Remember the Venn diagram? It’s a visual way of showing that two separate circles, when overlapping, share some things in common.
Here’s how it applies to you …
You are different from everyone else in the world. Yet you have some things in common with all of them. That sameness is called common ground. And it’s the secret sauce for relating to those who don’t know Christ.
The apostle Paul articulated this approach: “I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22, NLT)
Here we see Paul’s passion: to see as many people saved as possible.
And here we see his plan: to find common ground with them.
How’s your passion? Do you long to see people apart from Christ come to faith? Are you praying for those in your circle of influence who are “living without hope and without God?” (Ephesians 2:12) Are you asking God to set up divine appointments for you to listen to their story, or share your story?
How’s your plan? Are you entering the lives of others, seeing the world as they see it, trying to understand what makes them tick? Are you looking for similarities and areas of interest that can become a solid foundation? Are you actively seeking common ground?
Common ground. It’s how we earn the right to share our story with unbelievers.
Interested in more? Here’s a link to my message on 1 Corinthians 8-10, “It’s my right …”
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