Angola United Methodist Church

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A Key to Life & Learning

What if I told you there is a key to…
- …greatly enhance the quality of your relationships.
- …multiply your capacity to learn.
- …decrease your tendency to “put your foot in your mouth.”
- …making good decisions.
- …help keep you from losing your cool so often.
- …pleasing the Lord.

I think you would say, “Where do I sign up?” This key is freely available to us all. It is the key of being quick to listen. In James 1:19- the brother of our Lord Jesus, James, writes…

…take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry… NIV

Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear… MSG

You might say to me, “Pastor Tim, I think you overstating the value of listening!” Let me make my case for listening.

In one’s relationships one often is told, “You just aren’t listening to me!” or “I am not being heard.” When we take time to really listen to the other person that will be noticed and appreciated. Hearing someone out is a rare gift for that person. It will enhance your relationships if you cultivate the ability to listen.

Listening also allows us to learn. When we are talking all the time, we are sharing what we know (or think we know) rather than learning something new. So, take some time to listen. Really everyone we meet can teach us something. It may be how not to do things or face life.

I think listening is also a guard against us being too quick to speak and too quick to get angry. There are times to speak. There are times to be angry but most of us fall into the traps of “putting our foot into our mouths” or “flying off the handle.”

I remember a sermon that Pastor Tracey preached years ago in which she said…

“God gives us two ears and one mouth for a reason!”

We would do well to remember that truth!

I have found that when I am practicing the art of listening I have less of a tendency to “put my foot in my mouth” and say things that I later regret.

Really listening to others can help us make good decisions as well. We need to hear from others and get their perspectives. They will often share things we haven’t even thought of regarding decisions we are making.

When we take time to listen, I think it pleases the Lord as well. When we listen to the Lord and others it is a sign we love them and value them.

Here are some hints about listening well…
1. Ask questions and wait at least 40 seconds for a response. (That may seem like an uncomfortable amount of silence, but it is amazing what you can learn when you wait for a response.)
2. Concentrate on what the speaker is saying, rather than thinking about what you are going to say next. Listen to understand, not to speak!!!
3. Listen to those who have been where you are at in terms of life. They may have some real wisdom that will help you avoid some pitfalls.
4. Listen to those who have a proven track record of making good, God-honoring, and people-blessing decisions.

May the Lord give us grace to really listen to Himself and others! It will be a blessing to God, the Kingdom, others, and even ourselves!

Here is today's worship link

7 28 Divine Appointment Angola United Methodist Church, July 28, 2024, Divine Appointments with Pastor Tim Terrell and Pastor Caleb Austin. Special with Aimee Simon and Jeri Mow

Here is todayworship service link

07 21 Directed Angola United Methodist Church, July 21, 2024 with Pastor Tim Terrell and Pastor Caleb Austin.

Enjoy today's worship service:

7 14 Investing in Others Angola United Methodist Church worship service July 14, 2024 with Pastor Tim Terrell and Pastor Caleb Austin. Faithful: In Season and Out of Season: Investi...