Improving your Sharing of the Gospel

Posted on June 8, 2016June 7, 2016 by Matthew Laker

cTo improve your sharing of the gospel, remember it is one conversation at a time.

If we want to share the gospel we need to become better at conversations.

What are gospel conversations?

I define a gospel conversation as an ongoing conversation or one-off conversations that have the purpose to introduce, or help people begin to take steps toward engaging the gospel. It is not about converting them at that moment. It is about building relationships for the kingdom of God.

I was listening to a podcast by Michael Hyatt (Season 7 episode 7) and he shared about 6 strategies to become a better conversationalist.

Here are the summary points:

Establish a one rule conversation.
Listen with your heart.
Be aware of how much you’re talking.
Hit the ball over the net.
Ask follow-up questions.
When listening provide positive feedback.

As I listened there were a few things I pulled out for myself, but I got thinking about how this relates so much to sharing the gospel.

1. One rule conversations.

This is about focus and when you are talking about gospel stuff, keep the conversation on topic and limit the side conversations. This is about trying to wrestle with one topic instead of jumping all around.

2. Listen with your heart

Sometimes we think we have to talk to get the message out. How about listening so you can hear their heart, and where God is at work. Listening allows you to understand their story and where the gospel can intersect or is already.

3. Be aware of how much you’re talking

Simply put, we talk too much. Sharing the gospel is first about hearing the story of the other person. It is not about getting it all out, but living in the gospel.

4. Hit the ball over the net

This is about throwing the ball back over to them. It is about engaging and letting them wrestle with the gospel. In general conversation, Michael Hyatt shares, we need to be asking open-ended questions in our conversations. Our gospel conversations need to be like a regular conversation. We often ask closed questions, however, I have found opened questions offer stronger pathways for people to wrestle with the gospel.

Example: What do you think would happen if people really followed the teaching of Jesus?

5. Ask Follow-up questions

Again this is about the other person. So ask them to explain more what they mean. Ask how did they get to that conclusion in life? Ask questions that keep them engaged and you hearing their story. In gospel conversations, you are listening to how the gospel is going to cross with their life. In gospel conversation, it is about getting to know them, it is about loving them, it is about building relationships.

6. When listening provide positive feedback

We need to celebrate with others. We need to help people see the goodness in their life. Sharing the gospel is not sharing how bad they are. Give positive feedback in your conversations that is honest with no strings attached.

Thanks to Michael Hyatt for stirring my thoughts around the conversations that I am having. He has re-affirmed how we need to become more intentional with our conversations.

Sharing the gospel is one conversation at a time. If we want to share the gospel we need to become better at having conversations.

Six tips for Praying for Others

Posted on May 27, 2016May 25, 2016 by Matthew Laker

Six tips for Praying for Others

Are you scared to pray for others? Many carry a fear in praying for others. At the same time, many churches have never shown people how to pray. This is why at some prayer vigils I have been part of we provide resources to teach and show people how to pray.

Praying for each other in our local body of Christ should be one of the regular rhythms of our life. It is not something just for higher leadership, but for all who are part of the community. One of the churches we were part of sectioned off a part of the meeting area as a prayer corner. It was open at the end of the service for anyone who needed prayer. Some weeks we had people there to pray with people and some weeks we did not. The weeks we did not we encouraged people to grab someone and ask if they would pray for them. The prayer corner was available if they wanted.

Praying for others is about joining with them and walking to Jesus.

In no particular order here are

Six Tips for Praying for others:

1. Listen and ask questions.

So many times we think we know the answer or all the information. Be sure to ask clarifying questions so you understand what is going on and what to pray about.

2. Be specific in your prayer

I have been part of some groups who are praying for people and no one really prays directly for the request. This is why, like above, asking questions is important. You may want to ask, “if you could put it in one or two sentences what is it that you want us to pray for.”

3. Recognize the struggle.

In conversation take a moment to recognize the struggle or emotion they are feeling at that moment. I have often found this helps direct your prayers as well. It also brings value to the person.

4. You are not Jesus

Sometimes people will start sharing with us the request and we think “I know what you should do.” You may know what they should do and there may be some practical help you can give,

BUT:

Do not start there. Take the moment and walk with them to Jesus and stand before Jesus together. In some ways, you are like the friends who lowered the men through a roof to Jesus. – Check out Mark 2.

After you pray you could ask if you can offer some advice or help, but do so with no strings attached. They do not have to take you up.

Praying for others is about taking them to Jesus.

5. Remember the gospel

How does who God is and what Jesus has done speak into the situation you are in? The key is not to tell the person what to do in your prayer. The key is to remember the gospel and ask for help to embrace Jesus

6. Keep it simple.

You are not trying to impress anyone and you are not being marked on the kind of words you use. If you do not know what to pray for, be honest with Jesus about that and invite him into the situation (Acts 4:29-30).

These are just a few basic things I have picked up. Honestly, you get better with practice.

Praying for others is about walking with them to Jesus.

What tips would you add? Do you have any good resources for training people in praying for others?

An Observation Concerning Evangelism

Posted on June 22, 2015June 4, 2015 by Matthew Laker

How we treat people can become their image of Jesus.

A young lady had come to our gathering for a few weeks, and asked to meet with me. We met and I answered her questions as best as I could. Then, we did not see her for some time. I wondered if I scared her off or what had happened. However, she began to come to our gathering. Almost two years later the church was entering a new season, as was this young lady. She shared about how when she first came she was wrestling with religion, who Jesus was and how to follow him. She shared about how over her time with us, we just let her watch. We let her join in small groups and become part of our life. We allowed her to ask questions, and she watched. She shared that through this experience, she found Jesus. We revealed to her who Jesus was.

How we treat people can become their image of Jesus.

God’s intention is that through the church the world would know Jesus. One thing I have observed is that for many their first view of Jesus is not based on a personal knowledge of the scriptures or study, but upon how they have been treated. Or, by what they have observed of an individual or community who claim to be Jesus followers.

Today, people will often belong to a community before they become a follower of Jesus. The church is to be transformed by the gospel, surrendered to Jesus, and God’s intent is for people observe us.

Jesus shares they will know him by how we love – that is how we live. People will first understand who Jesus is based upon what they observe in the body of Christ. Most faith stories I am aware of included at some level watching the body of Christ follow Jesus.

How we treat people becomes their image of Jesus.

In many ways that is a scary thing and yet a high privilege. One question we need to ask is:

“How do we invite people to journey with us, that they may watch this alternative community Jesus is creating?”

We need to be careful we are not serving those around us in order to look good, or to receive their affirmation. That will only reveal we have not surrendered to the gospel.

Action Step

A practical step is to make time for people, share our life and listen to their life story. This is not about getting to know everyone. What if you just start over the next six months with one or two people?

Jesus shares in Matthew 5:16, Let your light shine, that is give such good service towards others, letting others see how Jesus has transformed your life, that they will glorify God.

What does your life reveal about Jesus? What does that say about your walk with Jesus? What is God saying to you?