Helpful Questions for the Evangelist
I like to use questions in my conversations with people to help them think about matters of faith.
Questions help draw people into conversations, and likewise can help further a conversation along rather than me making declarations all the time.
I was looking at an article by Paul Hazelden about The Modified Engel Scale (Complete). The Engel Scale (use your favorite search engine to find more information) was developed several years ago to help map out evangelism as a process.
It presupposes that conversion is a linear event, that happens after a rational conclusion of examining the evidence that one needs a solution for sin and that Jesus is that solution.
We are a generation that often thinks with its feelings, so I no longer think that the scale is helpful. My own conversion was without any understanding of my sin — I just knew I needed to follow Jesus. I understood what that meant as I began reading the Bible later.
But, I digress. At the end of the article, there is a list of questions that can be helpful to the evangelist. I refer you to the article for the larger contex. The Modified Engel Scale (Complete).
These are some possible questions to help determine where a person is on the revised scale.
- Is it possible there is a God?
Do you believe God may exist?
Are you certain there is no God?
Is there a purpose to the universe?
Does the human race have a destiny to fulfil?
Do you think you may be mistaken about whether God exists?
Is it possible you may be mistaken in your ideas about God?
Do you think there probably is a God?
Do you think God is a person?
Do you think God gets angry about some things?
Do you think God created the universe?
Do you think a person can know God?
Do you hope it may be possible to get to know God?
Do you believe anyone in the past has known God?
Let me ask you this?
What questions do you like to use in your conversations?
Great questions. If I have had the chance to get to know someone well enough I’ll just ask, “Where do you stand with God?” I’ve noticed that the question usually goes over pretty well. Some may hem and haw at first but it usually gets people talking.
What are some typical responses that you get?
I get a variety of responses. A lot of people’s first response is laughter and then they might say that they don’t know where they stand, or they might say that they try to be a good person and they hope God sees that. Some people will say that they have strayed away from God. If someone says that they hope their standing with God is o.k. based upon being a good person, then I can share with them about how all have sinned and that good works can’t earn salvation. If someone says that they have strayed away from God, I try to find out what they mean by that and then talk about what true salvation means. Many times I use myself as an example because it takes away the defensiveness that the conversation can create. After talking about myself it is easier to refer to the other person.