Need Conversation starters? - Headlines⭐️
Well that whole page deleted 😱😅🙃
music, weather, lightening, Texas, Beatles, John Lennon topics
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Did you hear about the 150 people died unexpectedly in [x country] in earthquake bldg collapse today/this week/recently? Where do you think you will go after you die? (Or) Are you afraid to die?
Q: The world and its religion have a belief about Jesus. But is it accurate, who is the real Jesus? How can we know?....
*Some kind of intro you can think of for this image & topic
Knowing truth from error and falsehoods is important. Even people we admire or look up to can get things wrong.
UNDER RECONSTRUCTION....
There are all kinds of opportunities we are given by God to share the Gospel, (and boldly at times too). I've noticed in the last 2 or 3 years all kinds of news headlines across varied genres [including showing images as you use the talking point as an ice breaker] we can use both to bring up with intentionality or news that others may talk about which we can use to lead to/swing to the Gospel. You can see examples below and use them to say - you just saw in the news xyz and go from there.
=====Examples=======
When people do dumb things, or talk about dumb things someone did.
"You know someone else who did something dumb...? Samson...." [*share & swing to the Gospel]
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Celebrity Talk
Heres some you can use, any time anywhere.
For the Beatles/Paul McCartney:
"Some of the most influential music in history came from four musical pioneers who sang about love, life, and a longing for something more. But there is a message far greater than anything that could ever top the charts. It is a message of hope, truth, grace, and everlasting life...."
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Have you read any good books lately?
Have you read The Beatles, God & the Bible? It takes a deeper look into the spiritual journeys of John, Paul, George, and Ringo and shows how only Christ can satisfy the deepest questions of the human heart, even for the most influential people in the world. (Ask a leading question here). More
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NEAR DEATH...
DEATHS:
1. Celebrity ones that hit the news are useful convo starters.
2. Obviously convos on Covid era can be discussed for next 10 yrs. Many lost family, friends, coworkers and neighbors.
*Death is on their mind. And will be, as they lost someone to it or a tragedy. There's many ways to think about convos around Deaths, esp ones that happened in the news or distant or recent past of someone they know. Even if its just regular family death, as all die, since wages of sin is death. But we want to share the free gift of eternal life with them through Christ Jesus.
Deaths of well known people, esp if they said something Christian or sounding like it:
Charlie Kirk
●Tbh you could bring up varied Charlie Kirk questions under this topic as he has died.
(See other sections for ideas)
● See also Politics & Religion
TRAGEDIES:
Earthquakes and Deaths
POLITICS/ PUBLIC FIGURES:
Like Charlie Kirk or Donald Trump
Can get convos swinging that direction.
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Trump:
When talking about ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, with its end resulting in saving thousands of lives, Trump said "I want to try and get to heaven if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.”
He doesnt understand the Gospel if he believes that. Based on this it doesnt appear that he is saved, but hopefully he will be one day.
Ask Q: Which of the 10C do you think are the hardest to keep? -- and go from there...
POLITICS & RELIGION
When you engage with a topic that is one of escalated contention, and where you dont know where someone stands on certian typically moral issues, or they go off on Christianity cuz of woke worldviews, or news...you could say, "Have you ever heard the phrase 'agree to disagree'"? And ise this idea to defuse the convo, and swing it over to the Gospel, & include the info about respecting someone even if we disagree. *They might not even realize [this is what Charlie Kirk did], and might agree with you in general. Having just had a convo with you, or later think about it and realize you were right, and also think about the Gospel you shared, in a more loving and clarity informed way, that planted seeds. Pray for them either way.
Religious up front:
Russell Brandon
I Was God yt video ss (insert image)
*Man thinks he is in control and on the throne of his life, but in reality it is either Satan or Jesus.
Truth & Error
Did you know the Bible is the ultimate authority on all topics pertaining to life and faith, because it was written by God?
Have you ever heard this famous verse: The wages of sin is death. It means we earn death. Its wages owed to us. Did you know in the OT God promises to destroy death, and in the NT he accomplished it?
Do you know in a nutshell what the Bible is about? [Redemption].
Would you say youre a good person?....
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SOMETHING LOST AND FOUND:
Prodigal son
Lost and is now found
Luke 15:11-24
¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
²¹ “The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
²² “But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
WORK RELATED:
Tips entitlement mentality
Keep any TIPS article focused on entitlement issues which is greed related, anger & pride issues [includes, but dont address if the person isnt calm, kind, reasonable, > laziness to search out a proper job or gain skills to move to a better position or job/career]. Stay on key issues pointing to: not trusting God to provide, relying on God, and being a good worker grateful for what God provides.
https://www.businessinsider.com/tipping-debate-trends-delivery-driver-ubereats-doordash-arguments-nyt-article-2023-4
Jobs
Gone are the days of staying at one company and being promoted within. Companies only look at what benefits them. You need to proactively be looking out for yourself, change jobs often in order to increase your pay (to live in a fair wage situation).
You agree to a wage when you get hired, and they pay it. If the company doesnt have a career path in place for all employees to be promoted, and they dont give raises or only 3%... then you need to plan in advance to move on, find a new job and leave.
1 Timothy 5:18
For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”and “The worker deserves his wages.
God has other plans, though man tries to pursue his own. *Even if Christian and not being promoted either God wants you where you are for mission work or sanctification growth, or he's going to move you to another company.
God provides and moves us where he wants us to be. But also building up wealth for self can still lead to disaster either stock market crash and you lose it all, scammed have duped elderly if entire life savings, I heard one lost $800k, family and estate managers can do that too. One can become greatly disabled and unable to work or move. The goal shouldn't be money but trusting God in this life. He has our best in mind.
I arrived late in Vegas and trying out a new eatery at a casino hotel. The server was older but very nice and was doing a great job. We chatted a bit. I learned she has been a waitress here whole life. She had 60 jobs in 70 years😱. --- God provides yall!
>>When sharing work headlines, note the fact that God gives common grace to all but especially provides for those who are in Christ.
Then ask their religious background, and go into the Good test to get into the Gospel.
Verses related to work.
* God provides for His children.
*In a right world, workers would be treated fairly, but we live in a corrupted sin stained world where people who in businesses and manage employees are corrupt. They take the best for themselves and leave workers poor, or show favoritism towards people they know or can get something beneficial from the relationship. God warns theyll be judged for their unjustness and for mistreating the poor... and His Children.
-A lot of verses in Scripture are specific to a theocracy run nation where doing right in righteousness was the culture and law. Our nation has stopped being a godly society and in sin and greed they seek only their own gain and care not for their fellow man and his needs or plight.
* Their crimes are against God and they will stack up and the debt will never be paid if they die in their sins.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you
Matthew 6:25-33
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Matthew 6:34
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
1 Timothy 5:18
For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.
Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap
Psalm 112:5
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.
Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
James 5:1-6
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter
1 Corinthians 9:7-14
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
Ephesians 6:9
Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men
Titus 2:9-10
Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
Isaiah 3:10
Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
Genesis 31:7
Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me.
Genesis 31:41
These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
Proverbs 14:31
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
2 Chronicles 25:9
And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.”
Luke 3:14
Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
Proverbs 3:27-28
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Colossians 4:1
Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven
Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts
Jeremiah 22:13
“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages
Leviticus 19:13
“You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Leviticus 19:11
“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.
Exodus 22:23
If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry
Deuteronomy 8:18
You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
1 Peter 2:13-18
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you
Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
MONEY RELATED:
For the ones wasting money to appear rich.
These are not being good stewards of what God gave them and as unsavedvpeople, they dint use it for God or good but only for selfishness.
Proverbs 13:4-18
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked. One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
TRAPPED/ DEATH ROW PRISON/
ESCAPE ROOM
See Ray Comfort illustration
See JohnM speaking on it here
SUPER HEROS
Convo for Superman. S for Savior
TOPIC HERE
TOPIC HERE
TOPIC HERE
Other headlines for swinging to the spiritual:
What have you seen today in the news or on google/yahoo browser/search page of headlines? How can you use that to wouldn't to a similar truth to swing to the Gospel?
BTW, you can and should have these convos w your kids and teens too...
It helps them connect Scriptural truth to the situation, connect verses to right thinking, spot lies, educates in truth and error, handle multiple faq objections and understand the Fall, suffering and death. It trains them up to be able to share the Gospel too.
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