When we are fishing, we don’t just have the net at our disposal; we also have the bait and hook to target a specific fish. At various points in our message, we can sensitively use questions that are targeted at individuals or small groups who are passing by, inviting them to verbally respond.
Targeted questions need to be done with great care. Be mindful of who you engage with.
Who not to target
Some people should not be singled out:
- Elderly people. An elderly lady slowly passing by is unlikely to want to be singled out and then engage with you in your preaching. By all means, look her in the eye and use rhetorical questions to plead with her, but don’t target her and expect a response. She is only likely to shuffle away as fast as she can!
- People who have just stopped to listen. Let them settle in before targeting them with questions. If they want to engage, they’ll ask you something. Pressuring them too early may drive them away before they’ve heard the gospel.
At various points in our message, we can sensitively use questions that are targeted at individuals or small groups who are passing by, inviting them to verbally respond.
Who to target
I have found using targeted questions most helpful when speaking with two audiences:
- A group of young people. If you throw out a question to a group of young people, one of them will usually want to show off to their friends and shout their opinion. Then the whole group stops to witness the interaction and you then have a small crowd to present the gospel to. They may continue interacting with the preaching throughout the message. For example, you may see a group of young people passing by and ask them ‘Do you believe the world is broken?’. Often, one of the group will shout out in reply ‘Yes’. That’s your opportunity to ask another question: ‘Why do you think it’s in such a mess?’ You can then weave their answer into the message itself, showing how only the Scriptures answer the why of the brokenness of the world and how it can be restored through Christ.
- Someone who engages with you first. If someone passes by and makes a comment, that’s a great time to ask them a question. They clearly already have an interest. Often people will just want to ‘throw a grenade’ and run, but sometimes people are willing to stay if you graciously engage with their comment.
How to ask effectively
Be polite
Before asking a question in this way to an individual, it’s good practice to politely ask ‘Sir/Madam, may I ask you a question?’ One former OAM evangelist with a strong cockney accent used to do this regularly in his preaching. His accent and polite demeanour often disarmed passers-by so they willingly engaged with his preaching.
Be simple
Ask easy questions. Don’t ask questions that require deep thought. People will not be able to answer such a question in a split second as they pass by. ‘What’s the greatest problem in the world?’ Most people can give a one-word answer to that – whether they say ‘Greed’, ‘Politicians’, etc. Closed questions can be our friends. For example, asking an individual ‘Do you believe there is life after death?’ is better than asking ‘Where will you spend eternity?’. The first question can be answered with a yes/no/maybe, but the latter uses a more abstract concept of eternity and requires thought of several possible destinations and reflection on which one they are heading to. A lot to think about in a split second!
Be sensitive
Read the room. If a person is uncomfortable, don’t keep interacting with them. I’ve seen people interact initially but then become uncomfortable when the preacher latches onto them because they are the only unbeliever listening. If they have engaged with you, carry on preaching and remember that others may be listening as well.
Conclusion
All preachers are different. Some are better suited to personal interaction than others. But we can all get better at it with prayerful practice. In our preaching, we should not be content with people only hearing snippets as they pass by. We want them to stop and engage with us as we share the words of life. Targeted questions are one means to get their attention. Why not try using them the next time you preach?
Would you like tailored training to help your church bring good news to the streets? Contact us to arrange a ‘Teach and Go’ evangelism training course with an experienced OAM worker local to you.