 Disciple Making Tips
By Geoffrey Harris Would you just listen?! How many times have you heard your partner, a friend, or your mother ask that question? Being a good listener is a powerful way to impact others and start well in a disciple making relationship. Very few people are good listeners but when you meet one who is, you remember them. They make you feel important and your feelings and thought’s valued. Being a good listener is critical to a respectful dialogue which is the goal of powerful Disciple Making. If you would like to improve your listening skills, here is an exercise I dare you to try. Find a partner or friend who is available for a conversation. Then introduce the topic of listening this way... I’m working on improving my listening skills. Would you help me by doing a little exercise together? Then give this instruction. *Imagine you are in a room with four corner’s: Mad, Sad, Glad and Afraid. Pick a corner then walk over to it mentally and talk to me for at least 30 seconds. Which corner did you pick? Talk to me... If they have difficulty getting started you can help by suggesting one or more of the following statements... *Tell me what you are feeling. Tell me what you are thinking. Tell me what you are doing. Tell me what you are thinking of doing. Listen, take mental notes as they talk and ask follow up questions like “ Tell me more about...” or “Is there anything else?' Summarize what you heard and tell them what you understand they said. Ask them if your summation is accurate. Identify with their emotion if possible. If not, let them know you care about their feelings. Thank them for helping you improve your listening skills. The primary reason's for this conversation is for you to practice asking good question’s and to listen well. One additional reason is that this exercise will model for them how to be a good listener. You will find this conversation powerful because it is all about the other person. That's why it will be unusual and memorable to them. God has called every Christian to make Disciple’s who make Disciple’s of Jesus. A primary skill of disciple making is caring about the other person's well being by listening well. For those brave enough to take this challenge, I would love to hear about your experience. To summarize, great Disciple Maker's are great listeners. *Exercise From: Larkin, Nate. “Beyond Accountability.” Discipleship.org, September 2017. iBooks. |
Geoffrey HarrisHe is an International Coach to Pastor's and Christian Leaders. He enjoy's coaching relationships across eleven time zones and in twenty three countries. His passion is to help change the world for good, one person at a time through personal and digital discipleship. Archives
December 2020
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