When someone is truly in the Red Zone—close to the point of accepting Christ as their Savior—they do not typically ask how the world began or why God lets bad things happen to good people. Sometimes, though, it happens. In chapter four of In the Red Zone, Dr. Tucker gives some practical tips on how to field questions when sharing your faith.
Know Your Position on the Team
Before you “get into the game” of fielding questions while sharing your faith, it’s important to know your position on God’s team. God doesn’t call believers to be salespeople who use high-pressure techniques, nor does he call them to be defense attorneys. Thankfully, you are not responsible for the way the person responds to the Gospel message. Your job is to show them how to receive Christ. The Spirit’s job is to convince them they need to receive Christ.
Respond With Patience
While you are sharing with them the Bridge Diagram, the seeker may ask questions or make statements that beg for clarification. For example, “It seems too simple.” or “Don’t my failures disqualify me?” These can open the door to further explain that we all fall short of perfection but that Jesus has bridged the gap for us. However, there may be instances when someone asks a more difficult question that you don’t have the answer to. It’s okay if you don’t have the answer. However, if you are in the middle of sharing the Bridge Diagram, just affirm the question and postpone it until you’ve finished explaining the Bridge Diagram. Most unbelievers don’t know what God has done for them or how to receive Christ. Make that clear first before getting derailed in answering questions.
If the difficult question is asked at a time when you are not sharing the Gospel, you can say, “That’s a good question. I don’t know the answer, but I’m sure there is one. I’ll find out and get back to you.” Dr. Tucker goes into greater detail in chapter four about other types of questions seekers might ask and how to respond in a loving, patient way that points them to Christ.
Remember the Secret to Influencing Others
The secret to influencing others comes from your own relationship with Christ. As you cultivate your spiritual relationship with God, He will expand your circle of influence. Also, the fruit of the Spirit (“love, joy, peace, patience…” Gal. 5:22-23) will become more and more evident in your life, and those who are seeking God will often want to have those same qualities in their own lives.
You can order your copy of In the Red Zone online or download the Kindle edition to learn more about how to share your faith today. For small group or church-wide training, be sure to explore The Red Zone Evangelism Complete Kit.
