Searching for the Right Word

Have you ever said the wrong thing at the wrong time or misunderstood what someone else was saying and experienced unfortunate results? Finding just the right word and communicating effectively with another person is one of the most frequent challenges we face. While it’s impossible to solve all of our problems including all communication snags, we can use wise principles to guide our communication. Let’s take a step of growth in the words we choose together!

1. Can you recall a recent conflict or significant challenge in a relationship or in your work?  How did communication, miscommunication, or misunderstanding play a role in that situation?
2. Read the story in 1 Samuel chapter 25, paying attention to the dialogue, communication techniques, and conversations from Nabal, David, and especially Abigail.
3. What are some qualities you observe about the communication styles and abilities of Nabal, David, and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25?
4. Why is our communication important and what can make communicating clearly and effectively difficult?
5. What do you observe in this story or what have you heard from the message that inspired, comforted, or challenged you?
6. Is there an important or difficult conversation that you have avoided? What principles or actions could you take to initiate those conversations and clearly communicate?