Do you know the culture you are communicating into?

“For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship”

Acts 17 v23

Paul travelled over 10,000 miles communicating the Good News of Jesus. His journey took him through primarily present-day Israel, Greece, Syria and Turkey, both by land and sea. Everywhere he went he contextualised his message without altering the message, and he did this by understanding the culture he was communicating to.

When he was on a boat, he would point to the stars.

When he was in a town that worshipped idols, he would reference them.

He would host conversations with religious leaders, learning as much as he could and when he spoke, he would use that information to make a point;

“As some of your own poets have said” v28

 Paul was a master at communicating within a culture.

You may be preparing to speak soon in a context that is unfamiliar to you, or at some point you would like to. Geographical, denominational, or perhaps within a specific ministry or industry sphere.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and do some research.

Ask open questions: What is the most pressing need you see emerging?

Outcome questions: What are you hoping to see change?

Specific questions: Is there anything you have been teaching that you would like me to support in what I say?

Resource questions: How does your audience receive content best?  

Background questions: Find out the history and story behind where you are going.

What you can learn from these five questions may not change your message, but they will shape it to connect better to the culture you are communicating to.

Research

There is so much you can learn on your own as well. Listen to their previous talks. Social media, websites, and of course if you have been given a topic to speak on your own broader research and study.

When sharpening your communication gift altering a message you already have to better connect with a new audience will serve you well instead of creating something new from scratch.

Set yourself up for successful delivery by sticking to a framework of a message you already know, and set your audience up for better connection by asking questions and doing research ahead of time.

Cheering you on all the way

Written by – Marie Aitken