Transforming Together: Authentic Spiritual Mentoring

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Full of purpose conversation

Jesus was a Master at the art of communicating.  He conversed with purpose.
How refreshing.
May I be frank with you? (Come to think of it, I always am!)
Many conversations that I hear are, frankly, boring, silly, superficial...downright annoying....
(Is that too frank?!)
How come?   They are circular, beginning w/a person and....yes...ending there.
We're masters of talking...quite a distance from communicating.


Humans have made talking an industry: I mean, just turn on the t.v. if you have any doubt...!
TALK shows, 'reality' shows that...yes, talk about themselves....
TALKING leads to self-absorption which in biblical terms is self-worship.
So, what is our alternative?


Let's look at how Jesus chose to deal with this while He was here on earth:


1. He WAS. He 'hung' with people. But He hung w/purpose!


2. He was CLARIFYING. The very first words recorded for in the Gospel of John that Jesus spoke were, "What do you want?" This way all involved knew the openness or lack of w/in the conversation.


3. He was INTRIGUING. Instead of always responding right away, Jesus ENHANCED the conversation! The next sentence recorded in John is "Come and see."  He GAVE OPTIONS! "Hey, IF you really are interested, invest a bit of time w/Me!  If not,....."


4. He INVESTED TIME w/others.  He really enjoyed hanging, listening, interacting...NOT DUMP and RUN!


5. He STUDIED people, LOOKING BEYOND WHO THEY ARE TO WHO THEY COULD BECOME! (BTW: HUGE, friends!)  "Jesus, LOOKING INTENTLY at Simon said, "Your name is Simon, son of John-BUT you WILL BE called Cephas!"  Inadvertently Jesus became safe because He offered hope of growth.


6. He HEARD WHAT PEOPLE WERE REALLY COMMUNICATING, NOT JUST WHAT THEY SAID.
    He didn't take offense.  Nathanael had rather dissed Jesus. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"  When Jesus first met him, Jesus complimented Nathanael! "Now here is a genuine son of Israel-a man of COMPLETE integrity."  Jesus knew Nathanael's heart. He OVERLOOKED the insult to the INTENT of the statement.


Okay, the above is all seen in John 1.  What is your response? We see how Jesus turned everyday conversations into a moment of focus on God.


What about us? How may WE turn conversations that WE are part of into moments that glorify God and are helpful to all involved?


Would love to hear from YOU!! Please hop ON THIS BLOG rather than responding on Facebook.  That way MORE can interact w/YOUR thoughts on this very key subject!!


May our conversations be 'seasoned w/salt', ENHANCING what is already being said....


Desiring to communicate,
Ele

8 Comments:

Anonymous Vikki De Los Santos Maya said...

Thank you, thank you Ele! God has taken me to this topic and has kept me there until He is through teaching me what I need to learn at this time. My first "aha moment", through your post is connected with Colossians 2:3- "In Christ Himself is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." He is the One who can teach us how to have these God-centered conversations! He showed us perfectly how to have conversations with full of purpose.
Now-to get practical! Ladies, I am looking forward to hearing what concreate steps God will lead you to share and what insights God will share with me. appreciate you, Ele!

January 5, 2011 at 5:02 AM  
Blogger Transforming Together said...

Yes, in Christ Himself IS hidden ALL the treasure of WISDOM and knowledge...and the Gospels are where we see Christ, and that wisdom and knowledge IN ACTION! He definitely can teach us to have Christ-centered conversations...because that is EXACTLY what He did! He posed questions, He gave hope, He as intriguing, He was other-focused, He enhanced...
I join Vikki in inviting YOU to hop on and share your experiences: the good and the 'learning' ones as well! Let's LIVE LIFE....TOGETHER....for HIS glory and our good as well as the good of others!!!
Appreciate you as well, Vikki,
Ele

January 5, 2011 at 7:21 AM  
Anonymous Vikki de los Santos Maya said...

I am finding that God-centered questions are one of the best ways of developing purposeful conversations.
Questions that are sincere-thoughtful and take us back to Him.

January 7, 2011 at 4:57 PM  
Blogger Transforming Together said...

Yes, those questions that are open-ended instead of mandating only a 'yes' or 'no' response. We can become 'safe' people for others to take out their thoughts, look at them from different perspectives and then put them back, perhaps in a different way. Jesus offered this 'service' to humans constantly by His willingness to "go there," then allowing the human to 'discover' for themselves. An amazingly effective method we would be wise to duplicate.

January 8, 2011 at 5:33 PM  
Blogger Transforming Together said...

Just want to encourage others to hop on and interact...to "converse!" There's been about 70 of us, so far, who have hopped on to read; now we're inviting you to engage in dialog w/those other 69 readers!!
You are safe here. You may be challenged; but in the spirit of sharpening one another, not to judge nor criticize.
So, please, jot down YOUR thoughts on this very key issue: Communication!
Love to you,
Ele

January 10, 2011 at 4:49 PM  
Anonymous Super Bowl Prayer said...

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January 16, 2011 at 8:09 AM  
Anonymous simon said...

Jesus Christ was an excellent communicator, because He mastered the art of 'LISTENING'

January 18, 2011 at 6:58 AM  
Blogger Transforming Together said...

Exactly, Simon! He 'actively listened' focusing on the INTENT rather than the CONTENT of the speaker. May we, His Followers do likewise!

January 18, 2011 at 7:54 AM  

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