I love to talk. Especially if you can get me talking about something I’m passionate about, such as the ministry at Bethel, LINC Twin Cities, or good choral music. I’m sure you have your favorite topics as well. “Don’t get me started!” But as much as most of us like to talk, we also know the value of a good listener. This reminds me of James 1:19, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” The Bible calls for us to listen first. What great advice for us as we seek to develop Christian relationships between the members of our church and especially with others outside of our church so we can share about Jesus.
Active Listening
When somebody has something to say to us, we show that person respect by actually receiving the message they are sending! But researchers have found that on average we only retain 25-50% of what we hear in conversation! That’s like leaving out every other word! There’s nothing more damaging to a relationship than having someone share something important with you only to have you promptly forget. Active listening can help us strengthen relationships by opening up better lines of communication. Below are a few tips to help us all be more active listeners.