Bottom-up

So, a question was recently posed to me: How would you define top-down vs. bottom-up evangelization?

Bottom-up evangelization would probably look a whole lot like a relationship-building, disciple-making, friendship-type of Gospel sharing. A "watch how I live and see if it rings true with what I say" kind of life-sharing. The sharer has so intertwined lives with the hearer that the hearer can't deny some type of plausibility.

Top-down evangelization would probably look a whole lot like a large group of people at all levels of faith who hear the truth of the Gospel preached in their direction, and because of the sheer power of the redeeming message of Jesus Christ, people change. The sharer has no (or very little) personal interaction with the hearer, but because the right message, the right time, and the right heart all collided--truth is heard.

I don't think either is the only way. Nor do I think either could be wholly successful without the other... Christ taught to large crowds, Paul preached to the masses, the Apostles boldly shared the Word of God wherever they went. But the exponential evangelization came when disciples made disciples who made disciples.  

Jesus made fishers of men by having them follow Him.

Just some thoughts.