Respect the Image: Reflecting Human Worth in How We Listen and Talk

by Timothy M. Shorey

We humans talk a lot, so you’d think we’d be good at communicating with one another. But . . . well, we’re not. And the result is hurt, misunderstandings, frustration, division, and sometimes all-out war. Yet whether we’re trying to repair a relationship, interact on social media, or understand someone whose beliefs differ from our own, there is hope! The people around us bear God’s image. As we learn to treat them accordingly, our communication will become a powerful means of showing God’s love to them. Laying out eleven key principles for loving conversation, Pastor Tim Shorey guides us to a memorable, scriptural approach to communication that can transform our relationships.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Faith

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2020

Reviews

[Matt Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an encouraging and helpful read this is!
A reading highlight of the year for me and a book that would do me much good to return to regularly.
I love Tim’s writing style too.

[Emerald Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would read this book again! It had a lot of helpful and applicable insights on our communication with those in our lives and with our Father in Heaven.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definite must-read in our day and age of such hostility and constant suspicion. Very convicting and offers a lot of practical help on how to disagree well, what it means to think the best of others and to learn from and listen to each other. Loved it.

[Kyle Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Shorey both encourages and challenges the reader to think more deeply about the ways we interact with people. This requires us to look at one another from the perspectives of how God created us and what the gospel calls for from us.

The first chapter particularly was a joy to read, as the Tim made his case. I found it to be an excellent reflection on human worth from a biblical perspective.

Tim is a winsome writer who loads his book with the practicalities of application in different spheres of life.

Considering the erosion of civility in public discourse and the lack of healthy communication skills in all sorts of relationships, this book falls into the “must read” category.

[Cassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. The premise is simple: If we believe that people are made in the image of God (as Scripture teaches), then we ought to respect others in how we communicate. The author lays out biblical principles that correlate to the acronym COMMUNICATE: Chill, Open up, Make time, Mean what you say, Understand what you hear, Nourish with grace, Initiate peace, Celebrate others, Assume you are wrong, Think the best, and Examine your heart. (As a Communication Major, this thrills me.) Each principle is rooted in Scripture, so we might say these are timeless truths that apply to all believers in all interactions — with close friends or strangers or anyone in between, whether in person or online or through any other means. I was regularly convicted about the ways I need to grow in godly communication. Timothy Shorey can be a little cheesy at times, but he seems pretty self-aware in that way; I don’t think he was guilty of elevating gimmicks above content, which for me actually made the occasional cheesiness endearing. Overall, this was a super practical book that I’d highly recommend for personal reading or as a discipleship tool.

[Andrew Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on godly communication!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the power of the Spirit, believers are to display relationships in the church that are starkly different than the world. Because the gospel has transformed our lives by reconciling sinners to a holy God, our relationships should also display the reconciling power of gospel. Tim argues that part of our inability to display the reconciling power of the gospel in our relationships is because of the way we communicate with one another. Tim helps us see how much the Bible has to say specifically about the way we talk and the way we listen. This is not a "how to be nice to each other" book. It is biblically rich, laced with the gospel, and full of practical application for every Christian. We read this book as part of the Gospel and Race Project at our church and also invited Tim to do a seminar on the book for our congregation. We were immensely blessed by his wisdom, clarity, and encouragement.

While the impetus behind this reading this book at our church primarily began with Gospel & Race Project, you will find that the application of the biblical principles in this book applies to relationships in all spheres of your life! In your marriage, if you feel like there is often miscommunication, misunderstanding, and issues remaining unresolved, I think you will greatly benefit from this book. If you are a parent struggling to connect with your young teenager, you will be equipped with some tools in this book. If you want to be a better friend and church member, or even just are engaging with those in the world on social media, this book is a must have. In the midst of deep divides emerging even within the church across political and ethnic lines in this country, the principles in Tim's book would serve any congregation desiring to grow in listening and talking to others in a manner that reflects their true worth as image bearers of a holy God.

[Lydia Rufus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fantastic book on communication - very hands on and practical. Tim uses the word COMMUNICATE as an acronym -

Chill
Open up
Make time
Mean what you say
Understand what you hear
Nourish with Grace
Initiate Peace
Celebrate Others
Assume you are Wrong
Examine your Heart

And there is one chapter that looks at each of these. The book was very engaging and easy to read. There is lots of story and lived examples in it. Very helpful!!

I'll be coming back to this book.

[Andrew Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a practical, helpful, and convicting book! It might well be retitled as “How to be a Better (Person, Friend, Spouse, Parent, Pastor, etc.)”

[Karrie Flegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shorey discusses various biblical truths about God, humanity, and sin while practically applying them to our daily lives and relationships. Very convicting.

[Edy Gies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book with deep truths and quick rhymes to encourage retention of the truths. I appreciated the way he told stories and wove them into the writing.