Sample Absorb Activity #2
The purpose of the course I’m developing is to teach volunteer church office assistants the importance of maintaining confidentiality of sensitive information.
This activity aligns with Terminal Objective 2: Create a list of at least four principles to guide your sharing of any information, and Enabling Objective C: Based on scenarios of various church office situations, formulate (list) at least 4 principles to guide your sharing of any information.
After looking at some sample scenarios (see sample do activity #1), it’s time to draw out some principles to guide the audience in sharing information. The following absorb idea will help them to begin thinking about general principles in preparation for adding a few of their own.
[For a description of "absorb, do and connect" activities, be sure to read the main activities page.]
This activity aligns with Terminal Objective 2: Create a list of at least four principles to guide your sharing of any information, and Enabling Objective C: Based on scenarios of various church office situations, formulate (list) at least 4 principles to guide your sharing of any information.
After looking at some sample scenarios (see sample do activity #1), it’s time to draw out some principles to guide the audience in sharing information. The following absorb idea will help them to begin thinking about general principles in preparation for adding a few of their own.
[For a description of "absorb, do and connect" activities, be sure to read the main activities page.]
Ask yourself a question...
READ THE BLOG POST “Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” by Wee Mama from May 23, 2012 Click HERE.
This blog shares three tests for deciding whether or not to share information with another person:
Is it true? Is this just a rumor or do you know it as a fact? Don’t assume something is true simply because a truthful person told you or you read it on the Internet.
Is it kind? Is there anything you are about to share that would hurt another person if they knew you were sharing it? Even if they wouldn’t care, is it kind? Is this something Jesus would say about another person?
Is it necessary? Does the person you’re about to tell really need to hear this information? Are they a part of the problem or a part of the solution? Why do you feel you need to tell it? Just so you appear to be “in the know”?
But there are other questions we should ask ourselves. Chip Ingram, in his explanation about gossip in the video series “Five Lies That Ruin Relationships,” suggests this one:
Will it cause someone to think less of that person? Sometimes even a simple declarative statement can cause someone to think less of someone: “He sleeps until noon most days.” “She doesn’t believe tithing is scriptural.” “Never speak to the pastor until he’s had at least two cups of coffee in the morning." Ephesians 4:29 warns, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” If what we’re about to say will cause someone to think less of another person, or even the church in general, keep it to yourself.
Here’s one more for you to consider:
Do you feel checked in your spirit? You know exactly what I mean, don’t you? You hear that still, small voice whisper, “Don’t say it,” a split-second before it comes out of your mouth. Or you say to yourself, “I shouldn’t.” But then you convince yourself it’s OK because the person you’re sharing with won’t tell a soul. But you need to trust that gut instinct. It is almost always the Holy Spirit trying to tell you something. The problem is that we want to tell what we know more than we want to listen to what the Spirit says. However, you can never go wrong by listening to the Spirit. If you feel “checked” at all, just say nothing.
These five simple questions can save you a lot of regret. Can you think of others?