Questions to Stimulate Interest in the Gospel

Most people have difficulty in bringing up the subject of the gospel with their friend or relative, so asking a question can be an excellent way to bring up the issue. We can learn from Phillip’s conversation with the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:

³⁰Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. ³¹“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. ³²This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. ³³In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” ³⁴The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus (Acts 8:30-35).

Did you notice how God had prepared the situation ahead of time? Phillip arrived at the exact time that the Ethiopian was reading Isaiah’s prophetic word about the suffering servant of God in Isaiah 53:7. It is such a joy when you see God working on a person ahead of time so that when you arrive on the scene, their heart is prepared for the sowing of the seed of the Word of God. Notice too, that Philip asked a question to stimulate interest based on something the Ethiopian was doing at the time. When Philip had his attention, he then helped him to understand the Scriptures as to the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. What kinds of questions can we use in transitioning the conversation to bring up the subject of the work of Christ? Here are a few that you could use. With some of them, you may need to know the person somewhat before you have earned the right to ask such an intimate question. 

1) If someone were to ask you “what is a true Christian,” what would you answer?

2) Have you ever thought about becoming a real Christian?

3) Are you interested in spiritual things?

4) Have you ever personally discovered Jesus Christ, or are you still in the process?

5) Have you ever seriously considered Christ’s claims on your life?

6) Do you think it is possible to know for sure before you die that you are going to heaven?

7) What would you consider man’s greatest spiritual need to be today?

8) Has anyone ever told you about the gift of God?

7) How did you personally give your life to Christ? (To ask a person who says he is a Christian, but you sense he does not have the experience of Christ in his life).

8) If you were to die today, where would you spend eternity?

9) Someday when you stand before God if God should ask you why He should let you into heaven, what would you say to Him? (Diagnostic question to give you an idea as to what the person is trusting in).

10) If you were able to ask God one question, what would you ask Him?

Just a little while ago I had a meeting in Panera with a couple engaged to be married and wanting a Christ-focused wedding with me officiating. The lady already knew the Lord, but the gentleman was a religious man. Religious people are difficult to lead to Christ because often they are trusting in their religious tradition and good works to gain them entrance into heaven. I started the conversation by just getting to know them. I felt led to converse with both of them the same. It is wise never to presume a person is born again (John 3:3), but to present the gospel and let the Word of God do its work of touching the inner soul. Let people tell you what they are trusting in as the conversation develops. 

After 5 minutes of just chatting about how they had met and some of their history, I began by sharing my sordid tale of life before I met Christ. This approach usually has the effect of making me very vulnerable before them and getting the conversation below the surface level. I wanted them to know that even though I am a pastor, I am just like them, in need of a Savior. It was then that I asked permission to share with them just what I saw as a Christian wedding. I told them that by officiating at their wedding, for me, it was more than just saying words; I felt a responsibility toward them to help them understand the difference between a Christian marriage and one without having the Lord as the third strong cord of a healthy marriage (Ecclesiastes 4:11-12).

I earned the right to share heart to heart with them both because I had already been vulnerable with them. I started by asking them if anyone had ever told them about the gift of God (as in one of the questions above). From that point my presentation was the basic gospel message that we will go over in tomorrow’s meditation, interspersed with different illustrations and clarifying specific terms such as repentance and sin—we live in a time where those concepts need to be clearly explained, especially among the young. The man gave his life to Christ when I gave him an invitation. Keith Thomas