Introduction
The change we desire to see in the world lies on the other side of conversations that still need to be had. Every great revolution can be traced back to a single individual bold enough to engage the culture and reveal a different way of doing things. Interestingly, at a time in history when the need for change is universally acknowledged, emerging generations remain largely stunted in their ability to communicate. An introverted bent is often used as an excuse to shy away from connection, and proud extroverts are quelling conversations by spouting facts without considering their audience. What if there were a way, regardless of one’s current communication skills, to effectively share convictions and, in turn, initiate change? Whether on a stage or in a coffee shop, what does it mean to embrace The Way of the Wordsmith?
For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate about communication. The delivery of facts and ideas has always intrigued me, and for over a decade, I have had the privilege of pursuing communication as a career. Interestingly, the same is true for many of you reading this book. Whether you find yourself in the marketplace, a corporate office, on the front lines, or at home, communication drives your full-time vocation. Every day presents new opportunities to convey your ideas in a language your audience can understand. In my case, the message I seek to communicate centers around the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If that name offends, disgusts, or confuses you, I implore you to keep reading. If that name excites and exhilarates you, I encourage you to pause and ask God to reveal Himself afresh to you through these pages.
No matter your religious convictions, it is difficult to deny that Jesus was an effective communicator. Regardless of His audience, He possessed an uncanny ability to meet people where they were and succinctly communicate His perspective. His teachings, recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, have influenced society’s trajectory for over two thousand years. Rightly so, much of the study on the life of Jesus has focused on the content of His teachings and the pattern of His ministry journey. After all, the implications of His life carry immense and eternal significance. Scattered throughout the pages of Scripture and countless books written by biblical scholars are invaluable insights into what Jesus said. However, in The Way of the Wordsmith, our focus will be less on what Jesus communicated and more on how He communicated it. Yes, the message of Jesus will be sprinkled throughout this book, and my hope is that you will consider the implications of His words. However, the primary focus here is to study some of the habits and methods of the greatest communicator in human history.
A wordsmith is a smith (someone who creates) with their words. Genesis records:
“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Gen. 1:3 ESV).
The following verses continue to build on this, showing that everything we see, smell, hear, and touch came into existence through God’s voice.
Quite literally, God is the ultimate Wordsmith.
The Old Testament recounts the creation of man and our separation from God due to sin. After thousands of years of humanity striving to restore connection with the Creator, the first chapter of John makes a radical proclamation:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 ESV).
Jesus was not “created” when His mother conceived. No, He has been present since before the beginning of time. God says the following in preparation for Adam, the first human:
“…Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Gen. 1:26a ESV).
If God was the only one present, why does He refer to Himself in the plural (us and our)? Grasping this requires the understanding that God is triune: one God in three persons. The Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son collaborated as one to create through speech in Genesis, and the Gospel of John reveals that Jesus (the Word made flesh) came to redeem humanity. The Word would use words to restore the creation He spoke into being.
Jesus is both the Word and the wordsmith.
Through studying the teachings of Jesus, I have noticed a pattern in the way He approaches change-driven conversations, featuring five repeating elements. These elements are not always found in a specific order, but they help make sense of His verbal mastery. Throughout this book, we will refer to what I have coined as The Wordsmith’s Wheel:
Empathize: Understand the perspective of your audience.
Engage: Make a connection with those you are communicating with.
Explain: Clearly outline what you want them to know.
Embody: Demonstrate what you are communicating.
Equip: Provide tools to help your audience apply what you taught them.
For followers of Jesus, this rhythm may feel familiar. If we take a step back and consider the implications of each step, we realize that this approach to teaching is an overview of the Gospel message:
Empathize: Jesus understood our broken condition.
Engage: He connected with us by becoming human Himself.
Explain: His ministry was centered on teaching and revealing truth.
Embody: He demonstrated His teachings through miracles and servitude.
Equip: We have been equipped to obey His teachings through the infilling of His Holy Spirit.
The communication methods of Jesus reflect the Gospel story, offering us a profound framework for refining our voices as vehicles for change.
The structure of the pages ahead is simple. The book is divided into five parts, each dedicated to one of the five components of The Wordsmith’s Wheel. Within each part, there are three chapters. The first will focus on an example of Jesus’ communication mastery found in Scripture, framed through the structure of a sermon. The second will focus on a particular discipline that, if applied, will help you better understand God’s heart for you, and in turn, help you connect with others. The third chapter in each part will be highly practical, outlining how we can adopt these principles in our everyday lives. No matter your setting, effective communication is an essential bridge between your current reality and the change you want to see in the world!
