HOW TO START A SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION

HOW TO START A SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION

ON-TRACT.COM

HELPING YOU TO SHARE JESUS WITHOUT A CONFRONTATION

For me, the hardest part of sharing the gospel is transitioning from a normal conversation to a spiritual one.

I use the following six questions to determine if a person is open to talking about spiritual things.

William Fay’s Share Jesus Without Fear was very helpful in developing these questions.

1. May I ask you a personal question?

2. On a scale from 1 to 10, how interested are you in spiritual things?

3. Do you think there is a heaven and a hell? (use think, not believe)

4. If you were to die today, where would you go? (most say heaven)

5. What do you think God requires to get into heaven? (They will usually say good works)

6. If good works won’t get you into heaven, would you want to know what would?

If they say “Yes”, you can talk with them right away. If they don’t have time you can schedule an appointment or give them a tract, like Smiles. (www.tracts.com/LKSmiles.pdf)

No matter what their answer to question five is (e.g. reincarnation, I don’t believe in heaven, I think we turn into dust) just substitute their answer for “good works” in question six and continue.

The goal in asking the six questions is to determine if they are open to hearing the gospel.

No matter what their answers are to the first five questions, don’t start talking with them about spiritual things until you have asked all six questions.

Listen to their answers without comment. You only learn when you are listening, not when you are talking.

On the rare occasion that someone says “No” to question 6, your conversation is complete.

Thank them for answering your questions. You have avoided a confrontation and they are still open for the next person that God leads to them.

The six questions only take a minute to ask. I have enjoyed asking these questions to my waiters and waitresses when it seems they aren’t too busy. I have had some great conversations as a result.