📝 Worksheet 9.4: Scientology Gospel Conversation Map

Purpose

This worksheet helps Christian leaders prepare for respectful gospel conversations with current, questioning, disaffiliating, or former Scientologists.

The goal is not to win an argument, pressure someone to leave Scientology, or produce an immediate profession of faith.

The goal is to:

• listen accurately

• understand the person’s beliefs and experiences

• clarify shared religious words

• disclose your Christian standpoint

• ask permission before comparing beliefs

• explain the gospel clearly

• invite an appropriate next step

• protect freedom, privacy, and personal safety

• trust the Holy Spirit with the outcome

Complete this worksheet before or after a gospel conversation. Do not record unnecessary confidential information.

Part One: Christian Ministry Posture

1. Examine Your Motivation

Why do you want to have this conversation?

Which motivations are faithful?

Check all that apply.

☐ Love for God
☐ Love for this person
☐ Desire to understand accurately
☐ Desire to share the gospel clearly
☐ Desire to offer Christian friendship
☐ Desire to welcome the person into healthy Christian community
☐ Desire to support someone who is questioning
☐ Desire to defend my pride
☐ Desire to prove that I am right
☐ Desire to obtain private information
☐ Desire to create a dramatic conversion story
☐ Desire to pressure the person into leaving immediately

What motives may need confession or correction?

2. State Your Christian Standpoint

Complete this sentence:

I approach this conversation as a Christian who believes that God has revealed himself through _____________________________________________.

Write a brief statement that openly identifies your Christian commitment.

Example:

“I am approaching these questions as a Christian who believes God has revealed himself through Scripture and Jesus Christ.”

3. Reject the Myth of Neutrality

Complete the following statements:

I do not approach this conversation from a religiously neutral position because:

The other person also interprets reality through foundational beliefs concerning:

The Christian goal is not to appear neutral. The Christian goal is to be:

☐ honest
☐ accurate
☐ respectful
☐ clear
☐ permission-based
☐ manipulative
☐ secretive
☐ coercive

Part Two: Know the Person, Not Merely the Label

4. Basic Relationship Context

How do you know this person?

☐ family member
☐ friend
☐ coworker
☐ neighbor
☐ community participant
☐ church visitor
☐ coaching or ministry participant
☐ person requesting information
☐ other: ______________________________________

How long have you known the person?

What level of trust already exists?

☐ little trust
☐ developing trust
☐ established trust
☐ close relationship
☐ uncertain

What has the person personally said about involvement with Scientology?

Do not assume that the person agrees with every official Scientology teaching.

5. Current Ministry Situation

The person appears to be:

☐ currently committed to Scientology
☐ casually involved
☐ culturally connected
☐ questioning some teachings or practices
☐ considering leaving
☐ actively disaffiliating
☐ formerly involved
☐ connected through family or friends
☐ uncertain or unknown

What evidence supports this assessment?

What must you avoid assuming?

6. Human Longings

What longings or concerns has the person expressed?

☐ spiritual freedom
☐ relief from fear
☐ healing from painful experiences
☐ greater personal ability
☐ knowledge or certainty
☐ control over life
☐ belonging
☐ ethical direction
☐ hope after death
☐ reconciliation
☐ freedom from guilt or shame
☐ personal transformation
☐ family stability
☐ community acceptance
☐ other: ______________________________________

Describe the longing in the person’s own words when possible.

How might the gospel address this longing without exploiting it?

Part Three: Listening Before Answering

7. Opening Questions

Select or write two respectful opening questions.

☐ “What has Scientology meant to you personally?”
☐ “What does spiritual freedom mean to you?”
☐ “What do you believe the deepest human problem is?”
☐ “What do you believe happens after death?”
☐ “Who do you understand Jesus to be?”
☐ “What does salvation mean to you?”
☐ “How do you understand the relationship between spirit and body?”
☐ “How do you decide whether a spiritual teaching is true?”

Your first question:

Your second question:

8. Listening Commitments

Before the conversation, commit to the following:

☐ I will not interrupt unnecessarily.
☐ I will not prepare a rebuttal while pretending to listen.
☐ I will ask follow-up questions.
☐ I will allow the person to correct my understanding.
☐ I will not universalize one person’s experience.
☐ I will distinguish official teaching from personal interpretation.
☐ I will not demand confidential information.
☐ I will not treat the person as an evangelistic project.

Which listening habit will be most difficult for you?

What will you do to practice better listening?

9. Reflecting What You Heard

Use this sentence pattern:

“I hear that you understand ______________________________ as ________________________________________________. Is that accurate?”

Write a possible reflection statement.

How will you respond if the person says your summary is inaccurate?

Part Four: Shared Words, Different Meanings

10. Shared-Word Comparison Map

Complete the chart using what the person has actually expressed.

11. Choose the Central Word

Which shared word appears most important in this conversation?

Why?

What clarifying question will you ask?

What assumption must you avoid?

Part Five: Identifying Foundational Commitments

12. Divinity-Belief Review

A divinity belief concerns what is treated as self-existent or what everything else ultimately depends upon.

What may function as ultimate within the person’s current understanding?

☐ the immortal spiritual self
☐ spiritual ability
☐ knowledge
☐ survival
☐ personal freedom
☐ consciousness
☐ control
☐ spiritual technology
☐ religious authority
☐ personal experience
☐ social agreement
☐ uncertain
☐ other: ______________________________________

What statement or belief led you to this assessment?

Do not present this assessment as a diagnosis. Use it to prepare respectful questions.

13. Creator–Creation Classification

Place each item under the Christian category where it belongs.

Items:

• Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

• human spirit

• body

• consciousness

• reason

• angels

• matter

• energy

• space

• time

• spiritual experiences

• religious procedures

• the church

• human freedom

Uncreated Creator

Created Reality

Complete this Christian confession:

The Triune God alone is ____________________________________. Everything else is ____________________________________ and depends upon him.

14. Foundational Question

Write one respectful question that explores ultimate trust.

Examples:

• “What do you believe is ultimately dependable?”

• “What does everything else finally depend upon?”

• “Can the human spirit exist independently of God?”

• “What gives spiritual truth its authority?”

Your question:

Part Six: Requesting Permission

15. Honest Disclosure

Write a statement that discloses your Christian identity without hostility.

16. Permission Question

Choose or write a permission-based question.

☐ “May I explain how Christianity understands salvation differently?”
☐ “Would you be open to hearing why Christians believe Jesus is more than a spiritual teacher?”
☐ “May I share why bodily resurrection is central to Christian hope?”
☐ “Would you be willing to compare spiritual advancement with salvation by grace?”
☐ “May I explain what Christians mean by freedom in Christ?”

Your permission question:

17. Responding to the Answer

What will you do if the person says yes?

What will you do if the person says no?

What will you do if the person says, “Maybe later”?

A refusal is not permission to continue.

Part Seven: The Gospel in Six Movements

Prepare a clear gospel explanation using the six movements.

18. Movement One: Creation

Complete the statement:

The Triune God created __________________________________________.

Include:

☐ God as Creator
☐ humanity as created
☐ embodied image-bearing
☐ the goodness of creation
☐ human worth not based on spiritual advancement

Write your explanation in two or three sentences.

19. Movement Two: Fall

Complete the statement:

Humanity’s deepest problem is ___________________________________.

Include:

☐ sin as turning from God
☐ guilt and alienation
☐ suffering and death
☐ distinction between sin and suffering
☐ inability to save ourselves

Write your explanation.

20. Movement Three: Incarnation

Complete the statement:

God came to us through _________________________________________.

Include:

☐ Jesus as the eternal Son
☐ truly divine and truly human
☐ Creator entering creation
☐ Jesus as more than a spiritual teacher

Write your explanation.

21. Movement Four: Cross

Complete the statement:

Jesus died _________________________________________________.

Include:

☐ Christ died for our sins
☐ forgiveness
☐ reconciliation
☐ justice and mercy
☐ Christ’s completed work

Write your explanation.

22. Movement Five: Resurrection and the Holy Spirit

Complete the statements:

Jesus rose _________________________________________________.

The Holy Spirit _____________________________________________.

Include:

☐ bodily resurrection
☐ defeat of death
☐ regeneration
☐ sanctification
☐ transformation through grace
☐ Christlike fruit rather than spiritual rank

Write your explanation.

23. Movement Six: New Creation

Complete the statement:

Christian hope is _____________________________________________.

Include:

☐ bodily resurrection
☐ judgment of evil
☐ renewed creation
☐ life with God
☐ restored community
☐ final defeat of death

Write your explanation.

Part Eight: One-Minute Gospel Explanation

24. Draft Your One-Minute Explanation

Use approximately six to eight sentences.

Include:

• Creator

• embodied image-bearing

• sin

• incarnation

• cross

• bodily resurrection

• grace

• new creation

25. Review Your Explanation

Check each statement that is true of your presentation.

☐ It begins with God rather than human potential.
☐ It identifies humanity as created rather than divine.
☐ It explains sin without humiliating the listener.
☐ It presents Jesus as the incarnate Son of God.
☐ It includes Christ’s death for sin.
☐ It includes bodily resurrection.
☐ It explains salvation as a gift of grace.
☐ It includes transformation through the Holy Spirit.
☐ It includes resurrection and new creation.
☐ It avoids attacking Scientology.
☐ It avoids unexplained religious jargon.
☐ It does not demand an immediate response.

What needs improvement?

Part Nine: Gospel Comparison

26. Spiritual Advancement and Salvation by Grace

Complete the comparison.

27. Avoiding False Comparisons

Identify whether each statement is faithful or unfaithful.

“Christianity has better spiritual technology.”

☐ faithful
☐ unfaithful

Explain:

“Christians receive salvation through Christ’s completed work.”

☐ faithful
☐ unfaithful

Explain:

“Prayer guarantees a predictable spiritual outcome when performed correctly.”

☐ faithful
☐ unfaithful

Explain:

“The Holy Spirit is a divine person, not an impersonal spiritual force.”

☐ faithful
☐ unfaithful

Explain:

“Christian maturity means becoming independent of God.”

☐ faithful
☐ unfaithful

Explain:

Part Ten: Responding to Common Statements

28. “I Already Believe in Jesus.”

Write two clarifying questions.

Write a respectful Christian response.

29. “Jesus Was a Great Spiritual Teacher.”

What can you affirm?

What must you clarify?

Write a permission question.

30. “People Must Take Responsibility for Their Own Salvation.”

How does Christianity affirm responsibility?

Why can responsibility not produce salvation?

Write a grace-centered response.

31. “I Do Not Want to Be Pressured.”

Write an appropriate response.

What behaviors would violate this assurance?

32. “What Is True for You May Not Be True for Me.”

Write one question exploring truth and reality.

Write a Christian explanation that does not claim religious neutrality.

33. “Why Is the Body So Important?”

Write a response including creation, incarnation, and resurrection.

Part Eleven: Invitation Without Coercion

34. Select an Appropriate Invitation

☐ Read the Gospel of John together.
☐ Read the Gospel of Mark together.
☐ Attend a public church service.
☐ Join a low-pressure Bible discussion.
☐ Meet again for further questions.
☐ Receive prayer with permission.
☐ Speak with a pastor or trained Christian leader.
☐ Visit a Christian community meal or fellowship gathering.
☐ Take time to consider without further contact pressure.

Which invitation fits the current relationship?

Why?

35. Write the Invitation

36. Protect the Person’s Freedom

Complete the sentence:

“You are free to ______________________________________________.”

Examples may include:

• disagree

• ask questions

• decline prayer

• end the conversation

• postpone a decision

• refuse another meeting

Part Twelve: Conversion Costs and Care

37. Possible Consequences of Religious Change

Has the person expressed concern about any of the following?

☐ marriage
☐ family relationships
☐ friendships
☐ employment
☐ housing
☐ finances
☐ religious community
☐ personal identity
☐ emotional stability
☐ privacy
☐ safety
☐ legal concerns
☐ other: ______________________________________

Which concerns require patient pastoral care?

Which concerns may require professional assistance?

38. Avoiding Reckless Advice

Would any of the following be inappropriate?

☐ demanding immediate public disaffiliation
☐ telling the person to ignore family consequences
☐ promising that following Christ will be easy
☐ offering private housing without accountability
☐ giving legal advice without qualifications
☐ diagnosing trauma or mental illness
☐ pressuring the person to give public testimony
☐ helping the person connect with accountable Christian support

Which response is appropriate?

39. Christian Community Plan

How could a church, Soul Center, or Christian ministry offer healthy belonging?

☐ worship
☐ Scripture study
☐ Christian friendship
☐ practical support
☐ prayer with permission
☐ confidential pastoral care
☐ family support
☐ professional referral
☐ discipleship
☐ baptism preparation
☐ service opportunities
☐ patient integration into community

Write one realistic community step.

Part Thirteen: Ministry Boundaries

40. Role Review

What is your ministry role?

What are you qualified to do?

What are you not qualified to do?

41. Referral Review

Referral may be needed for:

☐ immediate physical danger
☐ suicidal thoughts or self-harm risk
☐ domestic violence
☐ abuse
☐ severe emotional distress
☐ medical concerns
☐ legal questions
☐ housing crisis
☐ employment concerns
☐ financial crisis
☐ trauma treatment
☐ substance-use treatment
☐ other: ______________________________________

Who are the appropriate qualified professionals or leaders?

42. Confidentiality and Privacy

What information may be shared with a ministry supervisor?

What information should remain private?

When might confidentiality need to be limited because of safety or legal responsibilities?

Do not promise absolute secrecy.

43. Testimony Protection

Complete the commitments:

☐ I will not share the person’s story without informed permission.
☐ I will not use the person as promotional content.
☐ I will not pressure the person to become a public critic.
☐ I will not treat conversion as a ministry trophy.
☐ I will not substitute personal testimony for responsible research.
☐ I will allow the person to control when and how personal experiences are shared.

Part Fourteen: Conversation Practice

44. Practice Scenario

A person says:

“I respect Jesus and think he showed us how to reach a higher spiritual condition. I do not understand why Christians say I need to be saved.”

Write your response using the following pattern.

Ask

Listen and Reflect

Clarify

Disclose Your Christian Standpoint

Request Permission

Compare

Proclaim the Gospel

Invite

Entrust the Outcome to the Holy Spirit

Part Fifteen: Post-Conversation Review

45. What Happened?

What subjects were discussed?

What did the person communicate about beliefs or experiences?

What questions remain unanswered?

46. Evaluate Your Conduct

Check each statement that applies.

☐ I listened carefully.
☐ I represented the person accurately.
☐ I disclosed my Christian commitment.
☐ I asked permission before giving a detailed comparison.
☐ I explained Jesus clearly.
☐ I explained salvation by grace.
☐ I included the cross.
☐ I included bodily resurrection.
☐ I protected freedom of conscience.
☐ I avoided unnecessary confidential questions.
☐ I avoided pressure for an immediate decision.
☐ I offered an appropriate invitation.
☐ I recognized possible conversion costs.
☐ I remained within my ministry role.
☐ I trusted the Holy Spirit with the outcome.

What did you do well?

What should you change in a future conversation?

47. Accountability

Should you consult a pastor, ministry supervisor, or qualified professional?

☐ no
☐ yes
☐ uncertain

Reason:

What information can be shared without violating privacy?

48. Prayerful Reflection

What are you asking God to do?

What outcome are you tempted to control?

How can you entrust this person to the Holy Spirit?

Final Gospel Conversation Plan

Person and Relationship

Central Human Longing

Important Shared Word

Clarifying Question

Christian Standpoint Statement

Permission Question

Central Gospel Truth

One-Minute Gospel Explanation

Appropriate Invitation

Privacy or Safety Concern

Accountability Plan

Prayer

Ministry Covenant

Read and sign the following commitment:

I will treat every person as an embodied image-bearer created by God. I will listen before answering, describe beliefs accurately, disclose my Christian commitment, and ask permission before presenting an extended comparison. I will proclaim Jesus Christ clearly without ridicule, deception, hidden motives, or coercion. I will protect freedom of conscience, privacy, and appropriate ministry boundaries. I will not diagnose, deprogram, manipulate, or pressure someone into immediate religious change. I will offer Christian community and qualified referral when needed. I will share faithfully and trust the Holy Spirit with the outcome.

Name: _________________________________________________

Date: __________________________________________________

Ministry or Church: ______________________________________

Supervisor or Accountability Leader: ________________________