Jesus was a good listener

JESUS WAS A GOOD LISTENER
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
1
Jesus heard with deep compassionpleas for
healing, cries of pain;
cured the lame and cleansedthe leper, gave the
blind their sight again.
At his voice, tormenting spirits fled a madman’s
tortured mind;
clothed and healed, he went rejoicing, home and
family to find.
2
Jesus touchedthe lives of outcasts, weakorsinful,
scornedor poor;
gave them self-respectand courage, trustand faith
and hope secure.
Truly hearing, truly seeing deepwithin eachtroubled
soul,
Jesus healedtheir wounded spirits, sent them forth
with lives made whole.
3
Jesus, Lord, our true example, you have shownhow

we must live.
Teachus how to share with others everything we
have to give.
Let our days be spent in service;bring us by your
grace to know
healing is the church’s calling, and the path that we
must go.
(This is the only representative text available.)^ top
Author: Joy F. Patterson
Joy F. Patterson(b. 1931), ofWassau, Wisconsin, is an elder in the
PresbyterianChurch who has written many texts and tunes; twenty-nine are
collectedin Come, You People of the Promise (Hope Publishing, Co., 1994);
another collection, TeachOur Eyes New Ways of Seeing, was published in
2005 (Selah). Pattersonhas enjoyeda varied careeras a Frenchprofessor,
homemaker, and claim representative for the SocialSecurityAdministration.
Sing! A New CreationGo to person page >
JESUS WAS A GOOD LISTENER
Postedon March 9, 2013
I was reading a poston Facebook this morning about brokenFamily
relationships. The postreally made me realize how important just listening
can be. In solving Family relationship problems, as well as solving other
relationship problems; too often we feel our way is the only way. Jesus taught
us to listen to others problems. Jesus was a great teacher, but He was a great
listener as well. Throughout scripture Jesus tells us: “He who has ears, let him

hear.” Jesus stronglymakes the point of listening when He is talking about
John the Baptistin Matthew:11:15, The Message;
“Are you listening to Me? Really listening?”
Perhaps some don’t have the physical ability to hear with their ears but they
can “hear”withtheir heart. Listen with discernment. You do not have to
believe everything you hear. Don’t listen to others just to find out something
to criticize. Listen with an open heart. You can readily show someone how
important they are by giving them your undivided attention. Remember, you
have two ears but only one mouth; therefore we should listen twice as much as
we talk. You cannotunderstand what someone else needs if you are doing all
the talking. Jesus knew one of the greatestways to minister to others was by
listening. Jesus practicedeffective listening to minister to a wide range of
people.
Romans 12:14 The Message (MSG);“Laugh with your happy friends when
they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Getalong with eachother;
don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the greatsomebody.”
Many people just want to find someone who will listen to their problems. If
you want to show a true Christian concern, learn to be a goodand effective
listener. And remember, your way is not always the best or right way.
Bill Davis
Christ Was A GoodListener
James 1:19 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to
speak, slow to anger;
Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 8 helpful votes
If one gives an answerbefore he hears, it is his folly and shame.
Revelation3:20 ESV / 5 helpful votes
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the
door, I will come in to him and eatwith him, and he with me.
Romans 10:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
John 10:27-28 ESV/ 2 helpful votes
My sheephear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them
eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my
hand.
Jesus Actively Listened
Postedon January 28, 2019 —

Readthrough the Gospels andyou’ll find many instances ofJesus
communicating with people. Pay careful attention and you’ll notice that He
not only spoke to people but Jesus activelylistened to them as well.
How Jesus Actively Listened to People
The following acrostic ofthe word LISTEN pulls out some of the keyelements
of active listening demonstratedby Jesus.
Jesus Actively ListenedL – Love
Jesus listenedwithout prejudice. We can especiallysee this in His interaction
with the womanat the well (Jn. 4:4-42). Despite culture, gender, racial, and
moral strikes againsther, Jesus lovingly interacted with her … both listening
and talking.
Love must motivate and envelope the way we listen for Jesus Himself said,
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (Jn.
13:34).
I – Inquire
Jesus oftenaskedpeople questions, a sign of someone truly listening. Jesus
obviously knew their answers but listened due to the effectit had on the
person not just for His own benefit, like when He askedthe blind beggar
calling out to Him what he wanted Jesus to do for him (Mk. 10:46-52)and the
lame man if he wanted to get well (Jn. 5:5-9). Sometimes He would ask the
disciples, “Whatdo you think?” (Matt. 17:25) or “Who do you sayI am?”
(Matt. 16:13-16). After His resurrection, on the road to Emmaus, Jesus asked

questions and then listened to their interpretation of events before explaining
the reality of what happened (Lk. 24:15-27).
As leaders, we too need to ask people questions and then actively listen to their
concerns, opinions, and needs. Like Jesus, we should want to take people to
higher levels in their thinking which sometimes only comes as we hear them
out where they are.
S – Stop
Jesus didn’t let busyness keepHim from listening. He took the time to stop
and listen even when en route, like on His way to heal Jairus’ daughter when
He stopped to listen to the story of the womanwho touched his garment (Mk.
5:22-34).
Availability must mark church leaders who want a Christ-like ministry. No
matter how busy we may be, people matter. Taking the time to stop and listen,
even if for a brief encounter, communicates volumes in terms of the value we
place on people.
T – Test
Jesus patiently drew out what was inside people. Think of how the woman at
the wellfelt safe to keepsharing with Jesus (Jn. 4:4-42) because He didn’t
rush her but patiently drew her out.

To actively listen as Jesus did, we too need to remember that “The purposes of
a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out”
(Prov. 20:5). We need to testthe water, so to speak, waiting for a person’s
readiness. Sometimes their first response isn’t the real answerand we need to
simply keepinquiring and keeplistening until they getto the core.
E – Engage
Jesus stayedin the moment as He ministered to people. Nowhere do we read
of His mind wandering on to all He had to do or Him interrupting people
while they spoke to Him. He lookedat people. He touched people. He let them
know that they mattered.
Christ-like listening requires us to likewise be attentive to people. Our body
language, gestures, andeye contactall need to say, “I’m listening.”
N – Nudge
Jesus knew the value of listening. Not only did He actively listen to people but
He also demonstrated a life of listening to His heavenly Father (Mk. 1:35). So,
when He nudged people to also listen (Matt. 15:10; Lk. 8:18), He knew what
He was asking of them.
In this Practicum we’ve previously stressedthe critical nature of listening in
fulfilling our church purpose and living out God’s designfor Body Life. It not
only helps us get people on board but also enables us to better meet needs and
hence make disciples. Certainly as church leaders, we must show how to
actively listen through our own example in following Christ (1 Pet. 5:3) but

sometimes, like Jesus, we too must give people a little nudge, reminding them
of their need to first and foremostlisten to the Lord and also to listen to one
another.
Start by Listening to God
Postedon November 28, 2016 —
If you have not readthe sectionof the site on Church Purpose, please do so
now in order for this practicum to be most helpful to you. Click below:
Church Leadership Basics:God’s Purpose for the Church
The word “listen” can be used two ways in our relationship with God:
1) to hear what He says
2) to obey or follow what He says
To get on page with God’s purposes for the Church, we first need to listen to
Him with our ears, and our heart, to learn what that purpose is and then we
live it out.
Listening to God Only Makes Sense
His SheepKnow His Voice - Listening to God
(Click to enlarge image in Pinterest& repin.)
In John 10 we see both of the above definitions in the illustration of us being
like the sheep with their Shepherd. In verse 3 we read “that the sheep listen to

his voice” and then verse 4 says “his sheepfollow him because they know his
voice”. As we continue to read this passage, we discoverthat it only makes
sense to listen to God.
Learn more about listening to God from John 10 in the Steering the Church
TowardGod’s Purposes Leadership Guide which includes this leadership skill
along with 24 other tasks orresponsibilities leaders typically do.
Listening, A Core Element of Body Life
Postedon October2, 2017 —
To get the greatestbenefitfrom this practicum, make sure you have read
related training on the site. Click below to read about Body Life:
Church Leadership Basics:God’s Designfor the Church
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 getthere.
What’s at the core? Then, we must do more than tell people how to function.
We must personallypractice it, “being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:3).
First determine the core elements of Body Life.
We could list a number of core elements but we’ll make this post about
listening. Think about the critical nature of listening in Body Life:
We aren’t going to follow God’s design for the Church to function as a Body
unless we learn to listen to one another. We’re told, “If one part suffers, every

part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Cor.
12:26). So many of the “one another commands” of Scripture won’t find their
optimal expressionif we haven’t first listened. — Unless we take time to listen
to the struggles or victories someone’s experiencing, our reactions will lack
depth of expression. Shallow, onthe surface, responses minimize the impact
we can have on one another. Didn’t you become a leaderto touch people’s
lives?
The potential for unity out of diversity increasesas we listen to one another.
As parts of one Body, we come togetherfrom varying backgrounds with
differing perceptions and philosophies. Our natural tendency will be to view
life through our own mindset basedon our personalexperiences. That,
however, leads to misunderstandings which in turn leads to possible conflict
rather than the building up of one another. “My dear brothers and sisters,
take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to
become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that
God desires.” (James 1:19-20)We may not always agree but we will at least
understand the other person’s perspective if we listen. We will have a greater
tendency to appreciate, respect, and value the other person when we see
where they are coming from in arriving at their conclusions.
Then make that core element, listening, a part of your church’s modus
operandi.
Start with yourself. Developyour own listening skills so you can setan
example for those you serve.
To Read: Leadership Skill: Listening
Purposefully build in opportunities for people to share their opinions,
concerns, and needs but also be spontaneous aboutit. Stop talking and say

similar to “I want to hearwhat you think.” Help others in your group learn to
listen by sporadicallyasking something like, “What do you think Bob is
saying?” Active listening comes not only by hearing what someone says but
also providing accurate feedback, using clarifying questions, and being able to
paraphrase what you think you hear, giving the other personopportunity to
correctyou.
Don’t let disagreements turn into unhealthy conflict and disunity. Stress the
wisdom of taking time to truly listen to one another before going any further.
— “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge;the ears of the wise seek
it out.” (Prov. 18:15)
This post on listening is included in the Steering the Church TowardBody
Life Leadership Guide along with twenty-four other tasks and responsibilities
in which leaders canreflect and promote God’s designfor the Church.
Christ-like Listening Communicates
Postedon February 4, 2019 —
We’ve already lookedhow Jesus activelylistened to those He served. Why? —
Becauseit matters. It was just one more way He showedpeople God’s heart
toward them. He not only communicatedwith His words but also by listening.
BecauseofWhat Christ-like Listening Communicates, To Listen Matters
Christ-like Listening Communicates

When we actively listen as Jesus did, we too will communicate the heart of
God who deeply cares about eachindividual (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.
L – Love
To listen lets people know that you care about them and who they are matters.
I – Interest
Listening to people’s ideas communicates that their experience and what they
think matters.
S – Sensitivity
When we listen to people we’re letting them know that their wants and what
they need matters.
T – Two-WayCommunication

To listen suggestsreciprocity, a mutual exchange, not just talking at them,
communicating that what they have to offer matters.
E – Empathy
Apart from actually walking in their shoes, listening is how we will begin to
understand what people are experiencing, letting them know that what they
feel matters.
N – Nurture
Active listening usually leads to people feeling built up, not torn down, and so
their inner being as well their relationship with you and the Lord gets
nurtured, suggesting thatwhat they derive from this interaction matters.
CaseQuiz.com
Jesus As A GoodListener Case Study Solution & Analysis
Harvard Case Studies
Harvard Business Case Studies Solutions – Assignment Help
In most courses studied at Harvard Business schools,students are provided
with a case study. MajorHBR cases concerns ona whole industry, a whole

organizationor some part of organization;profitable or non-profitable
organizations. Student’s role is to analyze the case and diagnose the situation,
identify the problem and then give appropriate recommendations and steps to
be taken.
To make a detailed case analysis, studentshould follow these steps:
STEP 1: Reading Up Harvard Case Study Method Guide:
Case study method guide is provided to students which determine the aspects
of problem needed to be consideredwhile analyzing a case study. It is very
important to have a thorough reading and understanding of guidelines
provided. However, poor guide reading will lead to misunderstanding of case
and failure of analyses. Itis recommendedto read guidelines before and after
reading the case to understand what is askedand how the questions are to be
answered. Therefore, in-depth understanding f case guidelines is very
important.
Harvard Case Study Solutions
Harvard Case Study Solutions
STEP 2: Reading The Harvard Jesus As A Good Listener Case Study:
To have a complete understanding of the case, one should focus on case
reading. It is said that case shouldbe read two times. Initially, fastreading
without taking notes and underlines should be done. Initial reading is to get a
rough idea of what information is provided for the analyses. Then, a very
careful reading should be done at secondtime reading of the case. This time,
highlighting the important point and mark the necessaryinformation

provided in the case. In addition, the quantitative data in case,and its
relations with other quantitative or qualitative variables should be given more
importance. Also, manipulating different data and combining with other
information available will give a new insight. However, all of the information
provided is not reliable and relevant.
When having a fast reading, following points should be noted:
Nature of organization
Nature if industry in which organizationoperates.
External environment that is effecting organization
Problems being facedby management
Identification of communication strategies.
Any relevant strategythat canbe added.
Control and out-of-controlsituations.
When reading the case forsecondtime, following points should be considered:
Decisions neededto be made and the responsible Personto make decision.
Objectives of the organization and keyplayers in this case.
The compatibility of objectives. if not, their reconciliations and necessary
redefinition.
Sources and constraints of organizationfrom meeting its objectives.
After reading the case andguidelines thoroughly, reader should go forward
and start the analyses of the case.

STEP 3: Doing The Case Analysis Of Jesus As A GoodListener:
To make an appropriate case analyses, firstly, readershould mark the
important problems that are happening in the organization. There may be
multiple problems that can be facedby any organization. Secondly, after
identifying problems in the company, identify the most concernedand
important problem that neededto be focused.
Firstly, the introduction is written. After having a clear idea of what is defined
in the case, we deliverit to the reader. It is better to start the introduction
from any historicalor socialcontext. The challenging diagnosis for Jesus As A
GoodListener and the managementof information is needed to be provided.
However, introduction should not be longerthan 6-7 lines in a paragraph. As
the most important objective is to conveythe most important messageforto
the reader.
After introduction, problem statement is defined. In the problem statement,
the company’s most important problem and constraints to solve these
problems should be define clearly. However, the problem should be concisely
define in no more than a paragraph. After defining the problems and
constraints, analysis of the case study is begin.
STEP 4: SWOT Analysis of the Jesus As A GoodListener HBR Case
Solution:
SWOT analysis helps the business to identify its strengths and weaknesses, as
well as understanding of opportunity that can be availed and the threat that
the company is facing. SWOT for Jesus As A GoodListener is a powerful tool
of analysis as it provide a thought to uncover and exploit the opportunities
that can be used to increase and enhance company’s operations. In addition, it
also identifies the weaknessesofthe organization that will help to be

eliminated and manage the threats that would catchthe attention of the
management.
This strategyhelps the company to make any strategythat would differentiate
the company from competitors, so that the organization cancompete
successfullyin the industry. The strengths and weaknessesare obtainedfrom
internal organization. Whereas, the opportunities and threats are generally
related from external environment of organization. Moreover, it is also called
Internal-External Analysis.
STRENGTHS:
In the strengths, managementshould identify the following points exists in the
organization:
Advantages of the organization
Activities of the company better than competitors.
Unique resourcesand low costresourcescompanyhave.
Activities and resources marketseesas the company’s strength.
Unique selling proposition of the company.
WEAKNESSES:
Improvement that could be done.
Activities that can be avoided for Jesus As A Good Listener.
Activities that can be determined as your weaknessin the market.

Factors that canreduce the sales.
Competitor’s activities that can be seenas your weakness.
OPPORTUNITIES:
Goodopportunities that canbe spotted.
Interesting trends of industry.
Opportunities for Jesus As A GoodListener can be obtained from things such
as:
Change in technologyand marketstrategies
Government policy changes thatis relatedto the company’s field
Changes in socialpatterns and lifestyles.
Localevents.
THREATS:
Following points can be identified as a threat to company:
Company’s facing obstacles.
Activities of competitors.
Product and services quality standards
Threat from changing technologies
Financial/cashflow problems
Weaknessthatthreaten the business.
Following points should be consideredwhen applying SWOT to the analysis:

Precise andverifiable phrases should be sued.
Prioritize the points under eachhead, so that managementcan identify which
step has to be takenfirst.
Apply the analyses atproposed level. Clear yourself first that on what basis
you have to apply SWOT matrix.
Make sure that points identified should carry itself with strategyformulation
process.
Use particular terms (like USP, Core Competencies Analyses etc.)to geta
comprehensive picture of analyses.
STEP 5: PESTEL/PEST Analysis of Jesus As A GoodListener Case Solution:
Pestanalyses is a widely used toolto analyze the Political, Economic, Socio-
cultural, Technological, Environmental and legalsituations which canprovide
greatand new opportunities to the company as wellas these factors canalso
threat the company, to be dangerous in future.
Pestanalysis is very important and informative. It is used for the purpose of
identifying business opportunities and advance threat warning. Moreover, it
also helps to the extent to which change is useful for the company and also
guide the direction for the change. In addition, it also helps to avoid activities
and actions that will be harmful for the company in future, including projects
and strategies.
To analyze the business objective and its opportunities and threats, following
steps should be followed:

Brainstorm and assumption the changes that should be made to organization.
Answer the necessaryquestions that are relatedto specific needs of
organization
Analyze the opportunities that would be happen due to the change.
Analyze the threats and issues that would be causeddue to change.
Perform costbenefit analyses and take the appropriate action.Pestanalysis
Pestanalysis
PEST FACTORS:
POLITICAL:
Next political elections and changes that will happen in the country due to
these elections
Strong and powerful political person, his point of view on business policies
and their effecton the organization.
Strength of property rights and law rules. And its ratio with corruption and
organized crimes. Changes in these situation and its effects.
Change in Legislationand taxation effects on the company
Trend of regulations and deregulations. Effects ofchange in business
regulations
Timescale oflegislative change.
Other political factors likely to change for Jesus As A Good Listener.
ECONOMICAL:
Positionand current economytrend i.e. growing, stagnantor declining.

Exchange rates fluctuations and its relation with company.
Change in Level of customer’s disposable income and its effect.
Fluctuation in unemployment rate and its effecton hiring of skilled employees
Access to credit and loans. And its effects on company
Effectof globalizationon economic environment
Considerations onother economic factors
SOCIO-CULTURAL:
Change in population growth rate and age factors, and its impacts on
organization.
Effecton organizationdue to Change in attitudes and generationalshifts.
Standards of health, education and socialmobility levels. Its changes and
effects on company.
Employment patterns, job markettrend and attitude towards work according
to different age groups.casestudy solutions
case study solutions
Socialattitudes and socialtrends, change in socio culture an dits effects.
Religious believers and life styles and its effects on organization
Other socio culture factors and its impacts.
TECHNOLOGICAL:
Any new technologythat company is using

Any new technologyin marketthat could affectthe work, organization or
industry
Access ofcompetitors to the new technologies andits impact on their product
development/better services.
Researchareas ofgovernment and educationinstitutes in which the company
can make any efforts
Changes in infra-structure and its effects on work flow
Existing technologythat canfacilitate the company
Other technologicalfactors andtheir impacts on company and industry
These headings and analyses would help the company to considerthese factors
and make a “big picture” of company’s characteristics. This will help the
managerto take the decisionand drawing conclusionabout the forces that
would create a big impact on company and its resources.
STEP 6: Porter’s Five Forces/Strategic Analysis Of The Jesus As A Good
Listener Case Study:
To analyze the structure of a company and its corporate strategy, Porter’s five
forces model is used. In this model, five forces have been identified which play
an important part in shaping the marketand industry. These forces are used
to measure competition intensity and profitability of an industry and market.
porter's five forces model
porter’s five forces model
These forces refers to micro environment and the company ability to serve its
customers and make a profit. These five forces includes three forces from

horizontal competition and two forces from verticalcompetition. The five
forces are discussedbelow:
THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS:
as the industry have high profits, many new entrants will try to enter into the
market. However, the new entrants will eventually cause decreasein overall
industry profits. Therefore, it is necessaryto block the new entrants in the
industry. following factors is describing the level of threat to new entrants:
Barriers to entry that includes copy rights and patents.
High capital requirement
Government restricted policies
Switching cost
Access to suppliers and distributions
Customer loyalty to establishedbrands.
THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES:
this describes the threat to company. If the goods and services are not up to
the standard, consumers canuse substitutes and alternatives that do not need
any extra effort and do not make a major difference. Forexample, using
Aquafina in substitution of tap water, Pepsiin alternative of Coca Cola. The
potential factors that made customershift to substitutes are as follows:
Price performance of substitute
Switching costs ofbuyer
Products substitute available in the market
Reduction of quality
Close substitution are available

DEGREE OF INDUSTRYRIVALRY:
the lessermoneyand resources are required to enter into any industry, the
higher there will be new competitors and be an effective competitor. It will
also weakenthe company’s position. Following are the potential factors that
will influence the company’s competition:
Competitive advantage
Continuous innovation
Sustainable position in competitive advantage
Level of advertising
Competitive strategy
BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS:
it deals with the ability of customers to take down the prices. It mainly
consists the importance of a customerand the level of costif a customer will
switch from one product to another. The buyer power is high if there are too
many alternatives available. And the buyer power is low if there are lesser
options of alternatives and switching. Following factors will influence the
buying powerof customers:
Bargaining leverage
Switching costof a buyer
Buyer price sensitivity
Competitive advantage of company’s product
BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS:
this refers to the supplier’s ability of increasing and decreasing prices. Ifthere
are few alternatives o supplier available, this will threat the company and it
would have to purchase its raw material in supplier’s terms. However, if there
are many suppliers alternative, suppliers have low bargaining power and

company do not have to face high switching cost. The potential factors that
effects bargaining power of suppliers are the following:
Input differentiation
Impact of coston differentiation
Strength of distribution centers
Input substitute’s availability.
STEP 7: Generating Alternatives ForJesus As A GoodListener Case
Solution:
After completing the analyses ofthe company, its opportunities and threats, it
is important to generate a solution of the problem and the alternatives a
company can apply in order to solve its problems. To generate the alternative
of problem, following things must to be kept in mind:
Realistic solutionshould be identified that can be operated in the company,
with all its constraints and opportunities.
as the problem and its solution cannot occurat the same time, it should be
describedas mutually exclusive
it is not possible for a company to not to take any action, therefore, the
alternative of doing nothing is not viable.
Student should provide more than one decent solution. Providing two
undesirable alternatives to make the other one attractive is not acceptable.
Once the alternatives have been generated, student should evaluate the
options and selectthe appropriate and viable solution for the company.
STEP 8: SelectionOfAlternatives For Jesus As A GoodListener Case
Solution:

It is very important to selectthe alternatives and then evaluate the best one as
the company have limited choices andconstraints. Therefore to selectthe best
alternative, there are many factors that is needed to be kept in mind. The
criteria’s on which business decisions are to be selectedareas under:
Improve profitability
Increase sales, marketshares, return on investments
Customer satisfaction
Brand image
Corporate mission, vision and strategy
Resourcesandcapabilities
Alternatives should be measures that which alternative will perform better
than other one and the valid reasons. In addition, alternatives should be
related to the problem statements and issues describedin the case study.
STEP 9: EvaluationOf Alternatives For Jesus As A GoodListener Case
Solution:
If the selectedalternative is fulfilling the above criteria, the decisionshould be
takenstraightforwardly. Bestalternative should be selectedmust be the best
when evaluating it on the decisioncriteria. Another method used to evaluate
the alternatives are the list of pros and cons of eachalternative and one who
has more pros than cons and can be workable under organizational
constraints.
STEP 10:Recommendations ForJesus As A Good Listener Case Study
(Solution):

There should be only one recommendationto enhance the company’s
operations and its growth or solving its problems. The decisionthat is being
takenshould be justified and viable for solving the problems.
How Jesus MinisteredTo People By Listening
Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000
based on 53 ratings (rate this sermon) | 36,659 views
Scripture: Luke 24:17-20, Luke 24:17-30
Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Summary: Many people are longing to find someone who will listen to their
problems. If you want to be an effective counselorit is a goodidea to be
student of the art and science oflistening. Jesus knew the bestways to
minister to people by listening. The Lord
Many people are longing to find someone who will listen to their problems. If
you want to be an effective counselorit is a good idea to be student of the art
and science oflistening. Jesus knew the best ways to minister to people by
listening. The Lord was not ready to believe everything He heard because He
was a discerning listener. Let us try to discoversome of the ways that Jesus
practicedeffective listening skills to minister to a wide range of people and
their problems.

1. Jesus was willing to listen to understand another person’s perspective. The
Lord honestly appreciatedlearning about people’s concerns, values, and
spiritual condition. After resurrecting from the dead, Jesus approachedtwo
men walking along the road to Emmaus and askedthem,
"What are you discussing togetheras you walk along?" Theystoodstill, their
faces downcast.Cleopasaskedthe Lord, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem
and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What
things?" Jesus asked. (Luke 24:17-20)
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The Lord knew how to ask informative questions that allowedHim to find out
what was really important to people. If you want to be goodlistener learn to
ask what, why, when, where and how type questions that allow people to
explain things from their own level of understanding.
2. Jesus did not listen to people just to find something to criticize. The Lord
listened to people with His eyes, ears and his whole mind. Christ took time to
show people how important they were to Him by giving them His undivided
attention.

The Lord listened to people’s emotions, ideas, and implications. Jesus listened
in a way that helped Him identify a person’s need. When Jesus’mother said
to her son, "They have no more wine." Jesus said,
"Dearwoman, why do you involve me?" My time has not yet come. His
mother said to the servants, "Do whateverhe tells you." Jesus saidto the
servants, "Fill the jars with water… now draw some out and take it to the
master of the banquet." They did so and the master of the banquet tasted the
waterthat had been turned into wine. (John 2:3-9)
Jesus listenednot only for the words, but for the sense ofurgency in the tone
of people’s voices.
3. Jesus was willing to put awaynegative feelings, grudges, hurts or
misunderstandings to really hear what people were saying. The Samaritan
woman at the wellsaid,
"You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a
drink?" (For Jews do not associate withSamaritans)
Jesus riskedbeing accusedofbecoming ceremoniallyunclean if he used a
drinking vesselhandled by a Samaritan, since the Jews held that all
Samaritans were unclean.
Application: The Lord was willing to overlook eventhis deeply embedded
cultural value for the sake ofreconciling one human being to God.

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4. Jesus was willing to listen without interrupting. The Lord learned how to
listen to His heavenly Father every morning in prayer.
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus gotup, left the house
and went off to a solitaryplace, where he prayed." (Mark 1:35)
Application: When we learn to listen to God through His word and in our
prayer times, it will become easierto listen to people as well.
5. Jesus spenta greatdeal of time listening to people who were hurting. "That
evening after sunsetthe people brought to Jesus allthe sick and demon
possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healedmany who
had various diseases."(Mark 1:32-34)
Application: By listening to eachperson’s specific problem the Lord showed
that He was interested in more than just physical healing, but also emotional,
socialand spiritual restoration. Learn the art and science oflistening for all
kinds of reasons whypeople are hurting.
6. Jesus askedquestions to direct people towardthe essentialproblems in
their life. The Lord was able to quickly discern the differences between what
was essentialand nonessentialinformation. When you embrace the same
purposes of Christ you will gain discernment in listening for essentialbits of
information.

Thomas said to Jesus, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can
we know the way?" Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father exceptthrough me."
Application: Learn to listen and speak to the essentialtruths.
7. Jesus listenedfor a progressive levelof information: knowledge,
understanding, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The Lord was
able to acquire information about people by letting one piece of information
teachHim volumes about people’s spiritual maturity level.
Jesus put out a choice piece of spiritual truth to see how well Nicodemus was
ready for higher levels of truth. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, no one can see
the kingdom of God unless he is born again." Nicodemus said, "How can a
man be born when he is old? Surely he cannotenter a secondtime into his
mother’s womb to be born!"(John 3:3,4)
Application: The Lord was able to gradually help Nicodemus move from the
visible to invisible truths through the wise use of a redemptive analogy.
Masterthe art of cognitive developmental thinking, teaching and listening to
help people rise to the higher levelof mental and spiritual maturity. Eph. 4:15
- Speak the truth in love so that you people cangrow up in all aspects,
dimensions and qualities of Christ Jesus.

Mark 5:34-36
The Voice
34 Jesus listenedto her story.
Jesus:Daughter, you are well because youdared to believe. Go in peace, and
stay well.
Jesus occasionallyinstigates His own miracles: He goes up to someone, suchas
a paralyzed man, and offers to heal him. More often, as in the case ofJairus’s
daughter, people come to Jesus and ask for healings. But the woman in this
story is unique because she receives herhealing without asking for it—simply
by touching Jesus in faith. He is surrounded by crowds pressing in on every
side, but Jesus feels that one person’s touch is different, in a way that only He
can perceive:one womanis touching Him deliberately, in hope and faith,
knowing He has the powerto healher.
35 While He was speaking, some members of Jairus’s householdpushed
through the crowd.
Jairus’s Servants (to Jairus): Your daughter is dead. There’s no need to drag
the Teacheranyfarther.
36 Jesus overheardtheir words. Then He turned to look at Jairus.
Jesus:It’s all right. Don’t be afraid; just believe.

Listening Like Jesus
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I’ve always pictured Jesus as a really goodlistener. Hurting people must have
been drawn to him like a magnet, pouring out their troubles as they looked
into his empathetic eyes. And I’m sure Jesus never interrupted them with a
spotlight-grabbing story about how “something just like that happened to me
the other day….” But for us mere mortals, being a goodlistenercan be really
hard.
Faith Formation Ministries has been working with churches to help
strengthen faith storytelling practices. Our Faith Storytelling Toolkitlists
dozens of practicalideas for shaping and sharing our faith stories. But
listening well to a faith story and receiving it like Jesus would is also key.
When someone shares a faith story with you, it’s a holy moment. The person
who is speaking is testifying to the work of God in his or her life. Depending
on the story, he or she may feel quite vulnerable, and that vulnerability
requires a loving response.
The way you and other listeners receive the story is as important as the telling
of the story. It shows the speakerswhetheror not you acceptthem as they
are—justas Jesus Christwould do. Here are some ways to practice active,
engagedlistening.
Prepare your body

Take a breath. Be present in the moment.
Relaxyour posture. If your arms are crossedon your chest, uncross them to
show acceptanceratherthan defensiveness. The speakerwill be reading your
body language to see how his or her words are being received.
Let the love of Christ shine through your facialexpression.
Prepare your mind
Let go of your mental "to do" list.
Think about how Jesus might listen to someone's faithstory.
Consciouslyresistmaking judgments about the speaker.
Quiet the urge to formulate a response while the person is speaking.
Recognize andresist the temptation to tell a similar story or to turn the
conversationback to yourself after the speakeris finished.
Prepare your heart
Resolve to listen with your whole heart, not just your ears.
Think of the speaker’s storyas a gift to you or to your church family.
Remember that having emotions is part of what it means to be createdin the
image of God. Don’t be embarrassedif the speakershows emotionorif you
feel emotionalyourself. This is a goodand right response to hearing stories of
God's faithfulness in our lives.
Respondin love
Silence is not an option after you hear a faith story. A response, either
individual or corporate, is required.

When you respond, you do not need to worry about saying something
profound or offering a solution to any problems the speakermay be having.
Your job is to honor the gift of trust that he or she has given you and to
extend love and acceptance. Words like these are always appropriate and
welcome:
I’m so sorry. That must have been very hard.
I’m here for you. You’re not alone.
I rejoice with you! Your joy brings me joy.
Thank you for sharing the gift of your story. It encouragesme to see Godat
work in your life.
If the story is told in a group setting or worship service, ask someoneto offer
a prayer of thanks or petition, whichever is appropriate. Give thanks for
God’s work in the speaker’s life and ask for God’s continued grace in his or
her life and in the lives of everyone present.
https://network.crcna.org/faith-nurture/listening-jesus
Leadership at Home and Church
Jesus:The PerfectLeader
By President SpencerW. Kimball
From an address delivered to the Young Presidents organization, Sun Valley,
Idaho, 15 January 1977

There are far more things to be saidabout the Lord Jesus Christ’s
remarkable leadership than any single article or book could possibly cover,
but I want to point out a few of the attributes and skills he demonstrated so
perfectly. These same skills and qualities are important for us all if we wish to
succeedas leaders in any lasting way.
Fixed principles
Jesus knew who he was and why he was here on this planet. That meant he
could lead from strength rather than from uncertainty or weakness.
Jesus operatedfrom a base of fixed principles or truths rather than making
up the rules as he went along. Thus, his leadership style was not only correct,
but also constant. So many secularleaders today are like chameleons;they
change their hues and views to fit the situation—which only tends to confuse
associatesandfollowers who cannot be certain what course is being pursued.
Those who cling to powerat the expense of principle often end up doing
almost anything to perpetuate their power.
Jesus saidseveraltimes, “Come, follow me.” His was a program of “do what I
do,” rather than “do what I say.” His innate brilliance would have permitted
him to put on a dazzling display, but that would have left his followers far
behind. He walkedand workedwith those he was to serve. His was not a long-
distance leadership. He was not afraid of close friendships; he was not afraid
that proximity to him would disappoint his followers. The leavenof true
leadership cannotlift others unless we are with and serve those to be led.
Jesus kepthimself virtuous, and thus, when his closenessto the people
permitted them to touch the hem of his garment, virtue could flow from him.
(See Mark 5:24–34.)

Understanding others
Jesus was a listening leader. Because he loved others with a perfect love, he
listened without being condescending. A greatleaderlistens not only to others,
but also to his conscienceand to the promptings of God.
Jesus was a patient, pleading, loving leader. When Peterdrew his swordand
smote the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear, Jesus said, “Put up
thy swordinto the sheath” (John 18:11). Without being angry or perturbed,
Jesus quietly healedthe servant’s ear (see Luke 22:51). His reproofof Peter
was kind, yet firm.
BecauseJesus lovedhis followers, he was able to level with them, to be candid
and forthright with them. He reproved Peterat times because he loved him,
and Peter, being a greatman, was able to grow from this reproof. There is a
wonderful verse in the book of Proverbs all of us need to remember:
“The ear that heareththe reproof of life abideth among the wise.
“He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth
reproof gettethunderstanding.” (Prov. 15:31–32.)
It is a wise leader or a wise followerwho cancope with the “reproofof life.”
Petercould do this because he knew that Jesus lovedhim, and thus Jesus was
able to groom Peterfor a very high place or responsibility in the kingdom.

Jesus saw sinas wrong but also was able to see sin as springing from deep and
unmet needs on the part of the sinner. This permitted him to condemn the sin
without condemning the individual. We canshow forth our love for others
even when we are called upon to correctthem. We need to be able to look
deeply enoughinto the lives of others to see the basic causes fortheir failures
and shortcomings.
Selfless leadership
The Savior’s leadership was selfless. He put himself and his own needs second
and ministered to others beyond the callof duty, tirelessly, lovingly,
effectively. So many of the problems in the world today spring from
selfishness andself-centerednessin which too many make harsh demands of
life and others in order to meet their demands. This is a direct reversalof the
principles and practices pursued so perfectly by that perfect example of
leadership, Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus’leadershipemphasized the importance of being discerning with regard
to others, without seeking to control them. He cared about the freedom of his
followers to choose. Evenhe, in those moments that mattered so much, had to
choose voluntarily to go through Gethsemane and to hang on the cross at
Calvary. He taught us that there can be no growth without real freedom. One
of the problems with manipulative leadershipis that it does not spring from a
love of others but from a need to use them. Such leaders focus on their own
needs and desires and not on the needs of others.
Jesus had perspective about problems and people. He was able to calculate
carefully at long range the effectand impact of utterances, not only on those
who were to hear them at the moment, but on those who would read them
2,000 years later. So often, secularleaders rush in to solve problems by
seeking to stop the present pain, and thereby create evengreaterdifficulty
and pain later on.

Responsibility
Jesus knew how to involve his disciples in the process oflife. He gave them
important and specific things to do for their development. Other leaders have
sought to be so omnicompetent that they have tried to do everything
themselves, which produces little growth in others. Jesus trusts his followers
enough to share his work with them so that they can grow. That is one of the
greatestlessons ofhis leadership. If we brush other people aside in order to
see a task done more quickly and effectively, the task may getdone all right,
but without the growth and development in followers that is so important.
BecauseJesus knowsthat this life is purposeful and that we have been placed
on this planet in order to perform and grow, growth then becomes one of the
greatends of life as well as a means. We can give corrective feedback to others
in a loving and helpful way when mistakes are made.
Jesus was not afraid to make demands of those he led. His leadership was not
condescending orsoft. He had the courage to callPeterand others to leave
their fishing nets and to follow him, not after the fishing seasonorafter the
next catch, but now! today! Jesus let people know that he believed in them and
in their possibilities, and thus he was free to help them stretchtheir souls in
fresh achievement. So much secularleadershipis condescending and, in many
ways, contemptuous of mankind because it treats people as if they were to be
coddled and cocoonedforever. Jesus believedin his followers, not alone for
what they were, but for what they had the possibilities to become. While
others would have seenPeteras a fisherman, Jesus couldsee him as a
powerful religious leader—courageous, strong—who wouldleave his mark
upon much of mankind. In loving others, we can help them to grow by making
reasonable but real demands of them.
Jesus gave people truths and tasks that were matched to their capacity. He did
not overwhelmthem with more than they could manage, but gave them

enough to stretch their souls. Jesus was concernedwith basics in human
nature and in bringing about lasting changes, notsimply cosmetic changes.
Accountability
Jesus taught us that we are accountable not only for our actions but also for
our very thoughts. This is so important for us to remember. We live in an age
that stresses“no-faultinsurance”—and “no fault” in other human behavior as
well. Accountability is not possible, of course, without fixed principles. A good
leaderwill remember he is accountable to God as well as to those he leads. By
demanding accountability of himself, he is in a better position, therefore, to
see that others are accountable for their behavior and their performance.
People tend to perform at a standard set by their leaders.
Wise Use of Time
Jesus also taught us how important it is to use our time wisely. This does not
mean there can never be any leisure, for there must be time for contemplation
and for renewal, but there must be no waste oftime. How we manage time
matters so very much, and we can be goodmanagers of time without being
frantic or officious. Time cannotbe recycled. When a moment has gone, it is
really gone. The tyranny of trivia consists ofits driving out the people and
moments that really matter. Minutia holds momentous things hostage, and we
let the tyranny continue all too often. Wise time managementis really the wise
managementof ourselves.
Secularleadership
Those individuals whom we most love, admire, and respectas leaders of the
human family are so regardedby us preciselybecause they embody, in many
ways, the qualities that Jesus had in his life and in his leadership.

Conversely, those leaders in history who have been most tragic in their impact
on mankind were tragic preciselybecause they lackedto almostany degree
the qualities of the Man of Galilee. Where Jesus was selfless,they were selfish.
Where Jesus was concernedwith freedom, they were concernedwith control.
Where Jesus was concernedwith service, they were concernedwith status.
Where Jesus met the genuine needs of others, they were concernedonly with
their own needs and wants. Where Jesus was concernedwith the development
of his disciples, they sought to manipulate mortals. Where Jesus was filled
with compassionbalancedby justice, they have so often been filled with
harshness and injustice.
Perhaps all of us would not be the perfect example of leadership, but all of us
can make a serious effort toward approaching that greatideal.
Our potential
One of the greatteachings ofthe Man of Galilee, the Lord Jesus Christ, was
that you and I carry within us immense possibilities. In urging us to be perfect
as our Father in Heaven is perfect, Jesus was not taunting us or teasing us. He
was telling us a powerful truth about our possibilities and about our potential.
It is a truth almost too stunning to contemplate. Jesus, who could not lie,
sought to beckonus to move further along the pathway to perfection.
We are not yet perfect as Jesus was, but unless those about us can see us
striving and improving, they will not be able to look to us for example, and
they will see us as less than fully serious about the things to be done.
Eachof us has more opportunities to do goodand to be goodthan we everuse.
These opportunities lie all around us. Whatever the size of our present circle
of effective influence, if we were to improve our performance even a little bit,

that circle would be enlarged. There are many individuals waiting to be
touched and loved if we care enough to improve in our performance.
We must remember that those mortals we meet in parking lots, offices,
elevators, and elsewhereare that portion of mankind God has given us to love
and to serve. It will do us little goodto speak ofthe generalbrotherhood of
mankind if we cannotregard those who are all around us as our brothers and
sisters. If our sample of humanity seems unglamorous or so very small, we
need to remember the parable Jesus gave us in which he reminded us that
greatness is not always a matter of size or scale, but of the quality of one’s life.
If we do well with our talents and with the opportunities around us, this will
not go unnoticed by God. And to those who do well with the opportunities
given them, even more will be given!
The scriptures contain many marvelous case studies of leaders who, unlike
Jesus, were not perfectbut were still very effective. It would do us all much
goodif we were to read them—and read them often. We forget that the
scriptures presentus with centuries of experience in leadership, and, even
more importantly, the fixed principles upon which realleadership must
operate if it is to succeed. The scriptures are the handbook of instructions for
the would-be leader.
The perfectleader
I make no apologyfor giving something of the accomplishments of Jesus
Christ to those who seek success as leaders.
If we would be eminently successful, here is our pattern. All the ennobling,
perfect, and beautiful qualities of maturity, of strength, and of courage are
found in this one person. As a large, surly mob, armed to the teeth, came to
take him prisoner, he facedthem resolutely and said, “Whom seek ye?”

The mob, startled, mumbled his name, “Jesus ofNazareth.”
“I am he,” answeredJesus ofNazarethwith pride and courage—andwith
power: the soldiers “went backward, and fell to the ground.”
A secondtime he said, “Whom seek ye?” andwhen they named him, he said,
“I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these [his disciples]
go their way.” (John 18:4–8).
Perhaps the most important thing I can say about Jesus Christ, more
important than all else I have said, is that he lives. He really does embody all
those virtues and attributes the scriptures tell us of. If we cancome to know
that, we then know the centralreality about man and the universe. If we don’t
acceptthat truth and that reality, then we will not have the fixed principles or
the transcendenttruths by which to live out our lives in happiness and in
service. In other words, we will find it very difficult to be significant leaders
unless we recognize the reality of the perfect leader, Jesus Christ, and let him
be the light by which we see the way!
Sermon on the Mount, by Carl Bloch. Original at King’s Prayer Chair in the
Chapel of Frederiksborg Castle,Denmark. Usedby permission of the
NationalHistoric Museum at Frederiksborg.
What level are you listening on?

Would you call yourself a goodlistener?
Could you be hearing but not really listening?
Truly listening, heart to heart, radically changes relationships, transforms
people and connects us to God in a deeper way. Jesus shows us so much
wisdom in His example of leadership, and one thing he showedus is how to be
an insightful listener who really listens to the very heart of people.
Jesus listenedat a deep heart level to people and also to the Fatherat the same
time. This is evident in the story of the rich man, the woman at the well and
many stories with His own disciples. He drew out their very hearts and bought
them into a new revelationin just one conversation.
He listened to what the Father was saying and doing, in the moment every
moment. His first responses to His ownmother who askedHim to turn water
into wine changedfrom a ‘no’ to a ‘yes’ and He did what He alreadysaid it
was not his time to do! Why? BecauseJesus wasnot afraid to listen to Father
and Holy Spirit in the moment and re-direct from previous instructions. He
did this for the gentile women who was requesting healing too, when Jesus
said ‘no’, she argued her case saying ‘even the dogs get the crumbs.’ Jesus
listened with compassionand changedHis ‘no’ to a ‘yes’. He listenedto the
hearts of all who came to Him, and listened to the Father at the same time,
showing us by example that you can connectto the very hearts of people and
that anything is available in the present moment.
Jesus was always listening for developmental opportunities for those He led,
bringing revelation through profound and simple questions that cut straight

to the heart of the matter. These questions helped His disciples to listen to
their own hearts. For example; Jesus’powerful question; ‘But who do you say
I am?’ This question revealedto the disciples their own hearts and taught
them an important revelation of who He was;all in the same question!
Jesus’had a supernatural wayof listening on severallevels all at the same
time, to both the heart of people and the Fatherin heaven. How do you feel
your listening skills are in comparison?
In some recent classesin our CoachTraining School, I led a sessionon
understanding 3 levels of listening from our Kingdom Coaching Model, which
we have defined to help us model Jesus’ways. These different levels help us to
coachthe very heart of people and to connectthem in encounter directly to
God.
The 3 levels I have defined are: level 1, listening to the facts of the story, the
‘where’, the ‘when’, and the ‘how’ details. Also level 1 is defined as listening
to your own internal dialogue. For example, what you think and feel about
what is being said and how you would like to fix the situation. At this level you
are not fully listening to the person or Holy Spirit.
Level 2 listening I define as truly becoming presentto a person’s heart and
actively listening to all that is saidand what is not said. This involves listening
to their core values, their desires and much more.
Level 3 I define as more towards what we saw Jesus doing, that beautiful
space where you can listen simultaneously at a heart level, connecting deeply
with a person and also listening to Godat the same time. You canlisten at this

level and draw links, and themes together, facilitating connection to God and
biggerpurposes outside of the topic in hand.
As part of our teaching I demonstrate, eachlevel of listening on a volunteer.
Eachtime I do this demonstration it is amazing to see how listening at level 2
connects the persondeeply with parts of their heart that are vitally important,
helping them to receive new revelationand insight on who they are. The level
3 part of the demo, shows beautifully being able to lead someone into an
encounter with God, involving Holy Spirit, linking the person to their bigger
purpose and helping them link seeminglysurprising themes to their identity.
So how do we become more like Jesus and give people this supernatural gift of
listening?
Firstly, unlike Jesus who did this automatically and effortlessly, I believe we
need to re-train ourselves. I believe that as leaders truly listening to people
and being able to draw them out is part of being like Jesus and fully
empowering people. It helps them to express all that is inside of them, which is
an art which we have in the most part today lost. Intrinsically we believe that
our knowledge andexpertise is the most important gift we have to give to
people, and most of our academic training, degrees and qualifications confirm
that we do have expertise and canprovide solutions.
Alternatively, an important kingdom leadership method, is to be more like
Jesus, learning to be comfortable restraining our strength, holding back our
answers, ourknowledge and expertise and instead turning into people’s
hearts. We cangive them the gift of truly listening at multiple levels. This
gives people the space to grow and developa good connectionwith their heart
(the wellspring of life). They can then be ‘in process’to becoming all that they

were made for, while being truly connected, witnessed, championedand
empoweredto find their voice and much more.
What levels do you listen on most?
http://kingdomcoachingnetwork.com/2016/03/03/listening-like-jesus-did/
How to Listen Like Jesus forMeaningful Spiritual Conversations
By Luke Cawley
Lone-RangerEvangelism
My first semesterin college,I was the only Christian in my program, and the
only believer in my dorm complex. I felt overwhelmed. How could I tell every
person about Jesus all on my own? I felt like I needed to run up to everyone
and blurt out the goodnews.
Jesus-Style Evangelism
What helped me those first few months was reading the life of Jesus. I found
that Jesus neveroperated alone, and he didn’t exclaim the gospelto every
person he met.
I discoveredJesus workedin a team. Before he even calledhis first disciple, he
was in partnership with the Spirit and the Father. At his baptism, which was

the inauguration of his public ministry, we don’t see a brave and lonely
individual determined to save the world on his own. Instead, we read of the
Spirit settling on Jesus in visible form and the Fatherso unable to containhis
excitement that he burst out with a loud shout of approval for his Son.
WhateverJesus was about to do, he was not alone;the whole Trinity was
involved.
I also learned that Jesus had a lot of conversations with other humans. You’d
think, with his unhindered hotline to the Holy Spirit, that Jesus wouldjust ask
his fellow members of the Trinity what he needed to do in eachsituation and
then boldly act on that advice. Instead we read of Jesus asking people
questions before he heals them, and engaging in deep conversations about
their lives. Listening to God and listening to people were both important
practices for Jesus.
A CloserLook at a Jesus-Style Encounter
There are numerous examples of Jesus having conversations andworking in
partnership with the Trinity. His encounterwith the paralyzed man in John
5:1-19 is a greatexample.
In this story, Jesus walkedinto a crowdof sick and disabled people. But
instead of healing every individual, he approachedjust one of them. He asked
this person, a man who has been physically challengedfor decades, if he
wanted to be healed. The man said he had no one to take him to the famed
magic pool of healing nearby. Jesus ignoredthe magic pool and instantly
cured the man’s disability. The religious leaders then became irritated
because the healing took place on the Sabbath and therefore broke their
sacredreligious codes.
It’s a story that leaves the readerwith a few big questions:

Why did Jesus approachjust one person? Why heal on the Sabbath when
Jesus couldhave avoided controversyby waiting until the next day?
Why did Jesus ask the man if he wantedto be healed? Wasn’t it obvious that
the man would wish to be made whole?
Jesus provided a great answerto these questions when – after the healing – he
explained that “the Son can do nothing by himself; he cando only what he
sees his Father doing” (John 5:19). In other words: Jesus had been listening to
the Fatherand following his lead. There was one man he was being prompted
to approach that day. So he focusedon that individual for that moment.
Despite being God, Jesus had become so fully human that he relied on the
leading of the Fatherand the Spirit rather than his own divine insight.
And why did Jesus ask the man if he wanted to be healed? Kenneth Bailey, a
New Testamentscholarwho lived in the Middle Eastfor many decades,
describes the plight of the unwell in his book Jesus ThroughMiddle Eastern
Eyes. He says that a long-term disabled person would have no trade or
profession. Their only expertise would be begging. If they were healed, they
would be unable to exercise the one skill they possess.After all, who gives
money to an able-bodied beggar? Jesus askedthe man this question because
he wanted the man to make the choice ofwholeness forhimself, and not to
have it foisted on him. Jesus had realconversations so that others could make
genuine choices.
Putting It Into Practice
You, too, cando evangelismin partnership with the Trinity and through
listening and asking excellentquestions of the people you meet.

A simple way to do this is to ask God where he is already at work. Whenever
you enter a classroom, a dorm, a café, a park, a chapter meeting, or anywhere
else, ask Godif someone is there in whose life he is already at work. Then
approachthat person and start a conversation.
You could also ask God if there is anything else you need to know about that
person. Then pause a moment to catchhis response. I did this recently and felt
God tell me that I should open the topic of relationships with someone. I
didn’t tell this guy I had “a word from God.” I just started talking with him
and raisedthe subject. It turned out to be an area he was really struggling
with and we were able to talk in depth and even pray together.
Even if you don’t get any specific details from God, it’s still worth
approaching new people and starting conversations. You canimitate Jesus’
pattern of asking goodquestions. Rick Richardson, in his book Reimagining
Evangelism, suggeststhese as some goodquestions to ask:
Do you have any religious backgroundand does it mean anything to you
today?
Have you ever had what you would considera religious experience? Whatwas
that like?
Have you ever had an experience of feeling close to God? What happened?
Do you think there’s a God? What do you think God might be like?
What do you think about prayer? Do you think it works? What do you think
it does?
Questions like this open the conversationand help you understand the unique
relevance of Jesus forthe person with whom you’re conversing.

You can read more about asking questions by reading Why You Should Ask
More Questions in Spiritual Conversations.
So, go ahead: Start asking God who he wants you to speak to and what he
wants you to ask them. In my first yearof college,I discoveredthat working
with God is a whole lot more fun (and effective!) than working for him. And
you never know where it might lead.
Have a quick story of how listening to God and/or a personhas helped you
have a meaningful spiritual conversation? Share it below.
Be A GoodListener
Be A GoodListener “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the
discerning getguidance.” Proverbs 1:5 All throughout the Bible we see
scriptures that indicate that Jesus was a goodlistener. I have experiencedthe
importance of being a good listener, throughout my business career, as I
learned so much from my employees, as to what their needs were, and then I
could reactand make my hospital a better place. It is extremely important to
be a goodlistener for your family members. If your children are made to feel
that they cancome to you, and have your undivided attention and tell you
anything that is on their minds, or things that are troubling them, they will
keepyou informed as to their activities, and up to date with things in their
lives. This time when they are communicating with you, should be the time
when they feel you care about them, and are there and willing to listen and
offer advice and help if it is askedofyou. This is the time you have where you
can offer reinforcementto your true values, and the values that the family is
operating under. These times should always be positive times, and times
where the children feel free and open to discuss any subject that is on their

minds. You do not want to use this time to lecture, or to enforce other
guidelines on them, as these times must be used for the purposes the children
came to talk to you about. If you try to use this as the time to get other points
across,they will quickly see this, and will not come to talk to you about the
things that are going on in their lives. It is important to always make these
times, "their times," and listen to them. Being a goodlistener is also especially
important when dealing with your friends, neighbors and other people you
meet on a daily basis. Being a good listener is a gift from God. Robert W.
Brock My Daily DevotionalVolume Six November13
Postedby Unknown at 3:11 AM
6/7/2014
Jesus is a Good Listener
Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 7:11-16
When you pray: God listens. Prayer is a powerful weapon; a weapon against
sickness, depression, financialproblems and temptation.
In the Bible there are severalaccountof powerful prayers: Moses prayedand
God spared the Israelites. Joshua prayerand God causedthe sun to stand
still. Hannah prayed and God gave her a baby boy. Solomonprayed and God
gave him wisdom. Hezekiah prayed and God gave him fifteen more years to
live. Elijah prayed and God sent rain and fire. Jonahprayed and God

delivered him from the belly of the fish. The thief on the cross prayed and
Jesus gave him eternal life.
In the midst of problems: the church must pray. Prayer canprovide endless
possibilities. Prayersolves problems, calms storms, heal sickness,comfort
sorrows, lifts burdens, save sinners, lifts the fallen, restores the backslider,
mends relationships, resolves differences,forgives sins, quenches thirst and
revives a congregation. The keyis to keeppraying when nothing is happening.
Prayer needs to be our first resort, not our last. We need to pray for what God
wants and not what we want. Jesus will always do what is right and prayer
gets us to move God's way. Prayer is face to face talk with God. We can getby
or we canget real with Jesus.
Pray regardless ofwhat you think God's answermight be. God told Solomon:
"if my people who are calledby my name will humble themselves, and pray
and seek my face, and turn from their wickedways." Whenwe do these things
He tells us that "we will hear from heaven
Healthy LeadersCATEGORIESMOST POPULARTHIS WEEK’S
RESOURCEABOUTWRITE FOR USCONTACT US
COMPETENCIES 9 Min ReadSeptember23, 2014
Listening Is an Attribute of the Servant-Leader
Gina BurgessGina Burgess

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Robert K. Greenleaf(1904-1990)is recognizedas the founder of the modern
servant-leadermovement. He describedleadership this way:
The servant-leaderis servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one
wants to serve.
However, servant-leadershipdid not begin with Greenleaf. ThoughGreenleaf
was right, Jesus exemplified servant-leadershipqualities first. Many of the
greatleaders of history were servant-leaders. Jesus certainlyexhibited
leadership in many different ways, yet He stated that He did not come to be
served, but to serve. (Matt. 20:28)Better than any other leaderbefore or
since, Jesus displayedthese 10 qualities.
L.C. Spears (Greenleaf’s virtual successor)brought togetherthe ideas of
Greenleafin numerous books and articles. In Ten CharacteristicsofEffective,
Caring Leaders, Spears highlights 10 of Greenleaf’s characteristicsofa good
servant-leader, with very little reference to the biblical foundations of these
attributes. Let us examine the greatestservant-leader, Jesus Christ.
Listening

A goodleader is a goodcommunicator. Spears notes that while
communication and decision-making are often representedas the main job of
leaders, these skills “needto be reinforcedby a deep commitment to listening
intently to others … to seek to identify the will of a group [or individual] and
help to clarify that will.”
One of the foremostof a greatservant’s qualities is being able to listen and act
upon what is heard. A greatserverwill getyour food order correct. A great
serverthinks of the small things such as remembering if you like creamin
your coffee. These actionscannotbe done without first listening. Goodleader-
listening is the same both from a person-to-personstandpoint and from a
God-to-personstandpoint.
Listening to God is the same as listening to your spouse, your kids, or your co-
workers. The trouble with that is we usually are not goodlisteners even to our
friends or family. While I was writing this article, my daughter called. I was in
the middle of a thought, and so kept typing, all while she was telling me
something. I should have paid attention to her, which I eventually did. The
snag was that I missedthose few crucial words from her, and then I gave a
wrong response to what she was saying. That resulted in her huffing in anger
and me growling in frustration at myself. All that emotional upheaval could
have been avoided if I’d listened.
Listening is deciding that the other person is important, and what that
important personis saying is more important than what you are doing at that
precise moment. It also involves a greatdeal of trust that God will bring back
to mind what you were doing if you need it. But too often we don’t listen very
well to God either. Come on now, I know I’m not the only one that has this
problem!

Jesus was anastute listener.
There was a Canaanite woman who ran after Jesus and His disciples (Matt.
15:22-28)crying out for help for her daughter. Jesus did not answerher cries,
and the disciples implored Jesus to send her away. But Jesus listened to her
and finally told her that He was sent to the “lostsheep of Israel.” She
worshiped Him and beggedagainfor help. When He told her that it wasn’t
goodto take the children’s bread and give it to the little dogs, she replied that
even the little dogs receive the crumbs from the Master’s table. Jesus listened,
and He actedupon the woman’s great faith, giving her help for her daughter.
At that exactmoment, the demons left her daughter.
Jesus did not barge into a situation and announce a solution. He never told
someone he needed his eyes fixed, or that she needed demons removed. He
first gotinput from the person with the need. He askedquestions. He tested
thoughts and feelings, as with Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52)who was blind and
sitting beside the road from Jericho. He heard that Jesus was near, and he
beganshouting for Jesus’mercy. People hushed him, but he cried out more
insistently. Jesus listened. He stoppedwhat He was doing (walking), and told
the man to come to Him. Then He askedhim point blank, “Whatdo you want
of Me?” The man wanted his sight, and Jesus gave it to him. Making
assumptions can kill goodcommunication, and Jesus never made that
mistake.
Leadership-listening means observing closelyand imparting truth as well. In
the case ofMartha, Jesus and His disciples visited Martha’s home in Bethany
(Luke 10:38-42). She was stressedoutgetting dinner on the table and
entertaining so many. She askedJesus to tell Mary to getup and help her. The
Lord listened to what Martha was not saying, too!

Jesus empathized with her, noting her distress, “Martha, Martha, you are
stressing out over too much, being worried and troubled about all these
things!” Then He replied with truth, “Mary has chosenthe goodthing, and
that will not be takenfrom her.” Martha was not expecting that response, I’m
sure. However, sometimes the harshness oftruth is softenedbecause the
leaderhas takenthe time to listen, observe, and empathize.
Servant-leaders should decide that what God has to say is more important
than the TV or newspaperor socialmedia. God speaks to us in many different
ways:mostly through His Word, but sometimes He is that still small voice,
and sometimes He speaks throughour close and trusted friends, our pastors,
or our parents. Sometimes He speaks things we just do not want to hear
because we have our own agenda.
Being silent with the intent to hear what God is saying has become nearly
impossible in our world of noise. In our age of information technology,
constantentertainment, and socialnetworking, we seldomhear silence.
Listening to God is vital to our spiritual health, and listening to others is vital
to our leadership health. Listening, as well as reflection, leads to the growth
and well-being of the servant-leader. God designedit this wayfor a purpose.
Spears also notes that leaders need to take time to listen to that inner voice.
This is about the need to be reflective – finding private moments or hideaways
to realign, to hear our own renewedhearts, and to hear what God is saying.
Jesus did this, spending a night (at least)in prayer before He selectedor
named “the Twelve.”
Leaders listen. We listen to find out the needs of those we lead. We also listen
to learn and grow. Above all, we carefully listen to the true Leader, Who cares
deeply for those we are leading.

LEARNING TO BE A GOOD LISTENER
By Don Enevoldsen| February 17, 2016 |0
LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND –
Often the most loving thing to do is simply listen. Deepdown, people
desperatelywant to be understood, to know someone caresenoughto pay
attention.
I lived for severalyears in Los Angeles, in an area where there are around
100,000 homelesspeople. I used to go for a walk every day, partly for exercise
and partly as a time to pray. I rarely gotthirty yards out the door before
someone approachedasking forsome sort of help. In those days, I rarely had
much money to share, but I decidedearly on that I would at the very least
look them in the eye, no matter how filthy they lookedor how bad they
smelled, and acknowledgetheir presence and validate their dignity as human
beings.
LEARNING TO BE A GOOD LISTENER
It was amazing how often they just wantedto talk. So I got in the habit of
stopping and talking. It got so that one time when two friends were visiting
from out of town, we decided to walk down the streetabout six or seven
blocks to a localrestaurantfor lunch, it took us about an hour to get there
because everyfew yards someone I had befriended wantedto chat.
One friend finally said, “Do you know everyone out here?”

While I still take time to interact with anyone I meet during the course of the
day, it should be obvious that this same desire to be known is not limited to
homeless people.
Developing the capacity to listen and understand is a basic element of human
relationships of all kinds.
The more intimate the relationship, the more important it becomes. Having a
goodmarriage is impossible without taking time—intentional time—to getto
know the dreams, desires, frustrations, fears, hopes, goals, etc. ofthe one
closestto us. That’s just how love works.
Tag:God
THE SPIRITUALISATION OR SANTIFICATION OF THE SOUL
THE SPIRITUALISATION OR SANTIFICATION OF THE SOUL
In our soul we have, our mind which generates ourthoughts. Our emotions
which produces our feelings, our intellect which is our reasoning faculty. Our
free will, the decisionmaking centre.
These areas ofour being need to be santified, if the kingdom of God is to
manifest in our lives. God is Spirit, His kingdom is spiritual not material. We
cannot connectwith the Spirit of God, if we have a materialistic mind set.
“Forthose who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the
flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to
be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”
Roman 8:5-6.

For us to be truly sons and daughters of God in the true sense ofthat word,
the spiritualisation or santificationof the soul is required. The soulneed to
become one with our spirit, where all the goodness ofGod lies, where the
Spirit of Godcommunicates to our spirit. If we then pay attention to that
inner voice and obey the inspiration that comes from that voice, we can then
truly say we are being led by the Spirit of God. “Foras many as are led by the
Spirit of God, these are sons of God” Roman 8:14.
How do we spiritualise or sanctify our souls? FromJesus’birth, to His
resurrectionand ascension, His mission had threefold significance. WhatHe
did and spoke was of importance not only for the Jewishpeople at that time,
but for all men and the generations to follow.
Jesus had to fight all the passions of human nature in order to free Himself of
these passions in order to free Himself of the passions of the flesh. He
demonstrated to us how this canbe done through the gospelmessagewe call
the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11.
I believe this story in Matthew 4:1-11 should not be interpreted literally.
Satanknew the Father well and saw His Lord in the body of Jesus. Therefore,
it would not have been a temptation on his part to suggestthat his Lord
should turn stones into bread, since he was well aware that He was capable of
much more than that. Again James 1:13 tells us “for God cannotbe tempted
by evil”.
The temptation of Jesus was a demonstration to us on how our human
passions canbe attackedby Satan. Jesus’human passions were attacked, with
these tests. He showedus how we could become his children only by
conquering the mighty evil influences in our world. The first test was hunger,
He conquered this by the words He spoke to Satan “man shall not live by

bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”
Matthew 4:4.
His response meaning, if fleshly desires attack a man’s soul, let him
remember, that above all else, man’s inner spiritual self has to be nourished,
caredfor and educatedwith the word of God, even if it is at the costof the
body. What Jesus saidto Satan has this meaning for us. We should always
remember that we have not been createdto focus on our out ward body, but
to perfect our soul.
The secondtemptation, is a test of our pride and vanity. This temptation may
be likened to that of a person, gifted with greatabilities and knowledge, even
with spiritual powers boosts with such abilities instead of using them for the
benefit of his fellowman, or the greatergloryof the Giver. Satan wantedJesus
to use His divine attributes. Jesus replied to Satan, “you shall not tempt the
LORD your God” Mat4:7.
Meaning, don’t believe the delusion that the Lord, even if He did give you
power, might not take it awayfrom you againif you do not use it for His
purpose but only for your own. Misusing your spiritual gifts would leadto
pride instead of humility.
The third temptation was Satan’s attempt to arouse the passionfor powerin
Jesus’human nature. All these three passions are latent in the human heart
and this is the basis for all the other passions, like the tendency for a life full of
pleasure for the body, the desire to be above everybody else. The answerJesus
gave Satanat his attempt to arouse His human passionfor power, is this,
“Away with you Satan for it is written, you shall worship the LORD your
God, and Him only you shall serve” Matthew 4:10.

This means in other words, “awaywith this desire of wanting to dominate
others”. Justas Jesus, as a man, once had to fight His way through all the
passions ofthe flesh, which as the creatorand Father, He intentionally put
into the human nature. We have to do the same if we want to follow Jesus. We
have to fight the mighty urge for goodliving, hunger for material things. The
passionto subordinate others and rule over them, we must free ourselves from
the shacklesthatprevents the liberation of our soul.
We must avoid vanity and pride in our lives, these passions hinder our
spiritual progress. We must see ourselves as weakand unworthy, so that we
may be strengthened in our faith and trust in Jesus, then the third bad
passion,the lust for power, will not take hold of us and render us slaves to the
passions ofour flesh.
This gospelthe temptation of Jesus, shows how Jesus as a man fought
forcefully againstHis human passions, in order to demonstrate to us, that the
evil He allows to be in this world, serves after all a goodpurpose which is the
soul’s progress. We shall serve God alone, and this we do only when we follow
the greatcommandment of love which prompts us to control our flesh and
fight againstthe evil impulses of vanity and lust for power.
Only through self-denial and resistanceto these strong passions in our human
nature will we one day in the kingdom of God understand what it means to be
setover great things, or the phrase “He who humbles himself shall be
exalted”. “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by
force” Matthew 11:12.
If the soul is to be spiritualised, we need to be pro-active and vigilant in
resisting the passions ofthe flesh. “work out the salvationof your soul with
fear and trembling” Phil 2:12
https://tellittojesus.wordpress.com/tag/god/

The Traits of a Good Listener
superlee7
Stephanie Lee
5/19/16 9:00AM
•
Filed to:
COMMUNICATION
14
7
You’ll find tons of self-help books onimproving your speaking skills, but
improving your listening skills is just as crucial, if not more so in some cases.
Check out this video from Schoolof Life and see which“goodlistening” traits
you rock at, and which you canwork on.
Illustration for article titled The Traits of a GoodListener
How Can I Improve My Listening Skills?
DearLifehacker,I'm a terrible listener. I want to do better, but I have trouble
paying attention.
Readmore

Listening is more than just hearing words come out of a person’s mouth. It’s
also more than just nodding and not saying a thing (although that can work
sometimes). Goodlisteners do more than that.
They egg people on: A goodlistener encouragesyou to dive into greaterdetail
and connectthe dots on your own. A goodlistener would egg you on by
suggesting that you “Go on…” And they ask revealing questions to getto the
source of your frustrations, concerns, andexcitement. This helps build a
“deeperbase of engagement”.
They urge clarification:A goodlistenerhelps you explore underlying issues
about something, rather than you simply using vague descriptors like “It’s
nice” or “I’m so fed up with my job.” They help you dig way below the
surface to find what about that thing is particularly “nice” ormakes you “fed
up.”
They don’t moralize: A goodlistener doesn’t getall judgmental about what
you say, even if it’s againstthe norm or status quo. They recognize and accept
your follies, making you feellike you canbe honest.
They separate disagreementfrom criticism: A goodlistener can disagree with
you without making the exchange feelhostile or showing disrespect.
In reality, these are a lot tougher to do than they sound, and certainly take
practice. I’m constantly working on becoming a better listener myself. Before,
one of my biggestproblems was constantlyfeeling this overflowing urge to
interject because I wanted to share my thoughts or give advice. In my
experience, this is the lastthing anyone needs, unless they ask for it
specifically.
Illustration for article titled The Traits of a GoodListener
Become a BetterListener by Following These Five Rules

Being a goodspeakeris easy, but being a goodlistener is a lot harder. If
you're trying to work
Readmore
Now that I try my hardest to avoid that, I find myself asking questions to get
to know the person or what he or she is experiencing better, rather than
trying to beat the person’s problems or frustrations over the head with my
often unnecessaryinput.
5 traits of goodlisteners
APRIL 1, 2015 BY DAVE WILLIS
I used to think I was a goodlistener.
Being a “goodlistener” is one of those things most people think about
themselves. We all believe we’re gooddrivers, goodlisteners, and have a good
sense ofhumor, but listening is one of those areas where we don’t see our own
blind spots. I learned this the hard way.
The day I discoveredthat I was NOT a goodlistener happened during a
premarital course my wife Ashley and I were going through while we were
engaged. We were askedto do an exercise where one of us had to talk for two
minutes about something (we were given specific topics)and the other was
supposedto spend that time listening. Once our partner had completed his or

her dialogue, we were able to respond, but the first part of the response had to
be restating and summarizing what had just been said.
I anxiously awaitedAshley to finish the details of her story, so I could begin
my response and impress her with my stellarlistening skills. As instructed, I
started off with the phrase, “What I hear you saying is…” and then I did my
best to recapher thoughts and feelings before responding with my own
thoughts.
Before I could getto my own thoughts, she lookedat me with disappointment
and confusionon that beautiful face of hers and said, “You weren’t listening.
That’s not what I said!”
Like I was saying, I wasn’tas gooda listener as I thought I was.
I was committing a classicmistake in communicating…insteadof listening to
understand what’s being said, I was “listening” for a few key points while
letting my mind wander to pre-planning my response ordaydreaming about
something else entirely. Over the years, I’ve tried to hone these
communication skills, because I’ve come to realize goodlistening is vital to a
goodmarriage, but I still have a long way to go!
I have a Master’s Degreein Communication, but it didn’t do much of
anything to help me be a goodlistener (even though listening is the most
important part of communication). The listening lessons I’ve picked up have
been learned through a lot of experience and even failures on my part along
with the insights many others have shared with me over the years. Ashley has

always been a much better listener than me, so I’ve picked up a lot of these
principles simply by how she engagesin our conversations.
To become a better listener(which will automaticallymake you a better
communicator), try the following:
Dave Willis quotes quote truly listen love and respect
1. Eliminate the distractions.
None of us are as goodat multitasking as we’d like to think. Turn off your
phones and give eachother your full attention. Remove the barriers to
listening and it will become a lot easier.
2. Ask questions before you respond.
Instead of just jumping into a response whenyour spouse finishes speaking,
make sure you’re responding to what he/she actually said! You can do this be
asking questions or even doing the exercise I mentioned in the first part of this
post. Beginyour response by summarizing their statement: “WhatI hear you
saying is...”
3. Focus ongiving support, not just solutions.

Your spouse wants to be heard and not just so you can tell him/her what they
need to do. They need your encouragementand support, not just your advice.
For more on this, watchmy FREE video on “How to build intimacy and trust
in marriage.”
4. Speak in paragraphs, not “tweets”
I love socialmedia, but the bombardment of constant information has lowered
our tolerance formeaningful conversations. If it can’t be said in a short
sentence, we don’t always want to hear it, but there are no shortcuts to
effective communication. Take the time to do it right. Don’t rush eachother.
5. Respondnonverbally while he/she is speaking.
Don’t just stare off in space waiting for your turn to talk. A healthy
conversationhas only one persontalking at a time, but both people are
communicating the entire time. You can respond with your eye contact, facial
expressions and non-verbals to let them know you’re engaged.
For daily encouragement, please“like” my new Facebook page by clicking
here.
If this post helped you, please share it on socialmedia using the links below so
we can encourage others too!

3 Components of a GoodListener
March 19, 2013
goodlistenermain"Ineedyou to listen to me with your eyes," Stephanie, my
wife, says as we're discussing our upcoming weekendplans. Truth be told, I
was in the middle of a project on my computer and didn't want to stop.
"I'm listening, just keeptalking," I reply. She continues talking and then asks
me for input about making a decisionabout our kids sporting activity. I
hesitate, trying to recallthe data from the previous 30 seconds. The reality
was this: I wasn'tlistening, I was just hearing her voice.
I'm a pretty typical male and have a really difficult time multi-tasking. This
isn't an excuse, it's just a fact that I failed to be aware of in this moment. It's
not that I didn't want to discuss our weekendplans, but I didn't want to do it
right then and there. Explaining this to her would have been helpful, and
could have saved us multiple offenses.
Goodlisteners know and act on their limitations.
Knowing our limitations is the work of learning our ownstory and makeup of
who we are. By knowing ourselves, we canplan and sometimes prevent
situations from occurring that will hurt, trigger, or harm someone we care
about. In the above situation, just by speaking up and requesting 5 minutes to
finish my project would have savedmy wife and I the time and energyof an
avoidable fight. My limitation was that I do not multi-task well. Instead of
proactively asking for this, we spent the better part of a day recouping from a
five minute problem.

LISTENING
Writer Charles Swindoll once found himself with too many commitments in
too few days. He got nervous and tense about it. "I was snapping at my wife
and our children, choking down my food at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at
those unexpected interruptions through the day," he recalledin his book
Stress Fractures. "Before long, things around our home started reflecting the
patter of my hurry-up style. It was becoming unbearable.
"I distinctly remember after supper one evening, the words of our younger
daughter, Colleen. She wanted to tell me something important that had
happened to her at schoolthat day. She beganhurriedly, 'Daddy, I wanna tell
you somethin' and I'll tell you really fast.'
"Suddenly realizing her frustration, I answered, 'Honey, you can tell me --
and you don't have to tell me really fast. Sayit slowly." "I'll never forget her
answer:'Then listen slowly.'"
Bits & Pieces,June 24, 1993, pp. 13-14.
Two psychiatrists meet at their 20th collegereunion. One is vibrant, while the
other looks withered and worried. "So what's your secret?" the older looking
psychiatrist asks. "Listening to other people's problems every day, all day
long, for years on end, has made an old man of me." "So," replies the younger
looking one, "who listens?"

American Health, quoted in Reader's Digest.
The story is told of Franklin Roosevelt, who oftenendured long receiving lines
at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to
what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment.
To eachperson who passeddown the line and shook his hand, he murmured,
"I murdered my grandmother this morning." The guests respondedwith
phrases like, "Marvelous!Keep up the goodwork. We are proud of you. God
bless you, sir." It was not till the end of the line, while greeting the
ambassadorfrom Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Nonplussed, the
ambassadorleanedover and whispered, "I'm sure she had it coming."
Source Unknown.
How gooda listener are you?
1) Since you think about four times fasterthan a person usually talks, do you
use this time to think about other things while you're keeping track of the
conversation?
2) Do you listen primarily for facts rather than ideas when someone is
speaking?
3) Do you avoid listening to things you feel will be too difficult to understand?
4) Can you tell from a person's appearance anddelivery that there won't be
anything worthwhile said?
5) When someone is talking to you do you appearto be paying attention when
you're not?
6) Do certainwords and phrases prejudice you so you cannotlisten
objectively?

7) When listening are you distracted by outside sights and sounds?
Leadership, Vol.1, No. 4, p. 99.
Teenageprostitutes, during interviews in a San Francisco study, were asked:
"Is there anything you neededmost and couldn't get?" Their response,
invariably precededby sadness and tears was unanimous: "What I needed
most was someone to listen to me. Someone who caredenough to listen to
me."
Jim Reapsome,Homemade.
Formula for handling people: 1. Listen to the other person's story. 2. Listen to
the other person's full story. 3. Listen to the other person's full story first.
Gen. George Marshall, Bits & Pieces, April, 1991.
Goodlistening is like tuning in a radio station. Forgoodresults, you can listen
to only one stationat a time. Trying to listen to my wife while looking over an
office report is like trying to receive two radio stations at the same time. I end
up with distortion and frustration. Listening requires a choice ofwhere I
place my attention. To tune into my partner, I must first choose to put away
all that will divide my attention. That might mean laying down the newspaper,
moving awayfrom the dishes in the sink, putting down the book I'm reading,
setting aside my projects.
Robert W. Herron, Homemade, June, 1987.

How to Become a GoodListener
Article by JanetDunn
GuestContributor
High-quality listening brings goodresults. But it takes an awareness ofhow
much people need to be listened to, plus time and practice.
When severe emotionalfatigue forcedme home from the mission field, I knew
I needed help. Scared, yet desperate for answers, I made my way to the office
of a Christian counselor.
At first, my answers to his questions were guarded. But as I noticed his
compassionand understanding, I began to feel safe.
Soonwords were pouring out of me as he satlistening intently. Like broad
strokes ofa paintbrush, my words were recreating whole scenes — memories
of past incidents, areas ofconfusion. His perceptive questions helped me
describe my feelings, many of them deeply buried. Talking with someone who
caredgave me a chance to hear my own thoughts, and it was the beginning of
my cure.

Months later, with my health restoredand my heart rejoicing over a new
inner security, I said to my counselor, “Listening was one of the best things
you ever did for me.” Then I asked, “Is listening a gift?”
“No,” he said.
“How did you learn to listen so well?”
“Through practice,” he replied, assuring me that anyone who wants to can
learn how to listen.
“If I can learn how,” I said, “maybe Godcan use me to help someone else the
way you’ve helped me.”
That was two years ago. I’m still committed to listening, because I believe it is
one of the most effective means God ever gave us for helping one another. I’m
learning that listening is a hard-earned skill, but one that pays rich dividends.
Why Listen?
To increase my own ability to listen, I started to observe and talk to good
listeners. I discoveredthey are motivated to listen because they’ve learned
that listening affects human behavior powerfully, and therefore they have
patiently trained themselves to listen.
In a small notebook I beganto record my ownfindings on the key role
listening plays. First, I learnedthat listening affirms people. Indeed, it is one
of the highest forms of affirmation. When we listen, we invite another person

Jesus was a good listener

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Jesus was a good listener