Scholarly Reflections
Koukl, Gregory. (2019). "Chapter Four: Columbo Step 1: Gathering Information." In Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions (updated and expanded). pp. 63-75. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Koukl recommends gathering information to help make the person you speak with feel comfortable, speaking about himself and his own convictions (Koukl 2019, 63). Koukl describes how this practice can make particular struggles known, thus avoiding pitfalls later. He suggests questions such as "What do you mean by that?" to draw out information (Koukl 2019, 65). The clarity which results is a foundation for continued discussion.
Clarity and definition of terms are essential elements, creating mutual understanding and the ability to represent a person or a position well (Koukl 2019, 67). Koukl describes and illustrates the benefit of understanding correctly and representing a point of view accurately. In his opinion, many people have difficulty clarifying largely because they have not done so before (Koukl 2019, 69).
Koukl moves his discussion back to the concept of the ten second window (Koukl 2019, 70). The common discussion scenarios he illustrated in an earlier chapter all had ambiguity inherent in their possible controversies. Clearing up the ambiguity allows the discussion to move forward. Koukl's questions take advantage of the ten second window of opportunity and provide non-threatening ways to draw out the truth.