Do you want to engage in winsome spiritual life conversations? Avoid foolish arguments? Do what Jesus did: Ask a question. He did that a lot … to both friend and foe. Why? Questions are powerful.
One person counted the number of questions Jesus asked in conversations in the Gospels. The number was 284. That is a lot of questions from someone who knows everything, but Jesus wanted to dialogue to make sure people connected and understood his message.
Francis Schaeffer said this, “If I have only an hour with someone, I will spend the first 55 minutes asking questions and finding out what is troubling their heart and mind, and then in the last 5 minutes, I will share something of the truth.” Interesting! Many might think if we let someone share 55 minutes of the hour, we would be cowards squandering an opportunity. Schaeffer thought it important to find out what was going on inside someone’s head and soul to discover what needed to be said.
Here are some of my favorite questions:
- My three favorite questions to use at a dinner party around a table:
Where were you in the 7th grade?
What was the warmest place or who was the warmest person in your childhood?
When in your life did you feel closest to God? - What do you think is the biggest problem facing our country?
- Is there anything I can do or pray for you?
- How are you doing … really?
- Describe for me the God you don’t believe in.
- Would it be ok if we don’t talk about “religion” but talk about “Jesus”?
- May I share something that is important to me?
- I feel like I should give you a snap answer, but would it be ok if I go home and think about it?
- Do you think that’s the whole story?
- What do you mean by that? (God, freedom, love, etc.)
- How did you arrive at that conclusion?
- What happens if you are wrong?
Now tell me your favorite question!! I want to get better at conversation –
“What’s for dinner?” doesn’t count!
Prayer Requests
- I graduated from the one-year Colson Fellows Program (http://www.colsonfellows.org). What a privilege to interact with many leaders across our country committed to bringing a Christian Worldview to their field of endeavor. Pray I complete my three-year application plan well.
- Pray for our new little grandchild, due in mid-September.
- Since March, I have been in Baton Rouge three days a week serving at the Capitol with legislators and the Capitol Community. The third special session began this week. Pray for opportunities for the gospel.
- I have been appointed to a Streamlining Committee in St. Tammany Parish. Pray I serve our leaders well.
Helping Louisiana’s Leaders,
Michael
