In Luke 18, Jesus asks a man who was blind, “What do you want me to do for you?”

He doesn’t assume.

He asks.

He lets the man speak in his own voice. He honors his autonomy.

Then a moment of faith and healing occurs.

We can learn to do the same as our Master: Listening well, in a way that lets others speak in their own voices.

We can . . . 

Q U - Ask questions to understand

P - Paraphrase what they said back to them

A - Pay attention

N - Bring a non-judgmental presence

S - Be okay with silence

When we listen well, we love like Jesus does.

Sources: Luke 18:35-43 (NIV) Don Everts and Doug Schaupp, I Once Was Lost: What Postmodern Skeptics Taught Us About Their Path to Jesus (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2008). 

Friendship Evangelism: The 5 Thresholds toward Faith, InterVarsity Evangelism, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA.

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