The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast) - Opening Lines For Evangelization

Episode Date: December 19, 2025

How do you share the Gospel without making it awkward? As Christmas draws near, Jeff shares simple, natural ways to bring Jesus into everyday conversations—especially when people are hurting, overwhelmed, or searching for hope. Email us with comments or questions at [e-mail]. Text “jeffcavins” to 33-777 to subscribe and get Jeff’s shownotes delivered straight to your email! Or visit https://media.ascensionpress.com/?s=&page=2&category%5B0%5D=Ascension%20Podcasts&category%5B1%5D=The%20Jeff%20Cavins%20Show for full shownotes!

This podcast is brought to you by Ascension. To discover even more free Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources, to help you live your faith every day, visit ascensionpress.com. Welcome to the Jeff Kaven Show, where we talk about the Bible, discipleship, and evangelization, putting it all together in living as activated disciples. This is show 461, opening lines for evangelization. Hello, my friend. I'm Jeff Kavens. Thanks for joining me. Less than a week. Less than a week. Can you believe it? Christmas is less than a week away. And hopefully got everything ready, getting ready not only physically, but ready spiritually. Hopefully Advent has been a time of preparation for you to prepare for the Lord. You know, so many people, they'll tell you once Christmas is like two days away, they'll say,

man, where did a time go? And I didn't prepare the way I wanted to, you know. And you get one shot a year at it. But hopefully you are prepared. Hopefully you are. Even with days before, the days that we have before, you can still do more preparation for the birth of the king, the king of kings and the Lord of lords. Hey, a little bit on the, it's a little on the light side today, but I wanted to share a couple things with you. I know your schedule is quite busy right now, but I want to share a couple things with you, and that specifically, things that I try to use when I'm in conversation with people, you know, when we tell people that as disciples of the Lord, you should be witnessing, should be sharing Christ with other people. People typically respond with, well, I don't even know what to say.

I don't even know how to start up a conversation with anybody or maintain the conversation. Once we're into it, what do I talk about? Well, we can't. handle all of that today, but I do know that there are things that you can say to people that at least open the topic or at least give them an opportunity to respond and maybe ask you a question because you brought up a topic, not in a real in your face type of way, but in a pleasant, you know, kind of greeting. And so I have a couple that I like to use a lot, you know, when I'm talking to people. And I want to bring up the subject of Jesus and how Jesus changes our lives, but not in an odd way. You know what I mean by an odd way, right? You've been around odd people

that maybe tried to bring up God to you and it just sounded contrived, you know? It didn't sound like it was real. It didn't sound like it belonged in that conversation. But there are ways, I think, of bringing up Jesus in a conversation that do sound a little bit more authentic. I have have some scriptures for you here today. If you do want them, you can get the show notes. You have to text my name, Jeff Kavens, one word, Jeff Kavins, and text it to the number 3377. We'll get you on board there. We'll get you these notes. They're actually scriptures that deal with topics that people are dealing with a lot in their life. And so I will give those to you. But I'm going to focus on two different things that I do say to people when I'm in a

conversation with them. And oftentimes I have to say people respond with something that allows me to carry the conversation on. And my goal is not just to make people, quote unquote, make people believe like I do or become Christian. It's really a sincere love for people and a concern for people because that's who Jesus died for and he loves them. And so his love become. by way of extension, my love and my concern, and it's not about matter about numbers or anything or productivity. It's about fruitfulness. It's about sharing Jesus with other people. So let's take a look at the first one. One of the ways that I will bring up Jesus in a conversation is if somebody's talking to me about, let's say, they're having problems with a relationship

in their family. Let's say two siblings really got into it at Thanksgiving. And it really came to kind of an ugly collision over Thanksgiving dinner. And they're really dealing with feeling hurt. And they're feeling like they can't forgive someone for saying something. One of the things that I will usually say is, you know, Jesus said, and that's it. And I'll fill it in, obviously, with something that he said that relates to the conversation that we're having. at the moment. And so, for example, if somebody, if someone said, I really got into it with a guy at work, you know, and I just don't know, I feel uncomfortable at work now. I don't even want

to go in there because that guy is in there and we really got into it and we just don't get along really, really well. And you're bringing that up to me. Well, what's my response going to be? Well, I can say, you know, go and get a different job, go to the boss and have him fired, totally ignore him, gossip about him at work. I mean, there's four really good. good choices right there. They're actually really bad choices, but those are choices. But what I can offer someone is, is not so much my opinion, because my opinion doesn't really matter in this, in terms of, you know, objectively. But I can bring up the subject of, you know, Jesus said about what you're, what you're mentioning, what you're dealing with right there, with this

feeling you have about the guy or the girl you're working with, and how it feels like you go to work and there's that enemy waiting for you there. And all they do is ruin your day. So I would say, well, you know, Jesus said to love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. And I think here's why he said it. But what I will typically do is just kind of hang it out there. You know, you know Jesus said, I say to you who here, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. And then I pause. I pause for a And you would be surprised at how many people fill in the blank. They'll say, yeah, I know, I'm not, I know, I go to church and, but I don't know, I don't even know how to do that. There you are.

You're in a conversation now. They don't, they agree with you, but they don't know how to do it. That's when you can roll up your sleeves and get into just a heart-to-heart conversation about maybe an example from your life, something that happened to you. and you had to love your enemies do good to those who hate you and what it felt like when you were done and was there a reconciliation after that due to your obedience to Jesus, right?

So I think rather than just saying to someone who says I got a real problem with somebody at work instead of saying to him, well, it sounds like you've got to get your attitude right too. Well, that's not going to go very far, but what you can do is, and hear me out here, you come alongside them and walk with them. and say, you know, I know I understand what you're talking about.

I've had that, it worked too. You know what Jesus said? And then I just tell them, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. And so that gets us into a possibility of a number of avenues we can go down. How do you love your enemy? Is that a matter of feelings? Or is it agape love? Is it a choice?

Does it the result of your will? You're willing it. You're willing to love them. Like I said the other day, you can love someone and not particularly like. them but you can love them you can do good to them those who hate you there's other topics that you can introduce when we talk about you know jesus said for example forgiveness and i'll put these in the show notes for you matthew 615 for if you forgive others their trespasses your heavenly father will also forgive you but if you do not forgive others their trespasses neither will your

father forgive your trespasses so i'm a real advocate of getting at least one scripture in a number of areas of life, forgiveness, loving your enemies, forgiving someone, repeatedly, hope, feeling worthless, you know, all these different categories. My word, you could come up with 25 categories and take one scripture for each that you are adding to this little catalog in your mind and your heart, and you can introduce that to somebody as it comes up. That's the advantage of memorizing scripture, committing it to your memory to your heart so that you can pull it out at any time and share what Jesus said.

Because when someone at work comes up to you and says, I'm really struggling with even coming into the office because of that jerk over there, if they put it that way, well, what they really need is what would Jesus think about this? And you're not saying it in a way of you're challenging them. You're saying, you know, Jesus said this about that. And then you're giving them an opportunity to come along. Sometimes people have a real problem with hope in their life, and they're telling you all about how hopeless they feel about a situation in their life and say, you know, Bob, it just reminds me,

Jesus said something about that. That's so natural. You shouldn't be afraid of that. You know, Jesus says something about that. He said, but if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Or another one, Jeremiah 29. Say, Bob, I understand what you're saying there, but I'm reminded. minded of what God says, for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord plans for welfare

and not for evil to give you a future and a hope. Bob, that's really what God, his plan is for you. Jeremiah 29-11, typically I don't even give the address because they're interested in, you know, hearing content. Hebrews 619, we have this as a sure and steadfast anchor for the soul of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain. A guy that feels worthless. It feels like you can't do anything in his life. You know, I just remind you, Paul said, throw in there, it is a twist for you. Instead of Jesus said, Paul said, or you say, you know, God's word says, or the scriptures say,

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Well, yeah, I know I'm not that religious. No, I'm not talking about you being religious. I'm telling you that this writer, Paul, came to a place where he understood that he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him. And you know what? I found that out in my life too. Let me give you an example. And then you're in a conversation.

This should be like breathing for us. Philippians 1-6. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Here's a few more. I'm just going to throw these in as long as we're having fun. with this for we are his workmanship created in christ jesus for good works which god prepared beforehand that we should walk in them and uh here's one psalm 139 13 for you formed my inward parts oh god you knitted me together in my mother's womb i praise you for i am fearfully and wonderfully made

i wonder what that would sound like if you shared that with someone who was struggling with self-worth and they were feeling down about themselves, worthless, that you were knit, knitted together in your mother's womb by God. Or Matthew 1031, fear not, therefore you are of more value than the sparrows. Say, let me tell you, Susan, you know, you talk about feeling so worthless and maybe your husband made you feel that way or your, you know, your boss or whatever. And, you know, you know, Jesus said, fear not, therefore you are of more value than me. many sparrows. Well, I don't feel like it. Well, you might not, but I'm telling you this is what Jesus said about you. So that's pretty, pretty powerful. What about people who are feeling weak? Isaiah 40, I'm going to put all these in the notes for you. Feeling weak, Isaiah 4110,

fear not for I'm with you. Do not be dismayed for I'm your God. I'll strengthen you. I'll help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. So somebody who's really feeling down and say, you know, I'm just reminded of what God's word says. Fear not, for I'm with you. Be not dismayed. I'm your God. I'll strengthen you. I'll help you.

That's a good word. That's a good word. Nothing to be ashamed of about that. Nothing to be embarrassed about or timid over. That's the truth. And your friend is telling you, I'm spent. I feel weak. Well, give them your best.

Proverbs 3, 5, and 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge God. God, he'll make your path straight. That's good news for someone who doesn't have any direction in their life. Or Philippians 4, 6, and 7. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving,

let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And finally, 2 Timothy 1-7, for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control. well, wow, how many times do you talk to someone who feels like their life is out of control? And they feel powerless. And they're afraid of what's happening in their life and what's going to happen up ahead. You know, Jenny, I'm just reminded, I was reminded of what Paul told Timothy, who was probably scared, said, God gave us a spirit, not a fear, but of power and love and self-control. It's just a natural way.

I'm not saying it's the only way. It's just a natural way that you can bring up God in a situation on the heels of them already disclosing something that is going wrong. I'm going to share with you my second one, but it's going to be right after this. You're listening to the Jeff Kaven show. Hi, my name's Father Mike Schmitz, and I'm excited to announce my latest project, a new Advent series coming out in the Ascension app called Waiting Well. Here's the thing. The stats show that we spend up to several years of our lives waiting, waiting in line,

waiting at red light, waiting while friends and family get ready. We're just constantly waiting. And instead of embracing those times of waiting, what do we do? We worry, we get anxious, and maybe most of all, we check out, and we just get lost in scrolling on our phones. But there is a spiritual importance to waiting that we cannot miss. In fact, waiting is so important that God gives us entire seasons of waiting, Lent and Advent, as a way to help shape us and help us realize where in our life,

lives we're still waiting to let Jesus in. In order to be truly open to God in this way, we have to learn to embrace times of waiting. Most of all, we have to acknowledge, accept, and then live out the deep truth that this moment and every moment of our lives actually matters. If this resonates with you, if you feel something stirring deep down in your soul, then join me this Advent for Waiting Well, exclusively in the Ascension app. You can download the free prayer plan by signing up for the wait list in the Ascension app on your mobile device or by visiting ascensionpress.com slash Father Mike Advent. What are you waiting for? See what I did there? God bless. Welcome back. We're talking about opening lines for evangelization, just ways of kind of opening

the topic that God may want to be a part of, and we have no reason to be ashamed of or fearful of. What can man do to us? The first one, prior to the break, is, you know, You know, Jesus said, or you know, Paul once wrote, and it's just very, very easy. And by the way, it doesn't mean you've got to close the deal. It doesn't mean that by the end of the conversation, they have to be baptized, confirmed, and receive the Eucharist. No, it's a beginning of a relationship. It's a beginning of you telling someone the truth, the truth about their unfortunate situation. Now, the second one is this.

Sometimes people will share with me the difficulties. that they are, that they're facing in their life. And rather than me saying, well, you know, it's going to all be okay, well, it might be a little premature for that. We don't even know the extent of what they're talking about. But one of the things that I do say to people, and oftentimes they will respond, which opens the door. And that is this.

They'll be in a, let's just do this. They'll give you a scenario. I'm talking to someone at Starbucks, okay? and they tell me that things are going really rough at work. And on top of that, their college student has to get out of school and come back home because the grades are not there. The school is saying they wanted him or her to take a break. And they're feeling so overwhelmed.

Or they watched a news story. They watched a news story about people grieving over family members that were shot. in a horrific event. And sometimes I'll just say to the one I'm talking to, you know, I don't know how I could get through that without God. That's a pretty honest statement. It's a truthful statement. I don't know how I could get over that or through that without God.

I remember talking a lot about that during COVID, these last five years or so, where people were at Wits End and I said, you know, I just don't know how people can go through COVID without God. and then just leave it there, you would be surprised at how many people will say something after it. They may say, boy, I'm with you there. And then I say, well, how do you deal with it? How do you do it with God? And they might talk to me or they might say, wow, that you sound like you got a lot of faith, Jeff. You couldn't go through this without, you know, without God. They don't know how

you can get through it without God. How do you get through it with God? They might ask. It just opens up a conversation. Again, no shame, no embarrassment. No fear. It's just a fact. I don't know how some people, I don't know how some people deal with what they're dealing with without God. I really don't. And so there's all kinds of areas. I'll give you a list of them, in fact, okay? I'll give you a list of here's the types of things that you are talking to people about. And they're bringing up their own free will. They just bring them up. Isn't it funny? It used to be a show called art link letter. I remember now, office party.

And they had a show where he said that kids say the darndest things and they do. But you know what? Adults say the darndest things. In the middle of a conversation, it's amazing how they start to unload their heart, their burdens

to you, especially if they know you're a man of faith or a woman of faith. They will hint about it a little bit. I've been thinking about going to church. Well, they know you go to church. So, well, I don't know how, I don't know how I could get through that without God, to be honest with you. So here's some of the areas that people end up talking about where you could say to them, man, I don't know, I don't know how people do it without God.

So, for example, financial troubles, how many people are really struggling financially and how many people are dependent upon welfare, help, no shame there, help with welfare, food, clothing, shelter, whatever it might be. I don't know how I could get through all of that without God. Financial troubles. Political upheaval. Not only here at home, but look at what just happened over in Australia, Bondi Beach. With the shooting of 15 dead at the time of my talking to you here, that was just last week. And I don't know how people, I don't know how people get through that without God. I don't. That was, unfortunately, that was anti-Semitism, which is a dirge. It's just a demonic activity. Really, really, I don't know how people get through it without God. Kids are at home from school. That could come up. You know, someone's trying to open up a new business or working

from home and the kids come home at 3.30 and everything, they got homework and they've got this and that, and you've got to bring them back to school for skating practice. And, man, I don't know how you do it without God. That could be one right there. How about this? My spouse is working out of our home now. You get into a conversation at Starbucks with that situation. And someone says, man, my husband's not working at the office anymore.

He's working at home. I don't know how I could get through that without God. You know, I mean, how do you get through that without God? Your house is turned upside down. My parents come down with a terminal illness. Oh, I don't know how people do that without God. Here's one that came up in Minnesota not too long ago. Property taxes went through the ceiling up 16%.

I'm not saying they're at 16%. I'm saying they went up 16% from the previous highs. And a lot of people are talking about it. And it's really cutting into their budget. Man, I don't know how they do that without God. my son has a rare form of cancer you might say you've maybe you've run into people that were really struggling you know with cancer their children blood cancer whatever it might be and they have so much on their plate and i would say i don't know how they do that i don't

know how they can get through that without god i don't i don't know if i could get through that without god our family business is really hurting perhaps maybe that's something that you run into or our daughter is struggling with alcohol, you might say. Someone comes up to you and says, you know, that two of our teens are really struggling with drugs and alcohol right now. And you say, man, I don't know how I'd get through that without God. Just as an opener. Like I said at the beginning of the show,

you'd be surprised at how many people engage you just by taking a chance to love. This isn't just apologetics in winning debates or anything like that. That is nothing to do with this. is loving people, reaching out as an ambassador of Christ. Someone may say, I'm going through a spiritual dry time in my life right now, or I'm feeling more anxious than usual, or we can't visit my grandmother in the nursing home due to health restrictions, chronic pain due to neuropathy. Someone says it's really getting me down. It's painful just to walk. And I don't know how I could get through that without God.

Here's one, ringing in my ears, tenetis. I think that's what they say. Do you know that I have that? I don't think I've ever told you that before. Ringing in my ears, I can tell you right when I first noticed it, because I thought there was something gone wrong with the refrigerator. There was something buzzing inside of it. Come to find out, I had this tenetus, yeah.

And that is this ringing in the ear, which I have had now for about five years all day. ringing in my ears. Some people say it makes them crazy. And, you know, there is actually even a number of people who become suicidal because they've got this ringing in their ears. I've had that. And I would say to someone, you know, I don't know how I'd go through this without God. And I did. And I am. And I'm okay. Because God is with me. And every time I hear that darn ringing in my ears, I play spiritual ringing ear judo. That's right. I just tell myself, God is calling me to intimacy. God is calling me to prayer. I can hear it. I can hear it right now. And so when I'm conscious of it, you're not always conscious of it, but when you're conscious of it,

then I can get through this with God. I can. And I'll do it all the time. I'll be all of a sudden to hear this ringing. Oh, man. And then I tell myself, oh, God is calling. calling me to prayer. I'm just going to take a moment in prayer. Thank you, Lord, for calling on me. So there's what I do. My wife was laid off from work due to something. I don't know how people get through this without God.

My son, who's a senior, won't get to play baseball in a senior year. And he's heartbroken. He ended up with some kind of injury. My parents left us out of the will. It's killing my husband. You might say, man, I don't know how people can do that. without God. You'd be surprised again. Someone say, well, how would God help you in that situation? Thank you for asking. And then talk to them. Someone may say, I don't know if life will ever be the

same due to circumstances. I don't know how I could go through that without God. So there's a lot of things that we run across that people are struggling with. They're struggling. And the truth is, my friend, they are going through it without God. I don't know how you do that, but I can tell you how to do it with God. And I think that's going to help in the lives of the people I'm talking to. So those are just some ideas I wanted to share with you today, a couple of them. I'll put those in the show notes for you.

You know, Jesus said, you know, God said, you know, Paul said one time. And then the second, I don't know how I could go through that without God. And then you can share with them how you. you do go through things with God and offer prayer. Very simple, but you know what? Coming up on Christmas, you might have an opportunity to engage with people who are going through something. Frankly, I don't know how they do it without God.

Or they're going through something and you're going to have the opportunity to say, you know, Jesus talks about that and be able to share it with them. Even if you have to Google it, who cares? you know, well, they'll think I don't know it. Who cares? Google it. Look it up, you know, and share it. That's the goal. Your ego is not the goal. Your reputation is not the goal. The goal is to get the word of God to broken hurting people. All right, my friend, let's pray, shall we in the name of the Father's Son and the Holy Spirit, Lord. We lift up our friends to you right now. And we ask you, Lord, to give them a new dose of courage in their life and certainty regarding your word. And when the opportunities come about, Lord, may they be bold and take a step out where they normally wouldn't. This is all for you, Jesus, for you to be glorified. We pray this in your name. Amen. Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. I love you and ask you to pray for me. God bless you. Talk to you next week.