A Timely Word, A Timely Life
Public Witness Part 2: Prophetic Listening
By Dr. DJ Coleman and Rev. Joshua Blake
Has your spirit ever felt provoked by the things around you? When you see something wrong, what do you do about it? The Apostle Paul faced a variety of circumstances that were out of alignment with the heart of God, and had to decide (often on the fly) how to respond with his words and actions to injustice, provocation, and oppression. Many of us might respond to these kinds of provocations with ignorance or hostility, or perhaps feel unsure of what to do. But Paul, as described in Acts 17:16-34, saw this provocation as an invitation to join the work God was already doing. The circumstances are different for most of us than for Paul, but we, too, are confronted with opportunities to listen to God, to our own hearts, and to our neighbors, and to help others do the same.
Over the past years, I’ve developed a process for doing this that I call “Prophetic Listening”—adopting a posture of genuine curiosity and tuning in to how God is moving in someone’s life.
Step One: Gaining Understanding
Before speaking into someone’s life, we need to first understand their story. What’s their journey? What’s the story of their community? What “secular spaces” are we invited into, and, if we’re not in many, how might we enter those spaces to support our community and reach the lost? Gaining understanding also involves examining our own language. Are the words we use helpful and understandable? Are they theologically sound? Ultimately, it’s about being willing to perceive before we proclaim.
Step Two: Examining Our Desires
There’s a trilemma I often reflect on: If people aren’t coming to Christ, something is out of alignment. Either God’s desire for humanity to come to Him isn’t true, the Christian’s desire for people to come to Christ isn’t true, or humanity itself is resistant. But we know God’s desire is true—He has revealed it through His teachings and commands. So, the question is whether our desire as believers is in alignment with His.
Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 13:5 resonate deeply with me: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (NIV). If our faith is in Christ Jesus and we truly love Him, then regardless of our season or stage of life, I believe God wants to partner with us.
Step Three: Purposeful Involvement
As with the evangelism square we discussed in our last article, intentionality is key. We need to place ourselves in spaces where we can influence the lives of unbelievers and those not following Christ, even if they might identify as Christians. While evangelism involves living out our faith authentically, it also requires speaking the words God has placed on our hearts.
So, I leave you with these questions: What does evangelism look like in your current season of life? How might God be calling you to share the best news you’ve ever received? No matter how busy you are, there’s always an opportunity to join His work.
About the Authors
Dr. DJ Coleman serves as Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, IN. DJ has served in diverse pastoral roles, including children's ministry, student ministry, refugee ministry, prison ministry, and special needs ministry, and frequently travels the world to learn and preach. When he’s not teaching, grading, or preaching, D.J. can be found cheering at IWU's sporting events, alongside his wife (Sarah) and three kids (Jubilee, Benaiah, and Abel).
Rev. Joshua Blake is an ordained minister within The Wesleyan Church, a writer with the Resonant Writing Team, and has extensive global experience, having grown up in a missionary household. Josh resides in Greenfield, Indiana, along with his wife, Kirsten, and their dogs: Angel and Rev.
*This article is adapted from a teaching series at College Wesleyan Church’s “Tabl•Ed” Seminars, which are available online.
