Daily Devotional

At every Campus Bible Church worship gathering we include a Stand-n-Greet. This is a time for you to go up and introduce yourself to someone in the gathering who you’ve never met. While this is not a problem for most, occasionally I hear from people who really struggle going up to someone they’ve never met and starting a conversation. So I want to give you a few tips.
 
1 John 4:7 says, “ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”
 
So how do you start a conversation with someone you’ve never met?
 
1. Connect with the person 

• Look them in the eye. 
• Smile to make the other person comfortable. 
• Introduce yourself. 

2. Start a conversation 

• Compliment them on something they’re wearing. 
• Comment on a current event, like weather, sports, or the gathering itself. 
• Ask a question that cannot be answered ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Interests, hobbies, background. 
• Be curious, asking follow-up questions about their interests, hobbies, and background. 
• Ask for advice, “My son is looking to get started in [said hobby]. How should he start?” 

3. Listen, Listen, Listen 

• Eye contact, nod occasionally, and DO NOT INTERRUPT. 
• Respond in a way to make it clear that you’re listening. 
• Remember their name. Repeat their name even as you’re responding. 

4. Be real 

• Don’t act like someone you’re not. 
• Don’t pretend to like something you don’t like. 
• Find something in common.

My favorite movie is “Silverado”. And one of my favorite quotes from that movie is when one of the cowboys says to the other, “You might as well approach life as if everybody’s your friend or nobody is.” And as a church, I think that’s the way we should approach people we don’t know, as if they’re a potential friend.
 
When you first came to a gathering at Campus Bible Church, you probably walked away either saying, “Wow, that’s a very friendly church!” or you walked away saying, “That’s not a very friendly church.” Now we can always have a bad Sunday. But in general, wouldn’t you rather be known as a friendly church than not friendly? I know I would.
 
Try putting some of these steps in your repertoire for the next time we do a Stand-n-Greet.
You can even use them before and after the gathering. Break out of your comfortable group of friends and go start a conversation with someone you’ve never met. Friendliness starts with you! 

New American Standard Bible®,
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