Part 2 of the Jesus Talk Series
Maybe you’ve read the books, been to the trainings, and taken the class, but even the most experienced Jesus sharers forget to ask this all important follow up question. It’s the difference between recruiting a pew-sitter and enlisting a revolutionary, between winning an individual and bringing together a community of people who want to follow after Jesus. Without it you might light a match, but with it you could light a forest. It all hinges on the follow up question you ask when someone expresses interest in Jesus.
It works like this:
Let’s say you used our tips from last month on how to start a spiritual conversation. And let’s say it works and you’ve finally been able to talk about Jesus with a friend or family member and they are now interested in learning more about Jesus. What do you do now?
ASK THE QUESTION
The all important question you need to ask is this: “Do you have any friends or family who need to hear about Jesus, too?” Now sure, you could just jump immediately into getting this one person connected into a church, reading their Bible, and started on their journey with Jesus. (And they will need those things). But think about how Jesus and his disciples did it. When Jesus talked to the woman at the well, he made sure she first went back to her village to gather the people who knew her. When Jesus talked to the demon possessed man he made sure to send him back to his people as soon as possible so they too could experience the grace of God. When Paul shared the hope of Jesus with his jailer, he immediately went with the man to share with his whole family that same hope. Instead of just thinking about the one person you are talking with, think about all the people that God has put in their life. And then do as Jesus did.
TEACH THEM TO TELL OTHERS
If you’ve had the chance to share Jesus with someone, make sure this person is able to go and do the same with others. Think back to that story of the woman at the well. Jesus introduced himself as the person who knew all about her life and still cared enough to talk with her. What did this woman do next? She went and told people exactly that truth, “Come see a man who told me everything I ever did.” Or think about the demon possessed man I mentioned. He experienced the grace of God that day when Jesus healed him. What then was the man sent off to tell others? The grace of God. These people walked away from their experience with Jesus able to communicate with others essential truths about Jesus. Make sure whoever you talk with also walks away able to tell others what you tell them.
So go out there and tell others about Jesus, but don’t stop there. Ask them the all important follow up question. And when they identify people in their life that need to hear what they have heard, teach them how to do it.
We’ve created the My Second Story Challenge for just this purpose. It’s a simple way for anyone to communicate with others what Jesus has done in their lives.