How to communicate like Jesus

Ken Gosnell Sept. 28, 2019

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Words have power. Jesus understood the power of words. The words that He spoke in his sermons, daily interactions and parables are still recalled thousands of years after His death and resurrection.  

1. With power

Jesus was different. He acted differently than the other religious leaders of the day. Jesus also communicated differently, speaking and teaching with passion. As Matthew 7:29 says of His communication style: “He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” 

Note the phrase “one who had authority.” Jesus taught with grace and compassion, but also with conviction and belief. He had a different kind of authenticity because of the power shown through His values and His vision about what He knew was in the best interest of His disciples.     

When a leader believes something, they should believe it all the way.  

2. With stories 

Matthew 13:34 reminds readers, “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.” He enjoyed telling stories that would take a current-day example and make a spiritual application. Jesus told stories about lawsuits, debt, farming and building barns and buildings. He used the everyday situations to make spiritual applications that would help his followers learn more about the Kingdom of God.  

Leaders who wish to make a more significant Kingdom impact will learn how to create applications from daily situations in the lives of those whom they lead. Every speech or sermon could have a more significant impact if the speaker can make the bridge from a real-life story to a spiritual application.  

Can you think of a real-life story that is happening in your business that could have a spiritual application? 

3. With focus 

Jesus always knew His audience. He spoke the right words to the right people with the right tone to deliver the right message. One example of this appears in Luke 12:1, which records: “Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples . . . ” Jesus spoke first to the disciples, and then to the larger crowd.  

Leaders make the mistake of talking and expressing ideas, but not thinking first about what audience they are trying to reach and what messages they are trying to communicate.  

4. With questions 

In one of the first introductory biblical passages about Jesus, the reader learns about three titles for Jesus. In John 1:49, Nathanael declares, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 

Note the first title, rabbi—a term for teacher. Jesus was a master teacher and had a passion and desire to help His hearers understand his message. One tool that the master teacher used to communicate effectively was asking questions. 

Jesus wanted those who would hear His message to think and consider the truth of His answers.  

Steward CEOs who wish to lead as Jesus lead must communicate the way that Jesus communicated. Communication is an essential component of a leader’s responsibility in leading an organization.

Photo source: istock 

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Ken Gosnell is CEO and Servant Leader of CXP (CEO Experience). CXP is a premier coaching and executive roundtable business that serves Christian CEOs in Washington DC, Maryland and Florida. Ken serves leaders by helping them and their teams to have great experiences that both transform the leader and their organizations to go further faster. Learn More »

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