W.E.L.L.E Evangelism Method
A Relational Conversation Framework for Sharing the Gospel
Built on the foundation of John 4 and the woman at the well. This reflects what evangelism can look like when using a relational and relevant approach. This is a framework not a script. Questions and statements are included as a guide only, feel free to let the spirit lead you in your conversation.
Why It Works
People Are Still Open
The woman at the well wasn’t searching for Jesus that day. She did have burdens she carried, and Jesus met her exactly where she was at.
Authentic Conversations
Jesus didn’t preach at her. He spoke with her on a personal level.
Everyone Has Burdens and Baggage
Her sin issue wasn’t avoided; it was addressed in a relatable way that made sense to her.
One Conversation can Change a community
Once she was saved, she told others about Jesus. Peer-to-peer gospel sharing allows for credibility and opens more doors.
W.E.L.L.E
W - Warm Up the Conversation
Purpose: Build connection and rapport. Don’t preach. Find common ground and be relatable.
Start with a natural interaction. Lead with curiosity, authenticity, and be genuine.
Key Verse: John 4:7-9
7. “There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.”
Key Concept: Jesus starts the conversation in a natural and disarming way.
General Questions:
How’s your week going?
What brings you peace when life feels heavy?
What do you think people are chasing in life?
Do you think there’s something deeper than just existing?
Goal: open and spark a conversation rooted in life that can lead to spiritual matters
E - Explore, Evaluate, and Expose
Explore
Purpose: Learn what they believe. Allow them to answer your questions and engage in conversation with you.
Ask open-ended questions and allow space for dialogue.
Key Verses: John 4:9-18
10. “Then saith the woman of Samaria until him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
Key Concept: The woman is asking questions and is curious why Jesus is talking with her, especially based on the cultural circumstances surrounding Jews and Samaritans.
Ask open-ended questions about their beliefs, struggles, and sources of fulfillment.
What gives your life meaning or purpose?
Have you ever felt like you were running on empty?
Do you think there’s something more out there?
Let them talk without interruption.
Evaluate
Purpose: Discern their spiritual interest. Are they engaged, curious, or shutting down? Do this before proceeding with the next steps.
Do they ask honest follow up questions? Are they thoughtful and responsive or dismissive and closed off? Gauge their interest level to continue.
Key Verses: John 4:9-18
11. “The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?” 12. “Art thou greater than our faith Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?”
Key Concept: If the person is engaged and seems to want to move forward then continue the conversation. If they seem disinterested then hand them a tract and thank them for their time and move on.
Example Statement:
“If this isn’t something you want to talk about, I completely respect that. But if you’re open, I’d love to share something meaningful with you.”
Expose
Purpose: If they are open you now expose the emptiness of their “well.” Help them see their spiritual thirst and their need for Jesus.
Point out the broken “well” they’re trusting in relationships, comparison, pleasure, school, work, etc.
Key Verses: John 4:9-18
16. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou has well said, I have no husband: 18. For thou has had five husbands; and he who thou now hast is not thy husband: in that sadist thou truly
Key Concept: Jesus exposes the issue in the woman’s life. She was seeking to fill a void in her life by having 5 husbands and currently living with a man who she was not even married to. This is the time where you will try to expose the issue you’ve uncovered in the person's life as well.
Example statement:
“It sounds like you’re searching for something else. A lot of us are. But what if nothing we chase can satisfy us?
L - Lead Them to Jesus
Purpose: Here’s where you shift from the problem to the solution (Jesus).
Once you uncover an issue in their life. Show them how Jesus can ultimately solve that issue
Key Verses: John 4:13-14, 25-26
13. Jesus answered and said unto her, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. 14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Key Concept: You have already established something that is missing in their life or that they are desiring. Jesus is what can fill that void. This is where you give the gospel.
Example Gospel Conversation
Use the conscience as your bridge, especially with skeptics or people who don’t hold the Bible as authority.
“Can I ask you something? Do you ever feel deep guilt, not just feeling bad, but you know you did something wrong? Where do you think that comes from?”
Let them respond. Then say:
“That’s your conscience. Most of us know it’s wrong to lie, cheat, hurt others. That sense of right and wrong is built in. You don’t need religion to know that, you’re wired with it.”
Personalize it. Frame their sin, quantify it, and inflate it.
“Let’s say you only sinned once a day, just one selfish thought, one angry word, one lie. That’s over 10,000 sins in 30 years. Even if you’re a ‘good person,’ that’s a lot of sin and wrong doing if God is real and just.”
Present the Gospel Clearly
L - Let Them Respond
Purpose: Let them process and respond to everything they have been confronted with.
Key Verses: John 4:28-29
28. “The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29. Come, see a man, which told me all the things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”
Key Concept: The woman at the well embraces and accepted Jesus for all that he showed her. She genuinely got saved and the first thing she did was go and tell the people in the city.
We must ask them to respond.
• “Have you ever personally trusted Jesus to save you?”
• “What do you think is holding you back?”
Make sure they are the first to speak once you ask them to respond. If they’re ready, offer to pray with them right then. If they’re not ready today, God’s Word never returns void and a seed has been planted.
E - Encourage and Challenge a Next Step
Purpose: Encourage and challenge the person you just gave the gospel to. Whether they got saved or not, it is important that we give them a next step. This comes in the form of encouragement and/or a challenge.
Key Verses: John 4:39-42
39. “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41. And many more believed because of his own word; 42. And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”
Key Concept: The woman was an advocate for Jesus. She didn’t save them but because of her testimony and challenge to others in the city to go see Jesus for themselves the people ran to Jesus and believed. Not everyone will be this enthusiastic even if they got saved. It is still important to challenge them, especially if they rejected Christ in that moment.
Example Challenges and Encouragements:
“Now that you're saved will you read the Gospel of John?”
“Would you be willing to pray, ‘God, if you’re real, I want to know’?”
“Would you come to church or meet again to talk more?”
“Will you go back to your house and read this tract?”
Challenge out of love and clarity. You want them to get saved because their soul is on the line, not because you want another number to add to your resume. Don’t leave them with a bad impression of Jesus.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to tie every part of the conversation back to the woman at the well or hit every single point. Some people may only be open enough to get the tract and walk away. It is our job to present them with the gospel. God will do the rest.
W.E.L.L.E.
Warm Up
Explore, Evaluate, Expose
Lead Them to Jesus
Let Them Respond
Encourage and Challenge
