Start with a question, not a speech

Philip approached the chariot and asked: "Do you understand what you are reading?" The question recognized that the other person already had a story, a concern, and something to say. He did not treat him as an empty vessel. When you want to talk about faith, you can prepare so many answers that you forget to listen. You go in determined to explain and never discover what real question the person has, what experience marked them, or what words trigger their resistance. A good question is not a technique to steer someone to your conclusion. It is genuine interest. If you listen without rushing, the conversation can begin where the person actually is, not where your speech had decided to place them.