Hearing is . Listening is .
“Most people do not dialogue, they perform a monologue in the presence of another person.”–Adam S. McHugh, The Listening Life
Mark 10:47-49 NIV
When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”
How to Listen Like Jesus—
1. — Slow it Down
Jesus was in a .
“Hurry and love are incompatible. All of my worst moments as a father, husband, and pastor are when I’m in a hurry.” –John Mark Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
James 1:19-20 NIV
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Proverbs 18:13 NIV
To answer before listening is foolish and a shame.
“When you demonstrate a willingness to listen with a minimum of defensiveness, criticism, or impatience, you are giving the gift of understanding—and earning the right to have it reciprocated.” –Michael P. Nichols, The Lost Art of Listening
Psalm 131:2 NIV
But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.
Mark 10:50-51 NIV
Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
2. — Create a Place of Presence
John 4:4-7 NIV
Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”
“Listening for understanding and judging what we hear cannot coexist.” –Adam S. McHugh, The Listening Life
1 Kings 3:6, 9 LEB
The Lord appeared to Solomon at Gibeon in a dream at night, and God said, “Ask what I should give to you.” 6 Then Solomon said, “… Give to your servant a listening heart to judge your people, to discern between good and bad.”
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.” –John Watson, The British Weekly 1897
Proverbs 20:5 NIV
The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.
“Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something.” –H. Jackson Brown, Jr., Life’s Little Instruction Book
3. — Enter Their World
Romans 12:15 NIV
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
John 11:35 NIV
Jesus wept.
“Each falling tear carries pain, and it’s the only way to get it out.” –Adam S. McHugh, The Listening Life
Romans 8:22-23 NIV
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
1 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Matthew 8:2-3 NIV
A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.
When we kneel, heals.
“Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking when they should be listening.” –Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
Answer Key: easy, rare; stop; hurrying; never, hurry; reacting, defending; dialogue; fix; us; over; heart; attentiveness; discover; kneel down; feel; wait; heal, Jesus