A Mini Seminar on Respectful Language – Step 3
Goal:
To help
us realize that our sense of respect for one another and the “voices “ we use
to communicate it strongly influence our love relationships and unity within
the Body of Christ.
Authors note: This lesson is powerful but also very complex. Be sure to work through it well yourself before attempting to teach it. It can easily take 2-3 hours to get through it.
Scripture
Basis:
Eph 4:29,
Romans 12:10, Phil 2:3, James 1:19, Prov 15:1,4, John 1:14 & 17
Reference
Materials:
Communications Connnection
Workshop by
Walk & Talk.
(http:://www.walkandtalkministries.com)
Inclusion Activitys: (As Appendicies)
·
The
Voice of Introduction (Introductory Exercise)
·
Fading
Love Discussion
·
Scripture
Research and Translation Exercise on Respect
·
Aim
at the Right Target,
·
Covering
all the Bases.
Introductory Exercise : The Voice of Introduction:
Have people pair off with
someone they do not know. Take 2 minutes to have your first conversation
assuming the other person is their most favorite US Senator.
Now have people pair off
with the person in the group they know best. Take 2 minutes and have a
conversation assuming you have just met again after not seeing each other for 2
days.
Brainstorm (collect on
overhead or whiteboard) answers to the following questions.
1.
What
was different about the two conversations ?
2.
Who
do you hold in high regard ?
3.
When
you speak to them what is different about your voice?
4.
As
formality in conversation drops away from a relationship what happens?
Key Messages:
1.
As
we become familiar with each other
there is a tendency for the words and tones we use to communicate to
become disrespectful. (give examples)
2.
This
tendency is almost built in to our
secular language of the day. (TV and its heros)
3.
Respect
and respectful language are foundational to maintaining love relationships.
Exercise 2: Fading Love
Pair
up with someone you do not know. Discuss a love relationship that you once had
in which the love faded away. What happened to make the love fade. Take 2
minutes and discuss with your partner.
Key Message:
I think
that love is based on respect and when we lose respect for someone, our
feelings of love tend to fade as well. For an attitude of love to be
maintained, an attitude of respect must exist between the parties involved.
Exercise 3: Scripture Research and Translation
Break
up the group into small groups of 3 or 4.
Assign
each to read the following scriptures in the KJV and NIV and then translate
them into one of the following slang dialects: If lots of groups exist, have
multiples for each style. Give groups 20 minutes and then after a short break,
have them return and share their translations.
Group 1: Valley Girl ………….Rom 12:10 , Prov 15:1
Group 2: Rap/Hood ……………Eph 4:29, Prov 15:4
Group 3: Country Western …….Phil 2:3, Luke 14:11
Other
Verses if more needed
1
Thess 5:12, James 2:1, Ex 20:12, Lev 19:32
Discussion Questions:
1.
How
did the messages vary depending on translation?
2.
Did
the message change any with loss of formality in language?
3.
Who
are we to respect and give honor to?
4.
What
does “honor” mean?
Key Messages:
1.
Basic
respect for one another is a fundamental part of building good biblical
relationships and enabling unity within the body of Christ, the church.
2.
Respect
is basic to love and unity in marital relationships
3.
Respect
has as it roots the valuing of another more highly than oneself.
4.
Our
language and the “voices” we use are the primary method by which we communicate
value to another.
Exercise 4: Understanding Our Voices
Introduce the concept of the
following voices we use to communicate. Discuss each voice and its attributes. A
voice includes tone, body language, words and inferences.
>> Show Appendix A provided
and discuss the attributes of each voice.
The 1st 4 voices
:
Conversive Authoritative Tentative
Manipulative
Break up the goup into pairs again and this time with someone they know. After discussing each voice, have the pairs practice the voice and tone of each.
Key Message:
Each
of these voices except “Manipulative” is appropriate to different circumstance
but use of them outside their appropriate boundaries can be disrespectful. Manipulative language is
the most common language on TV and in our informal culture today. Its use is at
the heart of loss of respect. But what can we replace it with? The key challenge
is to choose your voice when you are speaking. Don’t just let it happen. Intentionally
select the best voice for the situation. Try and understand when a particular
voice is appropriate. Use the
Edifying voice when understanding is not forthcoming, when confrontations are
required, or when deeper conversations are desired and Eliminate Manipulative
language completely.
Exercise 5: Using the Edifying Voice
Now
there is one other voice that is better than all the others. It is called the
Edifying voice.
Display
Appendix B and discuss the “Edifying
Voice”.
Next
discuss the following detail of 3 of the aspects of the edifying Voice. These
are found in Appendices C & D. Each Appendix explains each concept in more
detail.
1.
Self
Responsible Statements - (ie. the proper use of “I”".) . Appendix C
2.
Valuing
and Respecting the other .. See Appendix
D
3.
Differentiating
between Thoughts, Feelings, Actions, Intentions, and Discernments – Appendix E.
Have pairs practice sharing about something significant that happened to them this past week using --
Key Message:
Today we need to very
careful about clearly disclosing our thoughts, feelings, actions, intentions,
perceptions and discernment’s separately. We have all become very well trained
by watching TV mysteries to assume that behind every verbal message is a hidden
personal agenda. Understanding what is really happening is the what the whole mystery
is all about. But we must be careful not to carry this into our private lives
for when we do it usually causes problems. Making sure we communicate our
intentions early in a conversation is important, expressing our feelings
without assigning guilt or cause and being clear what is a thought and what is
a feeling all can help us be understood.
When we are understood and when we come to grasp the importance of
something to another then and only then do we show true honor, true value.
Challege:
One
of the best things God has blessed us with in this world is love relationships.
The whole world seeks them, more music is written about them than any other
topic and yet most of them fail in one way or another. Most begin with a great
amount of respect for the other but over time the love dissolves as respect is
chipped away. When you respect
someone and hold them in high esteem, you tend to use the Tentative voice and
the Edifying voice. Why is it that as we become familiar we migrate so quickly
to the Manipulative voice with its sarcasm and veiled messages of selfishness.
When asked by a Jewish teacher of the law what was the greatest commandment
Jesus said this.
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this:
'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind and with all your strength.' Mark 12:29-30 (NIV)
Now
most of us have heard this and focus on the portion of the text which commands
is to love the Lord with all your heart yet just preceding the command is an
interesting statement about God. It says the “Lord is one”. Is it possible that the goal of the greatest
commandment is unity? Is it possible
that the goal of love is union? I
believe that intimacy and union are closely related and when they exist in a
relationship, feelings of completeness,
fulfillment, joy and happiness follow.
These are at the end of the road of the love. Yet at the beginning and
underneath it all is respect and value. I challenge you today to reconsider
your voice and how you speak to those closest to you, those you love. For the
voice of honor and respect is the voice of love.
* * *
Appendix A:
1.
Conversive - Goal is to Socialize
·
Non Threatening |
·
Factual |
·
Friendly |
·
Tone is light |
·
Used in Small Talk |
·
does not handle deeper issues well |
2.
Authoritative - Goal is to Direct
·
Instructing |
·
Firm Tone |
·
Use of Legitimate "You" |
·
By one having Authority |
·
Used in Teaching |
·
Can convey a sense of arrogance |
3.
Tentative - Goal is to gather
information or learn
·
Questioning Tone |
·
Non Conclusive |
·
Non Threatening |
·
Seeks Facts |
·
Used in Seeking to Understand and Brainstorming Ideas |
·
Does not express your feelings well |
4.
Manipulative - Goal is to Win
·
Over or Under Responsible |
·
Blaming or Threatening |
·
Loud or Abusive ·
Improper "You" (Dummy)! |
·
Devaluing "You Always" · Damages Respect and
Relationships |
·
Whining or Complaining |
·
Sarcastic (2 Sam 6:12-23) |
·
Common in arguments or situations of disappointment |
·
Made popular by TV sitcoms |
Appendix B:
5. The Edifying Voice - Goal is to Understand and Build up (Eph 4:29)
·
Comes from a place of valuing and respecting the other (Remember Ruth,
Naomi & Boaz) 1 Peter 3:7, Eph
5:33 , & 1 Peter2:17 |
·
Requires a correct attitude and approach, Prov 15:1, 4, John 1:14,17
(gentle, gracious & truthful) |
·
Seek first to understand and then to be understood.( James 1:19, Phil
2:3-4) (Quick to listen, slow to speak) |
·
Self Responsible (Use of "I") used to convey Observations, Thoughts, Feelings, Desires, Discernment
& Intentions |
·
Tone is a little more formal (to convey respect) |
·
Used for deeper intimate conversation or handling problems |
Appendix
C:
Responsibility
Aspect of Voice
Under Responsible Language
§
Speaks
for no one with phrases like "some people say" or "that may be
the case". By attempting to agree with "everyone" the person shields
himself from expressing their true thoughts an feelings.
Over Responsible Language
§
Speaks
for everyone trying to make the listener feel trapped by a majority. Uses phrases
like "everyone feels that way" or "of course you want to"
or "everybody knows that!"
The Better Way - Self
Responsible Language
§
Speak
for yourself, disclosing your true awareness about your thoughts, feelings and
observations. Use the pronoun I in phrases like I think, I feel, I want, I saw,
I heard or I will.
The Big Challenge
Choose your Voice
! Don't let it just happen!
Appendix
D:
Valuing in
Listening
·
Give
full attention , looking at the other
·
Assume
that the other has insight or information that you may not have. You may come
to the conclusion at the end of the conversation that your insight is better,
but do not assume it in the beginning.
·
Seek
first to understand the other.
·
Do
not interrupt even if you disagree with them.
·
Take
an active listening role - Ask clarifying questions - - give feedback but don't
insist on winning each difference of opinion
·
Let
each point sink in. Don’t respond instantly to each
·
Encourage
full disclosure of all observations, feelings, thoughts,
·
Express
concern for them and what they are feeling.
·
Do
not try and solve their problems for them unless asked
·
When
strong emotional is present remember, clarity
of thought only comes AFTER expression.
Valuing in
Speaking
·
Select
a good time when there is enough time to skillfully deal with the issue. Not
when rushed or tired.
·
Express
your intentions early
·
Speak
for yourself and Do not manipulate
·
Avoid
blaming, threatening or use of sarcasm
·
Select
your voice purposefully
·
Watch
your tones and body language (Remember that when the non verbal message and the
verbal message don't agree, the non verbal will be believed.)
·
Seek
to be understood and to edify the other, not to win
·
Lead
with grace, follow with truth.
·
Use
Skillful Expression
Appendix
E:
ISSUE FEELINGS DESIRES DISCERNMENTS THOUGHTS
Skillfull Expression Covers All the Bases
Skillful Expression Requires Clear Differentiation of all these
items. Be sure to use the underlined key words to convey your true message! The
order of these is not critical but it can help.
·
What
is the goal of this conversation (address early what your intentions are in bring up an
issue)
·
What
I observed (describe what you saw or heard)
·
What
I felt (describe your emotions)
·
What
I think (describe your thoughts)
·
What
I desire (describe want you want)
·
What
I discern (describe what God is saying to you)
·
What
I intend now to do (describe what you plan to do)