The Importance of Relational Wisdom in De-Churching

In this episode of As In Heaven, hosts Jim Davis and Michael Graham welcome Sam Chan to discuss the importance of relational wisdom when it comes to dechurching. They explore the idea that we can prevent people from leaving the church by improving our individual and institutional levels of relational wisdom. They also outline six key awarenesses that collectively yield relational wisdom:

1. God-awareness
2. Self-awareness
3. Others-awareness
4. Awareness of how others experience you
5. Emotional awareness
6. Cultural awareness

Episode time stamps:

• Introduction to episode topic and guest (0:00)
• What God are people dechurching from? (5:14)
• A quiet, calm, and curious posture (9:31)
• Being aware of others: ask more questions (15:51)
• The importance of emotional awareness (19:52)
• Emotional awareness as a pastor and minister (25:27)
• Teaching and shepherding emotions of lament (31:09)
• We need the emotional vocabulary of God (34:13)
• Cultural awareness and evangelism in a skeptical world (39:58)
• Cultural differences in preaching (45:41)

This episode is part of As In Heaven’s third season, devoted to The Great Dechurching—the largest and fastest religious shift in U.S. history. To learn more about this phenomenon on which the episodes of this season are based, preorder The Great Dechurching by Michael Graham and Jim Davis.