Easier Than You Think: The Lost Art of Listening
We’re in the middle of a series called Easier Than You Think, where we’re talking about something that can often feel intimidating: sharing our faith. But here’s the truth we’re discovering—it’s not as complicated as we make it. In fact, the first followers of Jesus shared their faith not because they had a script or theology degree, but because they had been so radically transformed by Him that it just overflowed naturally.
This week, we’re zeroing in on one often-overlooked but powerful part of faith-sharing: listening.
Why Listening Matters
Let me begin with a question that affects all of us: What happens when people feel unheard?
When people feel unheard, they feel unknown. And when they feel unknown, they often feel unloved.
Listening is one of the most Christlike things we can do in a conversation. But for many of us who follow Jesus, we often jump into faith conversations thinking I have something important to say, while Jesus modeled something different: I have someone important to listen to.
The Power of Prayer and Unexpected Encounters
Last week, we talked about how Jesus always started with prayer. Before He taught, healed, or shared truth, He prayed. Many of Jesus’ most powerful encounters weren’t planned—they were interruptions. But because He had prayed, He was ready for whatever the day brought him.
We said it this way: Talk to God about people before you talk to people about God.
But let’s be honest—many of us were raised to believe that unless our encounter ends with someone on their knees accepting Jesus, we’ve failed. We were taught that our job was to be right and convince others that they were wrong. But that’s not how Jesus did it.
So how did He do it?
Let’s look at a story.
A Lesson From Jericho: Jesus and a Blind Beggar
Jesus is nearing the end of His life. He’s on His final journey to Jerusalem, knowing the cross awaits. If anyone had the right to be distracted, it was Him.
As He enters Jericho—an important city just 15 miles from Jerusalem—He encounters a blind man. Mark’s Gospel tells us his name: Bartimaeus.
Bartimaeus is marginalized in every way. In that culture, blindness was seen as a curse—a result of sin. There was no support system, no social services. He was completely dependent on others’ kindness.
So when he hears Jesus is passing by, he cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd tries to silence him. You don’t matter. You’re a nuisance. But Bartimaeus won’t be ignored.
And here’s what Jesus does next:
He stops.
He doesn’t do a “drive-by healing.” He doesn’t rush. He stops. He asks a powerful, unexpected question:
It seems obvious, doesn’t it? But Jesus isn’t just interested in healing—He’s interested in hearing. He knows that being heard is the first step to being loved. And Bartimaeus needed to be loved.
Jesus listens, heals, and restores not just Bartimaeus’ sight—but his dignity and identity.
Jesus Was a Master Listener
Jesus asked over 300 questions in the Gospels. Want to know how many He directly answered?
Three.
That means He was 100 times more interested in understanding people than being understood Himself.
That’s revolutionary. And it should shape the way we approach our faith conversations today.
Author David Augsburger once wrote in his book Caring Enough to Hear and Be Heard:
“Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.”
That’s what people need. That’s what sharing faith starts with.
The 4 H’s of Listening
So let’s make this practical. You’ve been praying for your neighbor Bob. You see him outside. You’re ready to start a conversation.
What do you say?
Start with questions. Not theological debates. Not monologues. Just questions. Here’s a tool we call The 4 H’s of Listening:
History – “Tell me your story.”
Where people begin their story tells you what’s most important to them.Heart – “What are you passionate about?”
What lights them up? What do they love to do? People love to talk about what they love.Habits – “What’s a typical day look like for you?”
What we do daily reveals what matters to us—family, health, work, values.Hurts – “What’s been challenging lately?”
This one takes trust and depth, but when people open up here, it’s a sacred space. Be slow to speak. Just listen.
“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
– Stephen Covey (or… Jesus, centuries earlier)
The Challenge: Listen Like Jesus
This week, slow down. Ask great questions. Put down your phone, make eye contact, and truly listen. People around you are dying to be heard—and loved.
And when they realize that you genuinely care, the question inevitably comes:
“Why do you care so much?”
And that opens the door to share the hope, healing, and love that Jesus has given you.
Sharing faith is easier than you think. It starts not with talking, but with listening.
Will you try that this week?