@FirstChurchofJerusalem
Today's Early Church Wisdom
“I shall not hesitate also to put into ordered form for you, along with the interpretations, everything I learned carefully in the past from the elders and noted down carefully, for the truth of which I vouch. For unlike most people, I took no pleasure in those who told many different stories, but only in those who taught the truth. Nor did I take pleasure in those who reported their memory of someone else’s commandments, but only in those who reported their memory of the commandments given by the Lord to the faith and proceeding from the Truth itself. And if by chance anyone who had been in attendance on the elders arrived, I made enquiries about the words of the elders—what Andrew or Peter had said, or Philip or Thomas or James or John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s disciples, and whatever Aristion and John the Elder, the Lord’s disciples, were saying. For I did not think that information from the books would profit me as much as information from a living and surviving voice.
~ Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60–130 AD) From the Preface to his lost ‘Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord’
This week's Psalm is Psalm 31 'My Rock, My Shield, My Song'

Active Listening in Outreach

Acknowledging another person’s point of view is key to evangelism. But how can we acknowledge a view that we do not properly understand? This is where listening comes in. I don’t means simply remaining silent so that you have time to think of what you will say when the other person stops speaking! That’s not listening – it’s more like manipulating! Listening is taking the time to properly understand what another person thinks. You can’t directly access their thoughts, so you need to let them explain in words where they stand. Give them time to explain and then ask questions to make sure you have understood correctly. This is an important way of showing respect for another person, and, not surprisingly, most people will feel respected when we do this. When we correctly understand another’s viewpoint, then we can best address it, presenting the truth that we have experienced, and inviting them to receive Christ as their Saviour.