Francis Schaeffer used to say that if he had only one hour with someone, he would spend fifty-five minutes asking questions and five minutes trying to say something that would speak to his or her situation, once he understood a little more about what was going on in in his or her heart and mind. —Jerram Barrs, Resident Scholar, Francis Schaeffer Institute

He also said that our generation is going to have to do more “pre-evangelism” because people are learning less and less about the Bible from the culture. It used to be the case that people knew the basic storyline of the Bible, but as Kevin Hosner observed during God Question #3, there are people in our own community who don’t even know that Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead!

So I think Schaeffer was right: there is a real need for “pre-evangelism”… it’s all about setting the table so you can have fruitful conversations with people.

I’m glad that you mentioned being respectful towards the person you are witnessing to. I am heading home to Philly this weekend to see family,(Tons of them) and it is a great reminder for me to remember to listen. Over the years I have shared the Gospel with them in different ways. As of late I have found it more productive to listen. I am shocked to find the different views of Christianity there are among people that don’t attend church. For instance, my last visit home one of my brothers said, “I have a hard time taking Christians seriously because they rule out life on other planets.” I stood there dumbfounded; shocked that a mere thought has been a stumbling block for him. I also thought, “How long have I looked like a joke to you, and possibly other family members, my dear brother?” I said to him. “God is big enough to produce life on other planets if He wants to. As a Christian, I am not saying there is not life on other planets, but if there is, it is the God of the Bible that put it there.”

There is a verse in Proverbs that says “A fool speaks before listening”. I am finding this to be true in sharing my faith. This past “God Questions” series coupled with the teaching of Greg Koukl (What do you mean by that?) has been very eye opening to me on sharing my faith. I used to push my faith in people’s faces, and try to discredit their thinking to win them. I never put much thought into people’s preconceived views of me as a Christian. Now I see that they have as strong of a faith in what they believe as I do, and unless I take them seriously in their realm of thinking, they will write me off just the same. It doesn’t mean that I am to agree with them, but just consider why they believe what they believe. It also does not mean I can win them with my words, I know God is the mover, but in my humility, the Holy Spirit shines. Yes, lead with the Gospel, and be prepared to listen. Thanks for the reminder.