WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:10.230 Following Jesus isn't always easy, but it's not complicated. 00:00:10.410 --> 00:00:13.800 Join us each week as we work to make faith simple. 00:00:14.010 --> 00:00:15.630 This is simple faith. 00:00:19.290 --> 00:00:20.490 Welcome back to Simple Faith. 00:00:20.490 --> 00:00:26.070 I'm Rusty George and we're continuing our deep dive into relational apologetics. 00:00:26.655 --> 00:00:29.895 In this five part mini series, we're exploring how connecting with people 00:00:29.895 --> 00:00:34.605 on a human level can open doors for meaningful conversations about faith. 00:00:35.145 --> 00:00:40.455 This is episode two, and today's focus is on developing the empathetic ear, learning 00:00:40.455 --> 00:00:42.615 to hear the heart behind the question. 00:00:43.635 --> 00:00:48.525 In traditional apologetics, we're taught to logically reason with those 00:00:48.525 --> 00:00:50.415 who may disagree with our beliefs. 00:00:51.525 --> 00:00:57.975 But this approach was used surprisingly not that often by Jesus, even when 00:00:57.975 --> 00:00:59.835 others initiated that with him. 00:01:01.095 --> 00:01:06.255 So while we may read books on how to engage with doubts and objections on 00:01:06.255 --> 00:01:12.884 an intellectual level, what if the real barriers are rooted in deeper 00:01:12.945 --> 00:01:15.620 emotional or personal experiences? 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:22.620 What if we are trying to answer subjective questions with objective answers? 00:01:24.090 --> 00:01:29.520 Today we are exploring how truly listening can reveal something deeper 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:32.130 and potentially far more powerful. 00:01:35.070 --> 00:01:38.250 As we discussed last time, Jesus modeled this beautifully. 00:01:38.700 --> 00:01:40.290 Think again about the woman of the well. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:41.910 He didn't start with a sermon. 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:44.520 He started with a simple human request. 00:01:45.539 --> 00:01:49.350 And in that interaction, he uncovered a wellspring of deeper needs. 00:01:51.899 --> 00:01:53.009 Would you give me a drink? 00:01:58.440 --> 00:01:58.979 Did you hear me? 00:02:00.420 --> 00:02:01.530 That's bad, huh? 00:02:02.490 --> 00:02:04.679 What you a Jew? 00:02:05.610 --> 00:02:09.210 Ask for a drink from me, A Samaritan and a woman. 00:02:11.160 --> 00:02:11.820 I'm sorry. 00:02:13.109 --> 00:02:14.310 I should have said please. 00:02:17.475 --> 00:02:20.325 You know, it's not safe for you to be alone out here nor you. 00:02:21.674 --> 00:02:22.935 Why haven't you come with others? 00:02:23.325 --> 00:02:24.465 Why so late in the day? 00:02:25.394 --> 00:02:28.125 Don't women come to the wells in the, the pool of the morning? 00:02:28.125 --> 00:02:28.365 Yeah. 00:02:28.394 --> 00:02:32.805 Well, none of them will be seeing with me, so I have to come out. 00:02:32.805 --> 00:02:33.959 No, in the heat. 00:02:34.269 --> 00:02:35.760 Have so kindly reminded me. 00:02:37.065 --> 00:02:38.265 Why won't they be seen with you? 00:02:40.545 --> 00:02:41.325 Long story. 00:02:44.215 --> 00:02:47.010 I, I'd still like a drink of water if you can spare it. 00:02:47.880 --> 00:02:49.920 Amazing what a parched throat will do. 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:54.480 Aren't I unclean to you? 00:02:55.740 --> 00:02:57.630 Don't you be defiled by this vessel? 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:03.870 Maybe some of my people say that about your women, but I don't. 00:03:03.900 --> 00:03:04.050 Yeah. 00:03:05.190 --> 00:03:06.120 And what do you say? 00:03:09.090 --> 00:03:10.470 I say if you knew who I am. 00:03:11.204 --> 00:03:15.614 He'd be asking me for a drink, really, and I would give you living water. 00:03:18.607 --> 00:03:23.617 Jesus saw beyond her immediate response, he saw her history, her social isolation, 00:03:23.797 --> 00:03:25.417 her yearning for something more. 00:03:26.017 --> 00:03:30.667 Similarly, the questions people ask us about faith often have layers of 00:03:30.667 --> 00:03:36.697 unspoken emotions and experiences Hearing someone's heart truly listening is not 00:03:36.697 --> 00:03:39.037 only a skill, but it's relatively rare. 00:03:39.547 --> 00:03:42.337 This is because people are less likely to listen to someone else. 00:03:42.667 --> 00:03:45.157 That they think might not be listening to them. 00:03:46.057 --> 00:03:49.777 William Uri is co-founder of Harvard's program on negotiation. 00:03:50.407 --> 00:03:54.427 In the following clip, he shares a story of the time he was negotiating 00:03:54.427 --> 00:03:59.197 between Ugo Chavez, then the leader of Venezuela and the opposition. 00:03:59.437 --> 00:04:00.427 Let's listen in. 00:04:01.027 --> 00:04:02.557 Why is it so important to listen? 00:04:02.737 --> 00:04:03.907 Let me tell you a story. 00:04:04.567 --> 00:04:09.727 Some years ago I was in the country of Venezuela, serving as a third 00:04:09.727 --> 00:04:12.307 party between the government and the political opposition. 00:04:12.817 --> 00:04:16.807 At a time of intense conflict with a lot of people fearing a civil war. 00:04:17.767 --> 00:04:22.987 My colleague, Francisco Diaz and I had an appointment with the President Ugo Chavez 00:04:23.077 --> 00:04:25.147 at 9:00 PM at the Presidential Palace. 00:04:26.347 --> 00:04:29.767 Finally at midnight, we were ushered in to see the president who had his 00:04:29.767 --> 00:04:35.742 entire cabinet raid behind him, and he asked me, so Yuri, what do you 00:04:35.742 --> 00:04:37.387 think of the situation going on here? 00:04:38.407 --> 00:04:39.067 And I said, Mr. 00:04:39.067 --> 00:04:40.987 President, I've been talking to. 00:04:41.482 --> 00:04:45.172 Your minister's here and to the opposition, and I think 00:04:45.442 --> 00:04:46.642 you're making some progress. 00:04:47.602 --> 00:04:48.412 Progress. 00:04:48.532 --> 00:04:50.242 What do you mean progress? 00:04:50.242 --> 00:04:53.272 He shouted, you're blind. 00:04:53.272 --> 00:04:56.092 You're not seeing all the dirty tricks those traitors are up to. 00:04:56.902 --> 00:05:01.702 And he leaned in very close to my face and proceeded to shout, what was I gonna do? 00:05:02.602 --> 00:05:04.942 Part of me felt like defending myself naturally. 00:05:05.362 --> 00:05:07.942 But what good would it do for me to get into an argument with 00:05:07.942 --> 00:05:09.172 the president of Venezuela? 00:05:11.362 --> 00:05:13.042 How would that advance peace? 00:05:13.582 --> 00:05:15.292 So I just listened. 00:05:15.442 --> 00:05:17.002 I gave him my full attention. 00:05:17.362 --> 00:05:21.352 I listened to where he was coming from, and President Chavez was known. 00:05:21.352 --> 00:05:26.902 He was famous for making eight hour speeches, but after 30 minutes 00:05:26.902 --> 00:05:32.062 of me just nodding and listening, I saw his shoulder slowly sag. 00:05:33.082 --> 00:05:38.212 And he said to me in a very weary tone of voice, so Yuri, what should I do? 00:05:39.952 --> 00:05:44.452 That's the sound of a human mind opening, opening to listen. 00:05:45.382 --> 00:05:46.072 So I said, Mr. 00:05:46.072 --> 00:05:48.052 President, it's almost Christmas. 00:05:49.042 --> 00:05:50.332 The country needs a break. 00:05:50.902 --> 00:05:54.292 Last year, all the festivities were canceled because of the conflict. 00:05:54.922 --> 00:06:00.352 Why not propose a truce this time so that people can enjoy the holidays 00:06:00.352 --> 00:06:01.732 with their families and after bat? 00:06:02.257 --> 00:06:04.807 Everybody will maybe be in a better mood to listen. 00:06:05.677 --> 00:06:06.967 He said, that's a great idea. 00:06:07.237 --> 00:06:09.007 I'm gonna announce that in my next speech. 00:06:10.117 --> 00:06:15.187 His mood had completely shifted how through the simple power of 00:06:15.187 --> 00:06:20.077 listening, because I listened to him, he was more ready to listen to me. 00:06:22.213 --> 00:06:26.178 Y and his partner were ushered into the meeting three hours late, 00:06:26.448 --> 00:06:29.958 and then berated for 30 minutes after an innocuous question. 00:06:30.483 --> 00:06:34.173 But because Yuri was listening, he didn't spend that time arguing, getting 00:06:34.173 --> 00:06:35.793 defensive, or even checking out. 00:06:36.153 --> 00:06:40.323 He was listening for Hugo Chavez's heart, and when he heard it open the 00:06:40.323 --> 00:06:45.003 door just a little bit, then William was able to speak directly to Chavez. 00:06:46.873 --> 00:06:51.313 Listening is such an effective bridge because everyone wants to be heard. 00:06:51.868 --> 00:06:54.988 But so few people are actually good at listening. 00:06:55.378 --> 00:06:56.038 Exactly. 00:06:56.098 --> 00:06:58.798 And like with the woman at the well, someone might challenge the 00:06:58.798 --> 00:07:02.518 existence of a loving God in the face of suffering or in light of science. 00:07:02.968 --> 00:07:06.088 But behind that intellectual objection could be the raw pain 00:07:06.088 --> 00:07:10.048 of personal loss, or even just the overwhelming busyness of leading an 00:07:10.048 --> 00:07:12.298 individualistic or isolated life. 00:07:13.003 --> 00:07:17.353 Simon Sinek, the author of Start With Why talks about the very same 00:07:17.353 --> 00:07:21.073 type of listening that William Uy practiced in negotiations. 00:07:21.463 --> 00:07:23.473 He calls it emptying the Bucket. 00:07:24.771 --> 00:07:29.121 So even if we find what they're saying, just reprehensible, right, you're 00:07:29.121 --> 00:07:33.261 never gonna be able to actually have dialogue until at least one of the 00:07:33.261 --> 00:07:38.661 parties gets the opportunity to say everything without judgment and, and 00:07:38.661 --> 00:07:39.621 as she calls it, emptying the bucket. 00:07:39.621 --> 00:07:42.171 And once person, somebody feels like they've completely said everything. 00:07:42.771 --> 00:07:44.301 Then they're more apt to listen to you. 00:07:44.811 --> 00:07:49.101 But usually what we do is we defend or we litigate or we interrupt. 00:07:49.371 --> 00:07:52.041 We point out flaws in logic, which is just frustrating. 00:07:52.101 --> 00:07:54.531 And when you point out some flaws in somebody's logic, 'cause we're all 00:07:54.531 --> 00:07:58.251 imperfect when we speak, and we all choose the wrong words at various times. 00:07:58.401 --> 00:07:59.511 And that's not what I meant. 00:07:59.511 --> 00:08:00.261 You know what I meant? 00:08:00.261 --> 00:08:01.041 This is what we have to say. 00:08:01.041 --> 00:08:02.601 Well what if you know what you meant, then why don't you say what 00:08:02.601 --> 00:08:06.321 you, you can see how this spirals, but it's things like when somebody 00:08:06.321 --> 00:08:09.021 says something, you know, and there there's really easy ways to do it. 00:08:09.021 --> 00:08:11.841 Things like, go on, tell me more. 00:08:12.666 --> 00:08:13.326 What else? 00:08:13.926 --> 00:08:16.266 And they keep talking and you go quiet. 00:08:16.386 --> 00:08:18.396 They feel the space and tell me more. 00:08:19.836 --> 00:08:20.286 Go on. 00:08:21.276 --> 00:08:23.166 And eventually it's all out. 00:08:23.946 --> 00:08:28.026 And then there's a safe space for you to respond or to and express 00:08:28.026 --> 00:08:29.016 yourself in a constructive way. 00:08:29.886 --> 00:08:36.096 There is value in letting someone get it off their chest not to vent and not 00:08:36.546 --> 00:08:40.266 in a more malicious way, like to give them enough rope to trip themselves up. 00:08:41.166 --> 00:08:46.686 But to empty their bucket so that they are ready to listen. 00:08:46.986 --> 00:08:49.956 This was exactly what happened with Yuri when he was being 00:08:49.956 --> 00:08:51.606 yelled at by Hugo Chavez. 00:08:52.506 --> 00:08:56.676 But if someone isn't actively emptying their bucket, what should you do? 00:08:57.972 --> 00:09:01.122 It starts with the power of asking good questions, questions that 00:09:01.122 --> 00:09:05.172 invite someone to share their own perspective and the why behind it. 00:09:06.297 --> 00:09:09.837 Mike Sherrard and his work on relational apologetics emphasizes that 00:09:09.837 --> 00:09:13.407 the goal isn't to win an argument, but to understand the person. 00:09:13.917 --> 00:09:17.307 He says the best questions are those that prompt the other person 00:09:17.307 --> 00:09:18.927 to explain their own position. 00:09:19.527 --> 00:09:23.817 Instead of jumping in with our pre-prepared answers, we need to become 00:09:23.817 --> 00:09:28.287 curious Listeners, imagine someone says all religions are basically the same. 00:09:28.827 --> 00:09:31.527 Our instinct might be to list the core differences. 00:09:32.157 --> 00:09:35.427 But a more relational approach would be to ask what makes you say that? 00:09:35.907 --> 00:09:38.937 Or what aspects of different religion seem similar to you? 00:09:40.153 --> 00:09:48.733 So by asking open-ended questions, we can create space for them to share their 00:09:48.733 --> 00:09:51.283 voice, to articulate their understanding. 00:09:52.123 --> 00:09:58.003 Even if it doesn't align with textbook definitions, their view might be shaped by 00:09:58.003 --> 00:10:00.283 cultural influences, personal encounters. 00:10:00.778 --> 00:10:02.788 Or even misinterpretations. 00:10:03.862 --> 00:10:07.642 I think this highlights the crucial role of listening with empathy. 00:10:08.332 --> 00:10:13.552 It's not just about hearing the words, but also paying attention to the tone, 00:10:14.302 --> 00:10:17.092 the pauses, and the nonverbal cues. 00:10:18.637 --> 00:10:22.972 Mike Sherrard wisely points out that when we truly listen, we can 00:10:22.972 --> 00:10:24.892 often sense underlying emotions. 00:10:25.357 --> 00:10:28.267 Is there frustration in their voice, sadness in their eyes, 00:10:28.657 --> 00:10:30.007 bitterness in their tone? 00:10:30.367 --> 00:10:32.047 What is their body language saying? 00:10:32.587 --> 00:10:35.497 And these are clues to the deeper issues at play. 00:10:35.947 --> 00:10:38.287 And speaking of body language, it's important to pause 00:10:38.287 --> 00:10:39.247 and take note of your own. 00:10:39.697 --> 00:10:40.987 Is your heart rate going up? 00:10:41.257 --> 00:10:43.717 Are you feeling attacked or defensive? 00:10:43.717 --> 00:10:48.757 If you do notice that you're starting to exhibit symptoms of defensiveness 00:10:48.757 --> 00:10:51.697 or frustration, extend that pause. 00:10:52.877 --> 00:10:55.367 Try adopting a posture of listening. 00:10:56.417 --> 00:11:00.767 It might even be wise to, as Lee Strobel puts it, try to 00:11:00.767 --> 00:11:03.017 make a personal connection. 00:11:03.887 --> 00:11:08.627 When someone feels genuinely heard and understood, it will build 00:11:08.627 --> 00:11:10.967 rapport and it lowers defenses. 00:11:11.897 --> 00:11:17.147 They're much more likely to engage with what we have to say when they 00:11:17.147 --> 00:11:19.157 feel like we've really heard them. 00:11:20.538 --> 00:11:24.918 Empathy requires us to try and see the world through their eyes, even 00:11:24.918 --> 00:11:26.478 if we don't share their beliefs. 00:11:26.868 --> 00:11:31.458 People don't need you to believe what they believe, but they do need you to 00:11:31.458 --> 00:11:33.768 see why they came to that conclusion. 00:11:34.248 --> 00:11:37.728 It's about acknowledging their feelings and experiences as valid, 00:11:38.058 --> 00:11:39.503 even if we interpret them differently. 00:11:40.345 --> 00:11:44.065 All of this makes it sound like relational apologetics is simple. 00:11:45.565 --> 00:11:49.645 All you need to do is to invite someone into community and listen to them 00:11:49.705 --> 00:11:51.835 until they run out of things to say. 00:11:51.850 --> 00:11:54.010 And then share the gospel. 00:11:54.790 --> 00:11:57.070 And in some ways that's, that is true. 00:11:58.030 --> 00:12:02.470 That's what makes relational apologetics and the Celtic way of evangelizing feel 00:12:02.470 --> 00:12:04.390 less like it's going against the grain. 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:08.380 But what do you do if you can't hear someone's heart? 00:12:09.010 --> 00:12:11.650 All you can hear is just the regular stuff. 00:12:12.197 --> 00:12:16.307 So how do we move beyond those surface questions when it isn't coming naturally, 00:12:16.877 --> 00:12:18.617 when you can't hear their heart? 00:12:19.247 --> 00:12:20.357 Listen for the Holy Spirit. 00:12:20.357 --> 00:12:24.227 Instead, here, T Wright shares about the role of the Holy Spirit 00:12:24.227 --> 00:12:26.717 in uniting us into holy community. 00:12:27.317 --> 00:12:32.867 Wherever they go, the spirit goes with them, which is why, in fact, most of the 00:12:32.867 --> 00:12:39.257 controversies and difficulties in acts arise in relation to temples in Athens, in 00:12:39.257 --> 00:12:42.557 Ephesus, and finally in Jerusalem itself. 00:12:43.232 --> 00:12:47.432 The point seems to be that the community of Jesus followers is a 00:12:47.432 --> 00:12:52.592 kind of movable temple movement with God's spirit going with them, leading 00:12:52.592 --> 00:12:57.362 them active in their midst and through their witness wherever they go. 00:12:58.937 --> 00:13:03.017 The New Testament seems to indicate that we should expect the spirit to 00:13:03.017 --> 00:13:08.357 be constantly at work, continually challenging believers to new tasks, 00:13:08.537 --> 00:13:14.237 to fresh holiness, to deeper and more searching prayer to a boldness 00:13:14.237 --> 00:13:19.517 of witness and a patient resolve in building up Christian community. 00:13:20.493 --> 00:13:24.753 It sounds like that what T Wright is suggesting here is that the role 00:13:24.753 --> 00:13:26.763 of the Holy Spirit is to unit us. 00:13:27.213 --> 00:13:31.833 In holy community bound together with Christ and with each other 00:13:31.833 --> 00:13:33.723 like it says in Ephesians one 10. 00:13:34.773 --> 00:13:39.063 And if it is the Holy Spirit that calls unbelievers to Jesus, then 00:13:39.063 --> 00:13:42.813 the Holy Spirit truly is our great helper when it comes to both living 00:13:42.813 --> 00:13:45.693 in community and in evangelism. 00:13:47.045 --> 00:13:51.935 A community that is capable of listening, a family or a group of friends that all 00:13:51.935 --> 00:13:56.015 practice hearing hearts of each other, and even those who don't yet believe in God. 00:13:56.825 --> 00:13:58.805 Boy, that's a pretty unstoppable community. 00:13:59.435 --> 00:14:01.085 We know that God is there. 00:14:01.115 --> 00:14:04.985 Wherever two or three are gathered, we know that we are more likely to 00:14:04.985 --> 00:14:08.555 hear the Holy Spirit through the Bible and through spirit-filled believers. 00:14:08.885 --> 00:14:12.635 Now, imagine putting all of those things together, how powerful 00:14:12.635 --> 00:14:14.105 and effective would that be? 00:14:15.185 --> 00:14:18.245 Imagine having a community of believers who listen to you, who 00:14:18.245 --> 00:14:21.785 hear your heart, even when it might not have much good to say. 00:14:22.235 --> 00:14:26.405 Now, imagine introducing a lost friend or son or daughter you care about 00:14:26.705 --> 00:14:30.395 to that community of spirit-filled listeners, even when you don't know 00:14:30.395 --> 00:14:34.325 what's going on in the heart of this person you love despite trying to hear it. 00:14:34.625 --> 00:14:39.275 Imagine instead, when two or three of you are listening both to this person's 00:14:39.275 --> 00:14:43.685 heart and to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that's life changing stuff. 00:14:44.434 --> 00:14:46.804 Okay, so pause. 00:14:47.044 --> 00:14:49.444 Let's revisit the potential concern. 00:14:50.044 --> 00:14:56.734 Does focusing on empathy mean we neglect the intellectual substance of our faith? 00:14:56.854 --> 00:15:01.744 Like does it mean we just give up the truth and the reason behind it? 00:15:02.509 --> 00:15:03.619 Absolutely not. 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:08.329 I recall preaching a message on relational evangelism one time only to get negative 00:15:08.329 --> 00:15:12.589 emails from people because I didn't talk about all of the logic I needed to share. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:18.199 But relational apologetics recognizes that hearing the heart and understanding 00:15:18.199 --> 00:15:22.909 the emotional context actually increases our ability to engage intellectually. 00:15:23.479 --> 00:15:27.409 It helps us tailor our responses to them and the specific needs and 00:15:27.409 --> 00:15:29.299 barriers of the person we're talking to. 00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:32.949 It also enables us to know when they're ready to hear. 00:15:33.429 --> 00:15:37.659 Just as when Peter told Jesus at the last Supper that he was ready to die for Jesus. 00:15:38.199 --> 00:15:43.869 Jesus hurt his heart and knew that Peter actually was ready to die for him, but 00:15:43.869 --> 00:15:47.919 he wasn't ready to live for him because Peter wasn't ready to hear that yet. 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:51.729 Jesus had to wait until after Peter had denied him three times 00:15:51.729 --> 00:15:53.469 to ask Peter if he loved him. 00:15:54.154 --> 00:15:56.854 Even then, he had to ask him three times until Peter was ready 00:15:56.854 --> 00:16:00.844 to truly hear Jesus' profound offering of forgiveness and purpose. 00:16:00.934 --> 00:16:04.354 When he asked Peter to feed his sheep, that's when Peter finally 00:16:04.354 --> 00:16:08.104 heard that gospel, even after seeing his resurrected Lord. 00:16:09.124 --> 00:16:14.974 So knowing the heart of the issue allows us to be more relevant and compassionate 00:16:15.514 --> 00:16:17.194 in our intellectual engagement. 00:16:18.364 --> 00:16:22.954 If someone is wrestling with the problem of evil because of a personal tragedy. 00:16:23.464 --> 00:16:28.594 We might wanna start by acknowledging their pain, sharing how Christian 00:16:28.594 --> 00:16:32.764 faith grapples with suffering, rather than immediately just launching into 00:16:32.764 --> 00:16:34.684 abstract, philosophical arguments. 00:16:35.404 --> 00:16:38.794 The goal isn't just to win a debate or present a flawless, 00:16:38.794 --> 00:16:40.534 logical argument in a vacuum. 00:16:41.224 --> 00:16:43.864 I mean, it's really not about to make a point. 00:16:44.314 --> 00:16:45.574 It's about to make a difference. 00:16:46.684 --> 00:16:48.039 It's to connect with the whole person. 00:16:48.859 --> 00:16:52.459 Their intellect and their emotions in a way that allows them to genuinely 00:16:52.459 --> 00:16:53.899 consider the claims of Christ. 00:16:54.409 --> 00:16:57.859 This is how we as a community can create soil that is more fertile. 00:16:58.549 --> 00:17:00.919 This is like the parable of the sower, but with a twist. 00:17:01.489 --> 00:17:05.749 We know that it is the Holy Spirit that germinates the seed and reveals the truth 00:17:05.749 --> 00:17:09.589 of Christ redemptive work, and we know that it is an act of faith that allows 00:17:09.589 --> 00:17:11.419 someone to grow in the light of God. 00:17:12.034 --> 00:17:15.364 But we are the harvesters Together as a community, we can 00:17:15.364 --> 00:17:17.044 clear the rocks from the soil. 00:17:17.254 --> 00:17:20.974 We can create an environment where the listeners are able to hear that truth. 00:17:21.634 --> 00:17:23.614 This is often what parenting is. 00:17:24.184 --> 00:17:27.124 It's presenting truth and knowledge, as well as preparing 00:17:27.124 --> 00:17:28.684 our children to be able to hear. 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:35.039 So this aligns perfectly with Greg Coco's concept of pre evangelism. 00:17:35.789 --> 00:17:40.259 Before we can effectively share the gospel, we need to prepare the ground 00:17:41.489 --> 00:17:42.989 and a vital part of that preparation. 00:17:42.989 --> 00:17:43.019 I. 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:47.699 Is by understanding the individual right in front of us. 00:17:48.749 --> 00:17:53.189 It's about removing the stones from the field and identifying the stones 00:17:53.189 --> 00:17:56.729 in their shoes, the obstacles, the hurts, the misunderstandings that 00:17:56.729 --> 00:17:59.879 are preventing them from seeing the relevance of the Christian message. 00:18:00.389 --> 00:18:06.389 By truly listing with empathy, we can begin to remove those stones when we 00:18:06.389 --> 00:18:11.279 understand what it's like to walk in their shoes, their experiences, their doubts. 00:18:11.954 --> 00:18:17.684 We can then communicate the gospel in a way that speaks directly to their 00:18:17.714 --> 00:18:24.734 specific context and their personal concerns, showing them how it addresses 00:18:25.124 --> 00:18:27.554 the deepest longings of the human heart. 00:18:28.634 --> 00:18:32.399 The empathetic ear is not just a tool, it's an expression of Christian 00:18:32.399 --> 00:18:34.574 Love and Christ-like humility. 00:18:34.964 --> 00:18:39.224 It's about seeing the image of God in every person and valuing their story 00:18:39.494 --> 00:18:41.474 even when it differs from our own. 00:18:42.224 --> 00:18:47.504 Let's consider together think about a time when you felt really 00:18:47.504 --> 00:18:52.514 understood by someone truly and deeply understood, especially when 00:18:52.514 --> 00:18:54.044 you were sharing something vulnerable. 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:57.059 How did that experience impact you? 00:18:57.689 --> 00:19:01.859 In our conversations about faith, how can we be more intentional about 00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:06.569 creating that same sense of being heard and understood for the other person? 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:11.669 What are some practical ways we can show empathy even when we don't 00:19:11.849 --> 00:19:15.599 fully understand or agree with someone's perspective on faith? 00:19:16.109 --> 00:19:19.229 Take some time this week to practice active and empathetic listening. 00:19:19.889 --> 00:19:23.609 Pay attention not just to the words, but to the heart behind them. 00:19:24.464 --> 00:19:29.834 And as we look ahead to our next episode, let's consider this, how do 00:19:29.834 --> 00:19:34.994 we maintain empathy and understanding when someone's worldview or experiences 00:19:35.504 --> 00:19:37.184 seem completely opposed to our own? 00:19:38.204 --> 00:19:43.649 How do we find common ground when it feels like there's a huge gulf between us? 00:19:44.349 --> 00:19:48.254 That's a critical question, and it's what we'll be tackling in episode three. 00:19:48.989 --> 00:19:52.709 Join us next time on Simple Faith as we explore the art of finding common 00:19:52.709 --> 00:19:55.409 ground in relational apologetics. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:00.689 Thanks for being with us on Simple Faith. 00:20:00.689 --> 00:20:03.899 Connect with us@pastorrustygeorge.com 00:20:03.899 --> 00:20:05.039 for more resources. 00:20:05.069 --> 00:20:07.259 Until next time, let's keep it simple.