Shema Statements to Start Spiritual Conversations

Are you using "Shema" statements to start spiritual conversations?

One of the tools that I was trained to use to help start spiritual conversations with non-believers was the "Shema Statement".

The Shema is the passage of scripture found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”

If we follow the example of scripture and believe that God is drawing people to himself (John 6:44), then the more shema statements we make with strangers, the more likely we are to discover the people that God has been preparing to hear the truth.

The basic idea of the Shema Statement is to make statements in our conversations with the people we meet each day that naturally lead to spiritual conversations.  The idea is not to share the full gospel but rather to say things that lead to conversations that lead to sharing the gospel.

It is through making shema statements that we can find the people who are seeking the truth.

Here are some examples of Shema Statements:

• Isn't this a beautiful day that God created.
• If God could do a miracle in your life, what would you want Him to do?
• Can I tell you something I am learning about God?
• That reminds me of something I read in the Bible recently.
• Do you ever wonder what God thinks about you?
• I hope that you experience the blessing of God today.
• Do you ever have dreams about God?

Again, these statements are not said to share the full gospel.  We say them prayerfully and then listen prayerfully for the response of the person we say them to.  

Some will not respond at all. Some might respond negatively.

But others - those God has been preparing - will respond in ways that lead to further conversation and opportunities to share about Jesus and what He has done in our lives.

Application

1. Take out a notecard and write down 5 - 10 Shema Statements that you can try in the next few days in your context.
2. Pray for  boldness to share Shema Statements today.

Learn it. - Apply it.  Share it.  Today.

Read More:
http://globalfrontiermissions.org/shema-statement/


Shema Statements are one of the tools we train everyone at Everywhere to Everywhere events to use and then we go out and practice using them.  Come to our next E2E event or bring it to your city. [learn more]