How can you help another person in their spiritual journey? Just like giving directions for any journey, first you need to know where they are. Jesus told us to make disciples. However discipleship resources often assume the person already has a relationship with Jesus Christ. In Europe that leaves out 98% of the population. Even evangelistic resources start with “God loves you”. But most people today don’t believe in a personal God. Remember that Jesus spoke “for God so loved the world” (John 3:16) to Nicodemus, a Bible teacher and seeker, not a secular humanist. Where is your neighbor in their journey?
We often think of evangelism only in terms of people being converted. Understood that way, most of our evangelism seems like pure failure. Few of us can live with that level of failure, so we don’t survive as effective witnesses for long. This modified Engel Scale completely changes that perspective. If we understand the journey a person must take to become a mature multiplying follower of Christ, then success is helping them take any steps in that journey. Spiritual growth and transformation is God’s work, and each one of us can be a part of making that happen. That is what it means to “make disciples”.
To help people in their spiritual journey (to make disciples), we need to know where they are in the process. Like a doctor we can diagnose their heart and mind with questions. Jesus, the great physician, used questions to explore. “Who do you say I am?” “Why are you so afraid?” “Why do you call me good?” Questions Jesus Asked Like Paul, we then adapt our message (Acts 17:16-34) and adapt our God Storyto fit our audience (compare Acts 22 with 26). Diagnostic questions help you determine where they are in their journey.
Diagnostic Questions for Beginning a Spiritual Conversation
What do you see as the biggest problems today?
What are your biggest problems at this stage of life? (Where does it hurt?)
What gives your life meaning?
What is our purpose as humans?
How did you form your basic beliefs about life?
Where do you get your ethics, your views about right and wrong?
What are your favorite books?
Are you a church attender?…Why?
What comes after this life?…How do you know?
How important is God to you?
How does God feel about you?
What made Jesus unique?
Pick two or three questions that you feel will serve you best and memorize them. Use them in your daily conversations. When you have some idea of where someone is in the journey, then click on a step below to see other possible questions to ask and relevant articles on LifeFound.me to share with that person.
Find Questions & Helpful Reading for Each Position of the Spiritual Journey
-12 Unaware of the Supernatural
They may talk about God, but they mean a myth, like we talk about unicorns. They “know” that they are simply fantasies which have nothing to do with the real world. This is regarded as the “scientific” position by most people today. It is the modern orthodoxy, the default. Few have given their own beliefs much thought.
Ask: Is there any reason to believe that we are not alone in the universe?
Did you ever believe in the supernatural?
What convinced you there is no God?
Are you open to consider evidence for the supernatural?
What if I told you that there is more evidence for God’s existence than against?
If there is no room for a God then life has no meaning, no purpose. Life is totally empty and futile. All human life is pointless; the universe itself is pointless. This is a depressing realization. They need the assurance that for other people God is not just a theory but is real in their experience. There must be more to life.
Ask: Does life ever seem pointless?
Have you noticed any longings that never get really fulfilled in this life?
It is hard to be totally dogmatic that the universe is meaningless, when so few people live that way. It makes sense to leave room in this universe for mysteries and the unknown. Who knows really? Once people accept that there is reality that can’t be put in a test tube then it is possible to start a search for God and look for clues. Some find meaning in pantheism and oneness with nature, quite popular today. Point them to human nature.
Ask: What does it mean to be human?
Why are humans so different than animals?
Have you noticed anything in nature that appears designed?
Is design or information ever created randomly? (DNA)
These people believe there must be a God but have little desire to know Him. Yes, there is something out there that we can’t explain. Maybe God made the world, but He doesn’t seem involved anymore. Why not? Who really knows?
God often reveals Himself in a gentle and unhurried way.
Truth matters. Unfortunately, our postmodern world welcomes the idea that each person can have their own truth. Of course, they don’t want the engineers who design their car to take this approach. They may perceive the design in creation.
Ask: Do you think it is possible to know God? Why or why not?
How would knowing God change a person?
What can we learn about God through what has been made? (Rom 1:20)
Spiritual birth is not based on our words but God’s. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Rom. 10:17 God opens blind eyes.
Read: (John 1:12) “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”
John 3:16-21
Ask: What does it mean to believe in Jesus, the son of God?
Would God find you guilty or innocent on judgement day?
Would you like to ask God to forgive you right now?
Do you want to repeat a prayer with me or use your own words?
At this stage it is important to understand their covenant with God. God promised His Holy Spirit to them. Baptism is the normal way to express their new life.
Read: (John 5:24) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.
Ask: Where is Jesus in respect to you? (In your life. His Spirit lives in you.)
Are you a follower of Jesus? How do you know?
What is the meaning of Baptism? (Showing you are united with Christ in His death. Romans 5)
Just remember that these are not always sequential steps but rather descriptions of various stages in the journey to faith. At which point does someone share personal experience with others? At every step! A learner has the need and opportunity to share their discoveries with others. It is natural. Look at the woman at the well! “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29) As she moved from skeptic to spectator, she shared her discovery and invited her whole city to investigate Jesus.
What if the person is from a Muslim background? They may have a vague belief in Allah or be highly committed to Islam. Many of the same questions and articles will be helpful, but here are some more that could help.
Questions in a Conversation with a Muslim
What awaits you after this life?…How do you know?
Can we as humans know God?
What made Isa Masih unique?
Have you ever read the Injil?
Did you know the Koran tells us to read the Taurat and Injil?
Are you familiar with the prophecy about Isa Masih?
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