LISTEN

Brain Food

LISTEN

Everyone loves it when others are interested in him or her. Not everyone is looking to be the center of attention, but we all crave acceptance and relationships. We all want to be known. Questions provide a great way to know others, so one of your jobs as a youth worker is to ask questions.

Ask. Wait. Listen. Watch. Ask again.

I want to challenge you to become an expert about your students. The only way to become an expert is to ask good questions so you can know your material inside and out. Ask personal questions, questions that cause your students to think, open up, and share what really matters to them. Ask questions that challenge them and help them see where God is working in their life.

Ask and listen. Don’t give students all the answers. Don’t talk forever about yourself. Students hear enough lectures and probably don’t need another one. Listening shows you care and builds trust—which can lead to a relationship that impacts them for an eternity.

Like They Say…

“Learning to ask good questions opens relational doors, deepens the possibility for fellowship, and sets the stage for personal growth. Start asking!”—Steve Merritt, Group Magazine

God's Word

“Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’

“They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.’

“ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ “Peter answered, ‘The Christ of God.’ ”—Luke 9:18-20