Listening to Others

“Most people never listen.” Hemingway

Found this excellent post from LEADERSHIP FREAK, "The Power of Second Questions". The following are snippets I gleaned from his post. At the end of this post, you'll find a link to the original article. Here are a few brief observations he makes:

1. Questions are gifts. Asking, followed by listening, says others matter; telling says you matter.
2. Eager to talk is reluctant to ask.
3. Don't let the lack of CURIOSITY keep you from discovery.
4. Pretend you don't have the answer so you can find another answer through questions.
5. Learn how to ask powerful questions.
6. If you want to change results, change questions.
7. First questions can be powerful, BUT second questions help you explore what really matters.
8. Exceptional leaders ask second questions.
9. If you are being ASKED the question, always clarify the question (invites the questioner to clarify himself/herself)
10. Answer questions with questions, before giving answers (Jesus was really good at this).
11. Some questions are better than others.

The best practice you can make as a church planter, disciple, and missionary is to discover curiosity through asking questions. Ask questions to discover a place, a context, a people and the rhythms. Ask questions to people and learn their story. But don't just ask the first question, learn to ask the SECOND question.

Read more here: http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/the-power-of-second-questions/

 

Posted with Blogsy

Urban Church Planting

I'm grateful here in Portland to have some good ministry friends who have a love for God, for urban people and the urban context.  Here is a recent post from one of those friends over at PDX Loft and his take on planting gospel seeds in the urban context:

Planting in the Heart of the City

What would you add?  What rhythms, postures and distinctives would you add as you have walked with God in the Urban Garden?

Tim Keller in Center Church recommends developing a Theological Vision.  A TV is arrived at after LISTENING to both God and the urban context/people, reflecting on what both are saying and then creating a path of doing/ministering.  It is difficult work LISTENING to God.  Our nature is usually more telling God what we are going to do for Him.  It is difficult work LISTENING to our unique urban context.  It is easier to "copy and paste" what others are doing in there context.  It is easy to be lazy!

If you are a church planter, you can begin this journey from "scratch."  Develop the daily disciplines and rhythms to be still and know HE is God so the nations will come to know HIM.  And, simultaneously, move into the neighborhood with a posture to LISTEN, LEARN and DISCOVER the urban garden you will root your family and community into for the sake of the Kingdom.  Then from this posture of LISTENING to both GOD and the COMMUNITY allow Kingdom vision to begin to take shape.  Step out and obey the Spirit, allow Him to be your counselor.  Step into the neighborhood.  Step in the Spirit and with the Spirit to develop the practices (DNA) to extend the blessings of the Kingdom and the good news of Jesus into the lives of these people Jesus misses the most.

If you are a current pastor, you can't reset everything.  But you can push PAUSE on a few ministries and seek again to realign to the sound advice of God into the culture/community/neighborhood which God has placed you and this called out people.  Take time to walk/bike and move about the streets of this community, discovering again the hopes, the dreams, the hurts, the hopes and how the gospel might become good news to these places/people.  From here, begin to introduce, in small doses, the DNA of this new Kingdom vision into the culture of this called out people.  Rediscover a new system story for living into HIS story in this unique urban garden.

Listening.  Reflecting.  Doing.  This is the journey of creating helpful urban postures as we seek to be a missionary people!