One of my favorite books on Evangelism is Mark Cahill’s One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven. Mark offers a number of practical approaches to sharing the Gospel, from his win-win-win attitude, to stuffing tracts in six packs at the grocery and offering a number of questions to drive one on one conversations. These questions are very helpful when having conversations with people as they help to uncover why a person believes what they do. I love to talk to people about their spiritual beliefs. I like to ask a lot of questions to get them talking. It makes the conversation more like a dialog rather than a monologue. It also gets them talking and sharing their beliefs. As I ask more questions, and listen to their answers I get an understand of why they believe what they do. This also helps in responding to their specific questions, objections and how their beliefs differ from the Bible. One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven offers a number of questions (and comments) to help facilitate these discussions. Thanks to Brian for gathering this list from the book. Many thanks to Mark Cahill for his permission to post them here. Our ministry was graciously given a number of copies of this book. If you have not read it and would like to read it, then please contact me. For a donation to the ministry to at least cover the cost of postage we’d be glad to send one to you (while supplies last). Additional copies are always available from Mark Cahill’s website.
The following is from the book One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven by Mark Cahill copyright 2002-2009 by Mark Cahill. Used by permission.
Questions to get people to think about eternity:
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What are three basic items found on a tombstone?
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A hundred and fifty years from now will it matter if you _______ (made a million dollars, graduated college, drove a fancy car, etc.)?
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What then? What then? What Then?…
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Eternity is an awfully long time. Make sure you have the right answer.
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Do you realize there is a 100% chance you will die? And do you realize that you will be dead a whole lot longer than you will be alive?
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Can you guarantee that you will wake up tomorrow morning?
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BIBLE: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
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I care where you spend eternity. (or) It is very important to me where you spend eternity.
Questions to transition from the natural realm to the spiritual realm:
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Where are you on your spiritual journey? (or) What is happening spiritually in your life?
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If you died tonight, are you 100% sure (or “certain”) that you would go to Heaven?
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If you were to die tonight and stand in front of God, and He asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” what would you tell Him?
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When you die what do you think is on the other side? What do you think is out there when you walk out of here?
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Why do you wear that cross?
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Do you want to go to Heaven?
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What is the most important thing in the world to you? On the day that you die, what do you think will be the most important thing to you?
Questions to help people realize that they cannot defend their positions:
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What do you mean by that?
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How do you know that to be true?
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Where do you get your information?
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What if you are wrong?
"Do you want to go to heaven?" ??
Who in the world would say no to that. Isn't that the reason we have so many false conversions from people praying a prayer so they can go to heaven?
Sorry, I think that's a terrible question. 🙂
Ginger – thanks for your input. My experience is that there are many people that answer that question as "no". Some say "no" because they don't believe in Heaven. Others say "no" because they think all their friends will be in Hell so they would rather go to Hell with their friends. Nonetheless, not every question fits everyones personal preferences. I just thought I'd mention that I've tried this question and the responses are interesting and lead to more questions. IE, you can follow up an "no" with, "really, how come?"