Authentic Communication (Second Edition): Christian Speech Engaging Culture

by Tim Muehlhoff, Lyle Blaker (Narrator), Todd V. Lewis

Every day we give and receive communication. But good communication doesn't always come naturally. Strengthening our skills is vital not only for those who specialize in communication but for everyone who wants to have healthy relationships, love our neighbors, and shape the world around us for good.

In Authentic Communication, educators Tim Muehlhoff and Todd Lewis offer a wealth of resources from both communication studies and the Bible. This textbook unpacks the essential elements of communication and applies them to common challenges, offering a unique look at biblical principles of communication such as loving our enemies and blessing those who insult us.

You'll find wisdom to address questions How can we overcome our natural biases and take someone else's perspective? When are persuasion tactics ethical—and when aren’t they? How should Christians offer alternative views to the dominant voices in society?

What's new in the second a new chapter on perspective taking in light of disagreement, a new chapter on communication in estranged relationships, and updated research and sources based on the past fifteen years of fresh scholarship in communication studies.

Audible Audio

Expected publication July 20, 2026

About the author

Tim Muehlhoff (PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) is a professor of communication at Biola University in La Mirada, California, where he teaches classes in family communication, interpersonal communication, persuasion, and gender. He is the author of I Beg to Differ and Marriage Forecasting, and the coauthor of The God Conversation: Using Stories and Illustrations to Explain Your Faith and Authentic Communication: Christian Speech Engaging Culture. Muehlhoff and his wife, Noreen, are frequent speakers at FamilyLife Marriage Conferences, and he has served with Campus Crusade since 1986. They live in Brea, California, with their three boys.