November 16th, 2022
by Jamie Tickel
by Jamie Tickel
I know you know the statistics reveal that very few born-again Christians share their faith personally with others and some of that may be the result of feelings of inadequacy or fear. But regardless of the feelings we have, we have a wonderful privilege and responsibility to personally share the good news of Jesus. Here are a few great ideas for conversation starters to have with others that are perfect for this season.
This season is full of Christian-based celebrations and makes our faith conversations seem more natural if we attach them to the season. All of these questions can be effective because they give the other person an opportunity to talk about themselves and we all love doing that. It puts them at ease and could open the door for you to share your faith. Here are a few questions to help engage others with the gospel of Jesus this holiday season.
1. "Do you have any Thanksgiving plans or traditions?" This will give you an indicator if the person celebrates the holiday season. Even unbelievers celebrate with food, football, and family.
2. If the answer is yes, follow up with, "What are you thankful for this year?" This will give you an opportunity to hear from them and then follow-up with your own list of things you're thankful for. This is where you can share your Jesus story. It doesn't have to be long and drawn out but a testimony of Jesus saving work in your life is a powerful thing!
3. "What was Christmas like for you growing up?" Most people I know tend to have some fond memories of Christmas mornings as they were young. This is an opportunity to listen for any spiritual markers in their lives, like church attendance, believing mother or father, or special traditions centered around Jesus. Listen intently to their story. After they talk about their childhood experiences on Christmas, share your experiences. If you didn't have a strong Christian influence in the home as you were growing up, share what your traditions and practices are like now and use that moment to share what Jesus did in your life when you got saved.
Whether you use these questions as spiritual conversation starters or not, I hope we will all be more intentional in sharing our faith this holiday season. Feel free to share your favorite method for starting spiritual conversations.
-Pastor Jamie Tickel
Lead Pastor
This season is full of Christian-based celebrations and makes our faith conversations seem more natural if we attach them to the season. All of these questions can be effective because they give the other person an opportunity to talk about themselves and we all love doing that. It puts them at ease and could open the door for you to share your faith. Here are a few questions to help engage others with the gospel of Jesus this holiday season.
1. "Do you have any Thanksgiving plans or traditions?" This will give you an indicator if the person celebrates the holiday season. Even unbelievers celebrate with food, football, and family.
2. If the answer is yes, follow up with, "What are you thankful for this year?" This will give you an opportunity to hear from them and then follow-up with your own list of things you're thankful for. This is where you can share your Jesus story. It doesn't have to be long and drawn out but a testimony of Jesus saving work in your life is a powerful thing!
3. "What was Christmas like for you growing up?" Most people I know tend to have some fond memories of Christmas mornings as they were young. This is an opportunity to listen for any spiritual markers in their lives, like church attendance, believing mother or father, or special traditions centered around Jesus. Listen intently to their story. After they talk about their childhood experiences on Christmas, share your experiences. If you didn't have a strong Christian influence in the home as you were growing up, share what your traditions and practices are like now and use that moment to share what Jesus did in your life when you got saved.
Whether you use these questions as spiritual conversation starters or not, I hope we will all be more intentional in sharing our faith this holiday season. Feel free to share your favorite method for starting spiritual conversations.
-Pastor Jamie Tickel
Lead Pastor
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