Gospel Conversations
Sharing Your Faith with Gospel Conversations
In today's fast-paced world, sharing your faith with others can be a challenging endeavor. Many of us struggle to find the right words or opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations about our beliefs. Some times we converse with others as if our beliefs or their own don't really matter in life. But what if there was a way to make these conversations more natural, more impactful, and less intimidating? That's where the discovery and mosaic approaches come in to aid in gospel conversations.
Discovery Approach: Moving from Casual to Gospel
Imagine your faith conversations as a journey, much like the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, a person of peace, at the well. It begins casually, just like any other conversation. Gradually, it evolves into something meaningful, then spiritual, and finally, it culminates in a discussion about the gospel. This is the essence of the discovery approach. Instead of diving headfirst into theological discussions or rehearsed presentations, think about how Jesus engaged people. He often used short, relatable stories—parable-like conversations—that connected with everyday life. He asked questions, fostering an atmosphere of discovery rather than delivering sermons.
Mosaic Approach: Multiple Ways to Paint the Gospel Picture
Now, consider the Mosaic Approach. Just as a mosaic is a beautiful picture created from various pieces, this approach involves sharing the gospel in multiple ways. Jesus didn't present the entire gospel all at once; he highlighted different aspects at different times. Sometimes, it was about the cross, other times about redemption, forgiveness, the kingdom, or obedience. It's like a puzzle where every piece contributes to the whole picture.
In your conversations, remember that people may already be familiar with the idea that "Jesus died for your sins." What can intrigue them further are the aspects of the kingdom of God [the breaking in of the new age over fallen humanity, allowing us an alternative way of experiencing life to the full in King Jesus]. Jesus spoke about it in various ways, using metaphors like a house, a gate, or a vineyard. Your goal is to relate the gospel to the topics people already discuss in your context—whether it's worry, debt, politics, relationships, or pop culture.
How to Apply These Approaches
To effectively apply these approaches, consider these key strategies:
1. Know Your Context: Understand the top five topics people in your circle often discuss. Tailor your conversations to relate the gospel to these subjects.
2. Ask Discovery Questions: Instead of telling, ask questions that encourage people to think about how the gospel applies to their lives. Invite them to discover the answers themselves. What does this say about God? What does this say about people [ourselves]? How could we put this into practice?
3. Seek Advice: Don't hesitate to seek advice from those you're conversing with, even if they aren't believers. People enjoy giving advice, and this opens doors for meaningful discussions.
4. Follow Up: After planting seeds of conversation, follow up with the person. Show that you were listening, and this will deepen your relationship and the conversation.
5. Transition to Bible Stories: As trust and curiosity grow, you can transition to discussing Bible stories and their relevance to life today.
6. Invite to Further Study: When the time is right, invite them to explore the Bible more deeply through discovery Bible studies.
Remember, your agenda should be authentic to your faith, not controlling others. Focus on being genuine, listening, and nurturing meaningful conversations. As you continue to share your faith using the discovery and mosaic approaches, you'll likely find that these conversations become more natural, impactful, and spiritually enriching—for both you and those you engage with.
"When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” - John 4:7
Conversation script using the discovery and mosaic approaches:
You: Hey, how's everything going with you?
Friend: Not bad, just dealing with some financial stress.
You: I can understand that. You know, it reminds me of a story from the Bible. There's this part where Jesus was with his friends on a boat, and they were terrified because of a storm. But then, He stood up and calmed the storm. It got me thinking, do you ever feel like you need something to calm the storms in your life?
Friend: Yeah, sometimes I wish I had something like that.
You: That's interesting. I believe that story teaches us something about finding peace even in tough times. What do you think it might mean for us today?
Friend: Well, maybe it's about finding inner peace when everything around us feels chaotic.
You: That's a great insight. It's amazing how these stories from the Bible can relate to our lives. It's like pieces of a larger puzzle, each one showing us something important.
Friend: Yeah, it's like there's more to it than what we see at first.
You: Exactly! And you know, I find these conversations about faith really fascinating. Do you ever wonder about other aspects of faith or spirituality?