I know you are like me. There are many people about whom you care and share common interests with that you are pretty certain they do not have an active and satisfying relationship with Jesus. You care about that but don’t know what to do about it. How do you seize the opportunity to start a spiritual conversation without being forceful, pushy, or arrogant?
Today is an especially good time to care about that. There is a spiritual hunger in people today that was not there in recent memory, or at least people are more open to spiritual things right now than in an exceptionally long time. I believe the climate is right – God wants to do something incredible, and we are called to be His vessels.
Many of us are not familiar with how to seize opportunities in a loving, kind, non-patronizing, or non-offensive way. Many of us are afraid of offending someone, and the Enemy can use our fear to keep us quiet.
I believe there are all kinds of opportunities if we make ourselves aware of them. We can step into this open door if we …
Recognize opportunities for spiritual conversation by being observant of significant life events like job changes or struggles, listening to cues about meaning or purpose, and sharing personal faith stories that relate to the current situation. Intentionally notice people and what is going on currently. You can ask direct but thoughtful questions, such as, "What gives you strength?" or "Where do you find meaning in life?" and offer to pray for the other person. Being authentic helps to create a natural opening for these discussions
Notice expressions of meaning. Listen for comments about where people find meaning, their sources of strength, or their struggles, which can indicate a spiritual opening. It may be family, health, hobbies, or activity.
Recognize the cue of shared experiences. Perhaps there has been something hard happen – a job loss, a miscarriage, divorce, broken relationship. Any area you can identify with may open the door. It could be something positive – an engagement, a child’s success, remodeling. Whatever. Again, connect where you can. At some point there will be an opportunity for you to mention your faith or church connections in a casual way, identifying with the experiences you just shared.
Share a personal story. Perhaps you’re talking about a news story and it connects to something in your life. Share your relevant personal experience of how God has made a difference. An authentic story can show genuine, believable faith and can even encourage them to ask questions.
Offer to pray for them. Whether it is to say thanks for a good thing or to pray for God’s blessing on a new endeavor, or it’s for healing during sickness or peace during a stressful time, it leaves the door open for more to come.
Ask open-ended questions that will get them talking … not yes or no answers, something that shares a bit of their thinking. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be ready to give the reason for the hope that you have, but do this with gentleness and respect.”
Respect their thoughts and opinions and be kind about anything with which you disagree. Don’t make an issue of an opinion difference.
The need for intimacy, destiny, and meaning is universal. Talking about those needs can be a great place to start a spiritual conversation. Here are a few questions that may help you start:
Destiny (themes of ambition, dreams, progress, and failure, fantasy, apathy, hopelessness):
What do you want to accomplish in life?
What fears are holding you back from pursuing your dreams?
Intimacy (themes of love, community, belonging and betrayal, jealousy, bitterness, hatred):
Do you have to meet certain expectations to earn approval from the people in your life?
Is there someone in your life you would do anything for?
Meaning (themes of faith, truth, status, significance, and doubt, fear, cynicism, selfishness):
Where do you find meaning in your life? Do you have a faith?
How do you face obstacles and disappointments?
Start talking. Who knows what God may do with the seeds you sow?