I’ve been sporadically blogging through I Once Was Lost, by Everts and Schaupp. They work through five thresholds postmodern skeptics usually cross on their way to faith in Jesus. I summarized them in a previous post and we looked at the first three thresholds here and here and here.
The fourth threshold is that skeptics become seekers. Once they begin to trust a Christian, becomes curious about Jesus, and are open to change in their life, they shift into a higher gear of seeking. They decide to purposefully seek final answers, a resolution to their quest. There’s a difference between someone meandering toward God and purposefully seeking out and exploring Jesus. The difference is urgency, determination, and purpose.
Everts and Schaupp point out three trends in seekers that distinguish them from those who are meandering:
1. Seekers seek Jesus, not just God.
2. Seekers count the cost.
3. Seekers spend time with Christians.
How do we help someone go from casualy and occasionally asking questions to really being on a quest for answers and for connecting the dots?
1. Show them how to build their lives on Jesus’ words.
2. Open up your prayer life to them.
3. Provide satisfying answers to their initial questions.
Everts and Schaupp offer a five-step framework for answering such questions (ATTIC). (Their counsel is not nearly as formulaic as these notes make it seem.)
1. Affirm their questions.
2. Translate your answer from abstract theology to concrete everyday life examples
3. Be transparent in the way you answer the question. Be willing to admit your own struggles with the question at hand.
4. Insert yourself as a case study.
5. Challenge your friend by asking them, “What about you? What do you think? What are you looking for?”
They also suggest that we create safe places for people to seek. While they don’t suggest that churches turn their weekend assemblies into seeker events, they do believe there is still a place for strategic “seeker events” in most churches and ministries. Whether they be special retreats, small groups, or a large gathering, the authors suggest the following questions to ask before holding such an event.
1. Is this event designed with real seekers in mind? Just because we think seekers should be comfortable at our event doesn’t mean they really are.
2. Are the expectations clear?
3. Is Scripture central to what we’ve planned?
4. Are we guiding seekers or shielding them?
What are some of the best “seeker events” that you’ve seen? How do they work?
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
How does this address people who are seekers but aren’t seeking answers from the church any longer?
I’d be interested to see the difference…
Seems like most seekers were actually exposed to and accepted faith at one point and left it OR never really committed to anything.
Bumping into Alot of these from New Atheism these days …
Passionate about the interactions and love what you’re doing here too Wade.
I know debates are old school – but having forums where anything can be brought up in a controlled Open context seems to be a healthy approach.
True discipleship on the other side is equally important after you know what it is you’re “aiming to make”. 🙂