By Andrew Williams
The Living Gospel (Week 4: Living a Shareable Life)
Opening Prayer
Holy Spirit, guide our conversations. Give us the wisdom to know when to speak and the grace to build bridges from the everyday to the eternal.
Today’s Scripture (NLT)
Colossians 4:6
“Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
One of the most common challenges in sharing our faith is knowing how to naturally transition a conversation from everyday topics to spiritual ones. It can feel awkward or forced. Paul’s advice is key: let your entire conversation be “gracious and attractive.”
This means that how you talk about the weather, your work, or your weekend matters. When you are a gracious, positive, and genuinely interested person, you build a relational bridge. People will naturally be more open to hearing your perspective on deeper things.
A great way to build a bridge is by asking good questions that move from the general to the personal. For example, a conversation about a stressful week at work could lead to a question like, “How do you usually handle stress?” After listening to their answer, you have a natural opportunity to share, “I know for me, my faith in God is a huge source of peace when things get crazy.” This isn’t a formula; it’s about being a good conversationalist who looks for natural openings to share the hope that is in you.
Disciples’ Life Tip: In a conversation today, practice building a bridge. Start with normal small talk, but then ask a slightly deeper question that opens the door to a more personal conversation (e.g., “What’s been the most life-giving thing for you this week?”).
Closing Prayer: Lord, make me gracious and winsome in all my conversations. Give me the discernment to see the bridges You are building from small talk to God talk, and the courage to walk across them. Amen.
