What’s the first thought, feeling, or reaction that comes to you when it comes to the possibility of confronting somebody with the gospel? I think many of us would quickly feel intimidated! If someone wants to ask how to have eternal life or the way to heaven, we might be eager to answer… but to approach someone to tell them of their need for salvation? It can be quite unsettling!
But what if we thought differently about evangelism and our approach? How can we find fresh courage as well as an enthusiasm for gospel opportunities? This is an important consideration as we approach Laurel Main Street Festival, and in our regular daily lives! I would like to suggest to you the importance of “gospel conversations,” and the ease with which we can integrate them into our daily dialogue with friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and even strangers!
Despite the label, gospel conversations can be much less direct and confrontational. They are less of a sales approach and more relational in nature. They start with getting to know a person, and move toward an eternally valuable subject without neglecting a personal connection. We can be intentional without being abrupt! In the course of dialogue, there may be a natural segue to a spiritual subject.
The best transitions involve either asking a question or expressing your personal benefit from God’s help in some way.
Asking a Question
There are so many ways to transition through a question. Questions are great because they allow you to steer the conversation without dominating it. You get to employ the important tool of listening, and people want to be heard. Many people feel run over by Christians who try to interject their viewpoint without hearing from others. We have eternal truth (John 17:17) that we need to share (Ephesians 4:15) and they need to hear (John 8:32), but to share effectively we must first listen, as Proverbs 18:13 says: He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.
So, ask questions! “What do you think about ________?” “Do you think you could ever undo that?” “How do you feel about ________?” “Why do you think ________?” “Where do you turn for help?” Or so many more, depending on the flow of your conversation!
Expressing Your Personal Benefit
Don’t forget the power of testimony! We are called to be witnesses (Acts 1:8) – not declaring vague concepts, but sharing its power in our lives, as we have experienced it. The woman at the well didn’t go preach a sermon, she told her experience in coming to know Jesus (John 4:29), and others believed because of her testimony (John 4:39).
You might share your own failures, and how you found hope in Jesus. You might share something you have learned just recently in the Bible and how it has helped you to overcome struggles. People don’t want to hear how to become religious, they want to know that the Bible and God matter in real life. Do they matter in yours?
Provoke Thought!
Don’t pressure yourself to change a person’s entire worldview in a 1 to 5-minute conversation. Perhaps God will give the increase during the course of your discussion. Our hope is to persuade, but it often happens in long-term processes! If you can leave a person with a question that stirs them, or a testimony that leaves them thirsty, that is victory! We are called to faithfully engage people with truth, and God will use that in a powerful way! What provoked your further thinking when you became a Christian? How might you stir someone’s thoughts in a manner that challenges them to dig deeper?
Pray!
Pray for our efforts at Laurel Main Street Festival this weekend, and join us in making gospel conversations in the community! Keep investing yourself in the Lord’s church, the Lord’s ministry, and pray for our growth and impact among Laurel and the surrounding area!