What difference would it make in this world if we truly opened our ears to listen to others? What would Jesus want to speak to us and through us?
Those questions sparked the idea behind “Ears to Speak,” a new podcast Stonecroft will launch Sept. 8. As Christians, we need to grow in our ability to listen to God and others so we can lead people to experience Jesus Christ. Yet we know many of us struggle to listen in a natural way that builds trust with others.
When someone listens to you, you feel cared for and valued. Isn’t this what Jesus did with every person He interacted with? Isn’t this the message we want to share with others? The message that God loves them, longs to listen to them, and wants to speak truth into their lives.
In “Ears to Speak,” we explore the barriers that hold us back from listening well to others and to God. We believe that Jesus’ words give us power to share Him with others – and His words have the power to transform lives. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear,” Jesus often said during his earthly ministry.
As Christ-followers today, we want to quiet ourselves enough to hear from Jesus when we need to speak a timely word, a challenge, or encouragement into someone’s life. We want to be present to people and listen so that they will know how much Jesus loves them and hears their frustrations, joys, hopes, and longings.
Join me and Stonecroft’s Outreach Coordinator Maddison Berciunas as we host “Ears to Speak.” Our first few episodes will cover the unexpected benefits of sharing Jesus (spoiler alert: it’s joy!), ask questions about why sharing Jesus is so scary, and explore how to become better conversationalists about spiritual things. Listen while you’re folding laundry, commuting to work, or walking on the treadmill. Or tune in any place you’d like the company of two women – Maddison and me – who want to see Jesus’ love unleashed in your life.
Join us as we discover how to do this together; we don’t have it all figured out. We are learners in how to communicate better with God and with others. We pray that “Ears to Speak” will encourage you, challenge you, and cause you to reflect on how to share Jesus with power and love.
Email us at [email protected] to tell us about topics you’d like covered in the podcast, things you struggle with in sharing your faith, or times Jesus empowered you to boldly speak about Him. We look forward to your joining us as we examine how to listen to Jesus and to others – and how to share His love.
To learn more, visit us at our “Ears to Speak” Facebook page or at stonecroft.org/earstospeak/.
Jessica Leep Fick
Evangelism Resources Director