How to Start Spiritual Conversations with Confidence and Boldness

The Blue Cord, by iHOPE Ministries

About the Guest(s):

• Karen Bradford: Karen Bradford is a former high school reading teacher who has a passion for sharing her faith with others. After working in industry and traveling to Indonesia, she developed a heart for reaching the nations with the gospel. Karen has been involved in various outreach efforts, including training on how to reach Muslims with the gospel. She is dedicated to modeling and teaching others how to start spiritual conversations and make a difference in their everyday lives.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, Karen Bejjanni and Karen Bradford discuss the importance of starting spiritual conversations and how to overcome the fear and hesitation that often comes with sharing one's faith. They address the current cultural climate and the need for believers to be bold and intentional in sharing the gospel. Karen Bradford shares personal stories and practical tips for starting spiritual conversations, emphasizing the power of prayer and the importance of modeling the behavior for others. The episode concludes with a reminder of the eternal value of sharing the hope of Jesus and the importance of passing on the faith to the next generation.

Key Takeaways:

• Overcoming fear: To start spiritual conversations, believers need to push past the discomfort and fear of being perceived as pushy or intolerant. Trusting in God's plan and understanding the importance of sharing the gospel can help overcome these obstacles.
• Having a faith worth sharing: It is crucial for believers to have a deep understanding of their faith and the truth found in God's Word. Regular Bible study and prayer can strengthen one's faith and provide the confidence needed to share it with others.
• Modeling the behavior: Discipling others and intentionally investing in their lives is an effective way to pass on the faith and teach others how to start spiritual conversations. By modeling the behavior and showing others that spiritual conversations can be natural and accepted, believers can inspire and equip others to do the same.
• Divine appointments: Praying for God to show opportunities for spiritual conversations and being open to His leading can result in divine appointments. By being attentive and obedient to the Holy Spirit's nudging, believers can engage in meaningful conversations and share the hope of Jesus with others.
• The power of prayer: Asking someone if you can pray for them, especially in the name of Jesus, can be a simple yet powerful way to start a spiritual conversation. Many people are open to receiving prayer, and it can lead to deeper conversations about faith and the gospel.

Notable Quotes:

• "You have to get out of your head and put your eyes on who your God is." - Karen Bradford
• "The fear of man is a dangerous trap. Trusting the Lord brings safety." - Karen Bradford
• "The only way to identify a counterfeit is to know the real thing. And the only way you're going to know the real thing is by being in the Word and hearing exactly what the Lord has to say to you." - Karen Bradford
• "Starting spiritual conversations is so important. It has eternal value. This is eternal." - Karen Bradford
• "We hold the keys to the faith of the next generation. We want to make sure we're passing that baton of faith to the next generation and doing it well and with intention." - Karen Bejjanni

Resources:

• iHOPE Ministries - The website mentioned in the episode where listeners can sign up for a course on starting spiritual conversations.
• The Blue Cord - Karen Bejjanni's book mentioned in the episode, which provides guidance and resources for sharing one's faith and passing on the baton of faith to the next generation.

Don't miss out on the full episode of The Blue Cord Podcast to gain valuable insights and practical tips on starting spiritual conversations and making a difference in your everyday life. Stay tuned for more inspiring content from the podcast.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Starting spiritual conversations
00:01:00 Discussion on syncretism and the need to reach people with different beliefs
00:02:00 Personal experience of realizing the opportunity to share faith with people from different backgrounds
00:03:00 Overcoming fear and self-doubt to start spiritual conversations
00:04:00 Importance of knowing the Bible and having a faith worth sharing
00:05:00 The danger of being distracted from the call to share the gospel
00:06:00 The importance of knowing the truth and identifying counterfeits
00:07:00 Sharing the gospel with love and compassion
00:08:00 The fear of man and trusting in the Lord
00:09:00 The power of prayer in starting spiritual conversations
00:10:00 A practical framework for starting spiritual conversations
00:11:00 A spiritual conversation with a woman at a bus stop
00:14:00 Encouragement to start spiritual conversations and take the ethnos course
00:16:00 Modeling behavior and doing life with others
00:19:00 Importance of mentoring and discipleship for young women
00:21:00 Overcoming fear and becoming bolder
00:25:00 Invitation to read "The Blue Cord" book and purposefully disciple others