Persuade Like Paul (Part II)

When you bring God into your work, He blows His inspiration upon you whether you are a leader, teacher, parent, seller, or singer. When persuading others to buy into you or your ideas, here are a few more ways in which the Apostle Paul became the Chief Persuader of the Gospel to the Gentiles:

1. Persuade on Sacred Ground! It was common for Paul to include tactical points of persuasion in his presentation. Paul would teach the Jews from the books of Moses and the prophets. Consider how Paul was able to leverage beliefs his audience held sacred as a way to identify with them on common ground and then connect on sacred ground. Acceleration in relationship building can take place by identifying shared beliefs and passions early on and then speaking to those. Knowing the Jews’ convictions in the sacred text allowed him to tap into beliefs they already held dear.
2. Connect the Dots! Paul built a bridge by taking what they already knew in the Old Covenant and connecting it to the New Covenant, unpacking God’s promises and explaining why Jesus was the Messiah. Leaders who touch on and honor the past have a better chance of persuading people to follow them into the future.
3. Persuade with Character! Central to a message is the messenger. Your background, credentials, and experiences all give credibility to you as a person. This is important because people must first buy into you before they will buy into what you are selling. Paul always started off his presentations by giving an elevator speech on who he was and why he believed what he did. This gave weight to what he was about to say. Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees, a Roman citizen, Greek educated, and he bore marks bearing rejection and imprisonment for what he believed in. This gave his message even more credibility when people realized the length of sacrifice and suffering he was willing to endure for what he believed in.
4. Know Your Audience! Paul knew how to adapt his message to his audience. He persuaded the Jews differently than the Gentiles. Paul also knew that the Pharisees would be more open than the Sadducees because they already had a foundational belief in the resurrection. Paul was adept at learning a culture, what they held sacred, and then speaking to what was important to them. You must know your audience before you can sell your audience.
5. Persuade with Passion! When delivering your message, an audience will respond to “how” you are saying what you are saying as much as “what” you are saying. A presenter must move people emotionally if they hope to persuade them logically. A passionate presentation goes a long way in converting beliefs because strong conviction in the story you tell convinces an audience. One of the best ways to convince is with personal testimony. Telling others what you’ve been through, how you feel, and why you are “fully persuaded” moves people from indifference to decision. People buy into passion when they see that it is lived outwardly, not just felt inwardly.