| Because the church thrives on healthy relationships among its members, effective communication skills enhance the quality of fellowship. Knowing how to speak spiritual truth and motives into the fellowship creates a context in which barriers to accomplishing the church's God-given mission are removed. This project presents a review of Church of God literature showing the movement's understanding of the nature of Christian fellowship. A comparison of the New Testament concept of koinonia, which describes those things held in common by the members of the church, and the Latin word communis , which is related to the word "communication," establishes a theological context in which to discuss the connection of communication to the church.;Seven communication principles are explained: self-concept, verbal communication, nonverbal communication, listening, perception, responses to conflict, and problem solving. Ideas on the presentation of the principles, their application to the local congregation, and suggestions for practice and experimentation are proposed. Samples of teaching sermons, feedback surveys and workshop notes used in a congregational setting are included in the appendices.;This project proposes that effective communication does not create spirituality in the church, but does promote it. The Bible teaches that the manner of interpersonal exchange in the congregation is a spiritual issue. The conclusion is that communication skills enhance the spiritual quality of Christian fellowship and labor. |
