The Importance of Listening in Evangelism

Daily Devotions

David Maxson
05/04/15 - Daily Devotions

Reading for May 4th: 1 Chronicles 9-11
Weekly reading for May 3-9: Acts 16-19

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you."
Acts 17:22-23

Listening is a difficult thing to do. It is something most of us do not do very well. It does not come naturally. It must be learned.

We undervalue the importance of listening when it comes to evangelism. We're eager to go into our sales pitch, and sometimes we forget to figure out where our audience is coming from.

Paul did his homework. He understood his audience in Athens. He knew about their gods. He knew their poets and philosophers (even quoting a couple of them in this sermon). He was able to take the same message he preached in Jewish synagogues and preach it in the center of pagan worship.

How many of us could do that? We'll never be able to do it without listening to our audience.

I read someone who said that if he were only given one hour to evangelize someone he would spend 50 minutes listening and then spend the remainder of that time giving them what they really need to hear. I have a long way to go to listen that well, but I think that once I've figured that out I'll be much more effective in my evangelizing.

Father, give us ears to hear!