objection!

Our Roadmap Session 1: Why Become a Contagious Christian Lost people matter to God; they matter to u__________ R________________ evangelism Session 2: Being Yourself Evangelism Styles Positives (and cautions) of your styles Session 3: Building Relationships Friends/Family, New Friends Three Approaches to starting spiritual conversations 2

Roadmap Session 4: What’s Your Story? BC, MC, WC Session 5: What’s God’s Story? God, Us, Christ, You “Do vs. D_________”, “The Bridge Session 6: Crossing the Line Session 7: Putting It Together Session 8: Objection!

Preview Identify common objections to the Christian faith Practice responding to objections List points to remember about approach and attitude when talking to others about Christ

Prayer, Community Building Group Leader: The person in your small group whose birthday is farthest from today (6 months away). Lead your group through the following: Everyone acquainted in your group? 2. What is your biggest fear about death? 5

Video Vignette: Kevin & Friends Listen to the questions that Ryan asks, and the answers that Kevin gives. What did you think of the way Kevin answered Ryan’s questions?

Individual Activity Read the following five objections that you just heard in the vignette (see next slides) Write a response that you could use.

Objection One “Why can’t you just believe what you want to believe, and let me believe what I want to believe? As long as we both really believe in something, what’s the difference?” Your response: ___________________

Objection Two: “As long as I believe in God, does it really matter what religion I follow?” Your response: ____________________

Objection Three: “How can you say that Christianity is right and all other religions are wrong? Isn’t that narrow-minded?” Your response: ______________________

Objection Four: “How do you know that what you believe is true, and that Jesus really is who you think he is?” Your response: ____________________

Objection Five: “You keep using the Bible to answer my questions. How do you know the Bible is true?” Your response: ___________________

Small Group (or Partner) Activity Someone volunteer to be the objection-raiser Ask the believer one of the five previous objection/questions Someone volunteer to be the gospel-speaker Respond to the objection raised Someone else give it a try…

Video Vignette: Lindsey and Sarah What did you think of the way Lindsey answered Sarah’s questions?

Individual Activity Read the following five objections that you just heard in the vignette (see next slides) Write a response that you could use.

Objection One: “If I became a Christian, wouldn’t that mean I’d have to stop having fun?” Your response: ____________________

Objection Two: “Why would I want to be a Christian with all of those rules I’d have to follow?” Your response: ______________________

Objection Three: “Why should I become a Christian when the Christians I know don’t act any differently than I do now?” Your response: ___________________

Objection Four: “If God can do anything he wants, why doesn’t he get rid of all the evil in the world?” Your response: ____________________

Objection Five: “If God is so loving and kind, why does he let innocent people suffer and die?” Your response: _____________________

Small Group (or Partner) Activity Someone volunteer to be the objection-raiser Ask the believer one of the five previous objection/questions Someone volunteer to be the gospel-speaker Respond to the objection raised Someone else give it a try…

Activity Follow-up How comfortable were you answering these questions? How well do you think you could deal with people who have objections to Christianity?

For help: The Case for Faith, Lee Strobel The Case for a Creator, Lee Strobel Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door, Josh McDowell Give Me An Answer, Cliffe Knechtle Reason to Believe, R. C. Sproul Know What you Believe, Paul Little Know Why You Believe, Paul Little The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis When God Doesn’t Make Sense, James Dobson

Points to Remember Approach: Questions are not bad Look out for SMOKE SCREENS Answer the question, but then get back to the central message of the gospel Use the Bible when appropriate Ask QUESTIONS before you give answers

Points to Remember Attitude: We need to BE GENTLE Show the person RESPECT Be HUMBLE

Wrap-Up Identified common objections to the Christian faith Practiced responding to objections Listed points to remember about approach and attitude when talking to others about Christ

Course Summary Learned that lost people matter to God Identified unique evangelism styles Practiced starting spiritual conversations Practiced telling your story Shared God’s story Practiced crossing the line Responded to objections

Closing Challenge & Prayer 28