A cHRISTIAN

today’s worldWITNESS in

Tactics + sTRATEGIES

Relativism

The Bible

Pluralism

Islam

Sexual Revolution

Media

Training and Equipping Believers to Live Out a Confident Faith

A cHRISTIAN

today’s worldWITNESS in

Tactics + sTRATEGIESRelativism

The Bible

Pluralism

Islam

Sexual Revolution

Media

Training and Equipping Believers to Live Out a Confident Faith

A SHORT REVIEW

mATTHEW 28:18-20

The Command: Make Disciples

Immerse them in the reality of GodTeach them to observe Jesus’ teachings

Abide in Jesus’ presence

Our Role: Ambassadors

We represent God as His ambassadorsOur goal is to see others reconciled

back to God

2 Corinthians 5:20

What Hinders us?

The Challenge of:

Authority

“Who Makes the Rules?”

The Challenge of:

Worldviews

“Whose Reality is Right?”

Culture

“We can live however we want”

The Challenge Of:

“True for You, But Not For Me”“The Bible is just a book written by men”

“All Roads Lead to God”“There is no God but Allah”

“My body is mine and I can use it however I wish”

“Media Doesn’t Affect Me”

MatterIdeas:

IdeasHave

Consequences

AmbassadorsKnowledge

WisdomCharacter

An accurately informed mind

An artful method of engagement

A warm and attractive manner

tACTICSSkills for effective discussions

A QUICK QUESTION…

When I think About Discussing chRISTIANITY

WITH NON-BELIEVERS…

I look for and try to create opportunities

I am willing, but the thought makes me pretty nervous

It really scares me, but I will try anyway

So… how about that Super Bowl?

What is one reason that you feel this way?

I look for and try to create opportunities

I am willing, but the thought makes me pretty nervous

It really scares me, but I will try anyway

So… how about that Super Bowl?

Tactics and Strategy

TacticsStrategy

The Bigger Picture

The content, reasons, and positive

evidence for the truth of Christianity coupled with

the love of God and changed lives

Direct Engagement

The art of arranging your resources most effectively

in the moment, and maneuvering wisely inside

conversations

Tactics Help you…TACTICS

The Role of Tactics in Effective

Discussions

Use your knowledge in creative ways

Effectively handle challenges

Appropriately direct the conversation

Tactics are not for…TACTICS

The Role of Tactics in Effective

Discussions

Manipulating or tricking anyone

Belittling or humiliating anyone

Make us feel like a smarty pants

Tactics help truth emerge from the noise and

distractions

Tactics are about appropriate control and

wise maneuvering

Tactics are as much about listening

as they are about speaking.

So Let’s do this…

Tactic #1:

The Columbo Tactic

“I got a question…”

The Columbo TacticTo go on the offensive in a disarming way with carefully selected questions

that productively advance the conversation

Ask A question!If you get stuck…

Good Questions…Tactics

What Makes the Columbo

Tactic So Effective

Invite others to share their view

Communicate that you want to listen

Draw people into the discussion instead of pushing them away

Don't require you state your viewpoint or defend anything

Good Questions…Tactics

What Makes the Columbo

Tactic So Effective

Shift the burden of proof on to them

Put you in the driver’s seat of the conversation

Give you a way to direct the conversation without being pushy

Sharing their viewsMost people love

and opinions!

So let them!

Ask at least half a dozen questions in every conversation.

- Hugh Hewitt

The columbo Tactic Has:

3 Unique Applications

Each launched by a different question…

inFORMATION

Application 1

To GaIN

more informationSometimes you just need

before you can proceed

you could askWhat is a question

simply to gain more information?

What do you meanby that?

(or some variation)

Some variationsInteresting! Tell me more if you would

Can you elaborate on that a bit for me?

So, are you saying that…?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN by that?

Tactics

The Columbo Tactic:

Application 1:

To Gain Information

Forces them to be more precise and clear

Tactics

Helps us not to misunderstand their view

(a no-no)

The Columbo Tactic:

Application 1:

To Gain Information

WHAT DO YOU MEAN by that?

I Don’t Believe God eXISTS

What do you mean by “God”?

All Religions are basically the same

In what way are all religions “basically the same”?

You shouldn’t force your views on other people

“How, specifically, am I forcing my views on others?”

The Bible has changed down through the years

“In what way has the Bible changed over the years?”

“Why do you call me good? Nobody is good, but God. You know the

commandments…”

“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Mark 10:18

“Show me a denarius, whose inscription does it have on it?”

“Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar?”

Mark 10:18

The Goal: Clarity“What do you mean by that?”

The Burden of Proof

Application 2

To Reverse

Application 2Application 1

Gain Information

What People Believe

Reverse the Burden of Proof

Why They Believe It

The burden of ProofThe responsibility someone has to

defend or give evidence for their view.

The only rational explanation for how we got here is evolution. You can believe in creation if you want, but just know that

is faith, not science.”

The bURDEN OF pROOF?

“The Bible is so full of errors it’s not even funny. Anyone who believes it

is the Word of God must refute these errors before I will believe.”

tHE bURDEN OF pROOF?

“The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and contains a true picture of

reality that we must believe.”

tHE bURDEN OF pROOF?

The Rule:Whoever makes a claim bears the

burden of proof for that claim

The Problem:Usually Christians take on the burden

of proof when we should not.

It is not your jobto refute every idea that

someone throws your way!

We must allow peoplethe privilege of defending the views they promote.

anOTHER Problem:

oPINIONSare not arguments. They are opinions.

Arguments require evidence.

aLTERNATE eXPLANATIONSare not arguments. They are speculations.

Arguments require evidence.

you could askWhat is a question

that would appropriately help others shoulder the burden of proof?

How did you come to that conclusion?

(or some variation)

Some variationsWhy is that the best way to see it?

What persuaded you to that position?

Why should I trust that to be true?

How Did you Come to that conclusion?

Tactics

The Columbo Tactic:

Application 2:

To Reverse the Burden of

Proof

This question graciously assumes they have

reasons for their view

How Did you Come to that conclusion?

Tactics

The Columbo Tactic:

Application 2:

To Reverse the Burden of

Proof

It gives them a chance to explain their position

more clearly

How Did you Come to that conclusion?

Tactics

The Columbo Tactic:

Application 2:

To Reverse the Burden of

Proof

It forces them to give reasons that make sense

when being spoken

You can never know anything for sure

“Can you give me a good reason why we can’t know things for sure?”

Morals are just an invention of culture. They are not objective.

“What would be your evidence for that?”

The miracles of Jesus were just an invention of the early church

“Really? What evidence do you have that supports that?”

rADIO Conversation

aLTERNATE eXPLANATIONSare not arguments. They are speculations.

Arguments require evidence.

The Goal: Reasons“How did you come to that conclusion?”

a Weakness or Flaw

Application 3

To Indirectly Exploit

Good listeningThis is only possible with

Application 2This is our response to

“How did you come to that conclusion?”

Weakness or FlawTo indirectly expose a

is the advanced application of Columbo

Identifying weaknessesTactics

The Columbo Tactic:

Application 2:

To Reverse the Burden of

Proof

Are there any blatant weaknesses in their

view?

Identifying weaknessesTactics

The Columbo Tactic:

Application 2:

To Reverse the Burden of

Proof

Do their conclusions follow from the

evidence?

You shouldn’t push your morality on other people

“Why not?”

If you think Jesus is the only way that makes you intolerant

“What do you mean by that?”

You think you are right and everyone else is wrong

“Do you think that your views are right?”

If God exists, how come there is so much evil in the world?

“Why does evil in the world lead you to believe that God doesn’t exist?”

exact science!This is not an exact science

You will mess up. Go for it anyways!

Reviewing:

The Columbo Tactic

“I got a question…”

The Columbo TacticTo Gain Information

To Reverse the Burden of Proof

To indirectly expose a weakness or flaw

TACTICS

Reviewing:

The Columbo Tactic

The Two Most important questions:

What do you mean by that?

How did you come to that conclusion?

Discussion and Practice

Week 3

Tactics

Next Week:

sEE yOU next Week!