I do not have the gift of evangelism, though I do share the gospel. Once a person decides the evangescript is not the best way to approach evangelism in their community the question then becomes, “How can I take a natural conversation about common things and connect it to the gospel without it coming off like an abrupt topic change?”
Any time we take the initiative to share the gospel with someone there is always a leap that has to be made to the gospel. Sometimes the leap is short and easy. Suppose you’re discussing the difference between Catholics and Protestants — getting to the gospel is easy. Sometimes the leap is long - very long, like when you try to move from your favorite Starbucks drink (Grande Americano) to the cross of Christ. The longer the jump, the more unnatural the transition, and the more awkward the conversation. So the key is having natural conversations that transition more smoothly to the gospel (smaller leaps).
To state it simply, the better you understand the gospel the easier the transitions become. If you are trying to share the gospel you will still sometimes make huge leaps that do not work. Sometimes the conversation will only connect to the Christian faith in part, without getting directly to the gospel. Sometimes it will all come together the way you imagine. The more you know the gospel (its essence and effects) and the more you practice this discipline the easier making comfortable transitions to the gospel will become. I have been asked a few times what this would look like practically, so here are 8 examples of topics that make for shorter leaps to the gospel or Christian faith.
8 topics that can naturally connect to the Christian faith.
1. Corruption, evil and sin.
Conversations about corruption and evil are pretty common in my experience. Murderer’s go unpunished, children are exploited, racism continues on in more polite forms, mayors are busted smoking crack, etc. These conversations can naturally connect to the biblical issues of justice, judgment, forgiveness and redemption.
Transitions examples: “Even when the unrighteous escape justice in the courts, God says he will not let sin go unpunished…”
“My personal desire for vengeance is often quited by God’s assurance of justice…”
“In the end, I find that though I am guilty of different sins, I am just as guilty as…”
2. Community.
This is a great conversation to have in the suburbs. Everyone wants it, but many are at a loss how to build it. Zoning laws have essentially destroyed the development of real, workable, walkable, communities. Conversations about community naturally lend themselves to the reality that we are made for community, that God himself dwells in eternal community (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), and that a central component of God’s saving work is the establishment of a community, a family, made up of every tribe, tongue and nation.
Transition example: “Part of why I am so passionate about the development of authentic community is because of how the Bible portrays the need for it. We are created by God to live in real community…”
3. Politics.
In “my suburbia” it’s 49% Republican and 51% Democrat. We’re split down the middle, and yet I often hear and have political discussions with practical strangers. Political discussions are a great opportunity to relate the second greatest commandment (love for neighbor) to the management of power.
Transition example: “I regret that Christians are often seen as a voting block of the Republican party. The truth is, the command to love God and our neighbors points to a way that is not entirely in line with any political party…”
4. Environment.
People around my neighborhood are much more likely to talk about the environment now than 10 years ago. This too is an easy topic to connect to the Christian faith. God as creator and the cultural mandate in Genesis can make the leap shorter.
Transition example: “Our dependence on automobiles, especially in the suburbs, is a concern of mine not only because it only perpetuates the breakdown of localism, but also because of the negative effect it has on the environment, and ultimately because I believe God has given us a wonderful gift (creation) as well as us the responsibility to care for it…”
5. War.
At the moment there is a lot of discussion about the War in Iraq, the war on terror, and the potential conflict with other countries. Just-war theory, pacifism and warmongering are topics that all connect with the issues of justice, judgment, sin and the hope we have for true peace. The topic of war can allow for a truly unique voice to be heard when we speak with both conviction and humility.
“War is a terrible thing, but if we are going to seek to the good of others and protect the innocent, sometimes war is an unfortunate necessity. That doesn’t make the issue easy. In fact it makes it more difficult. And my concern for justice is rooted in God’s love of it…
6. Family.
We have a lot of families here in Saint Charles, IL. On many levels family, children and marriage are valued, and yet many seem to be looking for answers concerning the very nature of what it means to be a dad, mom, husband and wife. Directing people to move beyond mere cultural expectations of these roles to see the biblical perspective can be a provocative and challenging dialog, but it’s a conversation many are willing to have. It is a shared interest between our church and culture, so this point of connection can serve as an opportunity to move right into the Christian faith - and even the gospel itself as we emphasize grace-based parenting that aims at the heart, not just behavior.
7. Church.
We live in a very Catholic area so having conversations about church is not uncommon or unnatural. Anytime I find out someone goes to church we have a great discussion about their faith, the differences between Roman Catholicism and Evangelicalism, the words of Christ vs church/religion in general. Obviously, once this conversation is underway there is virtually no leap to make.
8. Art/pop-culture
Everyone watches television, goes to the movies and listens to music. Many of the forms of art in pop-culture provide excellent entry points to get to the greater themes that the gospel addresses. This is often an easy connecting point that gets to the issues of sin, justice, forgiveness, redemption, etc.
Transition example: “…the protagonist’s search for redemption is reflective of humanity’s serach. The fact that he doesn’t find it is the common frustration of man…”
Evangelism is hard work for me, and while I enjoy it I have to be very intentional about it - or it does not happen. But I am finding that our natural conversations in suburbia can transition to the gospel without coming off like a sales pitch.
I would love to hear your stories of evangelism, conversation starters, transitions, advice, and thoughts on the subject.
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Recently I noticed that a significant theme in my personal testimony of God’s grace is prayer — beginning with the Hannah-like example of my mother praying for my family at 5am each morning, and including some significant answers to prayer in my life. Of course this would also include a prayer of surrender to God’s will for my life, and to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.
So for me personally, a not-so-scary question might be the request, “Can I tell you some experiences with prayer in my life?”
Maybe others could think through, or write out, their testimony and see if a certain not-so-scary-to-outsiders theme emerges such as prayer, faith, forgiveness.
Good post!
Ken
I am in a very Catholic and Jewish area of Cleveland, and I have found that people are more than willing to talk about religion. At work recently I was talking to a Catholic women who asked me out of the blue what order the 10 commandments were in. I laughed and told her I didn’t know them in order and would have to look them up. She thought it was funny that a guy who is a pastor wouldn’t know the 10 commandments in order. I was then able to launch into how the 10 commandments, while important, weren’t the most important thing. I even asked her which of the 10 she hadn’t broken, and told her of Jesus’ interpretation of “Don’t murder.”
Her response was well that is interesting, I don’t know what I think of that. I said we could talk more about it later, and went back to work. A simple 5 minute conversation hopefully planted a seed that “being good and keeping the 10 commandments” would be good enough. Those sorts of things happen all the time even in a cold hard place like Cleveland.
Micah,
I’m finding it hard to believe you’re a pastor in a very Catholic and Jewish area and you can’t list the ten commandments. Here’s a few good reasons why I think you should work at it:
1) They’ll help drive you to Jesus more. Spurgeon said part of his devotional practice was to occasionally go through the ten commandments and confess how he’d broken each of them.
2) Sanctification. Though they flower more fully in the NT, you can be helped in your growth by praying through them and asking God to help you grow in each of those areas.
3) Discipling others. For years protestants have used the 10 commandments in catechisms such as Westminster, Heidelberg and Spurgeons catechisms - how are you discipling your children and people from your church if you aren’t ever teaching them the ten commandments?
4) Evangelism - particularly in a Jewish and Catholic area, the ten commandments are one way you can point people to their need of a saviour, just like you did with the murder command.
Maybe putting a bit more effort into studying God’s ten commandments could bear some fruit even in cold, hard Cleveland. Do you agree?
If I read correctly, Micah said he DOES know the 10 commandments; he’s just not sharp on the order. But thanks for the encouragement to know them and for pointing to the fruit of knowing & sharing them. Good advice for me.
Thanks for the comments guys!
Ken, that sounds a bit too much like a monologue to me for my context - but I may simply not understand how it works well for you. So please feel free to share more!
Micah and Kevin, yes I think the Big 10 are incredibly valuable (even critically so) for one’s spiritual life and evangelism, and we should be very familiar with the commandments. Thomas Watson’s treatment is one of my favorites. You can find a copy online for free, but I would encourage you to pick up a copy in book form.
Micah, a discussion on what commandments we have or have not broken can be a fruitful discussion. That’s great.
Chris - hope you’re feeling better brother!
Ken, that sounds a bit too much like a monologue to me for my context -
Same here. A lot of these sound like they’re not too far removed from the classic “Did you hear about that mess on the freeway?”/”Have You Considered Where You Will Spend Eternity?!?!?!?” response.
I think there is a place for very different approaches, but what I encourage is a more natural dialog. If someone is going to feel uncomfortable, I would rather it be over the gospel, and not a “pitch.”
I certainly don’t have the gift of evangelism either, but rather I do it (not as much as I should) out of obedience. One thing I would add to your thoughts is the importance of having a context that you impose on yourself for hanging out with unbelievers. Just showing up is 80% of the battle. When I lived in Nashville as a struggling musician, I had to wait tables to help pay the bills. During that time I did more evangelism than I ever have in my whole life, simply because I was with unbelievers all day long and built real relationships with them.
Since I work in a church now, I don’t get a chance to hang out with unbelievers on a regular basis, thus my wife and I attempt to be intentional with our neighbors. How about playing with the kids in the front yard instead of the backyard that is closed off with fences? How about inviting someone over for dinner at least once a month? How about having open house parties around Christmas and the 4th of July just to build relationships? These are just some simple ideas that we have thought about as a family to see evangelism happen in our lives.
Another thing that I do personally is attend a local jazz jam session on Tuesday nights here in Albuquerque. I have written a bit about this here: http://takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com/2007/06/what-my-piano-practicing-has-to-do-with.html
Joe,
I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and concern for people, it is evident. Here are some additional thoughts: be far more interested in what they think, than trying to communicate what you think. Questions about their ideas are far more compelling oftentimes than trying to wedge in the Gospel. Getting at the philosophical foundations of their world-view by questioning and discussion, then showing the bankruptcy of them (this takes serious gentleness) is the beginning of “tearing down strongholds” that set themselves against Christ.
Have a conversation, and not an agenda. Know your theology deeply; but read tons of literature and philosophical stuff if you really want to communicate intelligently.
If you are a mature Christian, and not a social retard, you should do fine. One of the problems I see with many Christians is that they get a drive for evangelism, but they have no people skills whatsoever. These are, in my mind, those parts of the Body that need to be kept under wraps for a while, maybe forever.
Be interested in the other guy, and really love them. They will know it from the start if this is really there or not.
Think in the long-term about the person you are talking with, not simply fire-hosing them. Will this conversation lead to the waters of baptism, or just a check in your Evangelism Box? Love needs to be the driving force.
Cheers Joe.
Great post Joe.
As a pastor I love to talk work. Work is so central for life and people are pretty open to talking about it. This is especially true for men, who find work to be a point of identity. But for a pastor, as I ask guys about their jobs, they typically, eventually, ask about mine.
Just a couple of weeks ago I was at Elijah’s Little League game and saw another kid’s dad, who we have gotten to know by first name but not much else. He was reading something and I asked if it was for work. He said no, but it did get us on the issue of his job. We talked about about 10 minutes about his job and then he asked about mine. I told him I’m a pastor and he was just floored. We had gotten to know him and his wife and kids enough to be friendly and know we like each other. But when he learned I’m a pastor I think it was a shock since I’m not the stereotypical pastor-type. He then asked what church, how I got into pastoring, etc and I was able to actually explain my entire testimony. Pretty amazing.
Now, for non-ministry folks work will take a bigger bridge, a little more thought. Mine links with my testimony and it won’t for most Christians. But I know from experience that how you work, your attitude about work, your attitude toward your boss(es) are often helpful connections to bringing up the gospel. I’ve had that experience too.
Zach,
You mentioned that you don’t believe you have the gift of evangelism, but rather do it out of obedience. Doesn’t it have to be more than that? Doesn’t it have to be more than simply, “God said to go out in to the world and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” and so I do it?
What I’m thinking specifically about here is not approaching evangelism (why is it that this word comes off as so repulsive to our generation?) as something that God said to do it, so I do; but rather having it birthed out of the fact that because God came in to this world and extended his grace to me - a sinner - I too will share that grace with others. Not because I have to, but because I get to.
Basically, I want to challenge any of us how think/say that we do evangelism because God said so. Our motivation for evangelism should be born out of an innate desire to be a vessel of God’s holy work as he works out his grace in the lives of others.
All the while (and as I type this), realizing that our motives are never 100% pure when it comes to these sort of things….
Thoughts?
Re: the “monologue” critique — I’ll receive that! Maybe it is. In my imagination I envisioned a dialogue that, at that point, might turn to an opportunity to share the gospel with a bit more fullness. At some point we need to present someone with the gospel following a healthy dialogue, correct?
Nevertheless, I receive the critique because more than anything I need to relearn true love and truly helpful evangelism.
Internet Monk used the term “’selling vacuum cleaners’ approach” (good line, and often a product of what IMonk calls “Wretched Urgency”). I do know that I’m reluctant to even approach other Christians because of the fear of being tackled and subjected to the high-pressure sales pitch.
I endured enough of that in my college days, during The Gospel According to Hal Lindsay; I was not surprised to hear (much later) that Campus Crusade’s founder started out in sales & marketing. (In retrospect, Campus Crusade was full of bait-and-switch and memorized sales pitches; plus a concept called “Multiplying Ministry” which resembled MLM to the point I’ve heard it described (again, much later) as “Amway without the soap”.)
Steve,
I’m interested… what is the “stereotypical” pastor? Is it a look? An attitude? And what is it that makes you different?
Thanks,
Matt
Matt, I’m on vacation but saw your comment and thought I’d quickly respond.
I know that Joe gets similar responses as I do, that when people know me before they know I’m a pastor they are really surprised when they find out. There are probably some different reasons, but it seems they are mostly concerning age, sense of humor, clothing/hair/glasses/etc, understanding of cultural things (art, tv, movies, books, music, etc), non-judgmentalistic approach to freedoms, etc. I have memories of all of those things coming up in different ways with different people.
Also, I’m freaking hot. Like, super-duper attractive. Pastors are usually very ugly and homely. Joe was like that before I helped him with a makeover.
Quick note - The interview posted @ http://nppn.org/InnerView045.htm presents an interesting transition, not in methodology but in framing the gospel message.
Phil
P.S. Thanks Neil for pointing me here…
This is a great post. I like these 8 topics.
One of the best ones that I find is people who no longer like who they have become. The gospel presents the great promise of transformation and to have a larger purpose in life — serving in the Kingdom of God.
I have found lots of conversations like this in my life. People talk about their yearings for something greater — and that yields towards spiritual discussions towards faith.
BTW, I enjoyed what the internet monk had to say about your post.
Chris W
EvangelismCoach.org
Thanks for your article.
A great help in getting conversations about the Gospel has been the launchquestions that are provided by XEE (the renewed version of Evangelism Explosion: http://www.eeinternational.org).
In the past we used the wellknown Diagnostic Questions as a bridge into the Gospel: Are you sure you will be with God in heaven one day when you die? and “What will you answer if God asked you why He should let you into His heaven?” Questions that dealt with the end of life.
XEE (E.E for GenX-ers) have provided in new and very effective Launch questions, that deal with the life that unbelievers live right now:
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how fulfilling would you say your life is right now?
2. What would take it from your x to a 10?
3. If God were your life, would that move it in either direction?
We have tried it out many times already here on the streets of Europe, at these questions prove to be very useful.
Alex van Nes, Genk, Belgium
I live in the Bible belt and near a large university. I frequently run into international students–used to teach ESL–and one of the things I do is encourage them to visit churches because religion is so much a part of our culture here in the South. This nearly always leads to great questions from them–am I a Christian, what do I do at church, why are there so many…
And it occurs to me that this could be a conversation starter with just about anyone who is new to this area.
I was just reading about the 10 commandment comments here and how much importance is placed on them by “religious leaning people”. Take a highlighter and go through the New Testament - Jesus’ commandments and the quantity of them will knock your socks off. I guarantee you there are a lot more than 10.
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