Importance of Listening
For my next three blogs I plan on focusing on something that has really been on my heart lately: listening.I’m discovering that listening to others is critical for effective cell ministry—whether it’s at the level of cell leader, cell pastor, or cell member. In fact, effective listening is critical to all aspects of life and ministry!
The word listen in the Bible occurs 352 times, and the word hear is found 379 times. Jesus said, for example, “Therefore 
consider carefully how you listen” (Luke 8:18). Part of the reason that listening requires “careful listening” is because we talk much slower than we think (some have said we think 5Xs faster than we talk). When someone is talking, the listener’s mind can race around to many other topics, and often does.
Most people don’t listen carefully. I love Steven Covey’s famous quote , “Most people do not listen to understand; they listen in order to answer. While the other is talking, they are preparing their reply” (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) . Yet, Scripture says, “He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame” (Proverbs 18:13). Really listening to others takes hard work.
When listening, at times, I don’t feel like I’m doing much work. I naturally equate speaking or teaching with work. Yet, careful listening often requires more work. Listening to the cell member or cell leader means that you need to direct your attention to the leader’s needs and life, and that’s hard work!
Do you find it difficult to listen?
Bill Joukhadar said,
July 19, 2007 @ 2:08 am
Joel
I’m guilty as charged! … but the good news is: I’m reforming from this weakness in my leadership. I expect to be reforming in this aspect of my leadership for the duration of my life on earth. I guess, we can’t expect to arrive at the desired ‘hearing’ destination over night. Man, it’s worth making the effort. I look forward to your next blogs on this.
Bill
My cells leadership team will ‘hear’ about this in my ‘coaching on the run.’
Jeff Bassette said,
July 19, 2007 @ 8:20 am
How important and true this is. Two days ago I was listening to a troubled teen, who’s mother had asked her to call me. Knowing she’d probably be guarded with me, I worked very hard to listen to her, understand her concerns and perspective, and express care. AFter about 30 minutes of conversation, I was finishing our conversation and she let me pray for her, but before I hung up, she kept me on the line, asked me a question, then asked me for advice, and though I gave her the gentlest bit of advice, she opened up her heart, confessed how far she’d drifted from God, and asked if we could pray again, but this time she wanted to pray and recommit herself to Christ. We did, and as I hung up, I was struck by how healing and liberating it is to have someone really “hear” us. My role was to listen, offering grace and truth, then the Spirit of God moved in gentle power. Joel’s right; listening is a powerful gift we can offer others.