January 15th, 2023
by Sarah Turner
by Sarah Turner
There’s a pun about not listening that goes something like this:
So, I was on the couch the other day and my friend said "hey, you're not listening!" and I said "well, that's a funny way to start a conversation."
It's a light joke about the classic "tune-out". It happens to the best of us. Active listening can be tricky though. You have to pay attention to the speaker; maintain the appropriate level of eye contact; maybe you paraphrase back what is being said; ask some questions; and avoid interruptions.
Listening takes effort. This week, we will talk about listening and the importance of listening to God. Let's start with a prayer.
Opening Prayer:
God, thank you for bringing us together this week. We ask that you bless this conversation and help us to understand Your words. Please help us to speak gently, listen well, and to be kind to one another. In Your name we pray, Amen.
Head:
Read Exodus 3:1-14 (CEB)
Moses was taking care of the flock for his father-in-law Jethro, Midian’s priest. He led his flock out to the edge of the desert, and he came to God’s mountain called Horeb. The Lord’s messenger appeared to him in a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was in flames, but it didn’t burn up. Then Moses said to himself, Let me check out this amazing sight and find out why the bush isn’t burning up. When the Lord saw that he was coming to look, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
Moses said, “I’m here.”
Then the Lord said, “Don’t come any closer! Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground.” He continued, “I am the God of your father, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, “I’ve clearly seen my people oppressed in Egypt. I’ve heard their cry of injustice because of their slave masters. I know about their pain. I’ve come down to rescue them from the Egyptians in order to take them out of that land and bring them to a good and broad land, a land that’s full of milk and honey, a place where the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites all live. Now the Israelites’ cries of injustice have reached me. I’ve seen just how much the Egyptians have oppressed them. So get going. I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh and to bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” God said, “I’ll be with you. And this will show you that I’m the one who sent you. After you bring the people out of Egypt, you will come back here and worship God on this mountain.” But Moses said to God, “If I now come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they are going to ask me, ‘What’s this God’s name?’ What am I supposed to say to them?” God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. So say to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’”
The Heart:
This collection of verses recount the exact moment when God reveals Himself to Moses as an adult. However, God was present in Moses's life from the moment he was born. In fact, God prepared Moses to be the one to lead the Israelites from captivity. We know that Moses was born in Egypt to a Hebrew mother and was placed in a basket on the Nile River to be discovered by the daughter of Pharaoh. Moses was raised as Egyptian royalty and was afforded all the resources to explicitly learn the language and culture. Additionally, it would be fair to think Moses still had points of contact to help gain access to Pharaoh. Moses could have realized that he was the perfect person to help with God's plan yet, he refused to listen.
The Hands:
If you think about how active the quiet presence of the Spirit truly is, then it is difficult to unsee how many signs from God there truly are in our lives. This week, think about the nudges from the Spirit you experience. You may be encouraged to pray about it. But, once you start keeping track, all of a sudden, burning bushes are everywhere.
Closing Prayer:
Hey God, thank you for the gift of listening. Thank you for the quiet presence of the Holy Spirit within us. Help us to be good listeners when the Spirit is guiding us. Please forgive us when we fall short of this guidance. Please show us the righteous path and provide us with opportunities to help others. In your name we pray, Lord. Amen.
So, I was on the couch the other day and my friend said "hey, you're not listening!" and I said "well, that's a funny way to start a conversation."
It's a light joke about the classic "tune-out". It happens to the best of us. Active listening can be tricky though. You have to pay attention to the speaker; maintain the appropriate level of eye contact; maybe you paraphrase back what is being said; ask some questions; and avoid interruptions.
Listening takes effort. This week, we will talk about listening and the importance of listening to God. Let's start with a prayer.
Opening Prayer:
God, thank you for bringing us together this week. We ask that you bless this conversation and help us to understand Your words. Please help us to speak gently, listen well, and to be kind to one another. In Your name we pray, Amen.
Head:
Read Exodus 3:1-14 (CEB)
Moses was taking care of the flock for his father-in-law Jethro, Midian’s priest. He led his flock out to the edge of the desert, and he came to God’s mountain called Horeb. The Lord’s messenger appeared to him in a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. Moses saw that the bush was in flames, but it didn’t burn up. Then Moses said to himself, Let me check out this amazing sight and find out why the bush isn’t burning up. When the Lord saw that he was coming to look, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
Moses said, “I’m here.”
Then the Lord said, “Don’t come any closer! Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground.” He continued, “I am the God of your father, Abraham’s God, Isaac’s God, and Jacob’s God.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. Then the Lord said, “I’ve clearly seen my people oppressed in Egypt. I’ve heard their cry of injustice because of their slave masters. I know about their pain. I’ve come down to rescue them from the Egyptians in order to take them out of that land and bring them to a good and broad land, a land that’s full of milk and honey, a place where the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites all live. Now the Israelites’ cries of injustice have reached me. I’ve seen just how much the Egyptians have oppressed them. So get going. I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I to go to Pharaoh and to bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” God said, “I’ll be with you. And this will show you that I’m the one who sent you. After you bring the people out of Egypt, you will come back here and worship God on this mountain.” But Moses said to God, “If I now come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they are going to ask me, ‘What’s this God’s name?’ What am I supposed to say to them?” God said to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. So say to the Israelites, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’”
- Moses received news from God that he was God's rescue plan to free the Israelites who were enslaved in Egypt. Yet, his response to the news was to question God's plan. How might this be viewed as Moses not fully listening?
- Using our modern understanding of what active listening entails, what would be some of the challenges Moses experienced in this story?
- How does God comfort Moses when he expresses doubt about himself?
The Heart:
This collection of verses recount the exact moment when God reveals Himself to Moses as an adult. However, God was present in Moses's life from the moment he was born. In fact, God prepared Moses to be the one to lead the Israelites from captivity. We know that Moses was born in Egypt to a Hebrew mother and was placed in a basket on the Nile River to be discovered by the daughter of Pharaoh. Moses was raised as Egyptian royalty and was afforded all the resources to explicitly learn the language and culture. Additionally, it would be fair to think Moses still had points of contact to help gain access to Pharaoh. Moses could have realized that he was the perfect person to help with God's plan yet, he refused to listen.
- Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt called to something because of your experience? Share that experience where you felt called to something and you listened to that call.
- God values good listening skills. In fact there are several verses in the bible that highlight the value of listening. (James 1:19, Romans 10:17, Proverbs 18:13) What are some ways that we can be better listeners?
- Last week, we talked about how the Holy Spirit is constant in our lives quietly nudging us to do the right thing. How can better listening pick up on those nudges?
The Hands:
If you think about how active the quiet presence of the Spirit truly is, then it is difficult to unsee how many signs from God there truly are in our lives. This week, think about the nudges from the Spirit you experience. You may be encouraged to pray about it. But, once you start keeping track, all of a sudden, burning bushes are everywhere.
- Track the signs: Use a journal or memo in your phone and begin collecting the signs your feel, see, and hear.
- Use this Quote this week to meditate on how the Spirit shows up in and around you: To eyes that see, every bush is a burning bush. -Eugene Peterson
Closing Prayer:
Hey God, thank you for the gift of listening. Thank you for the quiet presence of the Holy Spirit within us. Help us to be good listeners when the Spirit is guiding us. Please forgive us when we fall short of this guidance. Please show us the righteous path and provide us with opportunities to help others. In your name we pray, Lord. Amen.
Posted in CoreGroup Discussion Guides
Recent
Archive
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
October
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way // M-Note 10.5.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Love Thy Political Neighbor // M-Note 10.11.2024Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Fear is a Powerful Motivator // M-Note 10.19.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Why Do Bad Things Happen? // M-Note 10.26.24Why? Discussion Guide - Week 1
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 4Explore - Week 3God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideSENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23Lent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
Categories
Tags
1 Kings 3
1 Kings
1 Timothy
2 Corinthians 9:5-7
2 Timothy
Belden Lane
Beyond Simple
Celebrate
Change
Christ
Commit
Confidence
Denee Bowers
Devotional
Discussion Guides
Distractions
Divine Love
Doubt
Easter
Ephesians
Equity
Evangelism
Explore
Five Shared Practices
Focus
Frederick Buechner
Fresh Take
Friends
Generosity
God
Gratitude
Hebrews
Holy Ambiguity
Holy Spirit
Hope
Humanity
Identity
Inside Voice
Isaiah
Jesus
John 21
John
Joy
Kids
King Solomon
Lectio Divina
Lent
Life
Limitations
Longing
M-Note
Matt Miofsky
Matthew
Nadia Bolz-Weber
No Filter
Open
Parables
Parenting
Patience
Paula D'Arcy
Paula D\'Arcy
Paula D\\\'Arcy
Paula D\\\\\\\'Arcy
Paul
Privilege
Proverbs 1
Proverbs
Psalms
Purpose
Questions
Redeem
Rejoice
Righteousness
Sabra Engelbrecht
Second Chance
Self-Love
Struggle
Success
The Bible
The Church
The Gathering
Timothy
Uncertainty
Untethered
Vision
Weird
acts
adulting
advice
challenge
commitment
creation
deconstruction
deconstruct
faith
finances
fitness
forgiveness
forgiving
foundation
freedom
give
growth
kelley weber
love
meister eckhart
money
mystery
new life
opportunity
reconstruction
reconstruct
redemption
relationships
responsibility
simplify
sin
social
thomas merton
transition
truth
willingness
willpower
will
young adult
No Comments