Put A Pebble In Their Shoe

4621435_sLast night a Christian friend and I went to a person’s house to have a Bible study with a family.  The family we studied with love the Lord and truly want to go to Heaven.  However, I am convinced that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2).

As we engaged in the study, there were times when questions were asked for which they had no answers.  Biblical passages were offered and examined that directly contradicted what they were contending.

It’s at this point that I think we reach a critical point in a Bible study.  Do we drive and hammer that point home.  Do we not let up, and demand an answer or a retraction?  We could have, but that’s not what we did.

You see, the Bible teaches us to preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2), but it qualifies the way we are to do that.  We are to preach the word with “all longsuffering.”

Coming around to truth sometimes takes time.  Mulling something over, and weighing all the evidences may require more than an initial hearing.  Therefore, we were quick to tell these friends that they didn’t need to feel like they had to provide an immediate answer.  We weren’t there to win an argument with them, but we were there to study and learn together.

To sum it up, our goal was to “put a pebble in their shoe.”  Give them something to think about.  Leave a thought that nags at them and won’t give them rest until they find resolution through further study.  And isn’t that what the goal of any Bible study should be.  The goal isn’t to win an argument.  The goal is to simply put pebbles in people’s shoes.  Those with good and honest hearts will have to do something about it.  So let’s get after it.  We don’t have to know all the answers to all the questions someone may ask.  What we need to be about is dropping pebbles in people’s shoes.

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Comments 2

  • No where did Christ beat people into believing. He taught in love and with the conviction of what he knew to be true. They followed because they knew it to be true also. Great post, Steve!

  • That is a very effective strategy. It can be done through conversational evangelism by simply asking questions and dropping hints. Eventually you ask for an opportunity sit down for a open Bible discussion.

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