As men who are growing into passionate disciples of Jesus, we ultimately will develop such an enthusiasm for Christ that we will need to have an outlet to share him with others. This is the process we have been discussing these past few weeks. As God’s Spirit opens opportunities for us, there are some practical hints that will be helpful to keep in mind. Some of these are reminders of things we have already discussed.
The most important point to remember is that we need to make our faith, and therefore, the discussion of the importance of our faith with others, a priority. We will never turn a conversation to spiritual discussions if we are not intentional in our desire to do so. Which leads to the other side of the conversation, those who don’t yet have a relationship with Jesus need to be a priority in our life. NOTE: I did not say project. We are not “going after” people to put a spiritual notch in our belt, but we need to learn to love people with the same love God has for them.
As we shared before, this passion will lead us to pray consistently for pre-believers. It will also drive us to build purposeful relationships with them where we will earn the right to jump into their spiritual journey.
God may call us to be risk takers. Having spiritual conversations can cause anxiety, even with those with whom we are closest. This is because the consequences are so important. We can’t let this fear keep us from moving forward. Some of this can be quelled by learning to ask good questions and then applying good listening skills. Knowing the life situations of people is a huge help in leading them to the solution of Jesus. But we must listen carefully if we are to understand what people are experiencing. Then boldly truth God to empower our conversations.
Another important point is that our spiritual conversations are to be informational and not confrontational or argumentative. People may not accept your answer of Jesus right away. They may be dealing with things that keep them from jumping on board. When disagreement comes, we don’t need to agree with their arguments, however, we must make sure they know they are heard. If you don’t have an immediate answer for their disagreement, assure them that you care and you will take the time to find an answer and get back to them. Again, this process may take time and several encounters before God is able to use you to break down their barriers. Be patient and let our Lord do His work in their lives.
One of the most important tools you have for breaking down the defenses of people who reject the Gospel is your own story. People can deny the Bible. They can deny points of theology. But they cannot deny the transformation in your life because of your relationship with Jesus. Take time to put the story of your salvation experience in a presentable format. Write it down so you are sure you include all that you want to share. Incorporate details of how you recognized that your sin separated you from God and discovered that Jesus could solve that problem. You don’t need a lot of Bible verses here or theological truth, just be genuine. Be yourself. Assure that you discuss the difference in your life since you allowed Jesus to make you a new creation. It’s okay to include some of the questions and struggles you’ve experienced in the process. Allow them to ask questions. Then be open to God’s Spirit leading you to the next steps.