Faith ConversationsSýnishorn

Imagine this. Your friend is planning a trip to the mountains and is trying to persuade you to join. You’re interested but you don’t drive so you’re not sure how you’ll get there. Your friend senses your indecision and subjects you to a long monologue about the views from the mountain tops, the health benefits of hiking, the amazing accommodation, and why you shouldn’t be going to the sea. You’ve learnt a lot about cabins, hiking and realised your friend hates sand, but you’ve still got the same problem.

When we have conversations about Jesus, we want to avoid this kind of situation. Our friends might not have unlimited time and appetite for spiritual conversations, so it’s good to make sure we aren’t repeating ideas they are already familiar with and failing to notice the issues that are preventing these friends from choosing Jesus instead of sin.

Paul uses his time in Athens well, even before he starts explaining the gospel to the Athenians. He learns things about the city and the people in it. When he has the chance to speak, he can address the problems Athenians have. He can speak to them in a way they understand. He uses inscriptions in their city and their own philosophers to try to persuade them that there is a God unknown to them, who has always been with them, but is now calling them to turn from idols to worship him. At other times Paul speaks to Jews, and then he quotes scripture.Paul thinks about who he is talking to and that shapes the appeals he makes to them.

Jesus asks his disciples ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ The fact that they can answer shows that while they were out preaching, they also spent time listening. They know all the theories about who Jesus is.

Jesus asks them, ‘Who do you say I am?’ There are several points in the gospels where Jesus demonstrates his ability to discern the thoughts of other people, say this question is not really for his benefit. Asking questions doesn’t just help us understand others, it also gives people an opportunity to think. Giving people information about Jesus is very important, but so is giving them time to process it.

How can you use questions to have life changing spiritual conversations this week?