Ways to start a Gospel conversation

There are SO many ways to start a Gospel conversation with someone.

At Printing-Evangelism we have a particular swing towards the printed Word. Be it using a Free Gospel tract like the many different designs we can deliver to your door for free. Be it a Free Christian poster to break the ice. An invitation to a church event. A printed newsletter with articles about people in your area. A printed testimonial about how you personally (or someone you know) came to be a born again Christian.

Whatever ever ways you use to start a Gospel conversation, use something!

If it gets the conversation going and it gets the Gospel flowing, then pray with it!

Here is a video about one way to start a Gospel conversation with someone. Before you make up the excuse that Todd had a microphone and video camera – yes that can attract people to have a conversation. So if you have those, or one of them, then go for it! But I can tell you from years of experience, they are not necessary to have a conversation with someone. But the advantage of having those things is that more people get to hear the encounter and be blessed by it. But without those things, the conversation would be a success, because it’s about making the Lord and His Gospel known.

Please watch the video, as it is a different way to the video which I would like to share with you here in this article.

Did you get one?

I personally have fallen into a habit of something I can easily remember. When I am out on the streets to speak with strangers, I hand them a Gospel tract and say “did you get one of these?” When a person hangs around while holding it, I will ask them a question like “What do you think happens after death?”Or if there is a slight hanging around, I will say after “It’s all about your future, very important”If I have a poster, or printed banner, then I will ask a person what they think of what it says. But sometimes I don’t have to. Some people stop, read and then speak.

Recently an elderly lady stopped and read the banner I had on the street that reads “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. (The banner also has our church details included by way of a map, photo of the building and the website). The lady said this smugly “I’m 93 and I have sinned a lot. God still has not struck me down dead!” The only thing that came to my mind from that, was to say to her that we all will die because of how serious God sees sin. You need a Saviour.”Upon reflection, the statement she made was shocking! She did not argue that God did not exist. She did not deny her sins. She boasted in them. That lady may have those words haunt her for eternity. Or, God could have used the encounter to save her in her final days. I leave that in the Lord’s hands.

Sometimes, in my own experience I don’t know what to say. But I do pray that the Lord will bring the right words at the time.

But this article is not to try to encourage you in saying the same thing every time. But just to try and encourage you in some ideas to begin with, or to carry forward in. It’s not about a formula. It’s about breaking the ice. It’s not easy. After over fifteen years of trying to witness to people, it’s still very challenging.

When I have a meal with someone I have not yet shared the Good News with, recently I have done a new thing.

One example is Richard.

Richard seems fairly wealthy. Runs his own business and kindly wants to buy me a coffee to talk business and to get to know each other more. My heart wants to share the Gospel with Him and my prayer is somehow that this may happen in our meeting.

At the start of the meeting, the subject is business. Nothing wrong with that – we both should be making a living and we would like to try and find each other business where we can. After a while, I was beginning to think that the conversation would not go the way of the Gospel. As it appeared to be finishing. I asked Richard if he had to be anywhere and he said no. So I proposed we had food together. Richard kindly purchased my dinner. Just after it was served, I did something very uncomfortable to my flesh. I asked Richard if he was happy for me to give thanks for the food by way of prayer. He agreed and after this, he started a conversation about people he knows in faith that he works with. I was very encouraged that the Lord sought to use my feeble prayer to open up a conversation. Then followed about an hour and a half of the Gospel explained in more detail than most conversations I get on the streets with people. That was the second time I had the same opportunity over a meal to do this. I challenge you to do the same!

But what about conversations with other people when a meal is not involved?

I have had meetings with other business people who I know have some sort of Christian upbringing or background. I always think that when I hear this, that they are in a great place to start a conversation.

For example. Let’s say the person is called John.

John hears I am a Christian and happens to say they were baptised as an infant. That one short sentence tells me there is a way of starting to talk about Christianity. It’s one line I would probably use with anyone who says something like this. Even if they say they used to be in a choir.

The line could go something like “When you were in the choir…. What was your understanding of what Christianity is?” Let them explain anything they know and then explain to them what the Gospel is if they don’t know. Even if they do know some of the Gospel, explain it to them like they have never heard it before – prayerfully.

Or “when you were baptised…. Was there ever a time where someone explained to you what Christianity is and why you were baptised?”

Try to gain an understanding of what they know about Christianity. Then you can fill in any blanks or explain from scratch the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

At the end of the conversation, give them a printed Gospel tract or your Gospel testimony of how you came to faith. Most of these conversations in my experience go well. Anything you forget should be in the tract that they take away. “Can I give you this as a summary of what I have just shared with you?” – most people are happy to take it. It may end up in someone else’s hands too!

What ways do you start a Gospel conversation with people? Let us know in the comments below.

Did you know?

We can design, format and print your own church Gospel tract – just contact us and we would be happy to help!