The number of people in the U.S. who consider themselves Christians continues to decline, yet there is a growing openness to spiritual conversation. Every follower of Jesus can make a difference in the lives of others, when we live by some intentional practices to bless those around us. P.O.U.R. is an acronym which invites us into these intentional practices.
P.O.U.R. is a reminder of our roots. John Wesley and the early Methodists set up their first ministry center in an abandoned Foundry in London. They served the poor and the vulnerable, they preached God’s word and they formed small groups for discipleship. A renewal movement spread as God poured into his people and they poured out their lives for the sake of the world. Originally used to cast armament for King Charles, the Foundry became a place where men and women of God were forged.
POUR invites us into these four intentional practices:
P = Pray
O = Offer
U = Understand
R = Respond
Before we think about what we’ll say to others, we begin by drawing near to Jesus. Through prayer, Scripture, and Christian community, we make room to listen, receive His love, and recognize where He is already working. As we listen, we can trust Him to give us the courage to respond.
My Neighborhood Map
Print the block map and place it on your refrigerator to learn and remember your neighbor’s names.
Next Step Invitation
While it may seem a little strange to think of relationships in categories, the framework below can help us be intentional about the next steps we can take to P.O.U.R. blessings into others’ lives.
Learning names and some basic information is a great way to make acquaintances. But, what would it be like to make a commitment to throw at least one good block party every year, and then to sit back and see how God uses it on your block?
As you fill in the block map, consider taking the next step to plan a block party. Start small and focus on relationships. Anytime we get two or more households to spend time together, it’s a win. The key is to keep moving forward.
LIVE WORK STUDY PLAY Questions
Listening Questions are a way to be intentional about listening and noticing how God is at work in the lives of people around you. This practice can profoundly change your relationships with the people where you live, work, and play.
“Who in your neighborhood just had a baby?”
“Has anyone had any major life changes?”
“Do you know your coworkers’ names?”
Tell Your Story
What difference has following Jesus made in your life? How has knowing Him impacted how you walk through both the good and the hard times in life? Yes, when you tell your story include both the good and hard times. People will be more impacted when you’re honest about the challenges you continue to face even since choosing to follow Jesus. And don’t give the easy Sunday School answer. Talk about how your life is different and how God is growing you in certain areas, but make sure you’re sincere about how it’s a process and how you still often get it wrong. Saint Francis Xavier said it well: “Speak to them the great mercy of God…. Sometimes people are helped by your telling of your own lamentable past.”
Here are four tips to help you put your story on paper and memorize it:
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Before you write out and share your story, ask God for the words to say and insight about how to say it so that He can use it. YOU BE YOU. Write out your three-part story the way you speak. Don’t try to sound like someone else. It’s your story and you just be you.
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Don’t sugarcoat or overdramatize your story. Tell the good, the bad, and the ugly just the way that it happened. Your authenticity will connect with others.
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Aim to keep your story three to five minutes long. At that length, it’s easily something you can share in a conversation without turning it into a monologue or a sermon.
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Once you have written your story out, practice it out loud several times until you feel like you are comfortable and could do it from memory. Remember, you don’t have to write a book. Just follow those five tips and compose a simple three- to five-minute version of your story in those three parts. Now you are ready to share it with your neighbor when they are ready. Peter, Jesus’s close friend and follower, challenged us in this way: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV). Your answer is your story.
Your Next Step
Sharing our faith can also feel intimidating. We may fear rejection, worry about damaging a relationship, or wonder what to say when someone asks a question we cannot answer. Some of us have seen pushy approaches and do not want to treat people that way. Naming what holds us back helps us find a useful next step. From our life with Jesus, we can ask: Where are you stuck? Check out the resource below.
Book Resources
Foundry P.O.U.R. — four rhythms, My Neighborhood Map, Next Step Invitation, Story-Writing Guide
Foundry listening questions — LIVE / WORK / STUDY / PLAY PDF.
Foundry Bible365 — Bible reading plan at Foundry.
BibleProject: The Gospel — video.
BibleProject: Bible overview videos — choose a biblical book.
Shane L. Bishop: That’s Good News — Encouragement and practical guidance for overcoming fear and sharing faith. A good starting point if you want to witness but hesitate to take the first step.
Ted Bryant: The Jesus Method — Looks at how Jesus approached difficult social issues and conversations. Helpful when you want to speak with conviction while showing love and caring for the relationship.
Sam Chan: How to Talk about Jesus — Practical ways to talk about Jesus naturally within friendships in a skeptical culture. Especially helpful if you worry about sounding awkward, pushy, or disconnected from everyday life.
Rebecca Manley Pippert: Out of the Saltshaker — Presents evangelism as a way of life, drawing on Jesus’ example, stories, and conversation skills. Helpful for moving beyond guilt toward genuine relationships and confident witness.
Schaller and Crilly: The 9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations — Develops habits of curiosity, listening, asking questions, and serving people who believe differently. A strong fit if you want to understand others and create welcoming spiritual conversations.
Doug Pollock: God Space — Shows how listening, thoughtful questions, and everyday care can make room for spiritual conversations. Helpful if you struggle to move beyond small talk without forcing the subject.
Rebecca McLaughlin: Confronting Christianity — Explores twelve common objections to Christianity, including suffering, science, and sexuality. Useful when you or a friend have a specific hard question you want to examine thoughtfully.
Timothy Keller: The Reason for God — Addresses common doubts about Christianity and offers reasons for belief. Helpful for exploring intellectual questions about God, suffering, faith, and the credibility of Christian claims.
C. S. Lewis: Mere Christianity — Explains central Christian beliefs through reason, everyday examples, and reflection on moral life. A good fit if you want to understand the foundations of faith more clearly.
Chatraw and Allen: Apologetics at the Cross — A more substantial introduction to explaining and defending Christian faith with humility and respect. Best for readers who want deeper study of both thoughtful answers and a Christlike approach.
Christopher J. H. Wright: The Mission of God’s People — Traces the calling of God’s people across the biblical story, connecting mission with worship, work, community, and everyday life. Helpful for seeing witness within God’s larger purposes.
Gregory Koukl: Tactics — Teaches a question-based approach to discussing Christian beliefs and examining objections. Useful for clarifying difficult conversations; practice its tools with the listening and gentleness emphasized in POUR.
Robert E. Coleman: The Master Plan of Evangelism — Examines how Jesus formed disciples through sustained relationships, example, and shared ministry. Best for those ready to move from occasional conversations toward helping others grow as disciples.
Lee Strobel: The Case for Christ — Uses interviews with scholars to explore the historical evidence for Jesus and his resurrection. Helpful if your questions center on whether Christianity’s claims about Jesus are credible.
Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon: The Art of Neighboring — Offers practical steps for getting to know and loving the people who live nearby. A good choice if you need help turning good intentions into neighborhood relationships.
Rosaria Butterfield: The Gospel Comes with a House Key — Describes an approach to hospitality that welcomes people into ordinary home life, meals, and Christian community. Helpful if you want to make relationships and generous welcome part of daily life.
Dave and Jon Ferguson: BLESS — Introduces five everyday practices: begin with prayer, listen, eat together, serve, and share your story. Helpful for building simple habits of blessing; use alongside Foundry’s POUR framework.
Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg: Becoming a Contagious Christian — Explores how personality, relationships, and everyday language shape witness. Helpful if you want an approach to sharing faith that fits the way you naturally relate to people.
Bill Hybels: Just Walk Across the Room — Encourages noticing people, listening to their stories, and taking a first relational step as you follow the Spirit’s leading. Helpful for Relationships, Attention, and Action.