Communicating the Gospel by Being SALT

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Ask Questions

Always use open-ended questions. These questions give you so much more information compared to a simple “yes” or “no” answer. These questions are designed to help you discover where the person is and to keep the conversation going. These types of questions learn more and dig deeper. “Yes” or “no” questions shut down the conversation quickly and make it harder to witness.

Ask permission before a sensitive question. For example, “Do you mind if I ask you a question?” This gives you the permission to ask the next question.

Ask spiritual discovery questions. "If you died today, where would you go?" "What is your belief system?" "What do you believe about God?" "What do you believe about Jesus?" "Can I pray for something for you?" "Have you ever felt that God was pursuing you?" "Tell me about a person whose spiritual life you admire." "What are your thoughts about the spiritual side of life?" The spiritual discovery question is the most important part of witnessing. This is where you intentionally take the conversation towards sharing the Gospel.

Ask questions to stay in control of the conversation. Continue using open-ended questions to guide the conversation. Using questions takes you off the hot seat, always having to answer. "What do you mean by that?" "How did you come to that conclusion?" "What do you base that on?" "How do you know that is true?"

Listen

Listen to show you care. Listen intently and genuinely to the answers to your questions. It will allow you to understand their background and what they are thinking in order to know where to go next.

Listen with your eyes, genuinely acknowledging what they are saying. This may be one of the most important aspects in our culture today and the opposite of what we typically think of when witnessing because we have something to share. Listening and showing genuine interest earns you the right to speak into their lives. When you show people you care, they will let you care about their soul.

Listen to determine where your audience is. Discover where your audience is to help you know where to start.

Listen for the deeper message. There may be another issue that needs to be answered before the Gospel can be shared. There is a lot that lies beneath the surface of small talk.

Listen without judgment. Show no judgment, no matter what they believe or how they respond. Watch your facial expressions. Allow them to be transparent and real with where they are and what they believe. In order to truly get to know the person, you have to give them an open door to open up. 

Talk about Jesus and other spiritual matters

The goal at this point is to either leave them with something to think about or bring them to a point of decision. If we are not careful, we can short-change them by not guiding them to and through a point of decision. People do not always know what to do in order to call or believe on Jesus.

Leave them with something to think about. With so much confusion planted in the minds and hearts of people, sometimes the first encounter may not bring them to a ready point of decision. Many times the goal in our witnessing will be to leave them thinking. When we challenge their thinking by asking questions, the Holy Spirit can use that to convict and draw them to Jesus at a later time.

Bring to a point of decision. If you are able to share the gospel completely with the person, bring him or her to a point of decision as the Holy Spirit guides you. Again, use questions such as: “Would you like to receive God’s gift of eternal life?” “Would you like to call on Jesus Christ to save you?” “Do you want to take the next step to believe on Jesus Christ?” If they respond with a “yes,” then guide them on how to call on Jesus Christ.