Facebook can be a great place to start an interesting conversation.
It can be a place to cast a wide net among your larger list of Facebook friends to create opportunities for spiritual conversations. So why not use that venue to do just that, start conversations that can lead to sharing about Jesus, your personal faith journey or coffee with a friend to hear about where they are in their faith?
The first thing you’ll want to do is think of an intriguing question, one that you are genuinely interested in discussing. Make sure to word your question in a way so that people who do not follow Christ can comfortably participate. Every opinion should be welcomed.
Here are some ideas:
- If someone ever wanted to talk with you about God, how would you like to be approached?
- If Jesus were here right now, what would you ask him?
- Everyone seems to agree that money by itself can’t buy happiness. What, in your opinion, does guarantee a happy life?
- If you could pass along one word of advice about how to keep a relationship going and growing, what would it be?
- How can Christians be a positive voice in a world where there are people who feel hurt, wronged or unheard?
Experiment with different questions and discover what works best.
Things to keep in mind:
- Remember that others can see the comment thread. Make sure to be a good representative of Christ throughout the post and subsequent comments because others can see your actions. It’s okay for people to have different viewpoints so thank them for sharing their perspective even if you do not agree. Do not try to “fix” their perspective, especially on Facebook. Be a moderator of the conversation and limit comments towards others that may be offensive or overly hurtful. Personally, I would let someone “attack” my viewpoint but I would be a little more sensitive in moderating other friends who respond to each other within the comment thread.
- Continue conversations out of the comment thread and off Facebook. Send a direct Facebook message to someone and ask, “I would love to hear more about what you shared. Can we hang out sometime soon?” You can continue the conversation in messenger, but know that it may be more meaningful to talk on the phone or schedule a time to talk further.
- Ask permission before sharing your viewpoint. This may work better in a personal message. You could say, “Could I share with you a little of what has helped me in my spiritual journey?” or “Would it be alright if I shared about my experience with this?”
- Be willing to be vulnerable, especially as you ask others to be vulnerable too. Make sure to validate those commenting by appreciating their comments and liking what they say when applicable. Many people feel insecure about what they post online immediately after they post it, so you can care for them by responding kindly and being grateful.
The goal is that by the end of this exchange you have a positive interaction that encourages your Facebook friends to be more open, curious or seeking of Jesus, and that it may lead to further opportunities for them to hear more about Christ.
