Hearing God.
Brady Boyd.
Opening Reflection.
Where have you seen God at work in your life this week?
Share any brief examples and encouragements.
The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, ‘Here I am.’ And he ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ But Eli said, ‘I did not call; go back and lie down.’ So he went and lay down.
Again the Lord called, ‘Samuel!’ And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ ‘My son,’ Eli said, ‘I did not call; go back and lie down.’
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
A third time the Lord called, ‘Samuel!’ And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’
Then Eli realised that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, ‘Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’1 Samuel 3:1-10
This passage from 1 Samuel 3 speaks of a time when ‘the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.’ Have you ever had a dream or a vision, or heard a voice, which you knew was God speaking to you?
How else have you heard God speak to you? Do you find it hard to hear God’s voice? Why do you think listening can be so difficult? Are there other voices
Ask someone to read this quote from Eugene Peterson to the group.
You ask God questions and you go without a lot of answers. Kids ask their parents a lot of questions. And sometimes parents say to their kids, “Just trust me. You don’t know enough to understand the answer.” Being a Christian and reading the Bible is not a way to get all your questions answered. God is wanting to draw us into a relationship of faith, intimacy, and love. That doesn’t come through information alone. It comes through trust, obedience, and the willingness to be present in the mystery of God. It comes through letting Him reveal himself to us as we’re able to receive the revelation. If God just dumped all the answers on us at once, we probably couldn’t handle it. We’d misuse it. We’d think we had control of it now.
Have you ever experienced what Pete Greig called “God on mute”? What have you learned from the silence of God?
The Bible says, in James 1:22, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”What was the last thing God told you to do? Are you doing it? Is there anything God has already said that you haven’t done?
If God were to ask you, “What do you want from me?”, how would you answer?
John 10:27 quotes the words of Jesus to his disciples saying, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Is there any action you could take which might help you listen better?
Closing Reflection.
Is there anything you will take away from this study and discussion? What has stood out that you can take into your week ahead?
Pray together (in pairs or small groups) for each other, in response to your answers.
