Someone asked a question: “Anyone have any recommendations on good conversation starters with an unbeliever?”
Here’s my answer:
Nothing flashy or shiny but my weekly evangelism these days consists of going up to someone and saying “Hi, I’m ________. I’m a Christian who want to share about Jesus. From your own background, thoughts and what you heard or understand, what do you understand the message of Jesus Christ is about?”
Why do I ask that?
- I ask that because I feel so many people even those who profess to be Christians don’t even know what the Gospel from the Bible is about.
- I ask that question because it goes to the heart of hearing them what they say and then if they have a wrong understanding of God and the Gospel I preach to them the Gospel.
- I don’t want to ask them if they believe first but want to be able to share the Gospel and correct their wrong view of the God without necessarily start off with apologetics which sometimes can detract from sharing the Gospel (note I’m not against doing apologetics obviously!). It is only when there’s a right understanding of the Gospel can we appeal to people to believe it and trust in Christ!
- Also you be surprised sometimes how people actually start thinking about what is the Christian message. Sometimes there’s a pause as they are thinking and as I’m waiting I slip in, “the reason why I want to talk to you is because I believe you are made in the image of God and your life matters…” just to communicate my intent in asking the questions. I think it is very powerful if we really love God and really love sinners and compassionately and passionately say those word with full conviction in the Gospel from the Word of God that stops people and actually talk about the Gospel.
Thanks for this good example. I usually fumble around for a good intro to the Gospel.
👍🏻
You’re welcome! I’m prone to fumbling around myself with the start of evangelism so I probably overspent time thinking about the opening question not because my question is super profound but simply because I was burdened to overcome my fears and also want to ask something that open someone up to a conversation where I can share the Gospel. I think my disposition before I got saved was a shy introvert. I suppose God often gives us a lot of weaknesses so we can grow and also think through how do we do something so that hopefully we can be helpful to others and even teach them. Isn’t it interesting how God works?
Yes, I’m definitely on the introverted side. I used to fret about it, but we are all “wired” differently. And I’m able to do things that extroverts would not have the patience for. Still, the Lord requires us to “always be prepared to give an answer.”
With evolutionist comments from people I simply say, “which is a better ethic for life: ‘survival of the fittest’ or ‘love your neighbour’?” Always seems to get people thinking!
Good idea!
What do people usually say as a response?
Not very much, it gets them thinking. Of course we all want our neighbours to be motivated by love, not selfish ‘survival of the fittest’ so I think people are just forced to consider which is a better worldview.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for the reblog!
Yankee Whiskey Bravo 😎
👍🏻
Excellent. Great insight. Thanks.
This is wonderful, Slim.
I know this elderly man who is quite funny, he simply asks, “do you know the Lord?” Then he doesn’t even wait for an answer, he just starts telling how the Lord has been so good to Him and what a blessing it has been to have Him in His life. Then he says,”do you know that God loves you?” What makes me laugh is he asks so many questions, but he never waits for an answer. Sometimes he’ll actually answer for you, “Yes, God loves you.” I think you have to be older and somewhat charming to get away with such things.
LOL praise the Lord that He has wired some evangelists’ personality that can share the Gospel in that way. I can picture such an individual not only getting away with it but the genuine love of God and genuine love of people actually being used by God to stop people in their tracks since they need to hear what is that person needs to say. Thanks for sharing that sister!
Very helpful post, Jim. I’m printing this out for my future reference.
I’m encouraged to hear that. May the Lord bless you being a light and witness to those around you.
Reblogged this on BibleProphecyWatch.
Thanks for the reblog! How is your day going so far?
Your welcome brother my day is going good thank you for asking how is your day going?
Day is going well, just did a special homeschool lesson with my daughters on September 11th; about to do my prep work to teach Bible study for tonight. Any songs you are listening to at the moment on youtube right now? I’m trying to play some worship songs as background music during my studies lol.
That’s good what did you teach about September 11th. I’m not listening to music right now but you could play Sovereign Grace Music if you to it’s up to you.
Slim I second the recommendation to listen to Sovereign Grace music. Bibleguy317 is right.
Amen I like the music.
Time to remind people of this faithful steward from Sydney. This is one of my all time favorite heroes of the faith..
The author of the article kept running into people all over the world who all had been saved because they walked past a little store in Sydney. The same strange little man asked each of them a question about salvation and handed them a tract. The majority never even spoke with him but simply kept walking. Later they read his tract and were saved as a result.
https://archive.org/details/FrankJenner-IGotOffAtGeorgeStreet-commonlySpeltMr.Genor-Just
The ripple effect of sharing the gospel. One never knows what greatness God can do with with the little we offer. Some of these converts in turn became powerful proclaimers of the good news.
1. Just start talking about a current news item in which somebody did something we all would consider a bad thing to do. Just pick something that’s a hot topic. Once you start talking about it and are agreed that so-and-so did a bad thing, ask…..
2. Why did so-and-so do that? That WILL get an answer. The answer will guide you to the next question. Whatever the answer is it will be what your conversation partner thinks motivated so-and-so to do a bad thing. Whatever the specific answer is, it will automatically lead to the next question. Example might be: “I think he/she must be a bad person.” then ask:
3. WHY/HOW is it that so-and-so is bad? You can get a variety of reasons to lead you to the NEXT question.
The object of the questions is to be able to get to a point of agreement that the real problem is something ‘inside’ so-and-so. Outside influences don’t cause bad behavior. There’s something inside a person that is at issue. In James we are told that we sin when we are drawn away by our own lust/passions. Keep that in the back of your mind.
Once you agree about an internal problem ask:
4. What do you think the internal problem is?,. You can even add ….’and how did you think it got there?’ Regardless of the answer you can inject God into the discussion with something that doesn’t accuse, but rather points out that there’s a book called the Bible that talks about this guy called Adam. You are sharing a story from a ‘source’ document, not preaching. And it keeps going.
Once you agree it very well could be this thing called sin (the bad news of the gospel) you ask another question:
5. What do you think can be done to solve the problem of sin? You know the answer and prayerfully anticipate the opportunity to provide another answer from the same ‘source’ book.
And the conversation continues step by step until you have shared God’s answer from the ‘source’ book. At some point it might be time to consider a response to the message. Then you can say something like “Based on what you have heard so far, do you think you are ready to respond (the gospel must be responded to), or ARE you still on the way?” You very could hear that someone is ready to respond, or you could hear a person say, “I’m still on the way, I guess………”, which keeps the door to conversation open.
Get the general picture? You don’t preach, you PRESENT Christ. You don’t push for anything, you just talk about God’s plan of salvation from a ‘source’ book. Asking questions shows you care what someone thinks. And really care. If you don’t weep for that lost soul, pray to God for ‘a weep’. He will give it to you.
I hope I didn’t say too much. 🙂
You said so much good stuff I wonder if you want to expand on it and allow me to feature this as a guest post for my blog when I’m gone on missions again this November?
I can certainly do that. Might even be a couple, I think.
Thank you, getting started is always the hard bit! I usually give people a leaflet that describes people as lost and that says they will definitely meet God, then I ask them whether they think they will get a welcome!
I’m due to speak on the subject of personal evangelism next week, and if its ok with you I would like to use what you’ve written. I hope that’s ok.
Press on
Thanks for sharing what you do; feel free to use this! If you have any recording of your teaching on personal evangelism I would love to listen to it!
This is good, Jim. I usually try to make conversations more about the other person than me.
Sometimes if you just start in with the Gospel, it puts people on the defense. Also, surprising is how many people out there really don’t understand the Gospel at all. They are receptive to it, just haven’t ever heard it.
This part of your comment is very true: “surprising is how many people out there really don’t understand the Gospel at all. They are receptive to it, just haven’t ever heard it.” When I evangelize I regularly face opposition but still I’m often surprised at how routine it is that some people just haven’t heard the Gospel and they still would give a listening ear to the Gospel. It is of course by the grace of God…as much as I love apologetics, I love to just simply hear people out and then share them the Gospel!
Thank you! I will be sharing with our group.
I value this brother Jim
Thank you
Shalom
Wow I’m touched to hear this. I just prayed for your group of evangelists. That’s very encouraging to hear people are witnessing
I am so grateful the Lord has opened this door for us. All for Jesus!
Good post and very good discussions in the comment box with helpful tips!
you have a good proposal by just being direct and have the enthusiasm.
Thank you; and thank you for your many comments and points you shared!
alot of quality material ^_^_
I’m shy and an introvert so its not easy but your post at least helps me to think about asking questions as starters for witnessing.
Hey, how’s it going?
I want to pass along some very important news that everyone needs to hear!
In December of 2017, Donald Trump made history by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Why is this big news? Because by this the Jewish people of Israel are now able to press forward in bringing about the Third Temple prophesied in the Bible.
Jewish Rabbis have publicly announced that their Messiah will be revealed in the coming years who will be a leader and spiritual guide to all nations, gathering all religions under the worship of one God.
Biblical prophecy tells us that this Jewish Messiah who will take the stage will be the antichrist “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). For a time he will bring about a false peace, but “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (Matthew 24:15)…then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).
More importantly, the power that runs the world wants to put a RFID microchip in our body making us total slaves to them. This chip matches perfectly with the Mark of the Beast in the Bible, more specifically in Revelation 13:16-18:
“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”
Referring to the last days, this could only be speaking of a cashless society, which we have yet to see, but are heading towards. Otherwise, we could still buy or sell without the mark amongst others if physical money was still currency. This Mark couldn’t be spiritual because the word references two different physical locations. If it was spiritual it would just say in the forehead. RFID microchip implant technology will be the future of a one world cashless society containing digital currency. It will be implanted in the right-hand or the forehead, and we cannot buy or sell without it. Revelation 13:11-18 tells us that a false prophet will arise on the world scene doing miracles before men, deceiving them to receive this Mark. Do not be deceived! We must grow strong in Jesus. AT ALL COSTS, DO NOT TAKE IT!
“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11).
People have been saying the end is coming for many years, but we needed two key things. One, the Third Temple, and two, the technology for a cashless society to fulfill the prophecy of the Mark of the Beast.
If you haven’t already, it is time to seek God with all your heart. Jesus loves you more than you could imagine. He wants to have a relationship with you and redeem you from your sins. Turn to Him and repent while there is still hope! This is forever…God bless!
“EITHER HUMAN INTELLIGENCE ULTIMATELY OWES ITS ORIGIN TO MINDLESS MATTER OR THERE IS A CREATOR…” – JOHN LENNOX
We all know God exists. Why? Because without Him, we couldn’t prove anything at all. Do we live our lives as if we cannot know anything? No. So why is God necessary? In order to know anything for certain, you would have to know everything, or have revelation from somebody who does. Who is capable of knowing everything? God. So to know anything, you would have to be God, or know God.
A worldview without God cannot account for the uniformity and intelligibility of nature. And why is it that we can even reason that God is the best explanation for this if there is no God? We are given reason to know or reject God, but never to know that He does not exist.
It has been calculated by Roger Penrose that the odds of the initial conditions for the big bang to produce the universe that we see to be a number so big, that we could put a zero on every particle in the universe, and even that would not be enough to use every zero. What are the odds that God created the universe? Odds are no such thing. Who of you would gamble your life on one coin flip?
Is there evidence that the Bible is the truth? Yes. Did you know that the creation accounts listed in the book of Genesis are not only all correct, but are also in the correct chronological order? That the Bible doesn’t say the Earth was formed in six 24-hour days but rather six long but finite periods of time? That the Bible makes 10 times more creation claims than all major “holy” books combined with no contradictions, while these other books have errors in them? The Bible stood alone by concurring with the big bang saying, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1); and says our universe is expanding, thousands of years before scientists discovered these things. Watch a potential life-changing video on the website listed below with Astronomer(PhD) Hugh Ross explaining all these facts based on published scientific data. He has authored many books, backed even by atheist scientists.
Jesus came to pay a debt that we could not; to be our legal justifier to reconcile us back to a Holy God; only if we are willing to receive Him: “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).
God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten son, so that whoever believes in Him, through faith, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus says if we wish to enter into life to keep the commands! The two greatest commands are to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind; and your neighbor as yourself. All the law hang on these commands. We must be born of and lead by the Holy Spirit, to be called children of God, to inherit the kingdom. If we are willing to humble ourselves in prayer to Jesus, to confess and forsake our sins, He is willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who keep asking of Him; giving us a new heart, leading us into all truth!
Jesus came to free us from the bondage of sin. The everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels due to disobedience to God’s law. If we do the same, what makes us any different than the devil? Jesus says unless we repent, we shall perish. For sin is the transgression of the law. We must walk in the Spirit so we may not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, being hatred, fornication, drunkenness and the like. Whoever practices such things will not inherit the kingdom (Galatians 5:16-26). If we sin, we may come before Jesus to ask for forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2). Evil thoughts are not sins, but rather temptations. It is not until these thoughts conceive and give birth by our own desires that they become sin (James 1:12-15). When we sin, we become in the likeness of the devil’s image, for he who sins is of the devil (1 John 3:8); but if we obey Jesus, in the image of God. For without holiness, we shall not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
The oldest religion in the world is holiness through faith (James 1:27). What religion did Adam and Eve follow before the fall? Jesus, Who became the last Adam, what religion does He follow? Is He not holy? He never told us to follow the rituals and traditions of man but to take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23). There are many false doctrines being taught leading people astray. This is why we need the Holy Spirit for discernment. Unlike religion, holiness cannot be created. It is given to us from above by the baptism of the Spirit. Jesus is more than a religion; He is about having a personal relationship with the Father. Start by reading the Gospel of Matthew, to hear the words of God, to know His character and commandments. Follow and obey Jesus, for He is the way, the truth, and the life!
Heyy mine would be a sophisticated version of “by what standard?” Y’all wanna normalize everything goofy rather than something with a point to it 🙄 “nOrMaLiZe pOp TArTs 4 diNnEr”