God’s Word suggests various roles for church leaders. Consider how listening fits into each of these leadership roles, making it a vital element of effective leading.
How Listening Affects and Assists in Fulfilling Our Leadership Roles
Listening helps us more effectively fulfill our God-given roles as leaders. (For more about each role, click on the links.)
If we want to be a good example, we must demonstrate wisdom, not foolishness. God’s Word points to one of the ways we do that — listening.
To guide people, we not only need to know where to take them, but also where to start. Listening, along with observation, helps us assess the path to take, based on the condition of the flock (Prov. 27:23) rather than our own preconceived ideas.
Following the example of Jesus who came to serve rather than be served (Matt. 20:26-28), we value others by looking out for their interests (Phil. 2:3-7), showing that we truly care about them. With the greatest demonstration of love and servanthood being that of laying down our lives for another (Jn. 15:13), certainly as leaders we can lay down our need to be heard, and listen instead.
People tend to most need a shepherd when they go through the difficult moments of life. Consider how the presence of God, our Shepherd, is enough to alleviate fear “when walking through the valley of the shadow of death” (Ps. 23:4). Though we can’t be with people every step of the way like the Lord, our presence ministers. Sometimes people just need someone to be with them and listen.
Stewards see themselves as accountable for what they say, not just what they do with what God has given them (1 Cor. 4:2). They’re careful about how they handle situations, realizing that sometimes they simply need to “guard their mouths and their tongues” (Prov. 21:23). Sometimes they need to carefully listen to get things right (Prov. 21:28) if they want to hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful …” (Matt. 25:21).
Let’s ask God to help us become better listeners so we more effectively fulfill our leadership roles.
Find More about Listening at: Effective Christ-like Communication Skills Resources
All Posts about Listening Skills:
- Start by Listening to God
- Getting Others On Board Starts by Listening
- Listening, A Core Element of Body Life
- Why We Start by Listening to the Lord
- Why Listen to Others
- Jesus Actively Listened
- Christ-like Listening Communicates
- If Listening Doesn’t Come Naturally
- Is Listening One of Your Weaknesses?
- Listening Enhanced with the Help of the Holy Spirit
- Praying According to God’s Will Begins & Ends with Listening
- Want Someone to Listen?
- Scripture Equips Us to Listen
- Doing Everything in His Name Makes Us Better Listeners
- The Gospel Gives Us a Reason to Listen
- Strongholds That Keep Us from Being Good Listeners
- The Resurrection Gives What We Need to be Better Listeners
- Listening Affects Fulfilling Leadership Roles