Shema Statements: Having Spiritual Conversations Naturally

Have you ever wanted to share your faith, but didn’t know where to start? Shema Statements can help! 

Maybe you’ve felt the nudge to talk about Jesus but hesitated, unsure of how to bring Him into the conversation naturally. 

You’re not alone. 

Many believers struggle with transitioning from everyday conversations to spiritual ones. That’s where Shema Statements come in. 

These simple, intentional phrases act as bridges—naturally leading from casual discussions to meaningful Gospel centered conversations.

In this article, you’ll learn what Shema Statements are and how using them makes it easier to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

What Are Shema Statements?

A Shema Statement is anything you say that communicates that you are a follower of Jesus. These statements don’t force a conversation—they simply reveal your faith in an organic way, leaving space for others to respond.

The goal is not to launch into a full Gospel presentation every time you speak, but to create open doors for deeper conversations.

Missionary and author of Living Out Loud, Kevin King says,

“The most tangible expression of your love for God is talking about him. When you get up in the morning, talk about God. When you’re walking down the street, talk about God. When you are sitting at home, taking your kids to the park, eating at a restaurant, or commuting to work, talk about God. God should be at the forefront of your mind. You should speak like a person who is almost preoccupied with him. Everything points to him, relates to him, comes from him, reflects him, reminds you of him—and you can’t help but express it in almost everything you say. The more deeply and fully you love God, the more naturally this language will flow out of you. When I say that we should talk about God, I don’t mean simply dropping Christian jargon into our daily conversations. Rather, as part of our vernacular, we should make statements that point to spiritual realities and the presence of God in our lives. We should say the spiritual things that come to our minds as we talk with others. This doesn’t necessarily mean sharing the Gospel with everyone we meet. It just means using simple statements to show that we are followers of God.”

So where does this idea come from? 

The Biblical Foundation of Shema Statements

Let’s look at where this originates from in the Bible. Shema is the first Hebrew word in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, where Moses says to the Israelites:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

The word Shema means to listen and respond in obedience. In other words, loving God isn’t just about private devotion— the Jewish people knew it’s about talking about Him in daily life.

In the New Testament, Jesus echoed the Shema in Mark 12:29-31, reaffirming to the Jewish leaders that loving God and loving others is central to our faith. 

Shema Statements help us live that out by making God part of our everyday conversations.

We see other people in Scripture sharing how to talk about God, like the Psalmist in 34:1-3: “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!”

The Word of God encourages us to talk about our faith and spirituality. 

Why Shema Statements Matter for Evangelism

Many Christians think evangelism is about having a perfect Gospel presentation ready, but it often starts much simpler—with natural, everyday moments where our faith is evident.

Author of the new evangelism book Living Out Loud, Kevin King says, “People who live out loud and make Shema Statements end up sharing the Gospel far more often—and more naturally—than those who don’t.”

When God’s people freely talk about him, it invites people into spiritual conversations that can lead to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

Kevin King explains how, “From the moment we enter a conversation with others, they will be able to tell that we are spiritual because it will be obvious in our language… This is one example of how we love God with everything we are. We become so enamored of him that we can’t help but talk about him in obvious ways, in every context.” 

Afterwards, people who are curious or seeking may respond, giving you a chance to go deeper.

Shema Statements on Mission Trips 

Mission trip participants in New York City use Shema Statements to engage with people from Unreached People Groups.   

Whether they’re talking with immigrants in parks, meeting shop owners, or sharing meals with international students, these statements open doors for deeper conversations. 

By weaving faith into everyday moments, they plant seeds of the Gospel in the hearts of those who may have never heard it before.

Shema Statements aren’t just for missionaries. You can use them in your everyday life to show that you are a person of faith. 

How to Use Shema Statements in Everyday Conversations

The key to Shema Statements is making small, intentional shifts in the way you talk. 

King reminds us, “These are simple, everyday statements that come from our personal walk with Jesus. They are born out of:

• What we are thinking
• What God is teaching us
• How we look at certain situations
• What we are wrestling through
• What we are reading
• How we are feeling”

He emphasizes, “They are the natural things we would say as spiritual people if we didn’t feel the need to hide our spirituality.” 

Here are some examples:  

Instead of Saying:	Use a Shema Statement:
That was such a lucky break	God really worked that out for me
That’s a beautiful sunset	God is such an incredible artist
I’ve been thinking about that a lot	That’s something God has been teaching me lately
I hope things work out	I will pray about that for you
You are really gifted at that	God has gifted you with this

These aren’t forced or awkward—they simply reflect your natural thoughts about God in a way that others can hear. You can gently share God’s love for other people. 

Read More: Spiritual Conversations Starters

What Happens Next? Let the Conversation Flow

The beauty of Shema Statements is that they don’t pressure the other person. They simply open the door. If someone responds with curiosity or interest, you can continue the conversation.

As King says, “We speak up openly as spiritual people but never force a conversation to go deeper than someone else wants to go.”

Here are a few ways people could respond. They might: 

• Ask questions – “What do you mean by that?” or more specific spiritual questions “How did God teach you that?”
• Disagree with it – And that’s okay! 
• Share something personal – “I’ve been thinking a lot about faith lately.”
• Ignore it and not respond at all – And that’s okay, too! You’ve still made it clear that faith is part of your life, and you never know what seeds have been planted.

But King emphasizes to “Let their response inform where you take the conversation.” 

Living Out Loud with Shema Statements

When you consistently use Shema Statements, talking about God becomes second nature. More importantly, it makes spiritual conversations a normal and natural part of life, both for you and for those around you.

So start small. Pay attention to the moments when you normally filter out your faith, and instead, let it show. You might be surprised at how God uses these simple statements to open doors for deeper discussions about Him.

Want to learn more about how to have spiritual conversations? Check out Living Out Loud: Letting Your Love for God Flow into Your Everyday Language, to help you share your faith naturally and effectively.