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Launch Pad 5: Baited Hooks for Gospel Conversations

by Editor

Somebody once remarked that when Jesus makes us fishers of men, the process looks more like fly-fishing than trawling! Whilst a trawler uses a vast net to corral huge numbers of fish, a fly fisherman looks to entice just one to bite by using a shiny lure. So how can we make sure that our everyday conversations contain plenty of such ‘bait’, which might lead to gospel conversations?

One obvious conversational hook is: “Did you have a good weekend?” because if the question is returned then you have an opportunity to talk about some aspect of church and faith.

Asking a friend if they’ve seen the latest film or Netflix series and if they have, what they thought of it, can also be a hook, whether the programme was good (or bad!) If the film contained a redemptive narrative, it’s an obvious bridge to the gospel. If the characters got away with wickedness, then Christians have a lot to say about justice, why it matters and what it tells us about God.

Celebrities can be profound and vacuous in equal measure! “What did you think about what she/he said last night?!” can bridge through from headlines to deeper things. Other conversational hooks can be:

  • “What are your goals this year?”
  • “What’s been the best/worst part of your week?”
  • “Do you think you have changed much?”
  • “Who has had the most influence in your life? Why?”
  • “Did you grow up in a religious home?”

But not all baited hooks are questions. You can also use statements, leaving them dangling to see if anyone ‘bites’:

  • “So many people seem to lack any purpose in life.”
  • “It’s in situations like these that I find my faith so helpful.”
  • “I found this book so frustrating.”
  • “Something at church yesterday really perplexed me” is a hook loaded with intrigue and the potential of sharing a testimony of the reality of God’s work in your life.

The three key elements in baiting conversations are:

  1. Frequently hold out ‘baited hooks’, to invite, not force conversation.
  2. Be genuinely interested in people’s responses, experiences and views.
  3. Have a clearly thought-through Christian perspective, ready for when you are given the opportunity to share.

So pray: “Lord, help me to enticingly bait my conversations this week, and help me to be ready to speak winsomely for you when someone ‘bites’”.

Previously: Launch Pad #4 Mention Something About the Difference Your Faith Makes Today

Next: Launch Pad #6: Stand Out Online, (For The Right Reasons)

The Love of God

by Editor

Maddiston Community Church is a fellowship we have enjoyed friendship with for many years. Recently, Gavin from the Solas team went down to Maddiston to speak at their morning service. The topic was ‘Living in God’s Love’ and drew three major themes out of 1 John 4. You can watch the sermon here.

The Solas webinar with Tom Tarrants, that Gavin referred to in his talk: “Consumed by Hate: Redeemed by Love” can be seen here: 

If you would like one of the Solas team to speak in your church, please do get in touch. Every week, our speakers adress hot-topics and Bible texts, in churches all over the country. If we can be of service to your fellowship, please do get in touch by clicking here.

 

PEP Talk With Kevin Elliott

by Solas

Today’s guest can relate amazing stories of adventurous missions in remote areas experiencing miracles and dramatic conversions. But even if that is not what most of us experience, we can still take from it practical lessons about prayer, following the Spirit’s leading and hospitality in our day-to-day lives at home.

With Kevin Elliott – PEP Talk

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Our Guest

Kevin Elliot is chair of trustees for the Christian charity Mission Macedonia. He makes regular mission trips to North Macedonia, and has also worked alongside churches in East Africa. With 30 years’ experience in Christian youth work and church-based outreach in the UK, Kevin also has an on-line ministry, ‘allaboutjesus.info’, teaching the four gospels through video talks. Kevin’s first book, See Miracles, was published in November 2023.

About PEP Talk

The Persuasive Evangelism Podcast aims to equip listeners to share their faith more effectively in a sceptical world. Each episode, our hosts chat to a guest who has a great story, a useful resource, or some other expertise that helps equip you to talk persuasively, winsomely, and engagingly with your friends, colleagues and neighbours about Jesus.

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Launch Pad 4: Mention something about the difference your faith makes to one person today

by Editor

How do we move a conversation to a place where we can speak about our faith? Why not try sharing just one thing about the difference that faith makes in your life today, and trust that the Lord will guide the conversation from there.

How do we do this? I hear you ask. Let me share just a few thoughts that I hope will help you.

Step 1: REFLECT!

We first need to stop and actually think about how our faith makes a difference in our lives. So let me encourage you to pause, quiet your mind, and start thinking about your life and the difference that following Jesus makes. Think about the radical grace that God has offered to sinners like you and me. Think about the things you do, or don’t do and how your faith influences those things for the better? Think about your self-perceptions, how does God’s grace to you change the way you think and feel about yourself? Think about your relationships – how has your faith changed the way you interact with friends and family?

We need to first know and reflect on the many ways that the difference our faith makes in our daily lives before we can share that authentically with others.

Step 2: PRAY!

We can call on the Lord at any time (1 John 5:15) – so as we are in conversation with people, be actively praying that you will find opportunity to share something about the difference that your faith makes.

Step 3: LISTEN!

Ask good questions (see week 2), and then focus as you listen to what the other person says, and look for a point of connection where you can then share about the difference that your faith has made given the issue or topic they have mentioned.

Step 4: SHARE!

Here’s an example: Someone mentioned to me that they were anxious about finances as the look at the year ahead. I replied that I share the feeling in many ways, but over the years I’ve seen how God has provided for me, and so I trust that ultimately He will give me what I need – and suddenly the conversation became about God, and the difference that my faith in Him makes in my life.

Prayer: Lord, help me see the ways that you have transformed my life, and to share that with others.

Previously:Launch Pad #3 The Humble Tract

Next: Launch Pad #5 Baited Hooks for Gospel Conversations

Ballymoney – Confident Christianity conference

by Editor

Andy and I had the opportunity to head over to Ballymoney in Northern Ireland for a Confident Christianity Conference at the beginning of November. The conference was held over two days, and hosted at Trinity Presbyterian Church by Pastor David Irvine. Between Andy and I, we spoke on six different topics.

I kicked things off with an equipping talk on conversational evangelism and asking questions Jesus’ way (a great resource for this is Andy’s latest book, “How to Talk About Jesus Without Looking Like and idiot”). This is a great way to set a strong foundation for people as it gives tools for evangelism that can be used in just about any conversation, no matter what the topic. It also sets things up well for the talks that follow.

Andy then spoke on Sexuality: Is Christianity Oppressive? Which led to a lively and lengthy time of Q&A before we closed the evening. There is so much confusion and fear when it comes to the topic of sexuality given the current cultural climate – but we went away from the evening encouraged by the clarity that Andy could bring through the talk and then through the Q&A time where there were many questions around how we can practically love those around us given that we may disagree on sexual ethics.

The following morning we made the long journey across the car park from the manse to the church building to pick up where we left off. After warming up with some coffee and a time of worship, the morning saw Andy and I speak on Evangelism to the Apathetic, Science & God, Where is God in a world of Suffering?, and finally Living for God While Being in Babylon. Again, we had a great time of answering questions after the talks which ranged from practical questions on evangelism, to Islam, and science.

We look forward to visiting Northern Ireland again soon as we partner with more churches there in equipping the Saints for the work of evangelism. If your church would benefit from a day or halfday of encouraging, equipping and training in sharing the gospel in today’s world – then we’d love to bring a Confident Christianity conference to your city, town or village. We work with churches in every corner of the UK, and would be happy to hear from you about what would be most helpful for your church.

What is the Meaning of Life? Part Two – Value

by Solas

What’s the meaning of life? That’s a question every thoughtful human being has asked themselves. Yet it’s so big, it can be hard to wrestle with—and it’s certainly too big for one short video. Hence we’ve made a short series of four! In the second Short Answers film in this mini-series, Andy Bannister explores the question of value. What are we worth as human beings: just the sum of our chemical parts, or is there more to us? And if there is, what’s that value based on? How does answering the value question help us with the meaning question? Watch and find out!

Part One: Identity – Part Three: Purpose – Part Four: Agency

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Please share this video widely with friends or family and for more Short Answers videos, visit solas-cpc.org/shortanswers/, subscribe to our YouTube channel or visit us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Support

Short Answers is a viewer-supported video series: if you enjoy them, please help us continue to make them by donating to Solas. Visit our Donate page and choose a free book as a thank-you gift!

Launch Pad: 52 Ways To Share Your Faith

by Solas

Welcome to Launch Pad, a brand new series from Solas. Each week throughout 2024 we’ll be sharing a short article designed to help you talk more about Jesus: at work or school, among your family, friends, and colleagues.

Many Christians are naturally nervous of talking about our faith and so the rocket of evangelism just sits on the ground. But Launch Pad will help get some rocket fuel into your tank, as it provides ideas for prayer, practical ideas to try out, stories to motivate you, and biblical wisdom to inspire you.

Check out everything published so far:

Launch Pad 3: The Humble Tract

by Editor

Giving out a short leaflet or “tract” was once a very popular way of sharing the good news. However, in our post-Christian culture, the humble tract seems to have fallen into disrepute. Yet a good, short, printed explanation of the gospel can still be a useful item in the Christian’s toolbox!

Tracts are not a poor substitute for relational and conversational evangelism, but can be a helpful addition to it. If you carry a few topical relevant tracts around with you and keep on the lookout for opportunities to share them, it’s amazing what can happen. Whilst it’s still useful to have access to more substantial apologetics books for when tracts provoke deeper questions, don’t dismiss these handy conversation starters!

There are some brilliant tracts out there. There are seasonal ones around (Christmas, Easter, Halloween); tracts built around famous stories (the Titanic, Eric Liddell); the arts (such as Handel’s Messiah) and tracts themed around contemporary events (Coronations, World Cups, Olympics etc). Christmas tracts fit inside Christmas cards, while Halloween themed tracts can be given out along with handfuls of sweets to youngsters playing ‘trick or treat’. They might only be looking for sugary confectionary, but they can also be offered the words of life! Look out for election-themed ones later in the year too.

Tracts can also be left anywhere. On our podcast, Adam White talked about placing tracts in beer boxes, petrol pumps and inside books—the possibilities are endless. When left in accessible places, and done so prayerfully, it can be yet another way of sharing the gospel.

The evangelist Roger Carswell has a treasury of stories about responses to tracts he has written. His favourite is about a man who picked up a tract at work, whilst cleaning a train in Malvern. That led him to faith in Christ, and he wrote to Roger via the address on the tract and they corresponded for many years as he grew in faith.

Want to get try using tracts? Check out the brilliant range of attractively produced tracts are available from our friends at 10ofThose.

Perhaps it’s time to reembrace the humble tract! With every tract you pass on pray: “Lord, I don’t know whose hands this tract will end up in, but I ask you to bless them and to speak to them through your word by your Spirit, Amen.”

Previously:Launch Pad #2: “Wondering How to Start Conversations About Jesus?”

Next: Launch Pad #4: “Mention something about the difference your faith makes to one person today”

Confident Christianity at Christ Church Newland

by Editor

Andy Bannister drove to Christ Church Newland for an evening of ‘Confident Christianity’ with the churches there. Andy had to drive home after the event, arriving in the early hours of the morning – yet despite his tiredness, he was enthusing about these churches the next day. Their thoughtful engagement with the talks, their enthusiastic support of Solas and their highly perceptive questions made for a really great evening.

The video above is Andy’s talk on the Uniqueness of Jesus. The other talk from the evening, on conversation evangelism is also available and the Q&A session was filmed as well. These are available on link below.

PEP Talk with Nathan Rittenhouse

by Solas

One of the most effective methods for sharing the gospel is through personal conversations. But in our modern world, many of us struggle with ‘personal’ and ‘conversation’ for a variety of reasons. Today on PEP Talk we discuss the issues and struggles we have with conversation, personal connection and empathy in an age of digital distraction and polarised public discourse.

For further reading, books mentioned in this episode include Disruptive Witness by Alan Noble and Reclaiming Conversation by Sherry Turkle.

With Nathan Rittenhouse – PEP Talk

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Our Guest

Nathan Rittenhouse is a speaker, preacher and podcaster. After double-majoring in Physics and Philosophy, Nathan studied theology and pastoral studies in several institutions and holds an M.Div from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. Nathan has been preaching and speaking in the field of Christian apologetics at churches, campuses, and conferences for the last 8 years. He is the Co-Founder of Thinking Out Loud. Nathan, his wife Erin, and their four children enjoy the great outdoors and are grateful for the wisdom, support, and opportunities to serve and grow in their local church.

About PEP Talk

The Persuasive Evangelism Podcast aims to equip listeners to share their faith more effectively in a sceptical world. Each episode, Andy Bannister (Solas) and Kristi Mair (Oak Hill College) chat to a guest who has a great story, a useful resource, or some other expertise that helps equip you to talk persuasively, winsomely, and engagingly with your friends, colleagues and neighbours about Jesus.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Launch Pad 2: Wondering How To Start Conversations About Jesus?

by Editor

How do you even start a spiritual conversation with a friend or colleague, especially if they’re apathetic or disinterested? One approach is to try asking them a wondering question: that’s when you start from something that your friend is already interested in and get them wondering about its source, significance, or meaning.

There’s a good example in the Bible. In Acts 17, Paul is in Athens and as he explores the city he stumbles across the Altar to the Unknown God. Later in his speech at the Areopagus, Paul gets his Athenian audience to wonder about the identity of this god they’re worshipping as unknown.

We can use a similar approach. Whilst our friends may not have erected altars to unknown gods, nevertheless they will have things they care deeply about, things that actually only make sense if God exists.

Here’s an example. During the Christmas holidays, a friend remarked to me that she loved Christmas because it’s a good time to pause and be grateful for all the good things of the last year. We chatted about the kinds of things she had in mind and then I asked: “Have you wondered why we see gratitude as something to aspire to?”

“I hadn’t really thought about that before,” she said.

I then explained how I’d recently read a blog which had included the line: “The greatest problem for many of us is not that we have nothing to be thankful for, but that we have nobody to be thankful to.”

“That’s so right!” she said. “But then … who are we supposed to be thankful to?”

That quickly turned into a much bigger conversation!

With prayer and practice you can learn to ask wondering questions about everything from human rights and justice to beauty, music to movies, love to loneliness and more. You can find loads of examples on the Solas website to inspire you, as well as in chapter 10 of Andy Bannister’s book How to Talk About Jesus Without Looking Like an Idiot. And look out for Solas’s Have You Ever Wondered? book coming this Easter: the ideal gift for a non-Christian friend!

And try praying: Lord, would you please open my eyes to the things my friends care about. Help me be attentive as Paul was attentive in Acts. And then, Lord, please inspire me to ask good wondering questions that might start conversations that lead to you. Amen.

Previously:Launch Pad #1: “No More Undercover Christian”

Next: Launch Pad #3: “The Humble Tract”

Confident Christianity – Donwfield Mains in Dundee

by Editor

Recently Andy Bannister from Solas was at Downfield Mains Church in Dundee for a Confident Christianity evening conference – ‘Sharing the Gospel in an Age of Uncertainty’. Andy shared some thoughts from his most recent book How to Talk About Jesus without Looking Like an Idiot, followed by a talk on the uniqueness of Jesus among all the other options out there. We are always encouraged to see how well attended these events are, and how engaged the audiences are too.

Following the talks there was at time of Q&A which was really lively, with some good, challenging questions coming from the floor. Andy and Steve, our new addition to the Solas speaking team, were able to engage with the questions and have some good dialogue with the audience which led to some very fruitful conversations after the event as well.

You can never really know where people are on the journey of faith as you come to these events, but what remains true is our need for the grace of God in Jesus Christ, no matter where we are. The pastor of the church, Nathan, led a time of prayer at the end of the event, giving people an opportunity to respond to what they had heard, and turn to Jesus Christ in faith.

Nathan McConnell, the minister at Downfield Mains was enthusiastic about the event and said:

What Is The Meaning of Life? Part One – Identity

by Solas

Perhaps the oldest and most significant question we can ask ourselves is this: “What is the meaning of life?” One reason it is a difficult question is because it really can only be answered by first considering four related questions concerning our identity, value, purpose and agency.

In the first of a four-part Short Answers series, Andy Bannister considers the question of identity: “Who am I?” If your answer is “a chance collection of atoms”, then you’ll not get far with value, purpose or meaning. Of course, the Christian view provides a radically different basis for human identity and our place in the universe.

Part Two: Value – Part Three: Purpose – Part Four: Agency

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Please share this video widely with friends or family and for more Short Answers videos, visit solas-cpc.org/shortanswers/, subscribe to our YouTube channel or visit us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Support

Short Answers is a viewer-supported video series: if you enjoy them, please help us continue to make them by donating to Solas. Visit our Donate page and choose a free book as a thank-you gift!

Launch Pad 1: No More ‘Undercover Christian’

by Editor

Welcome to Launch Pad, a brand new series from Solas. Each week throughout 2024 we’ll be sharing a short article designed to help you talk more about Jesus: at work or school, among your family, friends, and colleagues.

Many Christians are naturally nervous of talking about our faith and so the rocket of evangelism just sits on the ground. But Launch Pad will help get some rocket fuel into your tank, as it provides ideas for prayer, practical ideas to try out, stories to motivate you, and biblical wisdom to inspire you.

It can be helpful to begin by realising that when it comes to being afraid of sharing your faith you’re not alone. Survey after survey has shown that the majority of Christians don’t find it easy. In his book, How To Talk About Jesus Without Looking an Idiot, Solas Director Andy Bannister tells the story of his first job. Andy worked for the NHS for six years, helping a hospital in London organise medical conferences. He loved his job but admits there was a bit of problem. For outside work Andy was very involved in his local church. But inside work he was something of an Undercover Christian.

Undercover Christian would make a great movie title, wouldn’t it! All about Christians sneaking around at work or school, hoping nobody ever points the finger and says: “Hey, you’re a Christian, aren’t you?”

It’s very easy to play Undercover Christian at work, at school, or among our friends. Keep your head down, talk about anything but faith, whilst inwardly feeling ever more guilty and inadequate. And each day that you don’t mention your faith it gets that little bit harder.

How did Andy break free of the Undercover Christian mould? He was helped by the encouragement of friends, by praying, and by discovering the many examples in the Bible of God using ordinary, flawed people as evangelists. But it also helped when he began praying, each day he went into work, for God to create natural opportunities for him to talk about his faith. Then committing to have the courage to step into them when they came.

So why not start this New Year with a prayer: Lord, I’m sorry for the times I’m tempted to be an Undercover Christian. Please forgive me—and please begin creating opportunities for me to naturally introduce my faith into conversations this year. Amen.

Next: Launch Pad #2: “Wondering How To Start Conversations About Jesus?”

Steve goes to Forres

by Editor

A few weeks ago we (me and our Operations Director, Mike Causey) were in Forres for a Confident
Christianity evening at Forres Baptist Church. It was my first trip up north since arriving in Scotland a
few months ago, and so I thoroughly enjoyed the trip – what a beautiful country we’re in!

This is the third Confident Christianity event Solas has done at Forres Baptist Church, and we came
away very encouraged by the response to the event despite the wet, chilly weather on the evening.
Being invited to do an event is always great, but even more so to see that the work of Solas is highly
valued in that we are invited back again, and again!

On the evening I did two talks. The first titled What About the Bible: Fact or Fairy Tale? This is one of my favourite topics to speak on as it’s something that really intrigued me when I was in my late
teens and heard someone share some evidence for the reliability of the Bible. The second talk was
on Jesus and the Failures of the Church – a tough topic, but one that we can’t shy away from as we
look to bring real and honest answers to some of the stumbling blocks that people have when
considering the Gospel.

All in all it was a great evening with some lively Q&A where there were a wide range of questions, and some tough ones given all that is going on around the world in terms of war, such as we currently see in Gaza and Ukraine.

We look forward to serving our friends in Forres again soon.