\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Audio\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tText: Romans 12:10-18<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. A young lady wrote and asked, “How can you be a good conversationalist? I’m so boring.\nI don’t know how to strike up an interesting conversation.”\n A. It is a good question because talking to people is something we just take for\ngranted.\n
II. Start by listening – really listening<\/p>\n A. The biggest mistake people make is thinking they have to say interesting things to\nhave a good conversation.\n
B. James 1:19-20 – Swift to hear and slow to speak<\/p>\n
C. In a conversation, only one person can speak at a time – Ecclesiastes 3:7<\/p>\n
D. Allowing the other person to speak shows respect for the person – Romans 12:10<\/p>\n
E. Start by asking a question that takes more than a “yes” or “no” to answer<\/p>\n
1. A question that tells you something about the person<\/p>\n
a. “What is a goal that you are currently striving for?”<\/p>\n
b. “What is the best thing about your job?”<\/p>\n
F. Ask appropriate questions for clarification. Conversation is a two-way interaction.<\/p>\n
G. But so few people really listen. Most only hear what they want to hear.<\/p>\n
1. An example is the disciples – Mark 9:31-32<\/p>\n 2. Jesus’ words were clear, but the disciples couldn’t comprehend them\nbecause it wasn’t what they expected or wanted\n
H. Some only listen so long as they like what is being said – Acts 22:21-22<\/p>\n
III. Your attitude matters<\/p>\n
A. Be cheerful<\/p>\n
1. Who enjoys talking to someone whose outlook on life is gloomy?<\/p>\n
2. Proverbs 17:22 – Cheerfulness does a person good.<\/p>\n
3. People will want to talk longer<\/p>\n
B. Be encouraging<\/p>\n
1. Help people feel better – Proverbs 12:25<\/p>\n
2. Stir up love and good works – Hebrews 10:24<\/p>\n
3. Be kind and tenderhearted – Ephesians 4:32<\/p>\n
C. Be interested<\/p>\n
1. Weep and rejoice with others – Romans 12:15<\/p>\n
2. Esteem others as better – Philippians 2:3-4<\/p>\n
3. Share burdens – Galatians 6:2<\/p>\n
IV. Consider your words<\/p>\n
A. Don’t say everything that comes to mind<\/p>\n
1. Words can be a snare – Proverbs 18:7<\/p>\n
2. Spare your words and will appear wiser – Proverbs 17:27-28<\/p>\n
B. Be choosy about your words – Colossians 4:6<\/p>\n
1. The wise man’s words are gracious – Ecclesiastes 10:12<\/p>\n
2. Benefits from well chosen words – Proverbs 16:21-24<\/p>\n
3. Words that benefit the hearer – Ephesians 4:29<\/p>\n
C. Say things that help others – Proverbs 10:21; 15:7<\/p>\n
D. Be careful of other people’s feelings<\/p>\n
1. Don’t spread a person’s faults – Proverbs 17:9<\/p>\n
2. Keep disagreements private – Proverbs 25:9<\/p>\n
V. Controlling the tongue is hard – James 3:2<\/p>\n
A. Yet we must try<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Romans 12:10-18 I. A young lady wrote and asked, “How can you be a good conversationalist? I’m so boring. I don’t know how to strike up an interesting conversation.” A. It is a good question because talking to people is something we just take for granted. II. Start by listening…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[634,940,357,579,522],"class_list":["post-37661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-attitude","tag-conversation","tag-encouragement","tag-friendship","tag-listening"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":42079,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/ive-listened-to-the-entire-bible-during-my-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":37661,"position":0},"title":"I’ve listened to the entire Bible during my day","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 5, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I read your article on \u00a0Reading the Bible Cover to Cover. Permit me to share that I love listening to my audio Bible and have covered 50 to 100 chapters a day. I have since gone through the Good Book eleven times. By late Wednesday, March 5th, I'll complete\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":43459,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-to-listen-to-someones-private-conversation\/","url_meta":{"origin":37661,"position":1},"title":"Is it wrong to listen to someone’s private conversation?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I've had a problem with eavesdropping on conversations between my parents. They've been going through some issues spiritually and out of concern, I've often gone out of my way to listen in through the wall. 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I can't even begin to express how many lessons\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14682,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-appreciate-that-you-post-your-sermon-texts-and-not-just-audio-files\/","url_meta":{"origin":37661,"position":5},"title":"I appreciate that you post your sermon texts and not just audio files","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, Hope this email finds you well I just wanted to send a quick message to express my appreciation for your website.\u00a0The fact that you take the time to post sermons in text form rather than audio-only is a tremendous help in studying the word.\u00a0I have learned a great\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37661","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37661"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37661\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}