THINGS THAT KEEP YOU FROM BEING A WITNESS

Answer: “I’m not outgoing, nor good at making conversation with people.”

My wife is an outgoing social butterfly. I like going to parties and get-togethers with her because she always keeps an energetic conversation going. Going to social events without her, especially with people I don’t know well, can be a bit rough. I’m not naturally good at starting and maintaining conversations.

What does that mean for me as a witness for Jesus? Is it only the extroverts that can share Jesus with the people they know?

Here’s what I have found. I do have to step out of my comfort zone to start conversations with people that could lead somewhere, but I don’t have to sustain a conversation with them if they aren’t interested in taking the conversation further.

The biggest thing is learning to be intentional when I am with people. When the Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians, he refers to his team as “ambassadors for Christ”. I realised that I need to think of myself that way too. Jesus has sent me into every conversation I have as his ambassador, his representative. If I can hold that in my mind, then I can purposely try to think of a question that will start a meaningful God conversation if the person is interested.

A question lets a person get involved in the conversation at whatever level they are ready for. If I ask a great question that could lead to a conversation about God or spiritual answers to life’s issues and the person isn’t interested in going there, it’s no problem. I don’t need to push. If they are interested, then they will take the conversation to the level that they are ready for and I can engage meaningfully with them about God. This response is exactly what we see in Jesus’ encounter with the Woman at the Well in John 4.

Make a decision right now that you will look for opportunities today to ask questions that could open up meaningful conversations about life or God or spiritual things and then see where God takes it!

If you and your Christian friends want to learn to be an effective witness for Jesus, head to myLife2Life.com and start a Life2Life huddle!