Conversation Formulas

I have been reading the book of Luke lately and today read through chapter two where it talks about Jesus hanging in Jerusalem while his parents took off without him. This of course sent Mary and Joseph into a frenzy, so they hurried back to look for him and the Bible tells us that he was in the temple “sitting in the midst of the teachers both listening to them and asking them questions.” Here Jesus is having a conversation probably with some form of Rabbi/Pharisee/overeducated beyond their own humility guy. You know this guy, maybe he is your father, your friend, that dude that is always sitting at Starbucks reading some weird sophisticated looking book, the older gentlemen that hangs out at McDonalds or What-a-burger all morning with his Vietnam Veterans hat on reading the paper, or maybe that classmate that never stops asking ridiculous questions and sharing their incredible wisdom with all of us. Either way its someone that thinks they have some answers for somebody. Nonetheless, what is important to notice about this conversation is that Jesus both listens and asks questions. How often do we fail to notice that about Jesus? He listens and asks questions. Here is a perfect formula to win people for Jesus. Listen and ask questions. In other words stop trying to convince them they are wrong and what you have to say is so much more important then they are. Listen and ask questions. Show them you care about them and your not just interested in proving to them you are right and they are an idiot. There are a ton of examples in the Bible of Jesus ripping the Pharisees for opening their mouth and we stand by and cheer for Jesus to “get’em!” But Jesus still took time to listen to them and ask questions, which tells us, Jesus still tried to win them over.