Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Explorer's Invitation

If you are familiar with the CoJourner paradigm, you know the first role in conversational witness is that of the Explorer. Your ability to help someone progress in their spiritual journey will be tied to your understanding of who they are, where they are and what they have experienced.

So what's the key to effective exploring? Asking questions and listening.

The primary questions (phrased in different ways in different settings) are really variations of a simple invitation, "Tell me about yourself."
  • Did you have any church or religious background growing up? How was that for you?
  • What have you tried in your spiritual life or journey?
  • Where are you at now spiritually?
  • What do you wish were true for you spiritually?
  • Etc.
The key is empathy - listening to genuinely understand. Exploring is taking a genuine interest in the other person and their spiritual experience. Its not just finding a transition to a different subject. You will discover that good exploring will open the door to a deeper relationship and often lead to a conversation about your story and the gospel.

Keep sharpening your skills as a CoJourner with others in spiritual journey.

2 comments:

Dr Chris Hill said...

Hi Keith ,

Here's a good video I found on YouTube about religion, you might like to view it and see what you think.

”God in my life”

I think it makes a lot of good common sense don't you?

From
Chris Hill

American youth: Young gifted and passionate about religion. ”Fiery lady”
.

Keith Davy said...

Chris Hill (if that is your name),
If I get time later, I may write a response to your videos link. But before engaging the logic, which I think provides some great illustration of "logical fallacies" (see for example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_fallacies), I first want to draw attention to your "tactic".

It is striking that you would post a link which you name "God in my life", knowing that it would lead only to a video of quite a different name and nature. Hmm...

Bit of questionable motives and practice, don't you think?

But, I guess if God does not exist, then neither does morality. So deception must not bother you. Interesting indeed.