Preaching has its place in the Christian mission. In preaching one person declares the truth and argues his point via the medium of Biblical exposition. Preachers read feedback on the faces of their people, but they are not interested in hearing their ideas in the midst of a sermon.

The place for preaching is the pulpit. Preaching can be a powerful and transformative tool when properly used, but preaching is not the only means at our disposal for advancing the Gospel

In fact, since most of us aren’t preachers, we should probably steer clear of the use of this medium when it comes to our daily interaction with the people around us. For those opportunities, persuasion, not preaching, is the appropriate vehicle.

Persuasion is dialogical, whereas preaching is a one-way medium. Persuasion raises questions, invites responses, explores the interests of others, and is patient, very patient.

Christians simply have to learn the art of persuasion. This is the appropriate medium for engaging our neighbors in conversations about spiritual matters and for talking about the Christian worldview.

The Christmas season offers many opportunities for conversation about the Gospel. Let’s not confuse the work of preaching and the work of persuasion when those doors of opportunity crack open before us. Persuasion leads with a question and a listening ear. It proceeds through response, explanation, proposition, discussion, questions, and more explanation.

The resources and activities below can help us learn to practice this skill more consistently. The harder we work at being persuasive, the less we’ll be inclined to be “preachy.” And the more people will be open to our talking with them about the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

Resources for this topic

Chuck Colson, “The Stories We Live By”
Greg Koukl, “8 Witnessing Tips”
Greg Koukl, “How to Force Your Morality”
T. M. Moore, “Godly Conversation”
T. M. Moore, “Higher Reasoning”
T. M. Moore, “Let Us Reason”
T. M. Moore, “Reasoning with the Unreasonable”

Next steps

Why not make a plan to read all the resources – seven articles – listed above, and then make a strategy for focusing this Christmas season on Christ more than you ever have before. Share the articles with two or three friends, and get them to join you in this effort. What might you do individually and together to emphasize the joy of Christ’s coming to the world?

Contact your local radio station –phone, email, or even a visit – and tell them you appreciate their service and the fact that they are playing Christmas music at this time of the year. Ask them to play familiar hymns, and especially versions which include the words to the hymns. Send a thank-you not follow-up to whomever you are able to talk with at the station.

Email today’s Talking Points column to several Christian friends. Challenge them to read some of the resources, watch the "Two-Minute Warning," and take on one of the activities.

A conversation starter
You should be able to use this conversation starter just about anywhere: “I find all the hype and glitz over the commercializing of Christmas to be a serious distraction from its real message. What about you?”

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