3-minute read
No two faith journeys are alike — they’re personal and unique. We know that a conversation about Jesus isn’t one-size-fits-all; it’s about tuning in and understanding each individual’s life journey.
1. Recognize that every person is on a spiritual journey
Everyone is on a spiritual journey; they may or may not view their life through a spiritual lens, but Jesus is spiritually pursuing them, making it essential to recognize where they are on their journey in order to come alongside them as a spiritual guide leading them toward Jesus.
As stated in Romans 12:4-5 (New Living Translation), “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”
The life experiences of others contribute to the beautiful mosaic of the Church once they follow Jesus; however, even before following Jesus, they are still incredibly valuable, with a unique journey and story to tell.
2. Practice curiosity
Flexibility in your conversation means being curious, not assuming. Curiosity leads to awareness recognizing that your view of Jesus and someone else’s view of Him are affected by different life experiences — joy, seeking, or even skepticism.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT)
Curious questions show you care. They help you walk in another person’s shoes and honor their spiritual journey.
3. Spiritual conversations are not one-size-fits-all
Let’s peek into different possible conversations about Jesus:
- Jack shares how God used a simple question about budgeting from a coworker at a cancer research hospital to initiate a spiritual conversation, revealing how his faith in Jesus transformed his views on money and planted a seed of curiosity about Jesus in his coworker’s mind.
- Carlos heard his buddies mention Jesus and got curious. Open, honest talks helped him piece together his own faith puzzle.
- Cristi was afraid to try to share with her 77-year-old mom since she didn’t live nearby. She decided to go for it anyway and used Godtools while on a video call to tell her mom about the gospel, which led to faith in Christ despite not being in person.
These snippets remind us that courage, patience and empathy can truly shape our faith conversations.
Sharing your own stories about how Jesus has changed your life can help others see his words in action. When you journey with someone, you connect, grow and experience a life of faith together.
4. Try stories and lessons learned
Jesus used parables to show life’s wisdom. These parables aren’t just relics of the past; they’re active, ready to impact your everyday life. Let these stories resonate with your life and spiritual journey so that you can share how the life and teachings of Jesus impact your life directly.
“And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest” (Luke 8:15, NLT).
Parables are stories with a lesson in mind. They can be real or fictional examples because the point is the lesson, not the facts of the story. This can sometimes cause confusion. A great way to navigate this complexity when reading is by asking yourself, “What are the one or two main lessons Jesus wants his audience to understand?”
Reflections on your spiritual journey
As you reflect on your spiritual journey, you’ll see how your stories shape your views. Joy, trials, or simple wonder — each step draws you nearer to grasping your beliefs and Jesus’ place in your heart.
Here are a couple of questions to mull over:
- How can you find unity in spiritual conversations, even when someone’s paths and beliefs differ from yours?
- Which parable stories from Jesus have impacted you, and how can you share them to uplift and encourage others?
Every conversation is an opportunity to learn and flourish together in faith. Swing by our Instagram for more tips on sharing your faith.