Top tips for inviting someone to read with you
With over 15 years experience equipping Christians to share God’s Word, Richard Borgonon – Founder and Author of The Word One to One – shares some principles for inviting someone to read with you.
Many people ask me how I go about asking someone to do the first episode of The Word One to One with me. Of course, the way I do it doesn’t have to be the way you do it – but my method is centred on some key principles that are important to remember!
When I invite someone, this is what I say:
Haven’t you always thought that one day you might get around to reading the book that has sold more copies than any other in the history of printing?
Wouldn’t you expect that it has probably got some really helpful stuff in it…some answers to life?
There’s one book in the Bible that happens to start with an overview…in the City, I would call it an Executive Summary! It’s unique – there isn’t another passage like it – and it makes some outrageous claims!
I would love to show you what are just 18 sentences, and I’ve got some really helpful notes that go alongside each sentence to help us look at them.
I’m really excited about this overview and would love to show you…please can I buy you a coffee to do so?
When we’ve finished these 18 sentences, I won’t put you on the spot. All I’ll say at the end is: “Did you enjoy that?” It’s a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question – I’m not going to embarrass you by asking, “What did you make of that"?”
If you respond with “yes”, then I’ll just ask you one more question: “Would you like to see what happens next?”
Take note of what I don’t say: “Would you like to look at the Bible with me?”
The reason is that, while this question sounds fine to the Christian, the feedback we get is that the non-believer wonders:
The Bible is a really big book which I know hardly anything about – I could easily look like an idiot doing this!
How ever long might this take?
What am I committing myself to!?
In contrast, we’re offering a very low-bar of non-threatening clarity:
We’re inviting them to look at just 18 sentences (note that we don’t call them verses, since that is a religious term).
We’re explaining exactly how it will end.
We’re making it clear that they won’t be asked what they think (i.e. we won’t put them on the spot).
We’re clarifying with them that it’s okay if they say “no”!
I hope that these principles will help you as you invite those the Lord has placed in your life!
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