Rule #3: Really Listen

There is a hunger for deep and meaningful conversations today. If you ask good questions, you'd be amazed how many people open up. But asking questions is only half the battle.

Our conversations outside the church cannot be a means to an end or an item to check off a "to-do" list.

We have to really care, and the best way to show that we do is by listening.

This is especially true when it comes to discussing controversial topics.

So let me ask you, are you a good listener? Just in case, let me ask again, are you a good listener?

When someone is talking, do you eagerly wait for them to stop, so you can talk again? I do this more than I'd like to admit.

Not many of us have "be a good listener" at the top of our "to do" lists, but we all should.

A good listener is powerful. Not only do they affirm the person they are speaking to, but they are also more persuasive. After all, if you don't know what someone is thinking, how can you change their mind?

Followers of Jesus have no hope of engaging difficult subjects with people outside the church unless we become much better listeners!

Listening takes patience, authentic curiosity, and a genuine desire to learn. We need to have the humility to recognize that we don't know everything. After all, if you think you have all the answers, why listen, right?

As the saying goes, you have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you talk.

This simple act alone would greatly improve our ability to discuss anything with anyone regardless of how different the person or difficult the subject.

So the question is, are you listening?