GameDay PT1 - Communication
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, October 11, 2009
www.churchatmirrorlake.com
Sermon Notes:
Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:6
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19
By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:37
Communication—Keys to the Game
- Where’s My Headphones—Great Listening Skills—watch out for interceptions like TV and other distractions
- What’s the Play—Clarity—make the vision plain, write it down, make sure you know what you are saying
- Uneven Playing Fields—I know what I am saying! But does everyone else?
- Where’s the endzone?—What is the goal, the purpose—don’t lose sight of the goal. Do we have the same goals? Watch out for distractions like feelings, scoring points for you while the team loses.
Winning Habits
We may think we need to communicate better and that it is a biggie—but that is not where we start with better communication. The solution to better communication begins with addressing what is inside that is driving our communication. Learning to express hate, wrong priorities, etc more eloquently will not solve our communication problems.
- Words make us “known”. The word we translate as sex means “to be known”. The ability to know each other and be known, those skills, are what make or break our relationships.
- 2 pillars of communication—grace and truth. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 NKJV
- Grace—love, compassion, mercy, tenderness, etc.
- Truth—standards, responsibility, honesty, describing the “gap”—the space between what things are like and what they should be, principles, spiritual laws that are just as true as the physical laws, values.
- If we were communicating in the Heavenly way the two are inseparable. When we separate them we love without judgment which results in abuse, hurt lack of accountability and pain or we judge without love resulting in condemnation, shame, hurt and pain.
- I love you and want to be your friend, spouse, etc AND we both have boundaries, values or standards that are important and will present obstacles that must be addressed in love.
- 3 options:
- Split without expression—not deal with it but become symptomatic—no longer talk, retreat to garage, immerse yourself in other things or people
- Split with expression—most of the time withhold but regular eruptions
- Heaven and hell—“to be known”—knowing each other without hiding, fear, judgment or control is like Heaven. Sometimes you have to go through hell to get there—We are dynamic and there are dynamic principles involved in everything we do. We don’t like the storming but if we learn to handle it with the goal of knowing and being known, then we will see real creativity and life in our relationships and communication.
A Worship Lifestyle Changes Everything—Practice doesn’t make perfect—Perfect Practice makes perfect—Communication is a thing of the heart—
“And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.” Mark 7:20-22
Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” Isaiah 6:5-7
Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” John 6:68
No comments:
Post a Comment