Conversing
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
Colossians 4:5-6
This reminds us that when we have opportunities to interact with outsiders our communication must be gracious and edifying. It should add a kind of “flavor” or enhancement to what is being said.
We should habitually care about and connect with outsiders because it is in keeping with the Great Commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.” However, our desire should also include conversing with outsiders about spiritual things whenever the Holy Spirit gives us the opportunity to do so.
Gospel Conversations begin with, and are sustained with great questions. Here are a few more for your consideration as you connect and converse with people.
Personal Questions:
– Do you like where your life is right now?
– What’s it going to take for you to get your life to a place where you do like it?
The Complete Book of Questions is one big compilation of questions—1001 of them you can use to launch great conversations in almost any context. And many of these questions are likely to trigger other questions you may also wish to discuss. Think of this book as a tool to spark interaction—and to know and understand others, and yourself, better. There are many ways to put this book to use, as there are questions within it! So be creative. Experiment with these 1001 questions in different contexts—and be sure to make the most of the conversations that ensue!
Questions in a Box by Spreadtruth is an amazing new Website and App. With the radical decline of personal conversation in our society, Questions in a Box aims to bridge the gap of that lack of personal interaction by giving you fun and natural conversation starters that you can use with anyone. Simply select your category, swipe the screen, and get the conversation started today!
Please click here to get started: questionsinabox.com
Three Circles. Life change. It all begins with a conversation. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most profound reality of life. But sharing it with someone can be as simple as three circles. Discover how you can share the gospel with anyone using the Life Conversation Guide, a companion resource to the new Life On Mission book.
SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION CARDS
Spiritual Conversation Cards. These cards are two-sided, business card-sized tools intended to help you with starting conversations and connecting with people. Just mouse over any or all of these designs and use them as you feel led.
EVANGELISTIC GROUPS
Christianity Explored is a series of short videos designed to be presented in less formal settings. The sessions are: Good News, Identity, Sin, The Cross, Resurrection, Grace, Come and Die. On their website Christianity is summed up in the answers to three questions: Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus come? What does it mean for us? The video presenter provides an apologetic for the Christian faith. He acknowledges what the doubts and misunderstandings of a non-believer might be, and then he presents a clear case for Christ as the answer. The facilitator of the group does not need to present more information, rather, the goal of the facilitator is to invite discussion and questions from the group.
Explore God is a video series answering the 7 Big Questions: Does Life Have a Purpose? Is There a God? Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering? Is Christianity Too Narrow in Our Culture? Is Jesus Really God? Is the Bible Reliable? Can I Know God Personally? The goal is to create a respectful environment that encourages questions and healthy conversations. Because of the importance of a safe and neutral environment, it is highly recommended this take place in homes. The facilitator’s role is to invite questions, create conversation, promote self-discovery, and encourage spiritual growth. For each of the big questions, the video will show the answers of typical people on the street. Their answers run the gamut from thought-provoking to pretty strange. That is the point, to address the reality that most people do not have good answers for the basic questions of life. The video will then provide the transparent answers from Christian leaders.
Q Place – Small groups aren’t just for Christians! Q Place small groups are led by Christians who would love to see people around them encounter Jesus. In these groups, people can explore their spiritual questions, make discoveries, and come to know God as revealed in the Bible. Q Place equips Christians to start these small groups for people they care about where they live, work, and play.
To see a clear example of how Q-Place works, click on the Q-Place logo (left) and then click on the “How Q-Place Works” tab. On that page, you can view a really good, and brief overview called “Coffee and Questions.”
Finally, you can click here for an incredible small-group study called “Mark Discover Jesus.” We highly recommend it.
SpreadTruth has developed Life as We Know It, a guide for small groups of people to hear about The Story of God and hear from one another about each person’s life story.
There is a 6 minute overview video of Creation, The Fall, The Rescue, and The Restoration. The purpose is to create caring groups that dig in deeper to hear from one another.
Connecting with others creates opportunities to the share the one Story that has the power to change anyone’s story. The building blocks are: Share our life stories, Listen to the life stories of others, Share God’s Story of Rescue and Redemption.