Living His StorySample

Stories of Finding Jesus

The book of Acts records for us many of the conversations the Apostle Paul had with those who were sceptical about the faith. The journey towards faith will look very different from one person to another. One way in which we can think of this difference is in terms of two roads: the road to Damascus and the road to Emmaus. Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus is a dramatic account of personal conversion. This is the story Paul chooses to share with Agrippa, drawing a stark contrast between his previous and his present life (helpfully in this case indicated by two different names, Saul, and Paul). In Paul’s case it was one dramatic encounter with Christ that led to a complete turnaround in thinking and action.

Some of you will identify with Paul’s story and will be able to pinpoint the precise moment in your life when you became a Christian. However, there is also the road to Emmaus. Remember the story of the disciples walking along the road soon after Jesus has risen from the dead? They are discussing the rumour of resurrection, trying to make sense of the enormity of what has been claimed. Suddenly a stranger starts walking alongside them, asking questions of them, and talking about the Scriptures. Intrigued by this man, and it being late in the day, they beg him to stay with them. And at the evening meal, as this oddly familiar man breaks bread, the penny drops, and the two disciples realize that this stranger is the risen Jesus (Luke 24.31). When Jesus disappears again, the two disciples reflect upon the day that had passed: ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road while he was opening the Scriptures to us?’ (Luke 24.32) Looking back on their journey, they realize that he was there all along; they just did not see him. 

The road to Emmaus can be a picture of a slower, more gradual journey to faith, less dramatic but equally authentic, and it resonates with many of us. The reality is that a lot of people’s faith experience is more Emmaus than Damascus, a gradual process often involving many influences, people, places, and conversations. While salvation is always the work of God, since only God can give the gift of new life, the experience of receiving this is often unpredictable, bumpy, and slow. This means that evangelism will require patience, commitment, and perseverance. 

Our role as witness is often more akin to nudging people along the pathway than to running and completing a sprint. Such nudging evangelism requires patience, perseverance and all the creative skills at our disposal. We may meet someone who has barely started on their faith journey and our role is to spark interest in the Christian faith. We may meet someone who has been thinking about the Christian faith for a while and our role might be to help them work patiently and seriously through some of the questions they have. Thinking in terms of steps along a pathway can free us from the burden of feeling we have to bring someone to a moment of commitment straight away. It can be more helpful to ask ourselves the question, ‘What is the next step this person needs to make on their faith journey?’ What is the most appropriate thing you could say to a work colleague to help that person on the journey to faith? What might be the next step for the friend you have just met? All these approaches are beautiful evangelism in practice, responding intelligently and individually to the person before us.

Questions for Reflection

1. Reflect upon your own faith journey and ask yourself: What are the key moments that stand out? Who has influenced and helped you?

2. How do you feel the story of your journey to faith affects others? How do those of others affect you?

3. What are some of the ways you might be able to help gently nudge people along the pathway to faith?

Thank you for following along with this reading plan, based on Living His Story, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2021. If you have enjoyed it, then check out the full book, available from Amazon or from SPCK .