How Do I Start Conversations About God or Christianity?

For more information, read Forensic Faith: A Homicide Detective Makes the Case for a More Reasonable, Evidential Christian Faith (amzn.to/2Bvkyv4)
READ:
The Best Question to Ask When Starting a Conversation About God
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Aaron Klemm (from Summit Ministries in Colorado) talks with J. Warner Wallace (as part of the of the Summit Forum) about the challenge of initiating conversations about the Gospel. Most of us, as Christians, recognize our duty to engage the Great Commission, but what does this look like in our everyday setting? How can we overcome our hesitancy to share the truth?

[@jackflash1155]

"Hopefully I'll see you in heaven". I have a lot of people come to my house to buy cedar boards from me. After getting to know them a bit and when they are about to leave i shake their hand and say hopefully I'll see you in heaven! The answers that i get are amazing. Most popular being - "yeah i hope so". And that open door leads me to - ohhh you dont know for sure?? Where the conversations go from there is absolutely amazing - Always referring to scripture because that is what The Lord uses to draw people to Himself. And He does😊 Blessings!!✝️

[@TheWarriorLV]

Wow that’s kind of cool ! Thanks for that idea

[@sdjnjferri]

Best question I've ever learned is to ask... "Who do you think Jesus is?"

[@rossdickens]

I ask, have you received the free gift? And they say, what free gift! There is the opening conversation. 🙏

[@vanessadobbins2963]

I love that!!!!!!

[@theHentySkeptic]

It sounds like a much less confrontational approach. Softer even than Ray Comfort "do you think you're a good person?" Nice idea. Thanks.

[@debbiebramwell]

Love it!!

[@RockyTopSplash]

Here's the easiest way I've found.. doesnt set you up for deep conversation every time.. but you can drop the seed... when someone says.. hey how's it going? Or something like that.. I say.. man I'm doing great. . Been really enjoying church lately... how bout you.. you going to church anywhere? BAM! YOUR IN.

[@davidreynal2985]

Sometimes, just asking permission is a great first step. “Can I ask you a question?” You’ve immediately gotten their approval to ask a second question like “What do you think will happen when you die?”

[@octaneuser4096]

Yess the first sentence is definitely the most fearful part for me. But when I get going after that, it gets easier

[@jameslake-mentalgamecuespo9010]

In a word: Ray Comfort A couple of suggestions- Do you think there’s afterlife? Do you believe in Gods existence? What’s the best selling book of all time?

[@owlfethurz8377]

Thank you. Now I'm going to go over all these questions in prayer and in my mind, and look for the answers in God's word so I'm more prepared. Then, practice, practice practice. Abide in Christ.

[@denisescutt1865]

Many say no there isn’t an afterlife

[@merchybrenin1849]

⁠@@denisescutt1865 watch some Living Waters videos. Good answer to that is “ if there was a God and a heaven and hell, who do you think you would go to heaven or hell?” Most people will engage with that and say Hitler, rapisr etc etc in hell but “ good people” will go to heaven. Ask them if they think they are a good person, and use 3 or four of the commandments to show to them they are not a good person! Do it gracefully, saying that you to have broken the commandments and are deserving of hell. Then present the gospel….watch some LW videos, it builds on what has been said here.

[@merchybrenin1849]

Yes Ray Comfort Living Waters frequently says what happens after we die? Who do you think will be going to heaven or hell? Good tip…if someone calls themselves an atheist, ask them on a scale of 0-10 where they are as an atheist. 0 being there is a God, 10 100% rock hard hard dyed in the wool atheist, what number would you be. People rarely answer 10. Ask them why they haven’t given you a 10 and they have to say there is slight room for doubt…..you have just kicked the door open and can actually tell them they are an agnostic not an atheist.Questions, in a polite calm manner to get to a person’s worldview and not make presumptions are amazing!

[@MsBellsandy]

​@@MrReasonabubble it's not really entrapment. He's trying to get them to see they are not as good people as they say they are. Everyone knows lying and stealing is wrong, so when forced to answer those questions they realize " oh shoot, I'm not as good as I thought". That's all he's trying to point out. He's obviously evangelizing for Christ, so he's asking pertinent questions. Using the law he's trying to get them to see everyone needs a savior. Including him.

[@vanessadobbins2963]

Thank for the advice!!!! We always want to be effective in witnessing to the lost!!! Those are excellent examples and we must still pray about the right approach because not everyone will receive the message as intended. Be led by the Holy Spirit!!!!!!!!!

[@Roman-pr4vw]

Jesus bless you all ✝️🤍

[@SpryteintheAndes]

Really helpful video ❤

[@mentalmassage7]

Brilliant! I will certainly use this. May God bless you guys abundantly!

[@paulrivalto1974]

Always remember this: ' No one cares what you know, until they know how much you care! " A person having not eaten in 3 days cannot hear the truth you speak over the sound of the rumbling in their stomach! Feed them first then you have just garnered permission to speak the truth to them. If you are unwilling to demonstrate the gospel, please refrain from speaking it. This verse from Matthew 25:40 is a wonderful guide; Jesus Christ speaking: " Inasmuch as ye have done unto the least of these My brethren, ye have done unto Me. "

[@aNeReplays]

There is NO such thing as "demonstrating" the gospel. The gospel is good news. It is a message, a proclamation, never a demonstration. Hope this helps.

[@brianmgrim]

PaulRivalto1974 : Thanks for that tip, or reminder. If we come across a beggar like Lazarus, we should all want the discernment to know that this person would probably focus better if we feed them first.

[@nccrchurchunusual7990]

Great 1st question. I have used this too.

[@DaysofElijah317]

The least of these my brethren is talking about Israel or the church not the world-though we are to love them- we are to love our families and the family of GOD better and first.

[@josephcarilus]

What if I don't have the wherewithall to demonstrate the Gospel? Does that mean that I can't share the Gospel with a starving or needy person? What if the Holy Spirit has already opened the heart of the starving man to the Gospel but is yet to work on the person's financial needs? Do we leave such a person to get help first or financial stability before presenting the Gospel? When Jesus says, "Whatever you do to the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me," who are 'the least among His brethren'?

[@dylansylvan6398]

This is Gold!

[@jennifereverett6298]

Related is this: The time argument does not support the theory of evolution (macro evolution) or life itself. In order for an organism to exist at all, every component--from the complex DNA code to cells to bodily systems--needs to exist all at once, not be developing slowly over millions of years. We can't have skeletons with circulatory systems walking around while waiting for skin, nervous systems including brains, lymphatic systems, digestive systems, and reproductive systems to evolve. And the time argument does not allow for organisms to reproduce. Both genders (with opposite but complementary reproductive systems) need to exist in a very short period of time (for humans, within about a 30-year span) in order for the species to continue. Evolutionary changes (micro changes which I have witnessed in my garden in the form of leaf shapes and colors) are FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR to slow and small to explain life forms and especially the more complex life forms as well as two genders in each of a giant number of complex life forms. "In the beginning, God made them male and female" makes far more sense than the theory of evolution. God's intelligence and God's power can act quickly enough for the fruit fly to both exist and mate/continue before its short lifespan of 40 to 50 days comes to an end.

[@ProvingJesus]

This was very, very good!

[@AnishkaPerera]

This is good , thank you !

[@mbfrommb3699]

This was very good. I am going to use it.

[@jackyluo]

really helpful! great video!

[@Sundayschoolnetwork]

Very helpful!

[@susanhelms9260]

Can this be closed captioned?

[@richard3693]

Excellent just keep it simple ❤

[@majesticliberatoroftheoppr3971]

I try to show genuine love and concern for them as Christ would. I then try to liken the Scriptures to their situation or concern, using the testaments of Jesus Christ that we have, the Old testament, the New Testament and the book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. I try to help people understand how much they are loved by Jesus Christ and help them to understand the atonement, the plan of salvation, and inspire them to live their lives after the manner of happiness as described in the Scriptures.

[@rayseto2724]

great video! thanks for sharing. what would be a variation of the first question if, culture-wise, it would not be appropriate to initiate a conversation with the topic of death?

[@andreimoldovan-stefan1456]

Where can I find that type microphone that you are using? We need it for church. Btw, this video was very helpful for me. Thanks a lot! God bless you.

[@randyabeyta7318]

Ourselves and the fear of not knowing what to do

[@tpotts4]

I like the question: If you were to die today, where do u think you would go?

[@PetarStamenkovic]

I'm a Christian. I have an illness that could not be treated by conventional medicine. As a last resort I went to homeopathic healer and it looks like it's working. I'm feeling much better. I'm thankful for that, but it puts me in an uncomfortable spot. The healer told me that this is working on all my incarnations- past and future, and is healing all of me in everything and every time. Needless to say, but I don't believe in reincarnation. I think it is logically impossible. It presupposes a beginningless universe which is contradicting the Big Bang, which we know to be true. That worldview also has many other logical problems, and yet, I'm feeling better. Do you have any advice for me? Thank you.

[@TheWarriorLV]

Well what is it that this ‘healer’ is doing ? What was the remedy?

[@roycesweatman5723]

My lead in has been , “if you were to die do you know you are going to Heaven or would you say your in the process?”

[@curtwinterstein1067]

One I just came up with..... "My big philosophical question of the day is...What do you think happens when you die???"

[@Puddlepirate70]

Because they dont know the scriptures is why they are uncomfortable. Put the time in reading and praying. Stop listening to end time ear tickling preachers who convolute the Word.

[@spiritman-em4qr]

That "opening question" _could be_ misinterpreted as a "threat" by the wrong person.

[@peterstrand3425]

"Death" starter.........not so very good. Must be much better/relaxed ones

[@joymahiko]

Christians are never commanded to "talk" about Jesus Christ, but to "PREACH" Christ. Be bold - not metro sexual. Man up!

[@CSUnger]

How many people have you yourself actually led to Christ abs are now currently discipling through “preaching”?

[@paulrivalto1974]

@@CSUnger - Disciples of Christ are not made by preaching, programs, 12 week Bible Studies, seminaries, or even in church! Christ did not make any one of His disciples in this manner either. The genius of Christ's strategy for making disciples is found in John 3:22. Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. John 3:22..... looks rather bland doesn't it. Seems to be only a transition verse going from one scene to a different scene. Then when one views the original Greek language used here we see this genius leap from the page. This phrase " Spending Time With " is the Greek word Diatribo...... yeeeesss where we derive our modern day word diatribe. Yet the fullness of the meaning of this word in the Greek is to: " Rub Into Thouroughly " so Christ was going about in obedience to the Father in preaching the gospel yet Christ was spending the vast majority of His time " Rubbing Himself Thouroughly into " these men, keeping them close by at all times. This marked the entirety of His ministry while amongst us. He then prayed that work finished in John 17:4-6. The work Christ spent 3 to 3 1/2 years accomplishing in obedience to His Father! Christ did not make them in a church or synagogue, he did not sit before them in a classroom, The only written plan or curriculum was Old Testament scripture truth! Then each of these disciples was made " Outthere " in the world that God still so loves! In the Hyways, the Byways, and the Back-Allyways of His creation. Then Acts records them and still other disciples as well as the apostle Paul fully obeying the command of Christ Jesus from Matthew 28:18-20 answering the prayer to the Lord of the harvest to raise up workers for the fields ripe unto harvest. ( Matthew 9:37-38 )Then Acts confirms as well as history those 1st century disciples taking the gospel to their whole known world; inside of 70 years from the Day of Pentecost. Making disciples equips all the saints for the work of service. Ephesians 4:11-13. Maturing everyone to be ministers of the gospel good news and as they go doing that they " Rub, the Christ in themselves, into others, thouroughly " putting feet into ministry not just butts in pews. ( making disciples) Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, 2 Timothy 2:1-2, 1 Thessolonians 3:8, John 15:1-8, John 17:20-21. You see our religious, traditional, institutional, organized, program driven ways have produced fully 5 Billion souls on our planet today who have never heard even one redemptive word of Christ Jesus. (The Gospel ) And Jesus Himself gave us this prophecy and command: " This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a witness to every nation and then the end will come. " Matthew 24:14 He then told us this: " If you love Me, you will obey My commandments. " John 14:15....Well.....Do We?

[@darrengilbert7438]

I see several on here who, with their responses, seem to be very judgemental of others.

[@user-ct3ye3zy8e]

Always start with small talk ,like weather, sports, etc. Then say hey where do you go to church? Then you'll see where they're at. If they don't go, invite them to church. If they're going to church, ask them hey when did you get saved?The Holy Spirit will take over from there. His words and thoughts will come. SINCERELY Jack

[@nathanielbailey108]

The shame of the sins I’ve committed certainly hold me back. I’m a firm believer that you must testify, as scripture says, your story. Proving Gid scientifically won’t convert a single soul. Your personal testimony will allow God to work through his broke creation in free will. Science fails the faithless but it fails the faithful too. When something like James Webb happens, all theories on both sides gets thrown out. But your testimony of how Jesus saved you stands true. My testimony is quite shameful. I struggle to leap in because I know where the conversation has to go.