The art of listening, the power of telling.

THE ART OF LISTENING, THE POWER OF TELLING. 

Learning to hear beyond words and speak from a story only you can tell.

 

Welcome and Introduction

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This week, we're inviting you to share your story of faith with others in your group. Be generous and gracious as you listen. For some, this will be the first time opening up in this way.

If you're feeling anxious, consider jotting down what you’d like to share. A few notes might help you gather your thoughts.

Begin by describing life before you had any awareness of Jesus. This gives others a fuller understanding of your journey.

Some people have always felt aware of Jesus. That’s completely valid too. If that’s your experience, explain what was happening in your life that deepened your awareness or stirred a desire to follow Him—or even led you to hold back.

For some, there's a defining moment when Jesus moved from the background to the centre of life. If that’s true for you, include it.

Then share the difference He has made. What changed once you started to trust and follow Him? You might have a moment when God became especially real to you—if so, that’s worth telling.

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Keep it simple and concise. Aim to speak for around 7 to 8 minutes.

 

Why We Start Here

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In Envoy, there’s a phrase you’ll hear often: “second nature.”
Your own story—your life changed by Jesus—is the most powerful testimony you have. It’s also the one God is most likely to use to reach others. So, this is where we begin.

We want this kind of sharing to become natural—to become second nature. That starts by practising with one another.
 

Think about:

• What life was like before

• How your journey with Jesus began

• What the impact has been

 

Learning to Listen and See

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The Importance of Listening

In most group settings, people tend to half-listen. We focus when it’s our turn to speak, and switch off a little bit after we've spoken.

In Envoy—especially in Week One and Two — your role as a listener is just as vital as your role as a speaker.

Time to focus on listening to others.

 

Three Core Practices

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Every time we gather in Envoy, we practise three simple but essential disciplines:

1. Hear and be heard

2. See and be seen

3. Lean in to release value

 

Why do we emphasise these?

Because they form the foundation of meaningful relationships and effective evangelism. When we practise them regularly, they begin to shape how we interact with others—until they become second nature.

When you truly hear and are heard, when you see and are seen, and when you lean in to offer value, something changes. The space between you and the other person becomes one of acceptance, significance, and safety.

And when you’re talking to others about Jesus, those three qualities—safe, significant, and accepting—are essential.

 

Listening in Layers.

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HEAR AND BE HEARD.

Imagine listening as peeling an onion—each layer reveals something deeper.

• Layer One: What’s Obvious – the surface.
  Depending on the sense you use, you pick up accents, background noise, what they are wearing, the surface facts. This is the basic level of listening.

• Layer Two: What You Sense – the sensations from the story.
  You begin to notice emotions—joy, sadness, fear, or hope. You may sense these in the speaker or feel them stir in yourself. Either way, pay attention.

• Layer Three: What God Might Be Saying – the spirit or soul.
  This is where many hesitate. A thought may pass through your mind—What does God want this person to hear?
  It’s easy to dismiss it as imagination, but don’t. Write it down. Often, that quiet impression might be exactly what someone needs.

 

After someone shares, pause inwardly and pray:
“Holy Spirit, what do You want to say to this person?”

We’ll come back to this to dig deeper after exploring the next practice, because listening and seeing often work together.

 

Seeing with Insight

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SEEING AND BEING SEEN.

Let’s continue with the onion metaphor to explore how we see and how we help others feel seen.

• Layer One: Surface Details
  You notice where someone sits, what they wear, perhaps their age. As they talk, a mental image of their life begins to form.

• Layer Two: Deeper Observations
  What do you see in their character, personality, or faith? What strengths or qualities emerge? What might you affirm or encourage?

• Layer Three: God’s Perspective
  What does God see—or what might He want them to see?
  This takes faith. You may not be sure whether it’s from God or your own mind. But the person you’re speaking to will usually know if it resonates.

 

The Bible says the Spirit speaks to our spirit. When you speak from that deep place, others often recognise it as truth.

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Offering Feedback: Three Questions

Before offering any kind of reflection or encouragement, ask yourself these three questions:

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1. Is my relationship with this person healthy?
   If it’s strained, don’t share. Maintain safety.

2. Would I find this meaningful if it were said to me?
   This helps test the significance of your words.

3. Is this comment safe for both of us?
   Will it keep the space open and respectful?

 

God might bring to mind a memory, a verse, a phrase, or even a single word like loved or good. If it lingers and carries weight, it may be exactly what that person needs to hear.

 

Why practise this?

Because God both hears and sees those who don’t yet know Him. And He wants to communicate through us—through our stories, our presence, and our words.

That’s why we keep practising, week after week. If you feel some level of nervousness about doing this, that’s a really good sign. Don’t worry, your Envoy host will lead the way so you can see what it looks like. 

 

 

LEAN IN TO RELEASE VALUE.

Giving Your Attention Fully

To lean in means more than the physical posture of leaning towards someone. It means turning your thoughts away from distractions and giving someone your full attention—offering both presence and care.

It also means leaning toward God, staying attentive to what He might be doing or saying in the moment.

 

Uncovering What’s Already There

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To release value is not to create worth—it’s to reveal what’s already present in a person.

This week, we’re focusing on using words to do that. From what you see and hear from the other persons faith story — especially layers two and three — try to speak something encouraging, affirming, or hope-giving to the person who shared.

Remember, it’s God who releases value, but He often does it through us and this week, through you.

 

Why It Matters.

The greatest treasure we can offer is Jesus Himself.
We want to see Him embedded in the lives and stories of others. That’s God’s work—but He invites us to be part of it.

That’s why we practise. That’s why we lean in. We want to become people who make it easier for others to encounter Jesus.

 

 

Preparing for Your First Group Session

You’ve already thought about your own story. Now, it’s time to practise listening, seeing, and affirming. This is your chance to do a practice run — that stays completely safe and low-pressure.

Below this podcast you’ll find a resources section. Watch the short video. Its only a few minutes long. Grab a notebook and pen.

 

As you watch, practise listening and observing.

Let me make it simple with two questions:

• Hearing: What do I hear behind what this person is saying?
  What’s the backdrop, the emotional undercurrent, the “mood music” of their life?

• Seeing: What do I see in front of this person that they might not see?
  What picture are they painting, and what’s still waiting to be drawn?

 

Enjoy your first Envoy meet up.