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STARTING A GOSPEL CONVERSATION
STARTING A GOSPEL CONVERSATION
Often the hardest part of sharing the gospel is making a start. How do you introduce Jesus into your conversation and keep the discussion going? In this part we explore how to turn a conversation to the gospel. In our podcast, Sam Chan demonstrates how to deepen a conversation by asking the other person about their beliefs, and how to extend it by showing interest, actively listening and asking follow-up questions. Becky Pippert demonstrates how she asks about their lives, work and interests and then goes deeper to explore their beliefs and values. Once the conversation is focused on values, she turns it to God and the gospel. Active listening is critical to sharing the gospel. People are more likely to show interest in your beliefs and values when you understand theirs. Below, you will find resources to help you sharpen your listening skills, as well as some interesting conversation starters. In Digging Deeper Dave Jensen outlines a structure for a gospel conversation.
There is no one way to start a gospel conversation and people have different stumbling blocks to believing. That’s why it’s so important to get to know them personally so that you can address the issues most important to them. Remember, God asks you to be faithful in sharing your faith; his Holy Spirit takes care of changing people’s hearts.
Podcast duration: 15:24Publisher: Church By the Bridge (used with permission) and The Good Book Company (used with permission)Accessed: 5/6/19
STARTING A GOSPEL CONVERSATION
STARTING A GOSPEL CONVERSATION
Starting a Gospel Conversation
Starting a Gospel Conversation
In this video, Sam Chan teaches how to build relationships. Skills like asking open questions and active listening are important to develop a conversation about faith. The steps he gives to sharing the gospel are:
Listening to their story - encouraging them to speak
Sharing your story and how God has worked in your life - your testimony
Sharing and discussing gospel stories
We will look at steps 2 and 3 over the following two parts of this module.
Duration: 7:43Speaker: Sam ChanPublisher: Church by the BridgeDate accessed: 17/5/2019
Turning a Conversation Toward Jesus
Turning a Conversation Toward Jesus
In this video Becky Pippert gives practical advice on how to turn a conversation towards Christ. Her steps are:
Ask questions to find out about the person's passions and interests
Be sincere
Ask thought-provoking questions that relate to their areas of interest and reveal their fundamental beliefs and values
You will find an article by Becky Pippert in Digging Deeper that describes her approach.
Duration: 4:29Speaker: Becky PippertPublisher: The Gospel Coalition USDate accessed: 17/5/2019
SKILLS FOR DEVELOPING THE CONVERSATION
SKILLS FOR DEVELOPING THE CONVERSATION
Being a Good Listener
Being a Good Listener
This short video shows how being a good listener builds rapport and pleasure. It identifies four skills:
Encouraging people to elaborate or dig deeper by being curious and asking relevant questions
Urging clarification
Not moralising - showing sympathy and acceptance.
Separating disagreement from criticism
Duration: 4:57Publisher: The School of LifeAccessed: 17/5/2019
In the post-Christian, post-modern age in which we live, the methods of evangelism have to change in order to keep the mission alive. Carey Nieuwhof identifies five shifts in how we evangelise that are critical for reaching post-moderns.
Estimated read time: 5:20Author: Carey NieuwhofPublisher: CareyNieuwhof.comAccessed: 17/5/2015
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE BIBLE
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE BIBLE
Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Romans 10:14–15 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
GROUP OR PERSONAL REFLECTION
GROUP OR PERSONAL REFLECTION
Using the Steps Towards Faith diagram from part two (Evangelism Foundations), think about some of your friends and develop some questions that you could ask them to start a conversation.
Active listening is critical to engaging others. Evaluate your capability to actively listen. What skills are you confident using? What areas of active listening do you need to develop? How might you do this?
Try starting a conversation sometime this week and discuss it with your discipleship group or evangelism group using the Coach Yourself to Confident Evangelism guide provided in the previous part of this module (Evangelism Foundations).
PRAYER
PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
I want to tell my friends, family and others about how they can have a relationship with you. I know that it is difficult for me to do this in my own strength. Please help me to step out in faith, trusting in the strength of the Holy Spirit and start a conversation this week about Jesus. Lord I am asking you to be with me during this conversation. Help me to find the right words and build a good relationship with the person.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
DIGGING DEEPER
DIGGING DEEPER
The Evangelistic Conversation
The Evangelistic Conversation
Dave Jensen provides concise, practical steps to effective evangelism. In summary:
Prepare a strategy
Nudge the conversation to spiritual questions / values / faith
Ask a question directly related to the gospel
Listen
Ask permission to share the gospel
Ask a question to engage in discussion about the gospel
Explain sin and repentance
Ask if they would like to pray
Give them something gospel-related to read
Estimated read time: 6:40Author: Dave JensenPublisher: GoThereFor.comAccessed: 17/5/2019
Four Steps to Turning Conversations to Christ
Four Steps to Turning Conversations to Christ
Becky Pippert shows how to shift a general conversation to a deeper conversation using a hierarchy of questions. These are:
General interest questions
Specific interest questions
Issue questions
God questions.
Estimated read time: 4:20Author: Becky PippertPublisher: The Good Book CompanyAccessed: 27/5/2019
20 Evangelism Questions To Start a Conversation
20 Evangelism Questions To Start a Conversation
Here are 20 approaches to start a conversation about God, faith and the gospel.
Estimated read time: 2:20Author: Campus CrusadePublisher: Evangelism CoachAccessed 17/5/2019
How to Have an Evangelistic Conversation
How to Have an Evangelistic Conversation
This article provides some helpful hints and thought-provoking questions to start a conversation. The author includes a description of what you might include about the Gospel.
Estimated read time: 3:40Author: Bob RobinsonPublisher: PatheosAccessed 17/5/2019
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