Class 2 (Feb 11): Listen First!

What is the difference in being interesting vs being interested? Consider that salt in the right amount, it does not draw attention to itself but enhances the flavor of the substance it comes into contact with. So, if my speech is to be always gracious, seasoned with salt (Col 4:5-6), then I ought to start by truly listening to the deeper story. We discussed the case study of Shonda (see class outline) and then spend time unraveling the Transformation Model, from "Hidden Worldviews."

Often, we move in the wrong direction, focusing on external moral/actions and then try and go deep in the conversation. Such an approach will only increase a person's level of self-defensiveness. The key is to move from the inside-out, starting with the story. 

• Click here to download the two-page class outline (with discussion case study).
• Click here for the audio recording of the class.

Please post your questions, comments, and suggestions as we progress through this journey together on engaging today's cultural narratives. You can also reach us at:

• John Sittema, johns@uptownchurch.org
• Joseph Tan, joseph@uptownchurch.org

Lesson summary:

1. Referring to the case study, the teacher involved was too eager to dispense neat Systematic Theology "nuggets" without getting into the grief, pain, confusion, and emotions of 9 year old Shonda. Imagine what that did to Shonda's sense of identity subsequently and how she perceive God? Consider Jesus' encounter with the women at the well, He began with her story and she was transformed from the inside out. 
2. Imperative #1: The Challenge of Time. Do our schedules allow us time to be patient to really listen to where the other person is coming from? There are many living in quiet desperation who would love for someone to hear their stories.
3. Imperative #2: The Brokenness of Sin. Even the story itself is broken; we cannot deal with the narrative leading to behavior without dealing with the pervasive presence of sin. We need a robust view of sin that goes beyond just mistakes and bad decisions. Life is not as scripted and reductionistic as what Robert Sapolsky might have us to believe in his article, "Why Free Will Doesn't Exist."

Resources recommended:

"Hidden Worldviews: Eight Cultural Stories That Shape Our Lives" by Steve Wilkens and Mark L. Sanford. Consider purchasing a copy (but it is not required).