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:

1. Establish a one rule conversation.
2. Listen with your heart.
3. Be aware of how much you’re talking.
4. Hit the ball over the net.
5. Ask follow-up questions.
6. 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.