transcript

Speaker 1:
[00:09] Hey, Carpool Crew, Pastor Justin here. I'm so glad you're joining us today. Before we jump in, I wanna give a quick shout out to Madison and Kinsley out in Trussville, Alabama. We got a lot of listeners out in Trussville, I love that. Madison, Kinsley, I hope you take time to really listen to people around you today, because listening is a big deal to Jesus. And that's actually exactly what we're talking about today. All right, here's the one thing I want you to remember for the ride, good leaders listen. Our verse today comes from Luke 9 verse 18. It says, when he was praying in private, and his disciples were with him, he asked them, who do the crowds say that I am? Now think about that for a second. Jesus already knew the answer. He didn't need information, but he still asked the question, why? Because Jesus listens. See, if Jesus were sitting with you right now, I think he might say, friends, listening shows people they matter. When you slow down and really hear someone, you're loving them the way I love you. I want to make it real for a second. Have you ever been talking to someone and they're not really listening? They're looking around, they're thinking about something else, or just waiting for their turn to talk? Oof, that one's rough. Yeah, it doesn't feel great, does it? Now, flip it around for a second. Think about the friend who looks at you, listens, and actually cares about what you're saying. That feels different, right? That's the kind of person people trust. That's the kind of leader people follow. You know, there was once a kid named Jordan, and he noticed that his friend was really quiet at lunch. Normally, his friend was loud and joking around, but not that day. Instead of ignoring it, Jordan asked, Hey, are you okay? And then he did something important. He listened. He didn't interrupt. He didn't try to fix everything. He just listened. And after, his friend said, Thanks for listening. I needed that. That's what Jesus does for us. And that's what we can do for others. So here's what it could look like for you today. First, listen carefully. Put your eyes on the person. Don't get distracted. Look at them and listen. Second, ask questions. Show you actually care about what they're saying by asking simple questions to show you're listening. And third, show respect. Don't interrupt. If you're holding a device, put it down. Let them finish talking before you start talking. Now, let's go back to our one big thing to remember. Good leaders listen. And I want to be a leader like Jesus. So I should probably start listening like he did. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if you were encouraged by this episode, share it on Instagram, snap a picture, and tag us at Carpooling with Jesus so other families can discover the podcast, too. Now, before you go, answer this question together. Why is listening such an important part of being a good friend or leader? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.