what is a deeper
Conversation?
For this campaign, deeper conversations are ones where we take the opportunity to build more open and meaningful relationships with others where mutual sharing becomes more natural and welcome. They are conversations where we listen to what someone else believes is important in life or about how they view the world, or where we’ve shared something about our own values and worldview.
If you follow Jesus, deeper conversations will naturally lead you to eventually talk about the difference Jesus has made in your life! But it is okay if you don’t get to unpack everything you believe, or if you don’t explain the full gospel; deeper relationships need to start somewhere, so simply asking questions (and listening to someone’s answers!) are deeper conversations that we are encouraging during this challenge..
Deeper conversations explore our values and worldviews, diving beyond interests, to try to understand what drives us, what we believe, and the difference those beliefs make to our lives.
*Note: This diagram and all concepts are drawn from “How to Talk About Jesus Without Being That Guy”, by Sam Chan
Interests
Descriptive conversations that focus on things like the weather, what we did on the weekend and what we are watching on TV.
Values
Prescriptive conversations that indicate preferences, ethics, values and beauty. We listen carefully here and say things like:
That’s interesting, can you tell me more?
How did you feel about that?
World View
Conversations that indicate our understanding of the world. Here we make statements about what we believe.
What’s real? What’s wrong with the world?
Is there a God? Do you have a faith?
Do you pray? Is there life after death?