One of the most common reasons that Christians give for not speaking to their friends about Christ is the very real fear that they will be asked a question for which they have no answer. This study seeks to help find a method to allay that fear. Initial thoughts
1. There are not a limitless number of questions, most Non Christians ask pretty much the same questions. They will be phrased differently but will probably be variant of one of the following:-

• What about those who have never heard of Jesus?
• How do you know God exists?
• Is Christ the only way to God/what about other religions?
• What about suffering in the world?
• How can miracles be possible?
• Can you trust the Bible?
• Isn’t faith psychological?
• Won’t a good life get me to heaven/Aren’t all good people Christians?
• Do you have to go to church to be a Christian?
• Hasn’t science disproved Christianity?

2. Questions are legitimate
3. Real answers exist for all questions.
4. Don’t be afraid that a question might flatten Christianity, remember Jesus rose from the dead.
5. Questions are often a smokescreen. The basic issue is always moral (I don’t want God to rule my life)
6. Ongoing friendship is much more important than winning an argument (this can’t be emphasised enough – BURY YOUR EGO)
7. When you don’t know say, “I don’t know, let me find out. When can we have coffee again so that I can tell you what I have discovered?”
8. Remember evangelism is a process not an event.
9. Much better than learning rote answers to the above questions, is to consider a method for answering questions

A basic method for answering questions (adapted from 2 ways to live training manual)
1. Does my answer bring glory to God? Is it true? Is it loving?
2. Does my answer build relationship? Have I loved my friend and treated them with respect (not as a threat)?
3. Does my answer lead to Christ? Remember the goal is to introduce people to Jesus
4. Does my answer, answer the question behind the question? People seldom have intellectual/philosophical problems with pain but have often experienced real pain themselves. This is the real question that gives rise to the expressed question.
5. Don’t forget to pray

Role play
Select a couple of specific questions that you might be asked and then brainstorm together in groups (or in the large group) how you would answer those questions.

Resources
How to give away your faith, Paul E Little (chapter 5)
Evidence that demands a verdict, Josh Mc Dowell
Basic Christianity, John Stott
2 ways to live training course, Mathias Media
Know and tell the gospel, John Chapman
A sneaking suspicion, John Dickson