How to Argue Like Jesus: Learning Persuasion from History's Greatest Communicator

Even though the profession of one’s faith is sometimes frowned upon in the realms of the business world, my faith is as much a part of me as my receding hair line and expanding waist line – all by the way, the rewards of turning “50” this year. While the story in and of itself may very well have the makings for another book, my faith experience has seen me through the tumultuous journey from millionaire to pauper, and from abundant means to abundant need to a restoration based on hope and the confidence that the Good Lord has a plan for my life. In this journey I have come to recognize the fact that as Kenneth Boa wrote in his article titled Conflict Management, “conflict is a part of life.” Boa went on to write, “There is simply no getting away from this fact. As a leader, as a human being, you can be sure that you’ll face relational conflicts. No leadership model exists that will totally eliminate disagreements or clashes of personality. In fact, the tension that comes from conflict can be healthy and beneficial to growth if dealt with correctly. Since conflict is inevitable, it makes sense to manage versus avoid conflict. For this reason I am pleased to welcome as my guests today authors John Coleman and Joe Carter whose book "How to Argue Like Jesus: Learning Persuasion from History's Greatest Communicator," examines the life and words of Jesus and describes the various ways in which he sought-through the spoken word, his life, and his disciples-to reach others with his message. The authors then pull some very simple rhetorical lessons from Jesus' life that readers can use today. Both Christian and non-Christian leaders in just about any field can improve their ability to communicate effectively by studying the words and methods of history's greatest communicator.