listening

Being a good listener is a critical part of being a great leader.  People can tell when you are not really listening.  Your body language or that distant look in your eyes shows people you are not really listening to them.  They pick up on the vibe that you are simply waiting for them to stop talking, so you can talk.

In the same way that creating and delivering sermons is an A.R.T., listening to them is an A.R.T. to be cultivated as well.

“You can't just move to the intimate act of reconciliation in the midst of a severe fight," says Dennae Pierre. "We have to have ways to help remind each other to be still. ‘Be still and know that I am God.’"

The father of the field of listening, Ralph Nichols, captures the essence of listening in these words. The most basic of all human needs is the need to be understand and be understood.

Consumerism, computer screen syndrome, and the competing distractions at home make listening to sermons online a challenging endeavor. What should we do to be better listeners of the preached word of God and to be spiritually nourished despite being online?

One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen leaders make is forgetting everyone doesn’t think like the leader. If I want to know how to lead well, I need to hear from different people.

How can believers—particularly those of us who are white—move toward racial healing in the aftermath of Ahmaud Arbery's killing? Pastor Glenn Packiam shared his perspective on this question in an interview with ChurchLeaders.

So why did Jesus “waste time” asking her questions instead of just getting to the point? Because it wasn’t a waste of time. Listening is important in and of itself in evangelism and discipleship.