He is called Master by some and a Master Communicator by all. Born in a barn, raised in a ghetto and a common laborer by trade, Jesus spoke in obscurity, yet his message changed the world and continues to be repeated millions of times each day. Majesty aside, what did Jesus of Nazareth do to have such influence?

 

Jesus changed the paradigms of his world with simple stories. He used older truths to unravel the lies around him. Like a trumpet, his words shook the foundations with critical questions like, “Why?”

 

From many perspectives, his life was a paradox. He owned nothing but was the son of a king. He was simple and direct, but mysterious and unfathomable. Jesus was spiritual, but not religious. He lived in harmony with the law, but was not crushed by it. Jesus lived in total freedom, yet walked in total obedience. He was calm in the midst of storms and unwavering in his purpose.

 

Like all revolutionaries, Jesus dealt with the challenges of public life. What can we learn from the way he prepared his presentations, mentored his team, established boundaries and stayed on message (not sure what stayed on message means?, even when exhausted and in the face of death?

 

Jesus’ speeches were common yet classic, plain yet complex, simple yet revolutionary, childlike yet ageless, ordinary yet multifaceted, familiar yet unforgettable. His messages have been memorized, analyzed, dramatized and computerized. It is undeniable that Jesus’ words have power and depths of meaning waiting to be explored.

 

When I imagine what the communication skills of Jesus, the Messiah, must have been like, the combined skills of these gifted Power Communicators provides only a starting point. These four men utilize different forums, but they all excel in their individual sector of influence. They have distinctly different communication strengths; put them together and you have a terrific compass that charts a range of communication styles.

 

Communication – The Universal Key for Success

Communication is one of the most remarkable of humanity’s gifts and also the greatest of man’s individual fears. All parts of our being – spirit, soul and body – depend on communication to function. Communication is the key to our lives, families, relationships, careers, and passions. Without effective communication, situations disconnect, opportunities flounder, relationships dissolve and products are forgotten.

 

How do we master communication?

Success does have a formula, and wisdom searches it out. That is why it is imperative to learn from the best. Artists copy the masters, scientists practice the formulas, musicians play the classics and athletes study the winners.

Empowered Communication is the Goal

Since the Tower of Babel, men and women have had more communication differences than similarities. Languages, culture, gender, personalities, and experiences must be bridged in order to have genuine connection. Communication is more than a work of the soul and action of the will. At its best, it connects all parts and levels of man into a focused and positive force.

 

Every person communicates best when simply being himself/herself. The goal of this book is to help people learn how to empower communication with a whole brain, whole person, whole-hearted and whole-spirit approach. The amazing thing is that, even though this sounds difficult, the more we understand and start to use the techniques of Jesus, the simpler and easier it is to master communication.

 

Jesus was a brilliant communicator and extraordinary teacher. This book endeavors to identify and reveal some of his secrets. Like a CAT scan to observe the hidden structures, this book evaluates the presentation style of Jesus of Nazareth with a modern media lens and through a professional TV media coach and corporate communications trainer’s twenty years of experience.

Jesus’ methods are explored and analyzed to find if they are relevant. Do his techniques have universal application? Will they work in our high tech, high-speed world? The answer is yes, amazingly well.

 

 

 Using my training as a professional media coach and communications consultant, I examine and find several key strategies, which make up the foundation upon which the communication principles of Jesus are built. These principles have been developed from years in the trenches of television newsrooms and decades of study. These suggestions have been honed in thousands of training sessions with anchors, reporters, politicians, sports stars, authors and business leaders.

 

Jesus – Master of the S.I.M.P.L.E.™ Method

 In evaluating Jesus’ methods of communication, there are six distinct techniques that he uses over and over again. His approach, message development, presentation, imagery and audience interaction reflect what we modern day consultants and media experts identify as the distinct principles and structure of classic communication theory. I have termed Jesus’ approach the “S.I.M.P.L.E Method,” which stands for the techniques of: Stories, Interaction, Multi-Track, Preparation, Love, and Execution.

 

 Jesus was a master storyteller and crafter of parables, word pictures, analogies, and visual imagery. Even though the stories Jesus told may have seemed childish to critics, their depth and spirit made them timeless and powerful. Like a stealth missile, they flew under the radar screen of the educated and detonated within the spirits of multitudes. The educated laughed, the religious scoffed, yet the common people loved them for their relevancy. But even with their simplicity, Jesus told stories that had multiple levels and hidden meanings. Only those closest to him or the openhearted could appreciate their value.

 

One of the important defensive moves that fighters use in hand-to-hand combat is to leverage the weight of the opponent against him. This is what Jesus did when the religious leaders criticized him. Jesus used parables that like a mirror reflected the truth of their actions back at them. For example, Jesus called some of his critics blind guides, fruitless trees and open graves. These aren’t the most politically sensitive terms that I would have used. But they worked. In the chapters on Interaction and Multilevel Communication techniques, we will examine how Jesus disarmed his opponents in greater detail.

 

Borgs. We all have had bad jobs and social situations, which seemed laden with Borgs even if we didn’t know what to call them. Jesus encountered many groups, Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Heriodians, High Priests, and Romans who represented the religious, financial, educational, and political interests of his time.

 

To help describe the un-human actions and evil forces that resisted Jesus’ destiny and that resist our own destinies, I will use the term Borg. Feel free to substitute your own terms; some of my other favorite terms are turkeys, little brains, critters, or character builders. Sometimes those you love and work with may start acting like a Borg or put on a turkey suit. In that case, don’t take it personally, but wait until the phase passes.

 

Just as a gardener delights in the beauty of the flowers, when we communicate in love we will see the hearts and spirits of others come alive. When we learn to pour the water of love into the parched hearts of others, we will see eyes brighten, faces smile, hear voices singing and watch transformations more incredible than any butterfly to ever have flown. Love is the ingredient that can heal the hearts, awake the sleeping and make the flame leap with joy. Life is in the power of the tongue, but the transformation begins with words of love. Jesus represents the greatest servant leader model the world has ever known. He connected and reconnected people through love that was honest and pure.

 

All of us deal with communication difficulties, everyday. They range from the simple to the life changing. Great communication means joy, love, satisfaction, laughter, weddings and babies. Bad communication causes sorrow, pain, tears, disappointment, loneliness and death. Though we may try our best to be effective and clear, we will meet all variety of resistance in life. Jesus was a magnificent communicator, yet he was horribly misunderstood. Was this his fault? No, people don’t always want to hear and receive what we have to say. Sometimes the seed falls on the rocky soil and sometimes we have to keep the birds or Borg from snatching them.

 

 If someone ever had a media crisis, it was Pontius Pilate. It was a set-up from the start. Then it quickly spiraled into a major disaster. This was the ultimate no-win and became the most famous trial of all time. From the media crisis viewpoint, Pilate did almost everything right with the Jesus incident. Instead of focusing on the final score of this event, let’s evaluate how the game was played. Frankly, Pilate’s performance deserves reconsideration. Looking at the way Pontius Pilate handled this situation, there are great take-away lessons.

It’s all about Communication.

Communication is the essence of life. It is the glue that builds relationships and the force that makes the stars hold hands. From the stars to the atoms, communication is everlasting. Sometimes we can see it. Sometimes we hear it, but often we just feel it. The planets dance around the sun in their orbits. Electrons whirl around neutrons. Their dance explodes into spectrums of light and beauty that we perceive with the human eye. Where does the music come from that guides this dance? We can see the waltz and join in as we watch the stars domed across the sky.

 

Jesus used words in a powerful way. He spoke with love and simplicity.

 

Jesus taught the true spirit of communication, because he knew that true communication comes from the spirit.

 

Maybe it is all about connecting. Atom to Adam. Heart to Hope. Spirit to Light. Communication is the way that we connect. Jesus came and taught people how to connect and reconnect. He taught them to connect with each other, themselves and the Father. He used simple words to help take people from the dusty roads of life into the gardens of heaven. He walked and lived fully.

 

As we transition into this new Information Age, this renaissance made possible by man’s mastery of electronics, we must not forget what guided our past. In a world of excessive information it may become easy to forget to connect. We must not substitute virtual connection for that which is real, genuine and life giving. The intercourse of our lives creates a rich complex orchestration. No amount of electronic interaction will ever create a child. We must touch. We must kiss. We must embrace. We must communicate.