Hey there, friend.
We know the journey of sharing the gospel is not always a smooth path. Sometimes you come across challenges that make you wonder: Should I keep pushing ahead or try a different approach? That’s where the dance between persistence and adaptation comes in.
Together, we can trust the Holy Spirit to guide us when facing challenges to sharing the gospel. And ultimately, employing these two approaches — persistence and adaptation — you can grow deeper and more meaningful relationships with those you love: mom, dad, son, daughter, friend, neighbor.
Let’s dive into this exciting journey together, drawing insights from the “Noticing” chapter in Doug Pollock’s short book, “God Space.”
Picture this: You’re sharing your faith and, suddenly, you hit a roadblock. The other person is willing to answer your spiritual questions but only with short answers. Or maybe on the soccer sideline another parent seems interested, but phone calls or developments in the game keep distracting them.
It’s in these moments that perseverance becomes your ally. It’s about not giving up. But hey, we understand — it’s not always easy:
What’s awesome about perseverance? It shows your dedication and authenticity. Your commitment shines through, building a foundation of trust and setting the stage for incredible conversations about God.
Switch gears for a moment and think about a different roadblock. The person you’re talking with gets upset discussing “religion” and shuts down. In this case, adaptation rather than perseverance is likely the best way forward. Adaptation is all about being flexible and willing to adjust your approach. But hey, adapting comes with its own set of challenges:
Adaptation lets you meet people where they are spiritually and creates opportunity for deeper, more meaningful conversations. Adapting in the example above could be taking the time to show empathy by asking questions with gentleness about their experience with religion. By matching your approach to their needs, you’re showing them that you’re listening and that you value their perspective.
Now, let’s chat about the art of balancing. How do you know when to hold on and when to pivot? Keep these pointers in mind:
*Lessons are only available in the app.
As you navigate gospel conversations, remember that both perseverance and adaptation have their place. Effectiveness lies in the authenticity of your intentions, the love you show, and your sincere desire to share the life-changing message of the gospel. While you persevere in guiding the other person to explore the person of Jesus, be open to adapting your approach. This openness reflects your genuine care and commitment to their well-being.
In the end, the heart of evangelism lies in building relationships — between you and that person, and between that person and God. You are the guide on the other person’s spiritual journey, the two of you taking steps together toward Jesus. As you look through the practical tips in GodTools Nodarbībās, you’ll find yourself better equipped to strike the balance between perseverance and adaptation. Then you can more effectively invite others to experience the profound beauty of faith in Christ.
On a cold, gray afternoon two friends waited together for the bus that would take them home. Daniel had been a faithful Christian since his youth. Alex had lost his faith after his mother’s early death. The young men had built a solid friendship based on honesty, but they had never talked together about the gospel.
While they waited, Alex bought two cups of coffee to warm them up. As they enjoyed their drinks they talked with anticipation about the comforts of home. Their conversation created a warm atmosphere and Daniel felt that it was opening the door to a deep spiritual conversation. He decided to respectfully ask for permission to share what gave meaning to his life, and Alex agreed.
Taking out his phone and opening the GodTools app, Daniel chose the evangelistic tool called THE FOUR. The conversation went well, but when Daniel invited Alex to make a decision to follow Christ, everything changed. Alex said he didn’t believe what Daniel believed about God. He claimed that if God existed, he would be a sadistic being who takes pleasure in human suffering without stepping in to help. He thanked Daniel for his words but rejected the idea of believing in that kind of God.
Daniel was frozen. His fears about sharing the gospel had come true. He didn’t know how to react or what to say. Though he managed to clarify some points before the bus came, he was overwhelmed on the ride home by a mixture of disappointment, guilt and sadness. Thoughts crowded his mind, and doubt invaded him.
Daniel’s story may be similar to something you’ve experienced. Negative responses to evangelism can be discouraging and can undermine your confidence. However, these negative experiences can also become turning points in your spiritual journey, and they can help you find the right focus on God.
So here are five things to remember when your spiritual conversations do not go as planned:
It’s not easy when a conversation does not go as planned. That’s why it’s crucial to maintain the right focus, remembering why Jesus wants you to have these conversations in the first place.
Evangelism can be hard. Sometimes it can be really hard. Maybe you’ve even said to yourself, “It’s just not for me. I’m afraid of arguments. I’m too awkward. I’m not good at this.”
In reality, God has equipped all Christians to do evangelism in unique and different ways. It is average Christians, not just talented celebrity evangelists, who are able to speak and demonstrate the gospel to their friends and neighbors. When we shift our perspective, we see that our unique personalities and circumstances are actually a front doormat to sharing our faith. Even seeming weaknesses can actually be our strengths.
Let’s look together at how God has uniquely equipped and positioned you to share your faith.
Here are a few examples of how aspects of your personality can work to your advantage in having conversations about Jesus.
Have you ever considered where God has put you? Your physical location, emotional state, geography, or occupation influence your opportunities to share the gospel.
Take a look at some of these examples:
Believe that you were made for each moment and every conversation and that God has supplied you uniquely to do so. When you can believe that, then evangelism isn’t something you rehearse and share, it’s just something you live out naturally by trusting God’s plan. The solution isn’t to be more attentive, funnier or more interesting to talk to. It’s to embrace your gifts, interests and unique traits, which help you create opportunities to speak and demonstrate the gospel.
Yes, it does sound a little cliche, but the answer to how you can personally do evangelism really is inside of you — because God put it there. We are all God’s masterpiece, “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). That means He put intention behind creating you to be who you are so you can reach other people.
Hi, my name is Sienna*. For two years my husband and I shared the message of Jesus with university students in a part of Africa where Christians are few and often persecuted. One day, I invited a young woman named Nicole* to have coffee with me. When she arrived she had a friend with her — a guy!
I didn’t know what to do at first, because in this African culture girls do not often talk with guys. I prayed silently and asked God to lead the conversation and show me the reason why her friend Finn* was at the meeting. Soon after, we started talking about spiritual things, and I knew God was asking me to share the gospel with Nicole and Finn.
I asked if it was OK to show them an app on my phone that explains what Christians believe. They agreed and I started showing them the Four Spiritual Laws on the GodTools app. Nicole politely read and listened, but she was clearly not interested. Finn, however, took my phone and read through the Four Laws over and over, mesmerized.
He said, “A few years ago, I started feeling like there has to be more to God than what we are taught in this country. So I’ve been searching for who he truly is. In fact, just recently I’ve become curious about what the Bible says about God. I can’t believe I met you!”
At the end of the conversation, Finn and I prayed together that God would reveal himself to Finn. A couple of weeks later, I received a text from Finn that said, “I need to meet with you and your husband, and we need to talk about Jesus. I had a dream about him last night!” Jason* and I were so excited, we practically sprinted to the nearest cafe to meet with him.
As Finn described his dream, he said, “I saw a man dressed in white approaching me. I knew it had to be Jesus! He walked closer and closer until he was standing right in front of me. He didn’t even say anything to me. He simply looked me in the eyes. I don’t know how to explain it, but when he looked at me, I immediately understood in my heart that this was God! I knew right then that the Jesus of the Bible is real and he answered my prayer!”
Soon afterward, we met with Finn again. At this next meeting, Finn prayed the prayer at the end of the Four Spiritual Laws and accepted Jesus as his Savior. And he was so excited about his newfound faith that he wanted to share it with others that same day! Hours after becoming a Christian himself, Finn joined Jason in finding other students to share the Four Spiritual Laws with!
And it hasn’t ended there. For two years, Finn has regularly shared his faith with his friends and family. He has become a key part of our city’s growing Christian community.
*All the names in this story have been changed for security reasons.
When you think about your day, do you see opportunities for talking with people about God, or do you see obstacles?
Maybe you look at your busy schedule and think there are few, if any, opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith. But what if God has put you where you are, with the busyness and interruptions that come with daily life, for a reason?
Seeing that bigger purpose, though, can require a shift in perspective. The locations God has placed you in, and the daily patterns he’s put in your life, are not obstacles to sharing your faith. They are opportunities to reveal his love to those around you.
So here are two perspectives to help you transform your obstacles into opportunities to talk about God with the people in your life.
To understand the importance of the places in our lives we need to understand how God has used holy places to bring people closer to himself. In the history of God’s people, the most fundamental example of this is the temple.
At the temple God’s people could come to worship because God himself was there. And he invited people from all around the world to come and learn about him and worship him. God put himself in a geographic location so that people could meet with him.
Fast forward to now, and God no longer lives in one single temple. He lives in each of us! “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV) That means that we are walking temples. We are the places where God chooses to live. And he invites people to himself through us.
By extension, the places where we go become holy places where God is. God has put you in those locations to be a mini-temple, representing him wherever you are.
So your home is a place where your neighbors can see God. Your child’s school is a place where other parents, teachers and kids can encounter the Lord. Your workplace, gym, library, front yard, grocery store — all places where God has come to meet people through you.
Now think about the patterns in your life. You probably have a daily or weekly rhythm — you go to work, pick up your child from school, maybe meet some friends on Thursdays. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the busyness of it all.
But what if you slowed down enough to realize the potential of your everyday activities?
The Bible often talks about spreading the gospel like planting seeds. Is it a lot of work to plant a seed? Not at all! It takes just a moment to throw a small seed on the ground. It takes a few seconds to water it each day.
The key is doing small things consistently, leading to big results over time.
You see the same people every day or every week. What small things could you do to share God’s love with them in your everyday activities? Try to think of things that, if done consistently, might lead to fruit in the long run. It could be starting with a simple hello, or inviting a friend over for dinner. Or mentioning something encouraging you read in the Bible recently. The small patterns in our lives have great potential.
So how do you transform your obstacles into opportunities? It really comes down to changing your perspective. Do you view your daily interactions with people as insignificant? Remember, you are God’s presence in your everyday places and patterns.
One way to start changing your perspective is to make a new pattern. At the beginning of each day, remember that God has put you with purpose in the places you are. Pray for eyes to see the opportunities around you each day. God is with you!
Personalizing the way you talk with someone about God can make all the difference.
Why? Because no two people are the same. Your unique blend of cultural contexts, life experiences and personality traits sets you apart from everyone else. The same is true of the people you want to talk with about Jesus.
Knowing a person’s cultural context can help you get started. But the more you know about their life experiences and personality, the better the conversation is likely to go. Because when you understand the other person, you can personalize how and when you talk about God with them, making the conversation more productive and enjoyable.
So here are ways to think about life experiences and personality traits that can help you talk with someone about the gospel.
Understanding how someone came to their beliefs about God is just as important as knowing what they believe.
Take for example two people who are indifferent toward God. One experienced great success in life and never felt the need for God. The other experienced tragedy, felt like God was silent when they cried out for help, and now considers God unreliable. Neither of them think much about God, but both arrived at their indifference by separate paths.
When you know about their life journeys, you can approach a spiritual conversation differently for each of them. You are a living demonstration, translation and contextualization of the gospel for the people in your life. The more you understand them and their story, the better you can connect the story of the gospel to them.
So ask the person to share their life story, and listen carefully. If they share something vulnerable with you, make sure to treat that with respect. Show them by your facial expression, words and actions that you care about them.
Then you can ask one or both of these questions:
Personality plays a big role in how a person reacts to what has or hasn’t happened to them. Two people can live through the same circumstances but, due to their personality, arrive at different conclusions about God and self.
One truth to keep in mind is that personality is like an iceberg, meaning that it’s more complex than what you can initially see from the surface. So try to avoid making simple assumptions about anyone you talk with.
On a practical level, understanding someone’s personality can help you pick a good place, time and way to have a deep discussion about spiritual topics.
Pay careful attention to how the person acts and reacts in different circumstances. Ask questions about their personality, such as if they’re an introvert or an extrovert, and if they’re optimistic or more often pessimistic. If you’ve taken a personality assessment that makes sense to you, ask the other person if they’ve also taken it and compare your results. Then use what you learn to personalize your conversation with that person.
Because the more you understand your neighbor’s or family member’s unique life experiences and personality, the better you can customize a spiritual conversation for them. And the more personalized the conversation is, the more productive and enjoyable it’s likely to be.
If you could have a conversation about the gospel today with one person in your life, who would that be?
Maybe that’s an easy question to answer. What can often be more difficult is approaching the conversation. The spiritual side of life is a huge subject. What’s the best way to transition to a spiritual conversation and talk about the gospel with this specific person?
Learning about their cultural context can help with that. A person’s cultural context is made up of all the different overlapping cultures that have influenced how they view God and the world. This includes their family background as well as the culture of their friend group, neighborhood, school, workplace and any other community, past or present — a soccer team, for example.
So here are two ways that understanding a person’s cultural context will help you talk with them about God.
The first thing to do is ask questions like, “Can you tell me about your family?” and “Where have you lived so far in your life?” As the person answers your initial questions, listen carefully. What they say will give you valuable clues that will help you personalize the spiritual conversation you want to have with them.
For example, if your co-worker answers a question by saying she attended Catholic school for 12 years, that won’t tell you what she believes about God. But it shows that she’s likely not new to talking about him. So an easy transition to a spiritual conversation could be to ask about her spiritual experience at the school.
On the other hand, what if your neighbor says he grew up in China? In that case, you might not want to begin by talking about a personal relationship with God. Instead you could say, “I know that in communist countries many people believe God does not exist. Is that true of the part of China you grew up in?” The person’s answer will likely indicate what they personally believe about God’s existence and will give you the opportunity to ask follow-up questions.
Here’s another benefit to listening carefully. You’ll be able to see if the person is more likely to be highly individualistic or defer to other people’s opinions. The other person may also have a different sense than your own of when it’s appropriate to talk about something. Understanding that will help you personalize the spiritual conversation for that person.
Once you’re in a spiritual conversation, keep your eye out for an opportunity to talk with the other person about what Jesus has done for them. When that time comes, knowledge of the other person’s context will help you decide how best to communicate the gospel and if using a gospel tool is the right way to go.
Remember, the gospel message itself never changes. But personalizing the way you talk about the gospel can help the other person understand it more easily and deeply.
What if you’re talking with someone from a culture that places people in social positions of honor or shame? In that case, you might use the Honor Restored tool in GodTools. If the person lives in a culture with an awareness of the reality, presence and power of spiritual forces, consider using the Power Over Fear tool.
In the end, knowing a person’s cultural context will not help you overcome every obstacle to talking about your faith. But it can help you identify ways to start the spiritual conversation and to personalize the way you share the gospel with that person.
Have you ever felt unqualified to talk about God with someone in your life? Maybe you feel like your actions fall short of what you believe. Maybe you don’t think you know enough, or you don’t know what to say.
Most of us feel inadequate to talk about God. And why shouldn’t we? In many ways, God is beyond words. We can feel like we have no right to speak about him. But for some reason, God has chosen us to represent him to the world.
And to represent God to the people in your life this Easter season you’re going to need two things. Thankfully, he has already given them to you.
In 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT) we read that we are Jesus’ “ambassadors,” his representatives, tasked with spreading the knowledge of him everywhere we go. But there’s an important step we need to remember before we jump to the task. In verses 17-18, we see that God has given us a new life, a new story. We are new people. “The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God.”
What was your old life? Think about what your life was like before you began a relationship with God. How has God worked in your life? How is he working now? You have a story of God working in your life that he has given you to share with others. Your story is a gift from God to the people around you.
Not only has God given you a new story, but God has also given you his very Spirit to live in you and give you the words to say. Romans 5:5 says that God “has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” So speak from the heart! Relax and know that the Holy Spirit works through you. You may not know what to say, but he certainly does.
In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read that God has given us his Spirit of “power, love, and self-discipline.” Which of those three things do you need the most? Ask the Holy Spirit to give it to you and trust that he is with you.
So God’s story and God’s Spirit are everything you need to start sharing Jesus with those around you.
Jesus invited his friends into his story — one of suffering, mockery and death, but also of resurrection, life and courage. He gave his followers his own Spirit to guide and empower them. By sharing their story through the power of the Spirit, they started a movement of love that continues today. That story continues with you.
Because God has equipped you, you do not need to feel inadequate to talk about him with others. He has given you his story that is now your story, and he empowers you with his Spirit who lives in you. Will you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, invite someone into that story this Easter season?
Have you ever purchased a hat or other piece of clothing that said “One size fits all” on the tag? The idea is that by using a material like elastic one size can fit most, if not all, of the customers. Yet the same is not true for how to have a spiritual conversation with someone.
No method of talking about God will be effective in each culture or with every person. That’s why it’s important to understand the person you’re talking with and match your approach to them. At the same time, your method also needs to fit with the unique person God has made you to be.
So here are two things to keep in mind when you think about how to have spiritual conversations with the people in your life.
A person’s cultural context — mainly their family and community — helps shape their beliefs about God and how they view the world. We’re all influenced by culture and by cultural influencers, so understanding a person’s context will help you better understand that person. You can learn a lot about someone simply by asking questions about their family, where they’ve lived and what communities they’ve been a part of.
Still, every person in your life is unique. Though two people from the same culture will have things in common, no two people have the same personality or the same exact experiences. So we need to understand not just a person’s cultural context but in what ways that person agrees or disagrees with their culture. As you learn these things, it will help you customize your method of talking about the gospel with that person.
God loves you, and he wants to include you in his good work of grace and forgiveness. That’s part of why he created you the way he did and gave you the skills, personality and interests you have. That’s why he put you in a certain neighborhood or gave you a certain position at work or in your community. He made you unique so that you would be the perfect person to talk about him with the people he puts in your life.
That doesn’t mean you will always feel like the perfect person to talk with someone about God. You may never feel fully prepared for the vast experiences or complicated viewpoints the other person has. But you have experienced God yourself, and that is more than enough to talk with someone about him.
That experience of God is your personal story. And He wants the people He put in your life to hear it. Telling someone how the gospel changed your life is a story only you can tell with the same passion and joy you experienced while it was happening.
So find a way to talk about Jesus that matches who the other person is and who you are. There is no “one size fits all” way to talk about God, no right way to have a spiritual conversation. Try many different methods, from asking good questions to offering to pray for someone, from inviting someone over for dinner to using a gospel invitation tool in GodTools. As you get to know new approaches you’ll start recognizing which may be the most helpful for you and the people God has put in your life.
The Christmas season is a special time of year when spiritual conversations with people in your life can happen naturally. Holiday gatherings create opportunities to talk with friends and family you do not see every day, like that cousin who lives out of town. And even close friends and relatives are likely to be more open to meaningful conversation during the holiday season.
But feelings of pressure, and dread of small talk, are not uncommon at this time of year. Having the conversation you’ve been praying for may take focus and some strategic thinking. So here are three tips to remember when starting spiritual conversations during the holidays.
Have you been looking for a chance to talk with your family member or friend about faith? If so, a holiday meal or party might be a great time to chat. A sense of comfort can fill the room when people are gathered for a traditional meal. People mingle and laugh in a welcoming place.
At the same time, it’s important to think about whether you’re trying to start a conversation with the person at the right moment. For example, someone who is hosting or helping with the meal could feel busy. And if something doesn’t go right — what is that smoke coming from the kitchen?! — they might feel stress too.
So notice if they’re distracted or hurried. The way to show your care in that moment is likely through practical help. But keep your eyes open for a time when the person is able to relax and talk without needing to pay attention to something else.
Another thing to consider is where the friend or family member is on their faith journey. For example, if the person has shown open hostility toward spiritual topics, it might not be the right time to start that conversation with everyone around.
In that case, you could simply share your own story — about how God has worked in your life. Part of your story might relate to what the person is going through in their life and could help them move closer to God. “The power of your God story” lesson could help you think about how you would communicate your story.
If talking about something other than the weather feels challenging, that’s OK. One idea is to think about what God is currently teaching you or about a book you’re reading. It’s often easy to talk with others about what you personally find interesting. This can create a natural connection to something the other person finds interesting or has also been thinking about.
But perhaps a better approach is to pray and think beforehand about thoughtful questions you’d like to ask the person. Then look for chances to show care and get to know the person more by asking those questions.
Get some inspiration for good questions from the Openers tool.
Good questions will likely lead the two of you from a surface-level conversation to a deeper one. When that happens, continue to depend on the Holy Spirit to guide you with the appropriate questions to ask.
And having asked a question, seek to get to know the person more by truly listening to them. They might not want to talk about deeper topics, and while that’s disappointing it’s also OK. When you focus on listening well, you can let go of your expectations for the conversation.
Maintain a mindset of loving the person you’re talking to and wanting to bless them, rather than needing the conversation to go a certain way. The “How to love people by listening” lesson will give you more tips on how to be a good listener.
After you talk with someone, take some time to think and pray. Writing down a prayer request can help you remember to pray and may bring to mind topics to ask them about later.
Here are two valuable questions to think through: How can you continue the conversation? And what other next step can you take with this person?
Point your friend or family member to a resource that helps answer their spiritual questions. That way they can continue discovering and learning on their own. Consider inviting them to a Bible study or church event. Allow God to lead you in taking the best next step for that person, and trust that He will work in their life through you.
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