My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Best, called me out in front of the class for talking to Carol Cheathem. It embarrassed me, but it didn’t stop me.
Preachers Know How to Talk
Early on, I discovered my voice, and I’ve spent most of my life talking. As a pastor, I talk and write. As the leader of a ministry, I cast vision, train volunteers, and give direction. Even in this moment, I’m writing something I want the world to read.
The verbal witness of the Gospel is after all essential. “How shall they hear without a preacher?” Embedded in Jesus’ last words to his disciples was for them to teach everything he commanded. The preaching and teaching ministry of the church is not in any way a secondary priority. It is the way hearts and minds are shaped, and how the saints are equipped for service.
What If We Were Great Listeners?
The question I’m working through today is how then do preachers, whose primary ministry skill is often preaching, most effectively engaged the general public who are within earshot, but not within arms reach of the church?
Let me ask the question in a different way: Can we effectively make disciples of the all kinds of people in our community by relying only on our ability to “accurately divide the word of truth?”
Before you think I’ve left the faith, I haven’t. The Bible is not only authoritative, it’s also both sufficient and efficient to save souls and sanctify our lives. And compromising on the truth of Scripture is not an option.
My question goes to our posture in the public square—how we engage with people who have little or no orientation around the Gospel.
For example, many evangelicals are deeply troubled by the runaway train in the broader culture around gender and sexual norms. And rightly so. We’re not only troubled, but we’re also angry and probably fearful of what this sweeping movement will mean for the church, the next generation, our communities, and our nation.
And, thus we are quick and consistent in our public witness to the truth, as we should be. I think about the mammoth public work of William Wilberforce and Martin Luther King, Jr., for example.
How would our opportunities for Gospel witness grow, however, if we not only honed our speaking skills to better articulate the truth, but that we also fine-tuned our listening skills? What would happen if we were better listeners?
Quick to Listen. Slow to Speak.
Here’s the context of those familiar words from James:
My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:19-22
The trials and tests of the faith of these early Christians were real. They were feeling the pressure, but in these moments of difficulty James elevated listening over speaking, as well as over angering so quickly.
The trials and tests of the faith of these early Christians were real. They were feeling the pressure, but in these moments of difficulty James elevated listening over speaking, as well as over angering so quickly.
What if our primary ministry in the public square wasn’t from our speaking or writing from our church or social media platforms? What if we followed Jesus’ example and asked better questions?
He asked questions like,
Who do people say that I am? Who do you say that I am? Mark 8:27-29
Why are you afraid, you of little faith? Matthew 8:26
Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat, and walk?” Mark 2:9
What do you want me to do for you? Mark 10:51
Expert Question-Askers
Alistair Begg recently suggested that it’s not necessary for us to always have the answers. He wasn’t saying we should step away from biblical authority, but he was recommending that we humble ourselves, enter people’s struggles, and ask better questions with them.
There are many forces of darkness at work to distort the truth of the Bible, but very few of our unbelieving neighbors are asking us to compromise our Christian beliefs. In truth, the overwhelming majority of them are not even thinking about us. They are not on our social media feeds. They do not read our posts. And they do not attend our church or listen to our sermons.
What is compelling, however, is when we listen to them. When we ask them questions, honest questions about their hopes, dreams, fears, and struggles. When we put our swords down, and take up a towel and basin, and listen as we serve them.
What is compelling is when we listen to them. When we ask them questions, honest questions about their hopes, dreams, fears, and struggles. When we put our swords down, and take up a towel and basin, and listen as we serve them.
If we care about reaching our neighbors for Jesus’ sake, perhaps we should begin by being present with them, and discovering what they really think, how they actually feel, and what help kind of help they need the most.
It’s in these moments of genuine curiosity that doors of hope open.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
EVERYONE’S WILSON | THE EVERYONE’S WELCOME NETWORK
I’m the Executive Director of Everyone’s Wilson and The Everyone’s Welcome Network—a Gospel-driven community transformation initiative. Our mission is to unite the Church to engage the community, so everyone thrives. Very simply, we’re passionate about helping Jesus-loving people live like missionaries in their local community through prayer, equipping, collaboration, and service.
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