Styles of Communication, Intro.

Real Dudes, 
I haven’t forgot about y’all. This 12-part study that I’ll be sending you in the weeks to come has taken me quite some time and I didn’t want to send it out until it was completed. I read through the Book of Mark several times before finalizing this study…proved to be a very rewarding time spent thinking on the things of the Lord. 
Lately, I’ve been trying to read through the Books of the NT with a fresh pair of eyes (started with 1 Thessalonians and then went straight to Matthew and Mark after reading Revelation). Each time that I begin a different Book I ask the Lord how He’d have me approach it. As I got to the Book of Mark the Lord led me to study the different styles of communication that I noticed Him using in this particular Book. So I started jotting down the different styles of communication in my page columns of my Bible as I read a chapter each night. And then I attempted to group them together at the conclusion of my study. Some of my points could very well overlap and some are subjective, but other points were clearly spelled out in the verse itself (for instance, “Jesus rebuked,” or “Jesus cried out”...He’s telling us what style specifically in those verses).
Why this study…First of all, it was God-led. Secondly, so I can know how to better communicate His words, and His words only to others. I wanted to learn from, and implement, some of His styles of communication and maybe pick up on some that I haven’t been including in my messages/lessons very often in the past. My main goal is for others to see and hear Him and not me when I’d speak/write. Are they hearing my agenda, or His? And am I relaying it the way He’d have me to or am I hoping for the attention?
I attempted to put the sections in somewhat of an order, and I also attempted to lump together some headings that are similar in style…and again, I’m not saying that my outline and points are exactly what the Holy Spirit had in mind as He wrote the Book of Mark…these are just helpful reminders for me to consider as I relay His Word to those who give me a listening ear. Although, I don’t think anyone would argue that there is a time for each of the following styles to be used, right? As we go through this 12-part study together let me encourage each of you to ask the Lord to reveal to you which style He’d have you think on and then implement in His perfect way and time, if you aren’t already. 
As someone who has an opportunity to speak into others, please know that I take this opportunity very seriously and also please know that I’m not attempting to deviate from His divine intent. 

• James 3:1 (CSB) Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.
  

Feel free to go back and read these points and verses in context and then pull from the context what you feel God is laying on your hearts and minds…the last thing I’d want is for any of us to misinterpret what He meant in context (for instance, Jesus was rebuking, but what exactly was He rebuking?). 
I’ll begin each section with “I ask you to please…” because I feel that healthy communication is a welcoming in from the listener…not a forcing myself in as a speaker/writer…I have found that polite ways of communicating are better than forceful approaches. I’d rather build relationships than build walls…that’s when we’ll get somewhere together and not alone. Following that request, I’ll jump right into explaining what I took from the verses that are included with the headings. Hope I haven’t lost you already. Praying you’ll give this study a chance and that you’ll benefit from it as much as I have. Enjoy!
Practicing His Presence,
Nate