Navigating the Four Conversational Sound Barriers

When you travel to another country, one of the greatest challenges you face will likely be the language barrier.

If you cannot read or speak the language of that location, you will struggle to get around, buy food, or even find a bathroom. You will feel lost and overwhelmed. Why is it so frustrating? Because you are facing a major barrier to basic communication.

So before you travel, you memorize some basic words and phrases. That way, when the moment comes, you will have some way to communicate with the people around you. You can just ask, “¿Dónde está el baño?” without embarrassing yourself.

In a similar way, it can be hard to talk to people about Jesus. It can feel like you are facing a language barrier, and you just cannot find the words when the moment comes.

We have discovered four particularly difficult places in a spiritual conversation where most people need a little help. We call them the four sound barriers. These barriers are: Starting a Conversation, Getting Spiritual, Bringing up Jesus, and Asking for a Decision.

We have some simple questions for you to use to help you start a conversation on faith and not get stuck without words to communicate.

Starting a Conversation

Going from no conversation to a conversation is a normal, everyday kind of thing… until it is not. Some conversations just feel impossible to start. Sometimes it helps to just have your first line loaded up and ready to go. It does not need to be fancy. Try some really basic starters:

Hi, I’m _____. Are you new here? I don’t think I’ve seen you around.
Did you see the game/Super Bowl/Olympics/March Madness/World Series/etc. last night? Who did you want to win?
What kind of music are you into?
Do you want to sit with us at lunch? I noticed you have a new schedule.
Hey, I saw your T-shirt. Are you a ______ fan?

Getting Spiritual

Now that you are in a conversation, how do you bring up spiritual things? The easiest way is to just ask a question and listen to the answer.

They may not want to talk about spiritual things, and that is ok. You can always ask their permission, and trust that if they are not comfortable, they will tell you so.

However, it is impossible to know just by looking at someone if they will or will not want to talk about their spiritual life. That’s why you ask them. Try some of these questions:

May I ask about your family’s faith background? Do you believe the same way they do?
Do you ever think about God or want to know more about Him?
Do you go to church (or temple or mosque) anywhere?
If you could ask God one question, what would you ask?
Have you heard of Cru? It is a group of students who get together and talk about how God relates to their lives. Would you be interested in checking it out sometime?

Don't worry about having the right words. Just start the conversation and push through any awkwardness.

Bringing up Jesus

Moving from a spiritual conversation into a conversation about the gospel is a natural transition. You have just talked about spiritual things and now you would like to share your perspective.

There is no need to quiz them to test their Bible knowledge. Instead, you want to be curious if they have unanswered questions about what it means to follow Jesus. Most likely, they will be most interested in hearing your story of faith, rather than hearing all the things you know about God.

From what you know about Jesus, who do you think He was?
Using a scale from 1–10, how sure are you that you will go to heaven when you die?
May I show you a few things that have helped me have a relationship with God?
Jesus has made a big impact on my life. May I tell you about it?
In Cru, we have been learning about how to have a relationship with God. May I tell you what I have learned?

Inviting Someone to Make a Decision for Jesus

Inviting someone to make a decision for Christ can be both the most important question you have ever asked them and a question that is easy to put off. For many of your friends, after a clear presentation of the gospel, it is the most loving question you can ask, as it helps them clarify where they are in their own hearts.

A relationship with Jesus is more than just knowing about Him. We have to choose to follow Him. Can I show you what I mean? (Here, you can draw the two circle diagrams from “Knowing God Personally“)
Have you ever made a decision to ask Jesus into your life? Would you like to do that?
On a scale of 1-10, how interested are you in inviting Jesus into your life?
What is keeping you from inviting Jesus into your life?
Is this something you would like to do right now?

If someone wants to receive Jesus with you, you could lead them through a prayer like this…

“Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.”

Reminders for Your Conversations

Take the first step.
Be curious about the other person, show a genuine interest, and be encouraging.
Listen carefully. Care about them as a person and what they have to say.
Ask open-ended questions (those which cannot be answered with “yes/no”).
Don’t worry about having all the right words. Just start the conversation and push through any awkwardness.
Pray for them!

Breaking through these barriers can feel awkward. Hopefully, these questions will give you some basic phrases to help you learn the language of sharing Jesus with others.

Use these, come up with your own, or brainstorm other ideas with a friend. Just keep the conversations moving toward Christ!

Next Step

Go deeper and grow with others by going through our Sound Barrier Series at Thrivestudies.com. It is a four-part small group series designed to help you overcome the barriers to having great conversations about Jesus.

Sound Barrier Series

Evangelism

This article is part of the Evangelism Collection. Read the rest of these articles to get an even better understanding of how to share your faith with students.

From Grief to Purpose: Finding God in the Storm

Growing up in a Christian home, she always knew about Jesus, but her relationship with Him didn’t feel personal until tragedy struck in eighth grade. Transitioning from homeschooling to public school had already pushed her out of her comfort zone, and anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place. Then, during the fall of 2020, both her parents contracted COVID. While her mom recovered, her dad’s condition worsened, leading to months of uncertainty. She vividly remembers the day he left for the hospital and the long, heartbreaking journey that followed. Despite moments of hope, her dad passed away on February 20th, 2021. At just 13 years old, she faced the devastating reality of losing her father—a loss that shook her world and her faith.

In the midst of that grief, she began to see God’s hand at work. During sleepless nights and moments of overwhelming sorrow, God surrounded her with people who cared—friends, family, and a community that embodied His love. Though the pain of loss didn’t disappear, she found comfort in the truth that this life is not the end. Inspired by Paul’s words about eternity, she started to see her father’s passing as a reminder of the hope we have in Christ. That hope spurred her to action. On a family mission trip to Thailand, she met students leading Cru groups at their schools, and the seed was planted to start something similar back home. Despite initial uncertainty, God provided resources, opened doors, and brought others alongside her to launch Cru at her school—a ministry that has been thriving for nearly a year now.

"Anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place."

Her story is one of resilience, faith, and transformation. Through unimaginable grief, she discovered the depth of God’s love and the strength found in trusting Him. The loss of her dad deepened her desire to share Jesus with others, knowing firsthand how essential His presence is in life’s hardest moments. Cru has given her a platform to do just that—to tell others about the God who redeems brokenness and uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Her journey reminds us that while pain is inevitable, God is sovereign, faithful, and able to bring beauty from ashes.

Next Step

Check out Christina's Story and consider how God might use an international mission in your or another student's life.

christina's story

The Six Milestones Every Student Needs to Grow in Faith

Why These Milestones Matter

If we are not careful, students can float through our ministry without ever taking real steps forward. They might show up every week, but never really grow or take ownership of their faith. Milestones give us a simple, clear map for helping them keep moving. They help us answer the question, “What’s next for this student?” and give students the courage to take that step.

When we guide students from milestone to milestone, we are not just helping them stay involved. We are helping them grow into strong, confident followers of Jesus who are ready to lead and influence others.

Share Christ with a Student Who Doesn’t Know Jesus

Before anything else, a student needs the chance to hear the good news of Jesus in a clear and personal way. This is where it all begins. Many teenagers have never heard the gospel explained in full, even if they have been around church. Take the time to share about God’s love, our need for forgiveness, and the hope we have in Christ. The first step in their journey is not about them sharing their faith — it is about them hearing it for the first time.

Helpful Resources:

Lead a Student Through Their First Follow-Up

When a student says yes to Jesus, it is just the start of something new and exciting. The first follow-up meeting is where you can help them understand what it means to walk with God daily. It is also a chance to build trust and start a discipleship relationship. This step anchors their new faith and helps them grow instead of drifting away.

Helpful Resources:

Help a Student Understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit

Helping students understand the Holy Spirit is a game-changer. Too often, new believers try to live the Christian life in their own strength, and it leaves them frustrated. Teaching them about the Spirit-filled life shows them how to depend on God’s power for both living and sharing their faith. This is when students start to realize that God is not just calling them to do hard things — He is empowering them to actually do them.

Helpful Resources:

GodTools App (go through the Satisfied tool with them)
Holy Spirit Booklet

Holy Spirit Study in Thrive Studies

First Evangelism Experience

Many students have never had the chance to talk about their faith with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Taking them out to share, whether on campus, at an event, or in the community, changes that. At first, they might feel nervous, but once they see God working through them, it can be life-changing. That moment when a student realizes, “God just used me to help someone understand the gospel” — that is the spark that often leads to a lifetime of ministry.

Helpful Resources:

Challenge to a Cru Training Event

There is something powerful about getting students away from their normal routine and into an environment filled with worship, biblical teaching, and friends who are chasing after Jesus. Conferences give them the space to grow, hear from God, and take big steps of faith. The bus ride there might be full of nerves, but the ride home is usually buzzing with stories of what God did. Over and over again, we have seen students return from these events ready to lead and make a difference.

Helpful Resources:

Conferences Page

Challenge to Spiritual Leadership on Campus

Teenagers are capable of more than they realize. The world constantly challenges them to step up in sports, academics, and clubs, but sometimes the church forgets to ask them to lead in ministry. Giving students real leadership opportunities — leading a Bible study, speaking at a meeting, planning an outreach — unlocks their potential and sets an example for younger students. Over time, this creates a culture where leadership is expected and contagious.

Helpful Resources:

Student Leader Section – GoToTheCampus.com

Wrapping It Up

These milestones are not a checklist to rush through. They are a pathway to help students grow, one step at a time. Every student you know is somewhere on this journey. Your role is to encourage them, challenge them, and walk alongside them as they take the next step. The goal is not just to build a ministry — it is to build students who live on mission for Jesus for the rest of their lives.

Want to dig deeper? Check out our full conversations about the Six Milestones in these YouTube videos.

Next Step

Write down the names of every student in your ministry. Identify their current milestone and decide how you can help them reach the next one.

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project is a powerful small-group resource designed especially for girls, offering a safe, encouraging space to talk about identity, value, and purpose. It’s already making a difference in public schools, giving students a chance to connect, grow, and be reminded of their worth.

One of its greatest strengths is flexibility. The Priceless Project comes in two versions:

A Bible study version for church, youth group, or Christian school settings
A public school version with the same strong themes but without Scripture references — making it ideal for campuses that might not allow explicitly faith-based content

The public school version can be a great way to get in the door on a campus that’s difficult to access. It allows you to mentor a group of girls who need it, build relationships with them, and meet real emotional and social needs in a way that schools welcome.

Priceless Project

from Emily French

Why use The Priceless Project?

Creates a safe, respectful space for girls to share and be heard
Meets real emotional and social needs in public schools
Builds leadership and peer-to-peer mentoring skills
Easy to use, with free resources and an app for facilitators
Proven track record in schools through partnerships with teachers and administrators

All digital resources are free for Cru. Use the discount code PricelessCru at checkout. All physical books are available for purchase at iampriceless.me.

A free Priceless Project App is also available for Apple and Android — with digital curriculum, playlists, blog posts, and a safe space for facilitators to connect with the girls they lead.

You can learn more, explore the curriculum, and order resources at iampriceless.me.