Four Gospel Fluency Tips

I just started learning my fifth language and at age 59 it's definitely not as easy as when I was younger! But, there are a few valuable insights at this season of my life as a new language learner that I'm re-discovering, which I would like to share. They are not new. But they have just come to the surface again as a good reminder to me of what is important. I’m excited to be learning Greek. I’ll do my best to chronicle my progress, starting with these tips:

Be a “God directed” language learner

I used to think the most important principle for language learning was to be “self-directed” or take personal responsibility. While that is incredibly important, I am now realizing there is something even more important, and that is to be a “God-directed” language learner. A dear friend reminded me, “We are disciples of Jesus who happen to be language learners.” This is certainly how I want to live my life as a follower of Jesus. But I've also discovered it as my primary motivation for learning. I want to glorify God as I learn! And that helps to be motivated to set up practice and listening times and dive deep into every learning opportunity I have every day to make as much progress as possible. I've found that there is a lot more joy in learning when honoring God becomes my focus. What if I integrated learning language into my prayer life and Bible reading? I believe that is how God intends for us to learn. As we follow him.

Do what is important, especially if it's not urgent

Jenn and I have been through a roller-coaster season of change this past year. It's been hard for us to find traction with things that are life-giving for us because it feels like we have been mostly just managing urgent things related to our forced move, followed by three more moves, followed by starting over in a new home, language, and culture. Three months in and we are finally beginning to see the dust settle. With fewer urgencies in front of us, we can begin to set our attention to things that are important, but can often take a back seat. Language learning may not feel urgent, but it is very important for why we are here. And I'm reminded of the need to be intentional about learning, or getting into the habit of learning, every day. The only way I can really learn Greek like I need to is to dedicate a good part of each day to listening and practicing. Why is Greek important? Because it’s the pathway to effective local ministry in our context. But, I have to admit, it is so easy to be distracted by the urgent, and even the unimportant.

Listen for the pain points in people’s lives

The older I get the more I realize people are hurting all around us. While I cannot yet understand what people are going through at a deep level in my new language and culture, I can definitely pray and ask God for insights. I've learned that there are really only a handful of universal needs we all experience: the need for belonging or interpersonal connection; for forgiveness; for love; for significance and sense of identity; and for security, well-being, health, and safety. These needs are often couched in the painful and hard stories of people's lives. I asked God to open my eyes to these and now I see them and hear them all around me. I'm not able to understand many of them yet, certainly not at a deep level. But I want to get there. I picture myself listening, empathizing, and responding to people in need whom God brings into my life, as God creates pathways to the gospel in these future conversations.

Tell the gospel through stories 

I used to think that storytelling was an easier skill to master than, say, teaching abstract theological concepts, because telling stories tends to be grounded in more real-world experiences using concrete language that we easily identify with. So, what about the deep, mysterious truths of scripture? Can we communicate them within the narratives of scripture? Or even through our own testimony?  I believe so, not only as we evangelize, but also as we teach and train believers what it means to obey and follow Christ.

Yes, we can clearly communicate the gospel through the narratives of scripture to all people in all walks of life! And this is how: As people share what's going on in their lives, we can relate to them because we’ve been there or are there. We’ve sinned. We suffer. We all have needs. But God -- rich in mercy, saved us when we are lost, alone, afraid, and ashamed, as we put our trust in him, through Christ (Ephesians 2:4). That’s probably the biggest reminder I’ve had as an older language learner. It's the essence of gospel fluency, and it’s what I picture talking about in Greek -- one day. So, each day I really try to move in that direction. To tell the gospel story, very simply at first, as I talk with people, hear their stories, their needs, and respond with hope.