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?

Pray a different way

Posted on October 14, 2015October 12, 2015 by Matthew Laker

A Group of people were on a boat and a great mountain stood in their way. Up out of the water this mountain arose, not letting them pass. They began to pray and pray and pray, but the mountain did not move. They asked God to remove the mountain and prayed more but still nothing. Then one of the persons, who was enlightened by the Holy Spirit said, “We should pray that the water would rise up over the mountain. Then we can float over it.” They begin to pray a different way, and the water rose and the boat was able to float over the mountain.
Rev. Atef shared this story when he spoke at the Downtown site of Sunnyside Wesleyan Church in 2013. It was one of the images my small group talked about at greater length. We could ask ourselves how might we pray differently then we currently do. Yes, sometimes we are called to wait, but what if we are praying for something that is just not going to happen.

Sometimes we need to ask the Spirit how we should pray. How should we pray in light of this mountain in front of us? How should we live in light of this mountain standing in front of us?
What if you let go of how you think it should be removed and asked God? What if there is a different way to see the mountain and circumstances change?

We are so afraid sometimes to see things differently, but maybe that is us trying to control the situation. I do not have all this prayer stuff worked out, but what if you need to pray differently?

What do you think?

5 Practical Steps For Sharing The Gospel

Posted on October 2, 2015September 28, 2015 by Matthew Laker

Practical advice for sharing the gospel.

While teaching at Sunnyside I have come back to a simple acrostic to help people live a rhythm of life that can open doors for sharing the gospel. I have heard this acrostic from so many different recourses, I am not even sure where it comes from any more.

Two reasons I think it is helpful:

1. It provides a pathway or guide-rails to create environments where gospel sharing can take place.

2. It takes something that can feel so large and breaks it into smaller steps.

Colossian 4:2-6

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

5 Practical Steps for Sharing the Gospel

Begin with prayer

I will pray for the people in my life and the places that I’m in – this could be in your neighbourhood, at the gym, the grocery store, etc.

Listen

I will listen to and discover the needs of others and the places where God is at work.

Eat

I will share meals and spend time with people in my life.

Check out an earlier post “Meals an avenues to share Gods peace”

Serve

I will respond to the needs of others and help them in practical and impactful ways.

Story

I will share the story of Jesus and what He is doing in my life with others.

Even if you did two of these things in a day you would be better positioning yourself to share the gospel.

What rhythms have you found helpful in sharing the Gospel?

Walking, A place to start for sharing the gospel.

Posted on July 15, 2015June 29, 2015 by Matthew Laker

In a three and half year span we moved into three different homes. In each move we have continued to hold a core belief that where ever we live, whose path we may cross, we are to bear witness of Jesus.

In in each move I have said a simple prayer. Lord Jesus, you died for my new neighbours, you love them more than I do. Help me to see you here, help me to point my neighbours to you. Help us to let them into our life and give us the boldness to share the gospel.

Now walking that path has not been easy. It generally takes time to build relationships with people. Strangely, in the last move we have started relationships faster than the last two. I have done good and bad things and I am still learning. With each move, I wondered how we would share the gospel.

Each community has a type of culture and to share the gospel you need to be aware of it. I have learned there is something about getting out of the car or off the bus and walking that can completely change the perspective of a neighbourhood. It slows you down to see details you may not see when you drive. This would likely work better in an urban or suburban context, while driving may be a better option in rural areas. However, walking your neighbourhood can help lay the foundation to spreading the gospel.

For many there is a mind shift that needs to happen. As followers of Jesus, we need to see ourselves as missionaries. Just as God has asked someone to share the gospel in a different context then from where you live, Jesus calls you to love your neighbour.

Viewing yourself as a missionary in the workplace, school class rooms, and social circles of your city is a must. Jesus calls us to join him in his mission. Will you join him?

Walking has always been part of my family’s life. In good weather we love to walk after supper as the night begins to cool. As we have walked the areas we live in, I have prayed for those living in the homes we pass. I have asked God to open my eyes to where he already is at work, and to show me the needs and idols of this community.

As you walk your neighbourhood you are in observation mode. What do you see? Based on what you see, what does that tell you about the people that live here? What does that tell you about yourself? Let these observations and answers guide your prayer time.

If you are looking to live with purposeful mission, start by walking in your neighbourhood and learning about it.

What tips do you have? I would love to hear your experience on reaching your community.