I’ve found that one of the best ways to start a conversation about Jesus is by asking thoughtful questions. Not just any questions, and definitely not canned ones, but those that fit the context and invite deeper discussion.

Last Wednesday night, I was on a team preparing dinner for 100 university students. Minh* and I were grilling hamburgers together. It would have been easy just to focus on the task at hand, but I had prepared some questions for the students to discuss while waiting in line and I thought these would be great for Minh and I to discuss while cooking.

The questions started off quite lighthearted but got deeper as we progressed:

• This Saturday is Father’s Day in Australia. Do you celebrate Father’s Day in your country? If not, do you have special days to honor your father, like his birthday?
• What are some things you appreciate about your father?
• In what ways are you like him?
• How has he helped you become the person you are today?
• Some people consider God to be their heavenly Father. What do you think that means?

The last question allowed me to share why I call God my Father, which led to an opportunity to talk more about my spiritual journey.

I’m not always great at being spontaneous, so I often rely on prepared questions to help guide these conversations.

As we approach Labor Day weekend in the USA, I’ve thought about some questions that could help start and deepen conversations:

To start off:

• How do you usually celebrate Labor Day with your family or friends?
• What does Labor Day mean to you personally?
• Do you have any special Labor Day traditions that you look forward to each year?
• How do you like to spend your long weekend during Labor Day?
• What do you think is the most important aspect of Labor Day?

To go deeper:

• What is a job or responsibility that you feel proud of accomplishing?
• What values or work ethic did your family instill in you that you carry with you today?
• Who has been a significant role model for you when it comes to work or life in general, and how have they influenced you?
• Some people believe that the work they do is part of their calling from God. Do you think work can have a deeper meaning or purpose? Why or why not?

With Mexican Independence Day on September 16 and the Chinese Mooncake Festival on September 17, there are more opportunities to connect through questions:

For Mexican Independence Day:

• How do you usually celebrate Independence Day?
• What does Mexican Independence Day mean to you?
• Are there any traditions or foods that you particularly enjoy during this holiday?
• What values do you think are important to remember on a day like Independence Day?
• How do you see the concept of freedom or independence in your life or faith?

For the Chinese Mooncake Festival:

• What does the Mooncake Festival mean to you?
• How do you celebrate this festival with your family?
• Are there any special foods or traditions that you enjoy during this time?
• How does this festival help you connect with your heritage and family?
• What do you think about the idea of gratitude or reflection in your life?

By asking these questions, we can create space for others to share deeply and, in turn, find natural opportunities to talk about our own spiritual journeys.

Let's pray:

"Lord Jesus, thank you for the many holidays that our nations celebrate.  Give us wisdom how use these occasions to have meaningful and spiritual conversations with friends and family.  We look for you to give us both boldness and sensitivity so that we create a safe place for people to share what is truly important to them.  Amen"

ps. If you are having touble coming up with questions for other holidays, ask a friend or do what I did and ask chatGPT.