached with confrontation. May the Lord also use you to lovingly confront and present the need for repentance to those who are depending on their own efforts to be accepted by God.
Growing Christian Leaders Series – Developing Effective Evangelism 7. “Four C’s for Evangelism" Updated February 2026 Copyright © 1999, Duane L. Anderson, American Indian Bible Institute; 2022, DLA, Serve and Equip Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. This resource is available from and distributed free of charge by Serve and Equip https://sveq.org ANY REPRODUCTION OF MATERIAL FOR RESALE OR PROFIT IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED
