The Bad News Sandwich-
A Jesus Thing to Do
The Leadership Skill of Counseling
A Jesus Thing to Do
The Leadership Skill of Counseling
In my three careers, first in the Air Force- 6 years, a computer consultant-27 years, and finally as a teacher for 10 years, I had 47 supervisors. I made a hobby of watching successful and dreadful leadership skills in the people I worked for.
One element of that hobby that developed was my clear vision of good leadership skills. Truly Jesus was the greatest leader that has ever walked the earth.
As a scoutmaster and then as a teacher, I often had to give a scout or a student bad news, most likely when they had broken a rule. The manner I gave the bad news greatly contributed or detracted from the teacher-student relationship I had with that student. Students learned best from teachers they respected and appreciated so it was to my advantage to counsel in an effective manner. Giving bad news to someone is best done in a caring way, even when it is not deserved.
Being the great and perfect leader, the perfect counselor, and teacher, Jesus teaches us a great method of counseling someone that has to receive bad news. I call it the Bad News Sandwich. It is very simple but makes a great difference in the lives of people around you.
When giving bad news to someone,
Part --- ingredient
1- first tell them something good about themselves, (bread)
2- then give them the bad news, (sandwich meat)
3- finally give them
something good and hopeful for them. (bread)
In all of the letters Jesus sends to the seven churches in seven cities of Asia Minor He uses this leadership technique on some bad behaviors of some of the people in the cities and their churches.
As presented here, the focus is not on the understanding of the symbolism contained in part of the letter, but rather the form and structure of the letter containing the 'bad news sandwich'.
Seek to understand the sandwich in the following letter:
When giving bad news to someone,
Part --- ingredient
1- first tell them something good about themselves, (bread)
2- then give them the bad news, (sandwich meat)
3- finally give them
something good and hopeful for them. (bread)
In all of the letters Jesus sends to the seven churches in seven cities of Asia Minor He uses this leadership technique on some bad behaviors of some of the people in the cities and their churches.
As presented here, the focus is not on the understanding of the symbolism contained in part of the letter, but rather the form and structure of the letter containing the 'bad news sandwich'.
Seek to understand the sandwich in the following letter:
Revelations 2: 12-17a
Jesus is Speaking, the Apostle John is being a scribe for a letter to Pergamum
To the Church in Pergamum
12"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
First comes the Good news, the top bread of the letter/sandwich13 I know where you live--where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city--where Satan lives.
Now comes the bad news, the meat of the letter14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Finally comes bottom bread, with more Good News and Hope for a bright future:16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Then one more thought and direction to understand the meaning of the sandwich:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The ways of Jesus and His leadership skills are presented here is what we should do in our every day lives as leaders both in secular society but especially in our church Christian fellowship. We should see this as a method and directive of Jesus since we should imitate His behavior!
One of the worst behaviors we ever do is any bahavior that kills motivation. Far too often, especially in our churches people tell other people how wrong they are when discussing a topic. Behavior as that is hurtful, un-Christian, and leads to barriers between people in a group to the detriment of the group and the church.
I encourage you to learn from Jesus how we should behave with each other. After all, IT IS the Christian thing to do.
Thanks be to God
First comes the Good news, the top bread of the letter/sandwich13 I know where you live--where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city--where Satan lives.
Now comes the bad news, the meat of the letter14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Finally comes bottom bread, with more Good News and Hope for a bright future:16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Then one more thought and direction to understand the meaning of the sandwich:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The ways of Jesus and His leadership skills are presented here is what we should do in our every day lives as leaders both in secular society but especially in our church Christian fellowship. We should see this as a method and directive of Jesus since we should imitate His behavior!
One of the worst behaviors we ever do is any bahavior that kills motivation. Far too often, especially in our churches people tell other people how wrong they are when discussing a topic. Behavior as that is hurtful, un-Christian, and leads to barriers between people in a group to the detriment of the group and the church.
I encourage you to learn from Jesus how we should behave with each other. After all, IT IS the Christian thing to do.
Thanks be to God
addendum:
A classroom example on the Bad New Sandwich below.
lonnie
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An Additional Thought:
The Bad News Sandwich in my Classroom:
==============================An Additional Thought:
The Bad News Sandwich in my Classroom:
In the classroom, I often used this Bad New sandwich technique when a student gave me a bad answer to a question during a lesson I was teaching. I may ask a question, and I would see shy sweet little Susie raise her hand in great expection of having the correct answer. I call on her and then, too bad, she give me the wrong answer. Telling her she gave me the wrong answer would greatly hurt her feelings and dampen her enthusiam for the class. So I would give her a Bad New Sandwich.
First, I would tell her, "That is a very good answer Susie! That shows some real thinking. But, you are an answer ahead of my questions in this discussion. That is the answer to one of my next questions so you hold on to that idea, and you will be right the next time!
You see, the answer would be close and on topic, but just plain wrong. Now, I might not have had any intention of asking the question I mentioned to her where she had the right answer, but it basically telling her she had the wrong answer, I gave her positive feelings about the answer she gave.
Then I would insure I discussed her answer before the class was over or at the beginning of her next class with me. It never failed to take some of the pain away from the timing and incorrectness of her comment.
"Do no Harm" does not mean we have to agree with everything someones says, it is how we disagree that is most important. The danger in trying to "do no harm" with one person is you are very likely going to harm the thoughts and feelings of another person. It is all about charity in being in disagreement. Jesus called out people in his letters to the churches of western Asia Minor as we find in Revelations, but in the manner He did it, He teaches us a great leadership lesson.
Thanks Be to God for our Glorious Leader, Jesus Christ
lonnie
Then I would insure I discussed her answer before the class was over or at the beginning of her next class with me. It never failed to take some of the pain away from the timing and incorrectness of her comment.
"Do no Harm" does not mean we have to agree with everything someones says, it is how we disagree that is most important. The danger in trying to "do no harm" with one person is you are very likely going to harm the thoughts and feelings of another person. It is all about charity in being in disagreement. Jesus called out people in his letters to the churches of western Asia Minor as we find in Revelations, but in the manner He did it, He teaches us a great leadership lesson.
Thanks Be to God for our Glorious Leader, Jesus Christ
lonnie
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ldcoggins@gmail.
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lonnie
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