week 2 - tactics and strategies part 1
TRANSCRIPT
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!