Help Them Understand
What They Believe (Part 2)
(Conversational Evangelism: Third Type of Conversation)
By Allan E. McNabb

In our series on Conversational Evangelism, we’re investigating five types of conversations we have with people, when talking about God and His church.

So far in this series, we’ve talked about the first two types of conversations:

  • Learn about people and their religion.
  • Identify common ground, based on God’s word and authority.

In Part I of this article, we began exploring the third type of conversation:

  • Help them understand what they believe.

Summary:  Part I
God commands us to walk wisely toward outsiders, making the most of opportunities with gracious speech that’s seasoned with salt (Col. 4:5-6).  To carry out this command, questions are a very helpful communication technique.

Jesus, the master teacher, used questions to teach people.  And Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, used questions.

Questions help us take a “no pressure” approach to evangelism.  They help us:

  • clarify religious terms.
  • clarify beliefs.
  • expose uncertain beliefs.
  • introduce and teach Bible principles.
  • stimulate thought and interest in Bible study.
  • place the burden of proof on individuals espousing false doctrines.

Questions also allow us to discuss religion in a non-defensive way.  And they help people see discrepancies in their thinking.

Help People Who Are Misinformed
By asking questions, we can help people understand what they believe, often helping them discover where they’ve been misinformed (taught wrong, or made false assumptions).

Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill helps us analyze the process whereby people may discover they’ve been religiously misinformed.

  • Acts 17:22-23  Paul began by stating what they were doing.
  • Acts 17:24-25  he showed the inconsistency of their religion.
  • Acts 17:26-27  he showed them why they were doing what they were doing, although their worship was wrong.
  • Acts 17:28  he quoted their own poets to prove his point secularly, in addition to the religious proof.
  • Acts 17:29  he then concluded from the religious and secular evidence, that God was not an idol made with hands.
  • Acts 17:30  he proclaimed that God now requires all men to repent.
  • Acts 17:31  he introduced a hot topic to stir their minds (resurrection).

There are many instances today wherein people learn they’ve been misinformed.  Two of the most common ones are:

  • Some people believe they were baptized, but learn that baptism is immersion, discovering that they were not baptized but rather sprinkled.
  • Some people believe they were baptized for the remission of sins, but discover their church does not believe that baptism is for the remission of sins, identifying an incorrect assumption.

Help People Who Are Inconsistent
On Pentecost, the Jews learned they had been misinformed about Jesus, understanding their religious beliefs were inconsistent with Scripture.  Peter, in his sermon, went into great detail, proving that Jesus was the Messiah from scripture, convicting the Jews of killing the Messiah with lawless hands.

As a result, people with good and honest hearts asked, “Brethren, what shall we do” (Acts 2:38)?

Peter exhorted them to be saved from that perverse generation, commanding them to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins.  That day, about three thousand people received the word and were baptized (Acts 2:39-41).

Gospel: The Power of God
While conversing with people, asking and answering questions, remember that the gospel is the power of God to salvation (Rom. 1:16).

It’s important for us to bring everything back to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Nothing else has the power to change a person’s heart, and convert him to Jesus.

Therefore, it’s important to be good Bible students, studying the things we’re discussing with people, from God’s word.  Then, talking about them, from God’s word.

Let Then Know You’re Available For Bible Study
When people begin to realize they’ve been misinformed or made false assumptions, it’s a good time to let them know you’re available for Bible study.

Most of the time, it’s best to introduce the idea of Bible study in a way that doesn’t require a yes or no response, just let them know you’re available to study with them, if they’re interested.

If a Bible study materializes, you can study with them yourself, or ask another Bible teacher to teach the class.  Either way is effective.  Most importantly, use questions to stimulate spiritual conversations, and everything else will work itself out.