Comments on: Why Jesus would never lead a meeting that sucks

By: Gnossos

Gnossos — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:49:56 +0000

I think Jesus would provide good snacks at his meetings.

By: Marlene

Marlene — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:47:12 +0000

Excellent conversation, and thank you all for facilitating a way for me to participate. The quote from Peter Block really stands out for me as key to having meetings that don’t suck. (Not my favorite adjective, Ben and Jeff, but I get your point.) Too many of the meetings I have been in are held to meet some formal, organizational requirement. Meeting facilitators often have no vision for an alternate future and even less capability to design a container in which persons engage each other. The five observations Jeff makes about how Jesus interacted (and still does) seem to me to potential as a model for those of us who would like to develop the ability to engage others and subsequently develop a vision.

By: Jim Henderson

Jim Henderson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:35:37 +0000

Also – Most of us were never trained to “see Jesus” in the way we approached scripture. We were trained to “hear Jesus” specifically memorize his words. That turned us into experts on the script but dummies on the movie.

FYI did you know that Jesus had 132 contacts with people in the gospels andonly 10 were in the temple or synagogue? I didn’t until someone pointed it out.

Go back and read the 122 contacts. Watch Jesus like a movie and you’ll see what Jeff is referring to

Facilitation is a fancy word for acting like God
Its how humans distance themself from giving God credit for being himself and avoid the awkwardness of admitting how dependent we are on Jesus who is the universal law of gravity

By: Jim Henderson

Jim Henderson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:31:00 +0000

Grrr.. Check out “Jesus Asked” by Conrad Gempf

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:35:30 +0000

Grrr,
Thanks for asking. I’m not attempting to quote chapter and verse for each of the five points (although I’m sure someone else could easily come up with them).

While I’m not interested in trying to apply a specific verse to each point (although it might make me feel like those points are better than they are), it’s not a stretch (at least to me as I read) to look at Jesus’ interactions with people (throughout all the gospels) and see that he was interested (I would argue genuinely) in them.

As for matching my list of verses (including my interpretation) with the five points, I stopped doing that sort of thing awhile back. In my reading of the gospels I think those 5 show up, but feel free to disagree.

Thanks for your comment,
Jeff

By: grrrblaaah

grrrblaaah — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:33:22 +0000

hi Jeff

it’s an interesting idea, and there’s no question that someone like Jesus would be excellent to have in any meeting, particularly if he was perhaps chairing a G8 summit or similar.

I’m not a christian, but like many non-christians I admire Jesus and many of the things he stood for.

but I’m puzzled about where in the scriptures you got your information for the five points you list, making Jesus a good candidate for meetings facilitator.

1.Jesus was interested in the people
2.Jesus was interested in the conversation
3.Jesus was interested in learning from others
4.Jesus expected that people were thinking (already)
5.Jesus always offered the chance for dialogue

They’re desirable facilitator qualities, for sure. But I’m not sure I know the bit in the gospel where he displays an eagerness to learn from others. Or really that he was interested in the conversation or his expectation that other people were thinking? (And I learned the entire gospel of Mark off by heart when I was 16, so I’m not talking from a wholly ignorant perspective, although I admit I have forgotten large chunks…!)

I suppose if you accept that Jesus was perfect in every way, then it’s logically reasonable to infer that he’d be perfect for a career in the meetings industry – or any other industry for that matter. And that’s fine.

I’m just wondering if there’s any scriptural references to back this particular point up

Thanks Jeff

Love,
Grrr

By: Jim Henderson

Jim Henderson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:48:03 +0000

Brent you are a very bright and thoughtful person. You obviously have thought deeply about applying theology to real life situations.

I liked what you said here- nice work with the bible

When someone really listens to our soul, our deepest questions, hurts or thoughts, isn’t that a real gift from God? It can repell us (like the rich man), disarm us (like the scribes), cause us to push for justice (like the Syro-Phoenician woman), or attract us and change us (like Zacchaeus). How can we create such room in our meetings that we can hear the Spirit in each other?

By: Brent Dahlseng

Brent Dahlseng — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:13:12 +0000

Hmmmm. 1 Cor 3:6; NCD and Luther’s take on the Holy Spirit in the 3rd Article of the Apostles Creed has shaped my understanding of God’s role in faith. On the other hand, the gospel (seed) calls and demands a response – at least to die to myself so I can arise to Christ. We can practice spiritual disciplines which in community can and do bear fruit – is that me in partnership with God? Or is it simply God bearing fruit as I practice the faith?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:23:55 +0000

Brent,
I couldn’t agree more that we’re all “the four soils”, but I wonder about your last statement “it is God who works and gives growth – not me!” I don’t claim to have an answer on this either, but to me there has to be “some” interplay on the growth. To go back to your mention of the seeds and soils, all the elements have to be there – sun, soil, light, etc.
I wonder about the interplay (on our own parts and on God’s) in terms of growth.
What do you think?
Jeff

By: Brent Dahlseng

Brent Dahlseng — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:13:54 +0000

Let me briefly say that the gospel is the seed and we are all componoents of the four soil types. At times I am resistent to life-giving nature of God, othertimes, I fade down the stretch, still othertimes, I am energized and experience new growth, and finally, my busy-ness at times chokes out the opportunity to see and embrace what in the world God is doing. Meetings, conversations, and encounters with others are all over this board. Despite the reactions and proactions, I have to trust if Jesus is invited into the mix, the Spirit continues to work, soak, cook and simmer our souls as we ponder the conversation. After all, it is God who works and gives growth – not me!