Getting Others On Board Starts by Listening

As a leadership team you start by listening to God to understand His purposes for your church. Communication then becomes essential to getting others on board. But, it needs to be more than simply “telling” them with the expectation that all they do is listen to their leaders (in both the sense of hearing and following). If you want to get others on board with following your church purpose, you need to . . . Continue reading Getting Others On Board Starts by Listening

Listening, A Core Element of Body Life

One of church leaders’ responsibilities lies in helping the Body follow God’s design to be interdependent, valuing one another and finding unity in our diversity. To do that, we must understand what it will take to get there. What’s at the core? Then, we must do more than tell people how to function. We must personally practice it, “being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:3). . . . Continue reading Listening, A Core Element of Body Life

Why We Start by Listening to the Lord

An earlier post already addressed how we need to start by listening to God. It looked at the analogy of the Lord as the Shepherd and us as the sheep for why it only makes sense we listen to Him first, above all other voices. If we look at the Great Commission, we find that it not only makes sense but is required if we’re to join Him in His mission. . . . Continue reading Why We Start by Listening to the Lord

Why Listen to Others

Listening to others in our churches and ministries not only helps get them on board, as discussed in a prior post, but also enables us to better meet needs.

Think about it: We’re commissioned by Jesus to go and make disciples of all nations. But, other than “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything” He commanded (Matt. 28:19-20), Jesus didn’t provide detail about how to do it. . . . Continue reading Why Listen to Others

Jesus Actively Listened

Read through the Gospels and you’ll find many instances of Jesus communicating with people. Pay careful attention and you’ll notice that He not only spoke to people but Jesus actively listened to them as well.

How Jesus Actively Listened to People

The following acrostic of the word LISTEN pulls out some of the key elements of active listening demonstrated by Jesus. . . . Continue reading Jesus Actively Listened

Christ-like Listening Communicates

We’ve already looked how Jesus actively listened to those He served. Why? — Because it matters. It was just one more way He showed people God’s heart toward them. He not only communicated with His words but also by listening.

Because of What Christ-like Listening Communicates, To Listen Matters

When we actively listen as Jesus did, we too will communicate the heart of God who deeply cares about each individual (Lk. 15). The following acrostic, using the word LISTEN, helps us better understand what Christ-like listening communicates which is why to listen matters so much. . . . Continue reading Christ-like Listening Communicates

If Listening Doesn’t Come Naturally

Listening, truly listening, doesn’t come naturally to many church leaders. Yet, as we’ve noted in previous posts, listening is essential to fulfilling our church purpose, living within God’s design for Body Life, and being Christ-like.

If listening doesn’t come naturally, how about . . . Continue reading If Listening Doesn’t Come Naturally

Is Listening One of Your Weaknesses?

Every leader has weaknesses. We’re all human. Even the Apostle Paul referenced weakness. We don’t know for certain what the Apostle Paul’s weakness was in 2 Corinthians 12 but he did identify it as “a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me” (2 Cor. 12::6-10). The wording leads us to believe it was a physical issue, many speculate blindness.

Perhaps we aren’t told what his weakness was so we don’t zero in on that and miss the real point. The Lord told him, . . . Continue reading Is Listening One of Your Weaknesses?

Listening Enhanced with the Help of the Holy Spirit

Our old sinful, selfish nature sometimes prevents us from truly listening but our new nature in Christ, empowered by the Spirit at work in us, produces Christ-like character in us that helps us listen attentively, carefully, and respectfully. Listening enhanced with the help of the Holy Spirit makes such a difference. . . . Continue reading Listening Enhanced with the Help of the Holy Spirit