Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Gifts 04: Hearing God’s voice | Discussion Guide
Debrief Last Week’s Practice (10 mins):
How did last week's practice go?
What gifts did you try? How did it go?
Do you feel like you have more clarity on what your spiritual gift(s) may be?
Discussion (35 mins):
Watch this video together.
We’re often nervous to share with others that we have “spiritual gifts” or that we “hear God’s voice” because they may think we’re weird. Have you ever experienced this? Do you think this is true?
Read this week’s practice together. What stands out to you?
Have you ever heard God’s voice before? Has there ever been a time when you think God may have been communicating with you?
Pete Greig writes, “Most people today miss the voice of God not because it's too strange but because it's too familiar. They expect the Almighty to sound dramatic, bombastic, unmistakable, and a bit spooky.” Have you found this to be true? Do you think it’s possible that we don’t think we hear from God because we’re expecting a booming, audible voice from heaven?
Learning to recognize God’s voice takes time and dedication. The primary way God speaks is through the Bible. And even the Bible can be difficult to understand at first. It takes time and dedication to begin to understand it and recognize what God is saying. What are ways we can begin to recognize God’s voice?
People hear God in different ways. Some people, like me, tend to think a lot. If that’s you, God may speak to you through Bible verses or a phrase. Other people are visual. If that’s you, God may speak to you though mental pictures, visions, or dreams. Other people are more in tune with their body and intuitions. If that’s you, you may hear God through physical sensations or a ‘gut feeling’. You may also feel an emotion or sense God tugging at your heart. What ways do you think God may speak to you?
Do the practice together (30 mins):
Sit in silence. Take some time to quiet the room. Put away any noise or distractions. You may want to play some pads or light music to still the room. Invite the Holy Spirit to come and speak.
See if God is speaking. Listen quietly for what God may be saying. Don’t try to force anything or work anything up. Just breath and allow yourself to come to awareness of God’s presence and voice.
Share your experience. Share with the group what happened during the time of listening. Did you get a phrase or picture? Did anything come to mind? Did you feel any physical sensations, emotions, or promptings of the Spirit?
Debrief (15 mins):
Come back together and debrief how it went in your group.
As we listened did any one sense anything?
What was it like wait in silence?
Do you feel like God wants to speak to you? Why or why not?