DAY 12 - 31 Days of Evangelism Tips and Training

Before we get started, please let me apologize...the formatting on this page looks bad, but for whatever reason, Blogger will not let me correct it. I have tried numerous ways to no avail (and have spent a lot of time). Sorry about that my friends, but regardless, may God guide you as you learn to be more effective for Him! 

Spiritual Conversation Starters 

Before anything else……PRAY! Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in all matters of the heart. The person you are witnessing to must be drawn and convicted by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, not your words or intellect. (John 6:44; Romans 10:13-17)

In witnessing, start off talking about normal, everyday things like the weather, vacation, kids and grandkids, spouses, work, etc. then swing into the spiritual. You must be truly interested in the person and make a connection. Let them know that you care about their life. Be sincere!

The list below (you do not have to use all of them) will give you some idea of what kind of questions you could ask to start them thinking about spiritual matters. Just let the conversation flow naturally and never force yourself or the gospel on anyone. And you must never use a condescending tone or you will have lost them before you even get started (remember the condition of your own heart when you first came to Christ).

Conversation Starters

"'Do you understand what you are reading?' Philip asked." -- Acts 8:30

(Many of the following questions can be asked of the person who already claims to know Christ, but there seems to be no evidence of a conversion, as well as a non-believer. Let the Holy Spirit guide you.)

General Issues

1.   What gives most meaning to your life?

2. What, or who, are your sources of strength in your day-to-day living?

3.  When you have problems or crises, how do you manage to get through them?

4.  Do you give much thought to God and spiritual things? 

5.  Is religion or God important to you?

• In what ways? 
• If not, is there any particular reason why not? 

6.  Tell me about your most memorable spiritual experience.

Relationship Questions

1.   Does God (or a Higher Power) seem personal to you?

2.  Do you feel close to or far away from God?

3.  What do you imagine that God is like?

4.  Can you point to things that God has done for you?

5.  How is God working in your life right now?

6.  How do you think a person begins a personal relationship with God?

7.   What do you think is a person's greatest spiritual need?

8.  Are you comfortable with what you understand to be God's guidelines and laws for living?

9.  Do you feel there are barriers of some type separating you from God?

10. Have you ever been mad or upset with God?

11. Have you ever done something for which you feel God could not forgive you?

12. Do you understand the way to forgiveness and what it means?

13. Do you think God has a plan for each person's life?

14. What would it take for you to live up to what God expects of you?

Devotional Life and Practice

1.   What kinds of religious material do you like to read?

2.  What are your favorite authors, writings?

3.  Do you like religious music? Kinds? Favorites?

4.  Have you read much of the Bible?

5.  Do you understand the Bible when you read it?

6.  Does Bible reading help in living? How?

7.   Is prayer a meaningful part of your devotional life?

8.  Do you feel there is any spiritual growth going on right now in your life?

9.  When did you feel closest to God?

• What factors or influences brought you nearer to God?
• What would renew that sense of closeness?

10. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being closest to God), where do you see yourself in relationship with God?

• What factors or influences brought you nearer to God?
• Where do you want to be?
• How do you see yourself moving closer to God?

·      11. How can I encourage you to get to where you would like to be?

The Church

1. Tell me about your church background; did you go to church as a child? 

• How do you feel about your upbringing and your awareness of spiritual things?
• How would you describe your life with God now? 

2.  Are you involved in a church right now?

3.  What do you get out of being involved in a church?

4.  Which teachings of your church resonate the most with you?

5.  Do you personally know anyone who is the pastor of a church?

6.  Are you a member of an accountability or nurturing group in your church?

Religion and Illness, Dying and Death

1. Has being ill made any difference in your thinking or feeling about God or your religious faith?

2.  How has being ill affected your devotional life?

3.  When you are ill, do you ever have feelings that God is punishing you or that it is His will for you to be sick?

4.  How do you feel about suffering?

5.  Do you trust God with your future?

Additional Witnessing Resources & Links

- Never underestimate the power of your own testimony.

- Ask questions that tie into former conversations.

- Listen closely. Be sensitive.

- Proceed as long as your friend shows interest. Sometimes, you will have to walk away. Not everyone to whom you witness will be receptive to the gospel. It is not your job to save them, it is God’s. Your responsibility is to “go and tell”.

- Affirm any amount of truth or insight offered.

- Witnessing scenarios (Browse Living Waters / The Way of the Master YouTube channel to view witnessing scenarios using The Way of the Master method)  

- NeedGod.com (After asking some of these questions and when you have the person engaged in spiritual matters, now is a good time to move past the person’s intellect and onto matters of the heart. NeedGod.com shows you how to do that.)    

 

Source: Adapted from Lyle Pointer’s brochure "Spiritual Conversation Starters".