eNews

Telling your story – Keep it conversational

Last week we were talking about how easy it is not  to listen to the person you’re seeking to share your story with. That happens because we’re sometimes too preoccupied with what we want to say that we don’t listen to what they say to us (I know the men who read this will find that hard to relate to, but, guys, it does happen).

It may be helpful to think of sharing your story as a conversation: both people contribute, both listen, both learn something from the other. Conversations move back and forth as two people communicate meaningful realities. We see Paul using something of this method in Acts 17 and in Acts 26. Even though he’s the primary speaker, he responds carefully to the people he is interacting with and their situation.

Similarly, we need to think about the pace of our conversations. Rather than wanting to ‘get the whole story out’ as fast as we can, we need to let the conversation ‘breathe’. Basic to this is an assumption that while the Good News of Jesus is of ultimate and primary importance, we have to ‘bring the listener along with us’. In a way, considering the pace of our conversation is a way of respecting them as a person, and communicating that their concerns matter to you.

It may even be helpful see how the person you’re speaking to is going with whatever you’re speaking about – just to give them the opportunity to clarify or question what you’re saying. Sometimes asking “does this make any sense?” or “what do you think?” is all people need to move on in your conversation.

Our prayer is that a conversational approach will help develop trust between us as we speak and those we are speaking to. Australian culture places a great deal of emphasis on trust like that. As we get serious about developing it, God may be using us to create a more effective context for the Gospel of Jesus to be heard.

Don’t forget…

This Sunday September 17^th we have a special Discovery Service: “What if…” that will seek to show how what God has done in Jesus is the best way of understanding our world and dealing with the tensions of life, and the dark side of who we are. The same format and message (which we think will be a pretty creative approach in itself) will be repeated in both Sunday services.

The message audio will also be available online (www.redlandscrc.org.au) after the event: so if you’re one of our remote readers, you’ll still be able to hear it all.

Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au