Communicating your Faith more Effectively

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WHAT THE TELEPHONE COMPANY TAUGHT ME

I actually came to know Jesus while working at Pacific Bell Telephone company back in the 90's. One of the things that I learned at Pacific Bell Telephone Company that is a very helpful tool for doing the work of an evangelist, is scripts. I stopped working at the phone company back in 2002, and I still remember the script they had me read from. Whenever I received an incoming phone call I would say, "Thank you for calling Pacific Bell. My name is Jason. How can I provide you with excellent customer service?" I can say it today with just as much oomph as I did way back when I worked there. Why? Because I memorized it, and it became a part of who I was, and now it is permanently inscribed on my heart.

This idea of scripting is not some robotic reciting of certain words and phrases. It is a time-tested proven method for memorizing key words and phrases of any given subject, in order to help us become familiar with, and communicate about in a natural easy flowing way. We can look to Hollywood and see scripting at its best. The Movie business takes in over 30 billion dollars every year because creative writers tell amazing stories by writing them down on scripts, so that talented actors and actresses can memorize and then recite them naturally before the camera. Some movie scripts make us laugh, some make us cry, some inspire us, and some even put us to sleep. But the reason moviegoers keep coming back for more is because movies "move" us.

This is what Communicating Your Faith More Effectively is all about. It's about learning key words, phrases, and stories, much like using a script - but pertain to explaining the faith - for the purpose of communicating the gospel naturally and most effectively with those God has called you to engage with. The motivating factor behind this, is that you will become a more effective communicator of the gospel, and God will use you to share His story in such a way that it will move others closer to Jesus, and keep them coming back for more.

EQUIPPING OURSELVES TO DIALOGUE WITH THE UNCHURCHED

The way to most effectively share your faith is by memorizing key phrases, illustrations and stories that help you articulate the gospel in a way that resonates with others. The reason behind this is because when you do this, your conversation will flow much more naturally as you are dialoguing with others about Jesus. When I use to teach about this subject at the Horizon School of Evangelism, I would have my students break up into groups and assign them a variety of life-situations, where they would have to come up with creative ways to dialogue with people (i.e. while surfing, or riding on a trolley, or as a passenger on an Airplane, or hanging out at Starbucks, etc). They would have 15 minutes to brainstorm, and then one of them would have to present. Every class always impressed me with the way the Spirit of God would creatively lead them into sharing the gospel.

I would highly encourage you to sit down with some friends and do the same. And once you come up with some great scripts, be diligent to commit it to memory, and then practice them until you own it. Lastly, pray for God to give you the opportunities each day to use it! The purpose behind this is so that when you get into conversations with others about the Lord, you will have several tools in your evangelism toolbox to refer to, which will give you the opportunity to be able to reach a greater amount of people, using a handful of different methods. Memorizing key illustrations and stories will enable you to communicate them naturally when sharing them with others. 

 The bottom line is this, the more effectively we can communicate the gospel, the more effective we will be in sharing Jesus with the lost, as we reason with them about the Gospel and eternity.

ONE LAST CAUTION

 Becoming a better communicator in the way that I have prescribed in this article will never replace the importance of being prayed up, led by the Spirit, and continually growing in your understanding of God's Word.

RELATED ARTICLES
1. Communicating Effectively with the Unchurched
2. Using Gospel Tracts Effectively
3. Realities of the Sinners Prayer

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