So you’ve met up with someone you want to share the gospel with. What now? How do you go from talking about the weather to talking about Jesus?
There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for how to transition into a gospel conversation. Jonah spoke five Hebrew words to the Ninevites, and the entire city repented (Jonah 3). Other people may follow Jesus after hours of conversations over several years. You will need to discern with the Holy Spirit what to do in each situation.
Still, there are some best practices to help you start a gospel conversation.
Pray Before Sharing the Gospel
Remember, it is God who saves someone from eternal condemnation. No matter how great your gospel presentation is, your words alone have no power to save someone.
Therefore, it is important to pray before presenting the gospel. Whether you pray before you start your conversation or pray silently to yourself as you’re talking, your prayer acknowledges that you need the Lord to help you in this task.
Ask God to soften the person’s heart to the gospel. You can also ask for Him to make the transition into a gospel presentation easier. You never know what God might prompt someone to say that will make introducing the gospel a piece of cake.
Ask Good Questions
Asking people questions about themselves shows you have a genuine interest in them and helps them relax. And it’s a great way to listen for tidbits that can help transition into a gospel conversation.
Ask about their lives, their families, or even their opinions on a topic. Getting their opinion on a topic loosely related to spiritual matters is a great way to lead the conversation to Jesus. Even if you’ve known the person for years, find out things you don’t already know about the person. What were they like before you met them? Is there anything you would be surprised to learn about them?
As you ask questions, listen intently to the responses. When you’re ready, you can ask one or both of these questions to introduce the gospel:
“Do you have a faith?”
Another way to ask this question is, “What do you believe about God?” All people believe in something, and their response serves as a litmus test. If they have faith in Christ, you get to enjoy their testimony. If they don’t, you can guide your follow-up questions based on where they stand on matters of faith. You can then ask the person if you can share what you believe.
“May I tell you my story?”
People love talking about themselves, but most people like to hear someone else’s story, too. When someone concedes to listen to your story, this is an easy way to talk about how God has miraculously worked in your life.
Again, there’s no one right way to start a gospel conversation. But these tips can help you transition your conversation with someone easily. Once you start talking about spiritual matters, you’re ready to share the gospel.
And if the person you’re talking to is resistant to a conversation about spiritual matters, don’t be discouraged. Pray for that person as you leave the conversation, asking God to soften their heart to one day receive the gospel.
Evangelism Tips
Do you want to learn more tools and tips for sharing the gospel with others? Check out East-West’s blog on evangelism so you can shine God’s light among all nations.
