How do you communicate to people? Effective communication follows three essential steps:

Ponder the ProblemSee God’s GloryGet Up and Go

Too often you will find yourself with something important to say and nobody listens. God uses problems to capture our attention. So begin by pondering the problems your listeners are dealing with. Once you have someone’s attention it is tempting to jump straight toward application. This leaves people with too much to do, and too little hope. Rather, Jesus, always pointed toward the activity of God. Salvation and hope comes from God first. So, See God’s Glory, and tell people about it!  Finally, one of the trickiest roadblocks to effective communication, is the diffusion of responsibility. Big problems can be overwhelming. We think “those other people” need to do something. God, however, call each person with a job to do. So when you speak, give people something concrete they can do, that is, a call to action. Saint Joseph, the Earthly adopted father of Jesus was a master communicator from which we can learn. An angel of God came to Joseph at least four times and each time Joseph had critical things to communicate.

Dream 1

Angel appears to Joseph

Joseph discovers that Mary is pregnant. He plans to call the whole thing off. Then an angel of God tells him in a dream to not be afraid, but to marry Mary and raise Jesus. So Joseph went to Mary shortly thereafter. He likely began by saying, “Mary even though you are carrying God’s son you will face hardship. Being a single mother is extremely difficult. God, however, instituted marriage. When two become one they can share life’s challenges together. So will you marry me?” 

What do you think Mary said? “No way! You thought about dumping me. You’re not good enough to raise the savior and be the spouse of the mother of God!” Well, she probably didn’t say that, but could have thought it. They got married. Josep got up and went to ask Mary to marry him.

Dream 2

After Jesus was born some wonderful things happened. Angels sang. Shepherds praised. Wisemen from the east paid Jesus homage. After receiving such special attention an Angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him to get up and go to Egypt, because Herod would try to take Jesus life. The next morning Joseph had to communicate this challenging message to Mary.

“Mary. I know our stay in Bethlehem has been unusual. I hope that you have enjoyed the special attention from the shep