The Greatest Thing That’s Ever Happened to You
Without thinking more than a second or two, answer the question: “What is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to you?”
What is the first thing that came to mind?
While perhaps you were immediately filled with joy as you remembered Jesus’s saving work in your life, it’s possible you thought of other things such as your wedding day, the birth of your children, or some other memorable moment. This simple question contains within it a powerful diagnostic of our heart’s default orientation.
The question comes from a tool I learned about ten years ago called One-Minute Witness. In this final installment of our summer series on our witness, I’ll share this simple and practical way to engage the people around you–from someone you talk to for five minutes and never see again, to new relationships where you want to raise the flag early, or even established relationships that you want to engage with at a deeper level.
Before I go any further, I’d like to address one thing. In one sense this is, admittedly, a tool, a tactic, a gimmick. If you find yourself getting hung up on this, please stick with me to the end. The tool, like any other tool, is only as effective as the person wielding it. No tool will ever replace a heart that is in love with Jesus and a will that is familiar with and submitted to his Word and Spirit. If you’re concerned these elements are missing in your life, then please stop here and make addressing that your first order of business.
So here is the approach in its simplest form:
You pray.
You meet someone new.
You ask, “Could I ask you a question? … What’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to you?”
They share and you listen carefully.
You ask, “Would you mind if I shared the greatest thing that’s happened to me?”
You tell the story of God’s grace in your life in 60 seconds or less using four points:
Before Christ
Turning point
After Christ
If I had never met Jesus…
On its face, this tool is obviously designed for brief, passing encounters with new people at places like an airport, a restaurant, the mall, etc. However, while its application in these contexts is straightforward (and likely a bit uncomfortable), I would suggest that in my experience the most effective use of the question has not been to use the cookie-cutter approach mentioned above, but rather to think of it like a sort of witnessing grammar. It’s something you learn so that you can forget it. Consider for a moment some of the fundamental principles embedded in the outline:
Begin with prayer
Acknowledge and engage the people around you
Ask permission
Ask questions
Listen well
Know the story of God’s grace in your life well enough to tell it clearly and concisely at a moment’s notice
Plant seeds that might grow into deeper conversations and a clear gospel presentation (or, if nothing else, put a stone in their shoe)
As helpful as the core question is, I find myself often involved in somewhat longer conversations in contexts such as a sporting event or a neighborhood BBQ as David Mathis alluded to in his article. I typically engage with a question like “tell me about yourself” or “what’s your story?” Returning to the ‘grammar’ analogy, even in asking a different question, the answer I’m trying to listen for is still in relation to the original question. What is the greatest thing in this person’s life? What seems to be at the center? Then, almost without fail, I find in these sorts of casual conversations that I don’t even need to ask permission to tell my story. The other person will generally reciprocate with a level of interest in me after I’ve taken the first step to get to know them.
Also, it’s common that you’ll have more than one minute to share. You can adapt your one-minute version and have a five-minute version or longer, depending on the situation. As you gain a level of experience and comfort in sharing your story, you may find that as you listen to the other person’s story, the Holy Spirit will bring to mind specific things from your story that connect well with the other person’s experience. There are many other ways in which you can fine-tune your approach, but the most important things to remember are the principles listed above.
As we wrap up this series, I will leave us with a call to action from 1 Peter 3:15:
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
So set Jesus apart as your heart’s greatest treasure, pray for opportunities to be a witness to him, and prepare now so you are ready when God answers those prayers.
More in this series …
Joy at the Heart — by Jonathan Parnell
Why You Live Where You Live — by Marshall Segal
Raise the Flag Early — by David Mathis
Time to Engage! — by Mike Polley
You Never Share Alone — by Mike Schumann