On this episode of A Different Perspective, Berni Dymet talks about how important it is to communicate well when sharing the message of Jesus. He mentions that some people tend to dominate conversations and forget to listen to others. Berni also shares personal stories to show that people see the world differently because of their backgrounds and experiences.
Berni also discusses ideas from his book about different personality types, explaining how people react differently to the same situations. Understanding these differences is key to communicating effectively. He says we should speak with our ears, meaning we need to listen and understand others when sharing the Gospel.
‘After 15 years of walking with Christ,’ says Berni, ‘I have a whole different perspective on success, on joy, on happiness, on sin, on pain and all sorts of things from someone who doesn’t have that relationship with Jesus. Why would I ever imagine I could talk to them as though they had the same perspective as me?’
Being a representative of Christ
Berni quotes the Apostle Paul from 2 Corinthians 5:20, reminding us that believers are representatives of Christ, sharing God’s message. He talks about the cultural differences in communication, using examples from his work with Gregory, a colleague from America with Japanese influences. This demonstrates how important it is to be sensitive to different cultures when sharing messages.
‘If we’re going to be ambassadors of Christ,’ says Berni, ‘we’ve got to learn about communication and understanding. When I take the time to get to know you and understand you, whether or not I agree with you, I’ve just built a bridge into your life that honours you. When you do the same for me, you’ve just built a bridge into my lie. When we feel understood, we feel secure and we experience trust.’
As Berni reflects on his own life, he says that before he knew Jesus, he had wrong ideas about success and happiness. He emphasises that what he really needed back then was someone to listen to him instead of just preaching at him. Being a representative of Christ means building trust and friendships by truly listening and understanding people.
‘That is the bridge that one day Jesus will walk across,’ says Berni. ‘The bridge of trust and relationship and love and care that Jesus walks across time and time again. And it all comes not so much from preaching with our mouths. But preaching with our ears.’
Listen to Berni’s full message below:
