BURNING QUESTIONS | Part 11 with Pastor Aaron Pardy | October 19th, 2025

In a world overflowing with voices, opinions, and information, it’s easy to feel lost in the noise, especially when trying to discern what is truly from God. Just as penguins and sheep can distinguish the unique call of their own, we are invited into a relationship with God where we learn to recognize His voice above all others. This is not a quick or easy process; it takes time, intentionality, and a willingness to draw close. The ability to discern God’s voice is not just for our own benefit, but for the sake of those around us—our families, our communities, and even those who have yet to know Him.

God is always speaking, not just to the “spiritual elite,” but to everyone—regardless of background, status, or history. The invitation is open to all, and the journey of learning to hear Him is one of growing intimacy. Like sheep who learn to trust the shepherd’s voice through consistent, loving interaction, we too must spend time with God, allowing His words and actions to shape our understanding of who He is. This means prioritizing time in Scripture, prayer, and community, not as religious duties, but as the means by which we tune our hearts to His frequency.

Decision-making, especially in seasons of uncertainty or transition, can be fraught with anxiety. We often want quick answers or formulas, but God calls us to a deeper process—one where the fruit of our choices, over time, reveals whether we are following His leading or being swayed by other influences. The true test is not in immediate comfort or success, but in whether our lives and decisions ultimately glorify God and advance His kingdom, rather than just serving our own interests.

A crucial, often overlooked aspect of hearing God is learning what to stop listening to. The world is saturated with voices—media, opinions, even well-meaning Christian content—that can cloud our ability to hear God clearly. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is to step back, embrace silence, and intentionally limit the input we allow into our lives. This is not about rejecting wisdom or community, but about ensuring that God’s voice remains primary.

Ultimately, the journey of hearing God is one of continual surrender, humility, and discernment. It’s about seeking Him first, above all other sources, and allowing His Spirit to confirm and clarify what is truly from Him. As we do this, both individually and as a church, we become a people who not only hear God’s voice but also help others learn to recognize and respond to Him.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Voice Is for Everyone, Not Just the “Spiritual” God is actively speaking to all people, regardless of their background, status, or spiritual maturity. The invitation to hear Him is not exclusive; it extends to the marginalized, the powerful, the seeker, and the skeptic alike. Our role is to recognize that God’s communication is not limited by our categories, and to help others discern His voice in their own lives. [69:06]
• 2. Intimacy with God Requires Time and Consistency Just as sheep learn to recognize their shepherd’s voice through repeated, loving interaction, we must invest time in God’s presence to truly know Him. This is not a quick fix or a set of tips, but a lifelong process of drawing near, listening, and allowing our hearts to be shaped by His character. The depth of our relationship with God is directly tied to the time and attention we give Him. [66:15]
• 3. Discernment Is Measured by Fruit, Not Feelings or Immediate Outcomes When faced with decisions, the true test of whether something is from God is not how it makes us feel in the moment, but the long-term fruit it produces. Does it glorify God, advance His kingdom, and align with His character? Earthly metrics like comfort, success, or personal gain are unreliable guides; instead, we must look for evidence of God’s work and the testimony it brings to His name. [76:02]
• 4. Learning to Hear God Means Learning What to Tune Out In a culture saturated with information and opinions, discernment often requires us to intentionally limit the voices we allow into our lives. This might mean stepping away from social media, certain relationships, or even Christian content that distracts from God’s direct voice. Silence, rest, and simplicity are spiritual disciplines that create space for God to speak clearly. [82:31]
• 5. The Church’s Role Is to Equip, Not Replace, Personal Hearing While teaching, prophecy, and community are vital, they are never substitutes for each person’s direct relationship with God. Relying more on external voices—whether pastors, prophets, or influencers—than on the Holy Spirit and Scripture leads to confusion and spiritual immaturity. The healthiest church is one where every believer is encouraged and equipped to seek, hear, and obey God for themselves. [84:31]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [58:37] - The Noise of Modern Life
• [59:49] - Burning Questions: Knowing His Voice
• [62:56] - The Challenge of Discernment
• [64:08] - John 10: The Good Shepherd
• [65:33] - How Sheep Learn Their Shepherd’s Voice
• [66:59] - The Necessity of Time with God
• [69:06] - God Speaks to All
• [72:15] - The Role of the Church in Hearing God
• [73:44] - Drawing Close to the Shepherd
• [75:41] - Time and the Fruit of Decisions
• [78:12] - Kingdom Metrics vs. Earthly Metrics
• [81:56] - Stop Listening to the Wrong Voices
• [84:31] - The Danger of Substituting God’s Voice
• [87:14] - Practical Exercise: Identifying Cloudy Voices
• [91:26] - Hearing God for Our City
• [100:13] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Reading

John 10:1-16 (ESV) —
> “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
> This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
> So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
> I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

Observation Questions

1. According to John 10, what is the difference between the shepherd’s voice and the voice of strangers? How do the sheep respond to each?
2. What does Jesus mean when he says, “I am the good shepherd”? What actions does he describe that show his care for the sheep?
3. In the sermon, what examples were given of people God is speaking to, regardless of their background or status? ([01:09:27])
4. What does the passage say about the process of sheep learning to recognize the shepherd’s voice? How does this relate to our relationship with God? ([01:05:33])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus use the image of sheep and shepherd to describe our relationship with him? What does this say about how we are meant to hear and follow God?
2. The sermon says that God’s voice is for everyone, not just the “spiritual elite.” How does this challenge the way we sometimes think about who can hear from God? ([01:09:06])
3. The pastor mentioned that discernment is measured by the fruit of our decisions, not just by feelings or immediate outcomes. What does it look like to evaluate the “fruit” of a decision in your own life? ([01:16:02])
4. What are some of the “other voices” or “strangers” that can distract us from hearing God? How does the passage and the sermon suggest we deal with these? ([01:22:31])

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about intentionally limiting the voices we allow into our lives. What is one specific voice (social media, news, a relationship, etc.) that you sense is clouding your ability to hear God? What step could you take this week to “tune it out”? ([01:22:31])
2. The pastor said that intimacy with God requires time and consistency, not just quick fixes. What is one way you could prioritize time with God this week—whether in Scripture, prayer, or silence? ([01:06:15])
3. When you face a big decision, do you tend to look for quick answers or do you allow time for God to speak and for the fruit to become clear? Share about a recent decision and how you processed it. ([01:16:02])
4. The sermon challenged us to ask, “Does this glorify God or just serve my own interests?” Think of a current decision or area of your life—how can you shift your focus to God’s glory and kingdom? ([01:18:12])
5. The pastor warned against relying more on external voices (pastors, podcasts, influencers) than on the Holy Spirit and Scripture. Are there ways you’ve been tempted to substitute someone else’s voice for God’s? How can you make sure God’s voice is primary? ([01:24:31])
6. The sheep learn the shepherd’s voice through repeated, loving interaction. What are some practical ways you can “draw close” to God in your daily routine? ([01:06:15])
7. The sermon ended with a challenge to identify “cloudy voices” in our lives. Take a moment to reflect: What is one voice or input you need to set aside this week to make more space for God’s voice? ([01:27:14])