Does the idea of presenting the Gospel to someone have to begin the same way? Do we need to ask the question, “if you were to die tonight, would you be certain you were going to heaven?” Do we need to ask them if they believe in God? Do we need to first debate his existence? Do we need to converse about evolution and debunk science to get things started? Is it necessary to ask them about eternity to really begin a significant conversation? Do we need to be debate carbon dating? Do we need to answer the problem of evil? Do we have to explain why bad things happen to good people? Do they have to believe in a heaven and hell and make a choice between the two?
If so, then sharing one’s faith is probably the most awkward conversation you will ever have. Who debates science in their every day life? Who asks you questions about death in your day to day life? Who brings up issues of carbon dating in their every day conversation? Who debates world religions in their common acquaintances?
What if you simplified your words? What if you focused the conversation? What if it was centered around one thing, one person? What if you asked your friend about Jesus? What if you focused on the things he did in his life? What if you gave it some time before you opened up your schpeel about sin, the cross, our need for God? What if you allowed someone to come to Jesus in the way that the disciples came to Jesus? They didn’t know the whole story. They weren’t prepared for what Jesus was about to do. They had no clue he would die. They were wrapped up in his life. They were amazed at who he was and what he did. They saw life in his life. They left their own lives because they saw a better life in him. It wasn’t because they feared death or burning in hell. It was because they wanted a richer life in a broken world.
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