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As a missionary in Australia, I read the book “Tactics” by Greg Koukl, and absolutely loved it. In my opinion, it is one of the best books on how to understand the beliefs of others, and share the Gospel.

one of my favourite principles in his book is called “the stone in the shoe.”

He explains it this way

here is my own more modest goal. I want to put a stone in his shoe. All I want to do is give him something worth thinking about. I want him to hobble away on a nugget of truth that annoys him in a good way, something he can’t simply ignore because it continues to poke at him.

Koukl in this article rightly speaks against Believers trying to “close the sale (bring Salvation) as soon as possible.” Of course, when someone is open to hearing the Gospel, or the Holy Spirit leads us to, we should definitely share the whole Gospel.

However, most conversations on the mission field has shown me its better to “put a stone in their shoe” so to speak.

Give them a Biblical truth that the Holy Spirit can then use to bring conviction.

I recently told a story that reminded me of this truth. The Lord allowed me to be involved in a conversational English group in Australia at the local library. In this group there were buddhists, muslims, agnostics, catholics, and a baptist minister 🙂

The first week I was there they asked me what I did, and I explained my work as a missionary. For weeks I waited for the moment to put a stone in their shoe…give a biblical truth that would make them stop and think.

Finally one Wednesday morning we were discussing church attendance if I remember correctly, and led by the Holy Spirit I said “you know, I hate religion.”

That was it

About ten minutes later we went home, and I asked the Lord to bring that up again next week if it was His will.

We’d barely started the next week when a woman who I believe was saved turned to me and said. “John you said something last week I didn’t think a minister would say!”

Then in a public library I had the privilege of explaining the difference of a works-based relationship with God, and accepting Christ as your Saviour.

Satan loves to tell us that we have to share everything at once (and the person MUST get saved) or our attempt at evangelism is a failure. Nothing is farther from the truth. The Holy Spirit can use just one Biblical truth to lead someone to repentance.

It is not my job to convict people, thats the Holy Spirits job

My job is to faithfully share what God has said…..one rock at a time