![\"\"](\"https:\/\/faith-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/20170523133742\/How_To_Turn_A_Conversation_Toward_Spiritual_Things-e1300393241169.jpg\" "\\"How_To_Turn_A_Conversation_Toward_Spiritual_Things\\"")
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Have you ever wanted to start a conversation about spiritual things but didn’t know how?<\/p>\n
Whether with\u00a0people you have known for a long time, or with someone that you’ve just met,\u00a0are you able to initiate spirtual conversation? I often meet new people and, for starters,\u00a0I try to learn about them in a general way.\u00a0But I know that, eventually, I\u00a0will need to be intentional about the conversation moving toward spiritual things. This transition is usually something that I\u00a0want to put off for a bit. I always think that\u00a0I need to wait for the perfect time to bring up Jesus; that I have to know everything about this new person in order for them to\u00a0know that I care. After all, I don’t want them to\u00a0feel like I’m just using them for my religious experiment.<\/p>\n
This way of thinking (perfect timing in a\u00a0perfect situation)\u00a0is really more fearful than wise. The truth\u00a0is, it is always the perfect time to bring up Jesus<\/strong>.\u00a0I’ve learned\u00a0that a wise approach\u00a0for\u00a0conquering this fear is asking a great question. In as natural a way as possible, asking a question that intentionally directs the conversation to spiritual things will ultimately provoke a response that gives you a perfect\u00a0opportunity for deeper discussion. I am by no means an expert in these matters, but I have found a few things that have helped me to be intentional. And if you can be intentional\u00a0by\u00a0asking a great question that really fits into the conversation, it can open huge doors to talk about the saving grace of our Lord.<\/p>\n I am sure there are lots of great questions, but I\u00a0like to start by asking people, “What is your spiritual background?” I like this approach because you are\u00a0asking<\/em> about\u00a0them\u00a0personally\u00a0instead of telling <\/em>them something you think they should do.\u00a0Shift the focus from the usual and comfortable talk of\u00a0physical things. Allow casual conversation to transform into a deeper spirtual discussion that\u00a0will have a much greater and\u00a0more meaningful\u00a0impact.<\/strong> Experience tells me that, by\u00a0asking a\u00a0question, I can approach a spiritual topic in a very non-threatening way. This\u00a0helps me to both learn about the person (which is my goal when I meet someone) and to also begin to be intentional about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n How do you\u00a0get from\u00a0a “getting\u00a0to know you” type of conversation\u00a0to an intentionally spiritual question, and still be natural about it?\u00a0Make\u00a0a logical progression from one question to another. Start by asking about where they grew up, or what they have done previously in their life; or ask about their geographical background, work or school history, or\u00a0how long they’ve lived in the community – their spiritual background is just\u00a0adding another category to the conversation.\u00a0You can expect\u00a0that a spiritual question will be best received if you first\u00a0have a true desire\u00a0to get to\u00a0know\u00a0the person.<\/strong><\/p>\n Make your conversation count. Skip the talk about a current news situation or their favorite restaurant, and focus on the balance between your intention and your natural progression towards it. In a society that is always on the move, where meaningful conversations\u00a0become fewer and farther between,\u00a0it is important to\u00a0find a way to quickly shift gears to spiritual matters. Look\u00a0for logical connections inside the conversation (initiated by you with an intentional purpose). And, above all, listen.<\/p>\n Listening is so important,\u00a0it is crucial to\u00a0being intentional. I used to have memorized progressions of questions that I would lead people down. I would engage people in conversation, but I wouldn’t always hear what they were saying because I was too busy trying to remember the next question in my series. I found that to be a very disconnected way to communicate; \u00a0no one appreciates the feeling of a planned conversation.\u00a0When I really pay attention to what someone is saying, I am in a much better position to logically connect their words\u00a0with truth about who God is and what He has done.<\/strong> But remember the importance and greater impact of\u00a0a conversation<\/em>, as oppossed to a\u00a0lecture. Be sensitive to\u00a0listening as much, or more than, you\u00a0speak.\u00a0I choose my questions much more wisely when I am truly listening. I am able to ask questions that are in the context of the conversation, making it a more relevant and engaging discussion.<\/p>\n Whenever you try to be intentional in a new way, it is going to be… well new<\/em>, and perhaps even\u00a0a bit awkward. I think as we try to listen and be intentional in conversations, we will get better and better, but we have to start somewhere. Start by listening, and\u00a0then commit to\u00a0your intent.<\/p>\n If you’re a good listener and ask questions that keep\u00a0the conversation engaging\u00a0(all the\u00a0while\u00a0learning more about them), you will find opportunities\u00a0for\u00a0good transitional, spiritual\u00a0questions that\u00a0are both nuetral and natural, like “do you\u00a0attend a church in the area?” Either way they answer, there are more questions that you can ask. If they say “yes,” then ask them “where?”, “what do\u00a0you enjoy about it?” and\/or, “is it similar to how\u00a0you grew up?”, etc. If they say “no,” you can ask if they are interested in attending a church, and if not, how come? Did they have a bad experience, what is their view about organized religion, what is their view of Christ?<\/p>\nBe Natural<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Be a Good Listener<\/strong><\/h2>\n