Questions to focus on: Opening Closed Minds

These questions can be used at different levels. You can take 30 seconds to think about one or two. You can discuss them in a team or group of like-minded Christians. Or they can be used in a college class, including assignments and research projects, and answered in writing at any depth. They may be freely reproduced for this purpose. Please email us additional questions that could be added to this page.
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  1. Have you ever been "witnessing" to another and sensed that he was filtering out what he didn't want to hear? What did you do about it? What could you have done better?
  2. When might quoting or preaching the written Word of God not be proclaiming God's message?
  3. How do people process all the information that comes to them?
  4. How did Jesus get through the filter system of the people He ministered to? Give some examples of times when Jesus got people's attention by using this method.
  5. What is the beginning point for all effective communication? Why is this so?
  6. What is the difference between "felt needs" and "real needs"? What are some felt needs in your community? How do you perceive that you can meet the real needs by attending to the felt needs? What are some of your felt needs? List them in order of priority. Is your church ministering to these needs? Are you making your needs known to your church and Christian friends?
  7. Why is it essential to begin with the listener's felt needs?
  8. Can you explain the "decision process" people go through when making any major decision?
  9. Do intellectual concepts alone change people's lives? Why or why not?
  10. The author says, "the effective communicator will realise that he cannot change anyone," with one exception. Who is that exception? Do you agree? Why is or isn't this so?