How to Turn Small Talk Into God Talk
Written by e-Mom. Follow me on Twitter. Subscribe in a Reader
Many of us will be invited to attend gatherings of all kinds over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Family events are usually predictable and comfortable affairs, with a little misbehavior from the usual suspects. However office parties, neighborhood open-houses, and other seasonal social events are usually overflowing with spouses, friends of friends, and strangers we know little or nothing about.
Many of us will be invited to attend gatherings of all kinds over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Family events are usually predictable and comfortable affairs, with a little misbehavior from the usual suspects. However office parties, neighborhood open-houses, and other seasonal social events are usually overflowing with spouses, friends of friends, and strangers we know little or nothing about.
This nameless crowd tends to pose some conversation difficulty for even the most perky, people-loving party-goer. As Christians, we usually want to take advantage of the special opportunities provided by the holiday season to share our faith.
Following is a list of questions that will help you get the talk going at almost any Christmas gathering. You can also use them to take your dialogue to a deeper level, as the Spirit leads. It's a good idea to pray beforehand. Ask God to schedule "divine appointments," and to give you the specific words He wants to to speak.
1. What was your most memorable Christmas as a child?
2. Describe your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day family traditions.
3. What is your favorite Christmas carol? Do you remember the words?
4. How do you feel about the commercial side of Christmas?
5. What's the most meaningful gift you've ever received?
6. Who was most surprised and delighted by a gift you gave?
7. What was the strangest gift you've ever received?
8. Why do you think Christmas is celebrated around the world?
9. Do you try to keep a spiritual focus on Christmas?
If so, how?
If so, how?
10. Why do you think Jesus Christ was born?
Related: 13 Conversation Starters: Questions You Can Use to Move to Spiritual Things. Inspiration for this post via BiblicalSpirituality.org.
Up Next—Word-Filled-Wednesday
What was the strangest Christmas gift you've ever received?
What was the strangest Christmas gift you've ever received?
11 Comments:
A gallon jar of dill pickles. My dad bought them for me when I was about 11, simply because I loved pickles.
What a great list of questions!
It can sometimes be difficult to know what to say in party situations. Thanks for the help!
well, last year i got a cabbage patch kid ormanment... hmmmm there's been so many weird ones... this year was the bird warbble whistle... and an elastic exercise band lol.. oh I think the best though was the blog of swiss cheese (which I hate!) parred with ski-doo gloves.
That is a neat list of questions. I've seen a few of them floating around on Facebook pages and I've enjoyed reading the responses.
This will prove very helpful this year. Thank you...for being so practical and encouraging!
These questions are great! They could even turn into a game if planned ahead of time....
hm...my strangest gift? probably the bike "shorts" my husband bought me a couple of years ago that had some kind of weird material in the butt....supposedly to make sitting on the bike more comfortable...lol..let's just say I wore them once and never again...they were NOT comfortable at all!
Great question starters - love these. :-) I tend to not always know what to say during the conversation lulls.
I can't think of any strange gifts at the moment.
Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the ideas, e-Mom.
April: LOL, dill pickles! My sister received a jar once as a kid too. How funny.
Alicia: I'll be glancing at these myself over the next few days... :~D
Amydeanne: Some funny items! I'll take your Swiss cheese, thanks! (Love it.)
Andrea: Thanks for the heads up... I'll pose one of these on FB!
Bobbi: Happy to help out!
Faith: Hmmmm... a game? What a great idea! BTW, I have a pair of those bike shorts too... NOT comfortable at all! I'd rather be saddle sore. :~D
Jennifer: Thanks so much for stopping by. Merry Christmas!
Tami: You're welcome. :~D
e-Mom,
Great post. I would like to post something similar next year at sum.
I love you. Hope your Christmas was peacful and blessed. Hugs.
Lynn: Our Christmas was absolutely lovely, thanks. Enjoyed having our daughter and SIL w/ us, and our son home after 4 weeks in Australia. A full house! I hope you had a wonderful time with your family too. (Feel free to use this info on your blog anytime.) :~D
Post a Comment