Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Why do we avoid having that awkward conversation at work or having an awkward moment.

Elephant in the Room situations can happen in work, everyday conversations, marriages, politics, teams, friendships, families or even church.There could be an elephant in the church auditorium, for whatever reason people don’t want to tlak about it. To get rid of the Elephant in the Room you’ve actually got to talk about it.

How do you have an awkward conversation that isn’t going to damage relationships.

Philemon gives a great example about how to approach these difficult subjects. How you approach these awkward conversations actually makes a very big difference.

Philemon is a letter written by Paul that is addressed to Philemon and he writes it in a way that he communicates the awkward problem without approaching the situation in an ungodly way (Philemon 1:1-25).

Nine ways to have that awkward conversation:

1. Acknowledge your common faith. (Philemon 1:1)
2. Recognise you’re on the same team. (Philemon 1:1)
3. Keep the health of church in mind.(Philemon 1:2-7)“It is surely due to Paul’s vivid awareness of the essential oneness of the church.“
4. Don’t pull rank unless necessary. (Philemon 1:8)
5. Emphasise love and forgiveness. (Philemon 1:9-14)
6. Appreciate, in God’s providence, bad things can be used for good. (Philemon 1:15-16)
7. Absorb the costs and losses. (Philemon 1:18)
8. Work confidently for ‘win, win!’ (Philemon 1:21)
9. The goal is to live together in harmony (Philemon 1:22)