God’s Example of Communication
When asked, "Why did your friendship fail?" eighty-six per cent of respondents from one survey said, deficient communication. There is a reason for this: bad communication wounds relationships. But first, it might be good to ask, what even is communication?
Communication involves self-revelation from one person and hospitable listening from another that results in a dialogue between two or more people. The basics of communication are talking and listening. However, this fundamental human activity falters without a verbal response, leading to miscommunication, misunderstandings, and even the breakdown of relationships.
For this reason, the collapse in effective communications has the power to hinder once-excellent gospel ministries. This is especially sad from a Christian perspective. Why? I would make the case that Christians should be the best communicators on the planet, for God is the ultimate model of communication.
The Bible teaches that God has spoken to us in many ways throughout history that we might know him. He has spoken:
Through angels: "The message declared by angels proved to be reliable" (Hebrews 2:2).
Through visions: "In my vision, at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man" (Daniel 7:13).
Through nature: "Day after day they [the heavens] pour forth speech" (Psalm 19:2).
Through creation: "God said, “Let there be light, and there was light”" (Genesis 1:3).
Through prophets: "In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets" (Hebrews 1:2).
Supremely through Christ: "In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son" (Hebrews 1:2).
We have the potential to know God deeply because he made an intense effort to communicate to us.
But we can only know God deeply if we choose to listen. The reality is that some Christians are closer to God than others. The key to knowing God more deeply is enjoying regular communication with him. When God speaks, we listen; when we speak, God listens. Through this process of Bible reading and the language of prayer, we develop a richer intimacy with God over the years.
The same is true in gospel ministry: communication transforms semi-connected, disheartened teams into deeply connected, gospel-advancing ones. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:11, "For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spirit within them?" The point? Only you know what's going on in your mind. One scholar says, “While body language can provide clues, we can never fully understand others without verbal communication. If people don't share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences openly and honestly, we're left guessing—and our guesses are often wrong” (Gary D. Chapman).
That's why communication is crucial for transforming an average team into an excellent one. Our discipleship effectiveness, team camaraderie, and zeal for missions will only be strong if we prioritise robust communication—like the God who made every effort to speak to us.
What is my point in all this? God works hard to communicate with us—for his glory and for our salvation. Therefore, like the God who speaks life into the world, let us follow suit as his image bearers. As people made in his likeness, let us, too, speak life-giving words with crystal clarity, listen intently out of love, and respond in a timely manner. It is undeniable—only good can come from such hospitality to each other.