Curiosity
Answering the Knock of
Relationship
Discovering our mission from the perspective of the
author of Hebrews clarifies how bridges are built
between us and other people steeped in their culture.
Hebrews presents the vision of a redemptive curiosity,
brimming with sound theology and actively practiced by
a community that takes God's Word seriously.
Important Disclaimers
• Though curiosity is vital to what I do, I’m not an
expert on it. I need a workshop like this for me!
• Curiosity does not comport itself well to a
“workshop” or “breakout session.” In the midst
of teaching the “how-to’s” I may violate my own
call for curiosity due to time constraints!
• I co-direct a “household seminary,” in which we
teach some of these things as vital skills to
ministry to non-Christians and fellow believers.
Definition
• Curiosity is a subjective quality of persons whereby they are
eager to learn.
• Curiosity can be invasive, when there is no invitation.
• There can be a curiosity about myself that is unhealthy.
• There are healthy kinds of curiosity:
▫ It has been prized where genius, creativity, and the arts are valued.
Great scientists and inventors have had this in abundance.
▫ Curiosity about God has characterized many seekers.
▫ There is also room for a healthy curiosity about myself, but it is best
manifested with healthy curiosity about God and others.
• Curiosity in relationships is being brought fully into the
moment with another person: All my attention is at the
disposal of the one with whom I share that moment of time.
Why do I need to be more curious?
• Lifeline to other hearts. I “signed up” to be more engaged
in spiritual realities in my life and the life of others.
• Risky, and I need to take more risks. I need to grow in
my confidence in God and see pain and struggles that
only he can address.
• Discovery of new frontiers, from more helpful ways to
understand the everyday, to fresh ways of hearing God’s
Word, to greater excitement about God’s future.
• Makes more stories accessible, facilitates connections.
• Exercise of the Golden Rule: it’s what I want for me.
• I am human; it’s what I do: It makes me more fully alive.
Hebrews: Case Study in Curiosity
• The leadership of a predominantly Jewish Christian church,
under the pressure of unrelenting persecution is having to
deal with pockets of disaffected people who are raising the
theological issue of post-conversion sins.
• These disaffected people are legalists who, misinterpreting the
Old Testament, are charging the leadership with compromise
and are drawing away other Christians of a tender conscience.
• All of these unhappy people are either returning to the
ritualism of the Jewish community or considering leaving at
the expense of the fledgling Christian community.
• At the crucial moment, when their faith should be showcased,
they have lost their confidence.
• The leadership, at their wits end, have turned to the author for
help.
What does the author say in response?
Big Idea, or the thesis of the oration: Revise your
inadequate understanding of basic Christianity and
abandon the folly that results from that
misunderstanding, particularly in the crucial time of
trial; Instead, run to Jesus, who, as both the originator
and completer of our faith, is enough.
Good News and Ministry in Hebrews
• The Good News in Hebrews is that God wants to
bring about completion on many levels.
• The mature are to deal with the blood of the eternal
Now may the God of peace who bythe grumblers and build
up those who could be the dead the great
covenant brought back from led to despair. shepherd of the
• To Hebrews there is a crucial moment for which our
sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, equip you with every good thing to
faith in our Great High Priest is ideally suited, but
do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through
when “tender consciences” forgot the Scriptures.
Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen. (13:20-21
• Part of mature shepherding is to extend a personal
invitation to embrace a new mind that stems from
an adequate understanding of what Christ has really
done and what God has really said.
▫ The invitation is to sound theological understanding.
▫ This ministry requires a redemptive curiosity.
The Hebrews Model: theoretical
ForWe need a sufferingproclaimed purposes that connectsas sons.
• the ground news about God’s toGod is treating you But
curiosity as discipline; us just that frequently
For we had good that has soaked up the rain as they did. our falls
Endure your
Therefore,brothers andvegetation for thosesince they did not
the message theyusefulyour them no good,and your weak knees,
and son is heard sisters, thathands of you tend receives
on it what yields therewedid listlessdoes not discipline?it evil, you
strengthen live.
theology with how
See to need a curiositythat a father Word thatwho has anBut if
For it, died in faithabout God’s none the things promised,
These
• make those who without receiving that what paying
join We all straight ForBut if it produces(4:2) involvesis lame may
and in with from God. heard yourthe living God.whom and it is
it for it in feet, all and have
a blessing resulting inforsakes faith.so sonsand thistles, in,
unbelieving heartpathswas fitting andhim, forright encourage
do attention, them in the distance for welcomed them and
that right something thorns But shared
discipline, interpretation
butnot experiencethroughbe healed. Pursue peaceso that
they saw of joint but whom enter that rest,
Thus we must make every effort toall things exist, inwith no
be put out
not application.
thenanother illegitimatecursed; its is called “Today,” have none
useless and about to beas long as itfate is to be burned. But in
one you are each day, and are not sons. Besides, we that the
everyone, andcuriosity aboutmany sonsno and will seetry toLord.
acknowledgedfollowing thesuffering that we
We may become they were strangers one disobedience.
that
one may fall byholiness, for without itsotospeak don’tthis, on For
pattern of foreigners we
bringing samesin’s fathers and(3:12-13)
your case, dear friends, even though we glory, likewethe fix
• you need adiscipline from our earthly deception. make the are
to
experienced
of hardened by a way make it clear thatrespected
those originator in such salvation perfect
earth. For God iswho speak of theirthe grace of than any no
it. it that no one comes short ofand sharper God, that
the word of of bettersubmit ourselvesto deliverance. For Father of
living and
them; need we not be wary activewhile struggle in our entering
See to shallwe must things relating all the more to the God is
convinced a curiosity about the ones whothe promise ofmidst.
Therefore that,
• We like a bitter homeland. In fact, if point of dividing soul
they are seeking a root springing up and they hadtrouble, and
double-edged sword, piercing even toand the love abeen thinking
one be andso as to life? Forsufferings. the have for you have this
throughyour you may causing little while
Getting to root forget they the (2:11)
spirits remains open, none ofworkbeliever’s confidence and
not ▫unjust receive matters restoresdisciplined us missed out on as
his rest
through himthat them,fromhein having isour benefit, as the did.
of the land many becometo the unbeliever.
they
from spirit, andfor his had left, they would have had opportunity
showcaseshad good newsdoes so it served to judge they to
but defiled. for able and
seemed good tojoints work marrow;(12:12-16). just that we may
Christ’s name, proclaimed to us
news. For But as it is, they aspire to a better land,continuing
demonstrated we
sharethe saints. (6:7-10) discipline seems painful that is, a
to return.holiness. Now all heart. And of creature is the time,
▫ and thoughts of the
desiresCuriosity is a fundamental component nodiscipleship.athidden
serve his need more of a curiosity about what God has for us.did
But the message they heard did them no good, since they their
• We also
not God,inBut Therefore, naked it in exposed the
heavenlybut everything isGod the fruit of peace and eyes
from joyful.one. later it produces is not ashamed to be calledof
and
with prepared city for faith. (4:1-2)
not join he has those whoaheard them. (11:13-16)
God, whom we must render an account. (4:11-13)
him to for
righteousness for those trained by it. (12:7-11)
Hebrews model: practical
• Availability
• Self-awareness
• Imagination
• Attunement
Self-
Imagination
awareness
Available
An opportunity What is going on
How would this
and an invitation. within me as I speak
person’s life be
I am thinking to this person?
different with
about mission. Brokenness: sort
understanding?
I am thinking thru mixed
Are they interested to
God’s purposes in motivations.
dialog about what that
the world. Without identifying,
could look like?
do I trust what I feel?
Lead with your ear: thru attunement
scenes hear the story of events
that caused this person to flee
from God to find counterfeit
life.