GOAL #1

identify your sphere

These are the people that the Lord has put in your life. Consider Christ’s sphere of influence:

  • Matthew (Matt. 9:9-13)
  • Woman at Well (John 4:4-28)
  • Nicodemas (John 3:1-16)
weekly meeting

GOAL #2

list ways to connect

The idea here  is to find ways to spend time together where conversation can happen. Here are a few ideas:

  • Invite them to coffee
  • Have them over for a meal
  • Ask them to do something you know they'd like to do 
  • Ask for their help (yard work, changing oil, building shelves, baking, making a meal for a soup kitchen, etc)
sharing the gospel

GOAL #3

get together

Now it's time to explore who they are. Everyone is amazing if you take the time to get to know them. Consider that God may have put you in their lives to represent Him, and for you to learn from them. Make it your goal to learn all you can about who they are. Here are some questions to use:

  • What do you do for work?
  • What family do you have? What do they do?
  • What do you like to do for fun?
  • What do you do on the weekends?
  • Do you have any holiday traditions?
  • What do you like to do during the summer?
  • What are your dreams?
friends talking

GOAL #4

make a memory

The goal here is to move past the "meet & greet." This builds trust and opens up opportunities for deeper conversation. Here are a few ideas:

  • Help them with something they need
  • Ask them to help you do something you need
  • Do something to help someone else (cook a meal, give blood, volunteer at a food pantry, etc)
  • Do something they think is fun (go to a sports event, scrap booking, whatever)
  • Questions to ask:
    • What causes you stress?
    • What gets you down?
    • How is your marriage?
    • How are you doing with parenting?
    • How do you feel about yourself?
    • Are you happy?
    • Does your life have meaning?
    • What carries you through hard times?
relational evangelism

GOAL #5

learn and discern

By this point, you'll likely have enough connection and trust to ask about what they believe. The goal here is to learn and discern their receptivity. Here are some questions to use:

  • I'm curious, do you have any spiritual beliefs?
  • Do you believe in God?
  • Do you believe in life after death?
  • How do you think life began?
  • Is there any way that I can pray for you?

Discern if they are:

  • RESISTANT - "I don't want to talk about it"
  • RELUCTANT - "I'm not sure about things like this"
  • RESPONSIVE - "I'd like to learn more"
  • READY - "I need God"
evangelism

GOAL #6

engage with Jesus

Now is the time to initiate something with them in accordance with their receptivity: 

  • RESISTANT - INTERCEDE. Pray for them and look for ways to show them love.
  • RELUCTANT - INVEST in the relationship. Spend time together, pray for them, seek opportunities for spiritual conversations.
  • RESPONSIVE - INITIATE a short-term (4-6 weeks) Discovery Bible Study. Choose something that resonates with them. Consider the Gospel of John, Mark, or the chronological sequence from our "Gospel Foundation Course." Make sure you choose a place where they are comfortable, and a time they are available. It needs to be on their terms and their turf!
  • READY - INVITE them to pray with you to accept Christ after sharing the Gospel clearly. Yay!
discovery bible study invite