Starting Conversations About Jesus
Believers must know how to start conversations about Jesus with their neighbors, coworkers, relatives, and acquaintances effortlessly. Doing so while avoiding protracted arguments and debates, and leaving the door open for future conversations if the person doesn’t immediately come to Christ.
There are two extremes often forwarded in evangelism. One is that all we need to do is quote scripture and nothing else. The other is that a believer needs to be well-trained in apologetics (the study of explaining the reasons we believe) before presenting the gospel. Both views are extreme. Truly every believer can evangelize by quoting scriptures on the gospel of Christ. The word of God is powerful (Hebrews 4:12). The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). However, the believer should learn to incorporate their testimony, life experiences, current events, felt needs of others, and apologetic arguments to persuade humankind of the truth of the gospel. The Bible tells us that the one who wins souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30).
Sometimes believers can be so caught up in ‘preaching’ the gospel, and defending the faith, that we lose sight of having normal conversations about Jesus with those around us. Some Christians can hold natural conversations with unbelievers about sports, news, weather, family, work, etc., but resort to a ‘preachy’ tone when conversations on religion arise. In wisdom, we should be able to present Jesus to the unbeliever in our everyday interaction without becoming ‘preachy’. To be clear, this is not to lessen the value of preaching. Preaching is essential. And, every believer is called to preach the gospel. We need more believers to be preaching more often. However, conversations around Jesus with those around us and interacting with us in our everyday lives should be a common occurrence in the believers’ life. Some are comfortable preaching, but uncomfortable with holding a conversation about Jesus without becoming argumentative or combative in our approach.
Jesus was a master at presenting the truth in the everyday lives of people. In the gospel of John, we can gain insight into presenting Jesus in our everyday conversations. The gospel of John is uniquely filled with conversations between Jesus and others.
A Ready Life
To start conversations about Jesus comfortably and effectively, the believer must be one who lives out the gospel in his life, and can truly share a testimony of how Jesus has changed them, and how he continues to work in their life. They must have a life of readiness. As stated in1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: The believer who wants to begin effortless conversations about Jesus must allow Christ to reign as Lord in their own heart and lives so that their defense of Him will be without hypocrisy. We give an answer of our faith with gentleness towards men and fear towards God. Gentleness with our approach with men, but in fear of God ensuring that we speak the truth of the gospel.
The Neighbor Principle
The other is that we can have these conversations effectively when we apply the neighbor principle. A neighbor is anyone that needs to be shewed mercy - that is all men. Once we have an attitude of mercy and not of arrogance, we can more naturally speak to others out of a true heart.
Luke 10:33-37 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Now, here are the strategies that you can use to start conversations about Jesus.
Answer to a Need. (John 1:41)
John 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
The Jews were looking for the coming of the Messiah to save them from being under the rule of a foreign government; at the time of Christ, the Roman Empire. The Messiah was the answer to the fallen state of the Jewish nation. Just as how Andrew presented Jesus to Simon Peter as the answer they were looking for, we can begin conversations about Jesus as the answer to the problems of men.
Start a Conversation about Jesus as the answer to a longing need either for the problems of the world or personal problems of the person. People may be concerned about the behavior of young people, increasing violence in society, or just concerned about their family and their own well-being. You can begin by offering to pray for them and sharing how Jesus has helped you in similar situations.
Testify of Jesus Meeting Needs in Your Life. You can speak about how you found the answer to a similar need that you had. Give a testimony of how God worked in your life in a related issue.
Present Christ as the Life-Changer. For those concerned about things happening in the world, you can share about how you pray about those things, and that only a change of heart can really transform people in society. Then, point to Jesus, He alone promises to give us a brand new life, to be born again.
Meet a Need First. You can meet the need through prayer for the person directly about it, or by doing something immediately. Then introduce Christ (John 5:14 - Man by the Pool of Bethesda)
Prophetic Fulfillment (John 1:45)
John 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Philip presented Jesus to Nathaniel as the one who fulfills the prophecies of scripture as the coming Messiah. We can start conversations about Jesus by using the prophecies of scripture and showing how they are being fulfilled in our time.
Fulfillment of Scriptural Prophecies.
Use discussions on current events on news as an entry point to speak on a related Biblical Prophecy. The scriptures prophesy many things that are happening in the world today and in the behavior of people, such as,
Wars and Rumors of Wars (Matthew 24:6-8)
Disobedience to Parents (2 Timothy 3:1-3)
Ungratefulness
Prophetic Revelation at your church.or a prophecy from your church.
God may speak through someone or reveal something of events that will happen. When they come to pass, point out that the event was prophesied (John 1:45).
Relate it back to Jesus (John 1:46).
Relate all the prophecies back to Jesus as the source of the prophetic utterance and the person who they need to have in your life.
Disarm their Doubts with an Honest Compliment (John 1:47-50)
John 1:47-48 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me?...
While presenting Jesus to others you know, they may have their doubts about Christ or with Christianity as Nathanaël did with Jesus. Jesus gave Nathanaël a compliment about the sincerity of his Jewish faith. The compliment opened the door to Nathanael’s heart. A well-placed appropriate compliment can disarm those around us from becoming argumentative, and present us with an opportunity to share the truth of the gospel. Follow up the compliment with the truth about Jesus.
Jesus’ statement to Nathanaël piques his interest.
Examples: That’s an interesting question / You seem to be a caring person / You seem to honestly want to know about God. You really care for your family, or you are really concerned about the troubles going on on in the world. You seem to hate lies and deception. You have very good reasoning skills. You are an intelligent person.
Biblical Example: Jesus to the woman of Samaria - “thou has well said” (John 4:17). Jesus told her that she spoke directly that she had no husband and then followed up with the adulterous state of her life.
Follow Up With a Truth
Start a conversation with an acquaintance today about Jesus. Try to meet a need that they have perhaps through prayer or helping them, and then use it as an opportunity to talk about Jesus. Remember it is ok to compliment an unbeliever about a positive trait that they have; this can create a door to share with them more truths of the gospel. Become aware of how Biblical prophecy is being fulfilled in the current events of our time, and use it to begin a conversation about Jesus Christ.
In the next episode, we will go into more strategies that we can use to start conversations about Jesus.
Click here to read part 2 of Starting Conversations About Jesus.
