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TEST TWO
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TEST RUN
DEVELOPED POSTING PROBLEMS RETESTING
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HOW TO LEAD GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS
Have you ever sat in a group discussion and found it incredibly difficult to get a good conversation going? I’ve found it can be very challenging to move conversations along, especially when you’re trying to go deep and get to the gospel. Here are a few principles that might help.
If you love, you will listen
In order to promote good gospel conversations in small group gatherings, it is important that everyone listens to one another’s story well. Don’t check out, criticize, or think about your own story. Listen to their story. In order to do this, everyone must ask questions of one another. If we love one another, we will learn to listen to one another’s stories over and over again.
Ask good questions
Our lives are continually changed through conflict, challenges, joys, relationships, and new experiences. Without asking good questions of one another, we can’t really share in deep community. Good questions help uncover the truth about how people are really doing and create the opportunity to share life and truth together. Ask questions and genuinely listen to one another’s stories.
Most people don’t naturally know how to ask good questions. Just after college, I decided to start asking people specific questions because I wanted to be others-focused, not self-focused.
“Learning to ask good questions may start as a discipline, but it can flower into a beautiful expression of love.”
Here are a few examples of questions you can ask in a group or community discussion:
- When do you feel like that?
- Can you elaborate on that?
- How did that happen?
- How does that make you feel?
- Did you feel alone or supported?
- Were you afraid or confident?
- How did you respond?
- How are you feeling now?
- What concerns you Bthe most about this?
Listening is just one part of leading gospel conversations. The next post will explain more.
The basic three part structure of this series is adapted from David Powlison’s counseling mantra:
1) Listen to Their Story
2) Empathize with Their Story
3) Redemptively Retell Their Story.
THE BROAD REVIVAL 2012
MARCH TRAINING EVENTS FROM THE COMMISSION IN EVANGELISM
The Commission on Evangelism is sponsoring two training events in March 2012. You can register for both of these events by going to the Commission’s web site EVANGELISM PLUS or by calling Patty at 717-898-8144. Please note specific deadlines and costs.
‘HOW TO TEACH YOUR PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR FAITH” Saturday, March 10, 2012 9:00 am-1:00 pm Landisville Church of God 171 Church Street, Landisville PA
Pastors and other leaders/teaches can learn some basic understandings and simple methods to help their church members to be able to share their faith. Taught by Dr. Steve Dunn and one of our commission’s local church mentors. Simple understandings and techniques to help overcome their reluctance in sharing their faith with non-Christians. Cost is $10 per person. Register by March 5. You can also register of FACEBOOK on the ERC Evangelism and Church Planting page.
BRIDGEBUILDERS SEMINAR 9:00 am-3:30 pm Mt. Pleasant Church of God Dillsburg, Pa
How to Help Traditional Churches reach their unchurched neighbors. This is is our first of two spring offerings and will be taught by Dr Steve Dunn. Cost is $15 per person or $50 for a church registering four or more. Deadline is March 25th.
SOME THINGS WORTH CONSIDERATION
Today, we share the gospel as a means of addressing felt needs. We give testimonies of changed lives and say to people if they want to become better parents or overcome depression or loneliness, that Jesus is their answer. This approach to evangelism is inadequate for two reasons. First, it does not reach people who may be out of touch with their feelings. Second, it invites the response, “Sorry, I do not have a need.” Have you noticed how no one responded to Paul in this manner? In Acts 17-20, he based his preaching on the fact that the gospel is true and reasonable to believe. He reasoned and tried to persuade people to intelligently accept Jesus. — J.P. Moreland
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