SoulShift#5 Ask to listen STUDY GUIDE
SHIFT#5 “ASK TO LISTEN” The Story of the Sower “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed… Mark 4:3 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” Mark 4:9 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear” Mark 4:23 The Gospel Will Help You Only So Far As You Know How To LISTEN To The Voice Of God
The Transfiguration Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them. Mark 9: 7- 8 There Is No One Else To Whom You Should Listen Except JESUS
The Good Shepherd My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me John 10:23 •
A RELATIONSHIP (My sheep) We hear the Voice of God because we belong to The People of God You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Ephesians 2:19
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A RESULT (Listen to my voice)
We listen to the voice of God through The Spirit of God When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. John 16:13 •
A REASON (I know them) We know the Voice of God through The Word of God Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
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A RESPONSE (They follow me)
Evidence that we follow the Voice of God is The Fruit of The Spirit For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Questions To Ask Yourself What is the difference between asking someone for something and really listening to them? How might you learn to pay better attention to someone? What patterns do you have in your life for God to find and speak to you?
Questions You Need To Be Asked What obstacles make it hard for you to really listen to others? How could you restructure your life for God to more clearly reveal himself to you? Think about the last big decision you made. How did you make it and who helped you? What part did God play in that decision? Questions From the Sermon How can we know that we belong to Jesus? Read John 10: 10:1-23 Recount a time when you clearly heard His voice. What did He say? How did you respond? Have you ever thought you had heard from God but in hindsight know that it was not God? Why do you think you were not able to discern the difference? Discuss how the four ways listed below that help us confirm the voice of God in our lives 1) The People of God. 2) The Spirit of God. 3) The Word of God. 4) The Fruit of the Spirit How could this message change our church if we lived it out? How might God change me because of today’s message? Deeper Study Read Philippians 1:9–11. What does it mean to “discern what is best”? How did Paul define that concept in these verses? Paul wrote this prayer for the Philippian church. Are there individuals or groups of people for whom you are praying this now
Read Philippians 4:4–7. How does prayer ease your anxiety about life? What is the difference between prayer and petition? What parts of our prayer life can move beyond petition? In verse 6, in what situations did Paul advise us to present our requests to God? What situations and circumstances tempt you to be anxious? Spend some time silently praying for one another. After this time, share what you feel God may have impressed on your heart about yourself or another person in the group. Conclude your time by rejoicing in God. Share a praise or point of celebration before you are done.
Sources: “SoulShift” – A Measure of a Life Transformed” – Steve DeNeff & David Drury Send feedback or questions to [email protected]
The Transfiguration Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them. Mark 9: 7- 8 There Is No One Else To Whom You Should Listen Except JESUS
The Good Shepherd My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me John 10:23 •
A RELATIONSHIP (My sheep) We hear the Voice of God because we belong to The People of God You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Ephesians 2:19
•
A RESULT (Listen to my voice)
We listen to the voice of God through The Spirit of God When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. John 16:13 •
A REASON (I know them) We know the Voice of God through The Word of God Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
•
A RESPONSE (They follow me)
Evidence that we follow the Voice of God is The Fruit of The Spirit For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Questions To Ask Yourself What is the difference between asking someone for something and really listening to them? How might you learn to pay better attention to someone? What patterns do you have in your life for God to find and speak to you?
Questions You Need To Be Asked What obstacles make it hard for you to really listen to others? How could you restructure your life for God to more clearly reveal himself to you? Think about the last big decision you made. How did you make it and who helped you? What part did God play in that decision? Questions From the Sermon How can we know that we belong to Jesus? Read John 10: 10:1-23 Recount a time when you clearly heard His voice. What did He say? How did you respond? Have you ever thought you had heard from God but in hindsight know that it was not God? Why do you think you were not able to discern the difference? Discuss how the four ways listed below that help us confirm the voice of God in our lives 1) The People of God. 2) The Spirit of God. 3) The Word of God. 4) The Fruit of the Spirit How could this message change our church if we lived it out? How might God change me because of today’s message? Deeper Study Read Philippians 1:9–11. What does it mean to “discern what is best”? How did Paul define that concept in these verses? Paul wrote this prayer for the Philippian church. Are there individuals or groups of people for whom you are praying this now
Read Philippians 4:4–7. How does prayer ease your anxiety about life? What is the difference between prayer and petition? What parts of our prayer life can move beyond petition? In verse 6, in what situations did Paul advise us to present our requests to God? What situations and circumstances tempt you to be anxious? Spend some time silently praying for one another. After this time, share what you feel God may have impressed on your heart about yourself or another person in the group. Conclude your time by rejoicing in God. Share a praise or point of celebration before you are done.
Sources: “SoulShift” – A Measure of a Life Transformed” – Steve DeNeff & David Drury Send feedback or questions to [email protected]
