Start With Asking Questions – Talking Through the Approach

Bridge Building

An 8 Week Series On Tactical Evangelism

Every Christian is called to participate in the mission of God to redeem the world. To do this well, we must live as ambassadors of the God who sends the church into the world through the authority of Christ and the power of the Spirit. But don’t go out aimlessly, have a plan! In this series, we’ll seek to train ourselves to communicate the Gospel wisely, clearly, and graciously using a tactical approach. With the support of a strong biblical foundation, the empowerment of the Spirit, and a personal conviction, our plan might actually build a bridge for someone to come back to God.

Across eight weeks, we will examine things like what evangelism truly is (and is not), how our character shapes our witness, how to begin spiritual conversations using tactical questions, and how to respond when obstacles arise. By the end, we should all have a plan of (1) how to build our bridge, and (2) where we plan to build our bridge.

(3) Start With Asking Questions – Talking Through the Approach

[text] Colossians 4:5–6; Acts 17:22–34 (cf. Prov. 18:13) [tbi] This class introduces the Columbo tactic as a biblical, relational way to start spiritual conversations through curiosity and clarity rather than confrontation.

Series Summary

This series is about becoming bridge‑builders, people who prepare the way for the Lord by creating pathways for God’s glory to be revealed in everyday life (Isa. 40:1–5).

Evangelism is a conversational and relational work that ambassadors need to work on in order to help others encounter Jesus.

Where We’ve Been

We’ve just come through a series on apologetics and science, exploring why the Christian worldview is intellectually credible and how creation itself points toward a personal Creator (general revelation).

We learned to answer big questions: Does God exist? Did God create the world? What’s the evidence for faith?

Now, we take the next step: How do we share these truths into real conversations with real people?

Re‑Introduction: Identity → Mission → Now What?

We had a week off, so let’s realign ourselves.

Over the first two weeks, we’ve established two core images:

As Christians we are Bridge Builders. What does that mean? From Isaiah 40 — people who prepare the way for the Lord, not by force, but by clearing paths for God’s glory to be seen.

As Christians we are Ambassadors. What does that mean? From 2 Corinthians 5 — representatives of another kingdom, sent to reconcile people to God.

That’s our identity. That’s our mission.

“So now the real question becomes: What do I actually say? What does an ambassador do in a real conversation?”

Discussion: Let’s Talk About Arguing

Q | How does it feel when someone challenges something you genuinely believe?

Q | What emotions come up first? What might keep you from responding? (defensiveness, anxiety, irritation, fear of sounding ignorant)

Q | When conversations turn into arguments, what usually changes in the relationship?

Let’s provide an example… If someone asked you right now, ‘What do you believe about baptism?’ — how might you respond?

What kinds of things are people arguing about?

Not that any of this was wrong, but what did we hear a lot… a lot of answers.

Answers are good. But they aren’t always what’s needed.

Most of us have been taught that talking about faith means explaining, defending, or correcting.

I need to have the right answer immediately

Silence = weakness

Not responding quickly = losing

There’s nothing wrong with answers. I hope you have the right answers. But answers are often the wrong place to start.

When we lead with answers alone, we might not be building bridges, we might be building walls.

Introducing a New Approach (Not Revolutionary, Just Intentional)

As Bridge Building Ambassadors, what if we didn’t start with answers? What if instead, we started with questions?

This isn’t mine. And it isn’t even unique to the book that I’m borrowing it from.

This isn’t revolutionary. You probably already do this sometimes by accident.

What we’re talking about today is doing it on purpose.

The Construction Approach comes in two parts:

Reframing what it means to win

Asking good questions

Winning means:

Not winning more arguments, winning by keeping doors open.

More winsome about our relationships.

Asking good Questions:

slow conversations down.

keep control without being controlling.

allow you to listen well.

Having Constructive Conversations

Step 1: Get Clarification

“What do you mean by that?”

This question slows the conversation down

It prevents misunderstandings

It helps you listen before responding

You can’t respond wisely to a belief until you understand what the person actually means.

Step 2: Shift The Burden of Proof

“How did you come to that conclusion?”

This question invites reason, not reaction

It moves the conversation from assertions to reflection

It gently shifts responsibility back to the claim

They won’t believe you just because you said the right thing confidently.

Step 3: See Where It Leads

“If this is true, what follows?”

Create a problem for them, where you have the answer.

Not a “gotcha” or a trp.

Trying to help them see that there is truth out there.

You’re not yet asserting

You’re guiding the conversation forward without pushing

BECAUSE: Truth is more powerful when someone can see it for themselves.

If you have been building a bridge for someone to see God, step 3 is letting them walk across.

Examples:

“Does that apply to everyone, or just in some situations?”

“Would that still be true if the roles were reversed?”

“If that’s true for you, what about others?”

“Do you think anyone could be justified in doing evil if they believed it strongly enough?”

“How is that different from saying ___?”

This is the step that has the most to think about…

That’s why it is important to be intentional with our questions.

We’ll talk alot more about this step in the coming weeks.

Step 3 Only Works If: You sound genuinely curious, not strategic, You’re willing to let the question hang, You’re okay if the person doesn’t immediately change their mind, You’re not trying to “win the moment”

Let’s go back to wins… Wins are:

“Hmm, I never thought about that.”

A pause

A follow‑up conversation later

The relationship remaining open

A belief feeling “less settled” than it did before

Conclusion

“God making his appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:20)

You are bridge builders. You are ambassadors. And very often, the most faithful thing you can say in a conversation isn’t an answer at all, it’s a question.

Next time we come back together, we’ll practice asking this tactic together.

Isaiah 40:1–5 ESV

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”