Ready2Go: Your Weekly Motivation for Gospel Conversations: Recent Episodes
Jon Christenson
We're faced with an opportunity to share the Gospel almost every day, but oftentimes we don't know where to start or how to begin. Don't let that be you. This short podcast is designed to weekly encourage, inspire, and equip Christians to share their faith. Get READY 2 GO!
It's not uncommon to hear a ring at the doorbell with someone wanting to sell something. They may want us to receive some service or thing, but we want them to receive Christ? How do we turn these into witnessing opportunities?
Additional Resources
- Ep 3 - Gospel
- Ep 5 - SHARE Process
- Ep 16 - Leading someone to Christ
Check Other Helpful Podcasts
Ep 5 - SHARE Process
Ep 8 - MyStory Tract
Ep 15 - Minute to Witness
In this episode, Pastor Dave Gibson unpacks the parable of the sower and our call to sow the seed broadly.
Go21 during the month of May is passed. We saw God do incredible things (Ep 32), but now, what is next? In this episode, Jon interviews Dave Gibson with what he sees on the horizon in missions and evangelism in the coming years.
The month of May was a month of global outreach. Many answered the call to share their faith with the lost. In a world that is being torn apart in so many ways, today's episode highlights how God is still on the throne and still moving.
After years of training people how to share their faith, Greg Stier and his team developed the "Life In Six Words" app to help Christians talk about Jesus. In this episode, Greg teaches how to use this simple tool to share the greatest news in the world.
Greg Stier teaches how to naturally and winsomely share your faith using a three-step strategy that has worked for thousands of people around the world.
Greg Stier shares how God began to burden his heart for the lost and tips on how to keep non-believers and their need for Christ in the forefront of our minds.
Greg Stier, founder of Dare2Share Ministries, shares his story of how Christ reached his family through the most unlikely person, a true testimony to how God can use anyone.
Key Questions:
- Does it concern you the Jehovah's Witnesses' beliefs are so different from most churches?
- How did you come to the conclusion that this JW teaching is the truth?
- Why do you think Jesus claimed the personal name of Jehovah (I am) in John 8:58?
Key Verses:
- Deity of Christ: Colossians 1:5, Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3; John 8:58
- Apologetic (Jesus and Father are one): Isaiah 44:6 -> Revelations 1:8 -> Revelations 21:5-7, 22:13 -> Revelations 1:17-18
Key Beliefs:
- Jesus is not God but a created being as the "son of God."
- They believe in an afterlife where we will all become gods.
- Salvation is said to be through Christ but is actually through works.
Key Questions:
- What do you believe about Jesus, and why?
- How are you doing in your Mormon walk?
- Why do you think so many Christians believe Mormons fall outside biblical Christianity?
Key Verses:
- Isaiah 43, 44, 45
- John 8:58
- Ephesians 2:8-9
Key Questions:
- How sure are you that there is no God?
- How did you come to that conclusion?
- If you were to believe in God, what kind of evidence would you be looking for? (Be prepared to talk about evidence for the resurrection of Jesus and other similar things.)
Key Arguments:
- Designer Argument
- First Cause Argument
- Moral Argument
Key Facts:
- Muslims are often extremely open to talk about spiritual things. Make sure you listen well to them also.
- They believe Jesus was a prophet and not God.
- They believe Jesus did not die on the cross.
Key Questions:
- Does the Quran tell you the absolute standard you need to meet to get to heaven?
- When did you decide to become a Muslim (probably not a decision they made)?
- Jesus and Islam both claim to be the only path to God, how should a person decide which is right?
Suggested Resources:
- Dare2Share - https://www.dare2share.org/worldviews/muslims
- Ron Carlson - Fast Facts on False Teachings
- For the ten commandment technique, see Episode 23: Those Who Don't See Their Need for a Savior.
Why do you think you will be let into heaven? Well, I’m a pretty good person. What do we do when someone doesn’t see their sin and thus any need for the Savior? How can we answer the “I’m good enough” comment in a way that lovingly points them to their need and the answer in Christ?
Identify the problem
- Were they abused?
- Do they simply have a problem with truth like sin and hell?
- Do they see all Christians as hypocrites?
Ministering Spirit
Shower them in love
Demonstrate care all the more
Probing Question:
Have you studied all the religions?
Logic Test
If a Christian claims that Jesus is God and a Jew claims that Jesus is not God, they can't both be right.
Two-Buckets Illustration:
All world religions on the left, and Christianity on the right. What is the difference? Works Righteousness.
How do you answer . . . [3 Big Questions]
- How we got here? (Origin)
- What's your purpose? (Meaning)
- What happens after death? (Destiny)
Validity of the Bible Through Prophecy
- Location of the Messiah's birth (Micah 5:2)
- The miracle of the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14)
- The sufferings of Jesus (Isaiah 53)
Suggested Preparation
- Go out in twos (Luke 10:1). One will be praying as the other is sharing.
- Head to a place where people loiter (park, mall, etc.). This is the target audience, as people don’t like getting interrupted if they are trying to accomplish a task.
- Check your own hearts (Psalm 51:10-13). We want to be pure and holy before asking the Holy Spirit to use us to lead people to Him.
- Be prayed up before you head out. We are plundering souls from Satan’s kingdom, and he does not like it. And, God is the only one who can save them (2 Cor 4:6).
- Know and practice sharing the Gospel with trusted friends. It also may be helpful to know some basic apologetics, particularly answering the question, “Why you believe what you believe?”
Getting People to Stop:
Ask a simple question, something like “Excuse me, may I ask you a question?”
Getting Their Permission:
Ask the individual(s) if they’d be interested in taking a short questionnaire concerning spiritual things.
Ex. “Hi my name is _______ and this is _______. We are from a local church, and we are out in the community trying to determine people’s religious preferences around the area of the Church and perhaps dialogue about faith. We have a brief four-point questionnaire. Would you be willing to take a minute or two and assist us?"
Get to Know Something About Them Personally (shows that you care):
--where are you from? --what do you do for a living? --(for students) what are you studying?
Asking these questions will help you determine what they believe (for groups address each person individually):
-
Would you classify yourself as spiritual, religious, atheist, or agnostic?
-
To you, who is Jesus Christ?
-
Do you believe in an afterlife? (If yes) Can you describe it?
4. (If heaven/hell) How does a person get to heaven?
(If unsure or hoping there’s a heaven or an afterlife) If you could know for sure without having to wonder would you want to know?
(If anything else [ex. Atheist]) How do you know that’s true?
Possible Diagnostic Question instead of Q4: If you died today and stood before God, and he asked, “Why should I let you into heaven?”, what would you say?
Concluding the questionnaire: If they are opened and engaged, feel free to continue the conversation. (Many of these conversations will go for 20-30 minutes.) Do you mind if I ask a follow-up question to what you just said? This isn’t part of the survey, so we are officially done, but If you don’t mind, I wanted to ask . . .
You will meet many different people when evangelizing, some open and some not. One category would be those who are receptive to the message and you may sense that they could be ready to surrender to Christ. In these cases, after sharing the Gospel, it may be appropriate to ask, "Is there anything keeping you from giving your life to Christ right now?" You may get the privilege of introducing them to Jesus.
More frequently, people are not quite ready to trust Christ. For those still wrestling, a 21-day challenge in the Gospel of John can be helpful. "Can I leave you a 21-day challenge? It is to read one chapter in the Gospel of John for 21 days. There are 21 chapters, one for each day, and ask, 'Jesus, if you really are who you say you are, would you reveal yourself to me?' If nothing happens, no harm done; you just learn a little more about the Bible, but if Jesus does show you who He is, it will change your life forever and your eternity." Note: that it is good to have a Gospel of John on you to give them, or you can show them on your phone.
Finally, you will encounter those who are closed off. They will often answer the questionnaire, but not want to continue talking. That is fine. We don’t kick down doors the Holy Spirit has left closed. Regardless of when the conversation comes to a close, be sure tothank them for their time, and let them know you really appreciate them sharing.
Above All Remember
- We are simply called to be faithful. That means sharing the Gospel with dependence on the Holy Spirit. God is the one who saves them not us. Don’t get discouraged if the seed falls on hard ground.
- Prayer is the fountainhead from which all ministry flows. Be prayed up before evangelizing, pray for God to lead you to the right people, and pray for people after you share. We suggest always going out in pairs so that one person can be praying while the other is talking.
After someone trusts in Christ:
- Ask, "Where is Jesus in relation to you?"
- Give them a Bible if they don't have one, and write down that date in their Bible.
- Do a 24 hr and 7 day call back.
Five Teaching Steps:
- Scriptures (21 Day Challenge in John)
- Prayer (A.C.T.S)
- Fellowship (get in community with believers)
- Witness for Christ (within 24 hours)
- Worship (Bible Preaching Church Home)
Good Follow-Up WebsiteSomethingamazing.net/moving-forward/
Startingwithgod.com
Five Closing Steps
- Qualifying Question - Does this make sense to you? Is there anything that I can clarify?
- Commitment Question - Is there any reason that you would not repent and trust in Jesus right now?
- Clarification of Commitment - ABCs - Admit that you are a sinner; Believe that Jesus lived the perfect life, died on the cross for your sins, and rose again from the dead; Confess that you need Him to be your Savior and Lord. Does that express the desire of your heart?
- Prayer of Commitment - Pray through the ABCs; there is nothing magical about this prayer; it is simply expressing the desire of your heart to God.
- Immediate Follow-Up - pray with them, have them tell someone within 24 hours, disciple them, etc. (See episode 17 for more info.)
Minute-To-Witness Instructions
- There was a time in my life when... (20 sec; two adjectives to describe your life before Christ)
- Then someone shared a story with me that changed my life... (20 sec; brief Gospel message)
- After trusting in Christ... (20 sec; after Christ how life has changed, be honest)
- Do you have a story like that?
Overview Flashback Instructions (for those who came to Christ at a young age)
- Someone shared a story with me that changed my life... (20 sec; brief Gospel message)
- After Trusting in Christ... (20 sec; after Christ how life has changed, including hardships)
- Because of this, I have seen in my life (20 seconds; things that didn't happen because of Christ's sustainment)
- Do you have a story like that?
Six Tips for Caring Well:
1) Take a genuine interest in others. (John 13:34)
2) Smile and look them in the eye. (Proverbs 15:13)
3) Be a good listener, and encourage others to talk about themselves. (James 1:19)
4) Remember to use their name. A person's name is the sweetest and most important sound in any language. (Proverbs 22:1)
5) Talk in terms of the other person's interests. (Philippians 2:3-4)
6) Show appreciation and do it sincerely. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
One of God’s primary methods for opening doors to share Christ is through caring. People don’t care how much you know until they know that you care. So the question is, how do we care well in a way that God can use us for Gospel opportunities?
Many Christians struggle to share the Gospel in a natural way. How can we avoid those awkward conversations? How can we set the table to naturally lead to the Gospel?
Each one, reach one, each year. As Christians, how should we be planning for the new year in regards to sharing our faith?
It can be difficult to share with those who are close to us but continue to resist the Gospel. May this episode bring you some encouragement to continue praying for and sharing with family and friends during this Christmas season.
Create your MyStory Tract and learn how to use it to witness during the Christmas season.
This week we are going to be looking at a tool that is used around the world by church planters and evangelists to introduce seekers to Christ called Discovery Bible Study.