Deepening Our Relationship with Jesus Through Listening

 

Summary

In today's gathering at Parkway Church, we focused on the transformative power of experiencing Jesus and the importance of deepening our relationship with Him through worship, prayer, and listening. We began by emphasizing that encountering Jesus is not just for those new to faith but also for those who have been on this journey for a long time. We are all called to continually seek His presence and allow it to change us. Worship is a vital part of this process, as it is a way to proclaim God's wonderful acts and draw nearer to Him.

We explored the gifts of the Spirit, particularly the gift of tongues and its interpretation, as a means through which God speaks to His church. This is not meant to condemn but to call us closer to Him, urging us to repent and draw near. We are reminded that there is no condemnation for those in Christ, but there is a loving rebuke that invites us to come closer.

As a church, we are in a period of 21 days of prayer and fasting, seeking to hear what the Spirit is saying to us in 2025. This time is dedicated to listening to God's voice, both individually and collectively. We are encouraged to participate in this spiritual discipline, recognizing that prayer is not just about speaking to God but also about listening to Him.

The sermon highlighted the importance of hearing God's voice as a central aspect of discipleship. Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, calls His sheep to know and follow His voice. This relationship is not just about following rules but about engaging in a two-way communication with God. We are called to listen and obey, as exemplified by the Shema, an ancient prayer that emphasizes hearing and following God's commands.

We also discussed practical ways to hear God's voice, including through Scripture, circumstances, desires, and the prophetic. Listening prayer was introduced as a practice to help us tune into God's voice, encouraging us to use our imagination to visualize Jesus and listen to what He might be saying to us.

Key Takeaways:

- Experiencing Jesus is a Lifelong Journey: Whether new to faith or seasoned, we are all called to continually seek Jesus and allow His presence to transform us. Worship is a powerful way to proclaim His acts and draw nearer to Him. [17:09]

- The Gifts of the Spirit are for Edification: The gift of tongues and its interpretation are ways God speaks to His church, not to condemn but to lovingly call us closer. We are invited to repent and draw near to Him. [32:21]

- Prayer and Fasting as a Community Practice: Engaging in 21 days of prayer and fasting helps us collectively seek God's voice for our church's direction. This discipline is crucial for spiritual growth and alignment with God's will. [47:04]

- Hearing God's Voice is Central to Discipleship: Jesus calls His followers to know and follow His voice, emphasizing a relational aspect of discipleship that goes beyond rule-following. Listening and obeying are key components of this relationship. [55:46]

- Practical Ways to Hear God's Voice: We can hear God through Scripture, circumstances, desires, and the prophetic. Listening prayer is a practice that helps us tune into God's voice, using our imagination to visualize Jesus and listen to His guidance. [01:17:24]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [17:09] - Worship and Proclamation
- [32:21] - Gifts of the Spirit
- [43:36] - Introduction to Prayer and Fasting
- [47:04] - Community Prayer Practices
- [49:27] - Spiritual Warfare in Prayer
- [50:33] - The Importance of Listening
- [51:22] - Series on Prayer
- [53:09] - Stages of Prayer
- [54:21] - Hearing God's Voice
- [55:46] - Discipleship and Relationship
- [57:44] - The Shema and Obedience
- [01:00:00] - Obedience and Fulfillment
- [01:03:08] - Ways to Hear God
- [01:17:24] - Listening Prayer Practice

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 10:1-6, 27
2. Deuteronomy 6:4-5
3. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

---

Observation Questions:

1. In John 10:1-6, what distinguishes the shepherd from the thief and robber, and how do the sheep respond to each? [50:33]

2. According to Deuteronomy 6:4-5, what is the central command given to Israel, and how is it meant to be practiced in daily life? [57:44]

3. What are the different gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, and what is their purpose within the church? [45:43]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of worship in experiencing Jesus and drawing nearer to Him? [17:09]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the imagery of the shepherd and sheep in John 10 relate to the concept of discipleship and hearing God's voice? [55:46]

2. In what ways does the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) emphasize the importance of listening and obedience in one's relationship with God? [57:44]

3. How does the sermon explain the purpose of the gifts of the Spirit, such as tongues and interpretation, in the context of edification and community? [32:21]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between prayer, fasting, and hearing God's voice for guidance and direction? [47:04]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current spiritual journey. How can you actively seek to experience Jesus in a transformative way, regardless of how long you've been a believer? [17:09]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of listening to God's voice. What practical steps can you take this week to cultivate a habit of listening prayer in your daily routine? [01:17:24]

3. Consider the role of worship in your life. How can you make worship a more intentional practice to draw nearer to God and proclaim His wonderful acts? [17:09]

4. During the 21 days of prayer and fasting, what specific area of your life are you seeking God's guidance for, and how can you remain open to His voice during this time? [47:04]

5. The sermon discusses the gifts of the Spirit as a means of edification. How can you be more open to recognizing and using your spiritual gifts for the benefit of your church community? [45:43]

6. Reflect on the concept of the Shema and its call to listen and obey. How can you apply this principle in your daily decisions and interactions with others? [57:44]

7. Identify a circumstance in your life where you feel God might be speaking to you. How can you discern His voice and respond in faith and obedience? [01:10:17]

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing Jesus as a Continuous Transformation
Experiencing Jesus is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of transformation. Whether you are new to faith or have been walking with Jesus for years, the call to seek His presence remains constant. Worship plays a crucial role in this journey, serving as a means to proclaim God's wonderful acts and draw nearer to Him. It is through worship that we open our hearts to the transformative power of Jesus, allowing His presence to change us from the inside out. This ongoing encounter with Jesus invites us to continually seek Him, ensuring that our relationship with Him deepens over time. [17:09]

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally seek Jesus' presence in your daily life this week, allowing His transformative power to work within you?


Day 2: The Gifts of the Spirit as a Loving Call
The gifts of the Spirit, particularly the gift of tongues and its interpretation, are given for the edification of the church. These gifts are not meant to condemn but to lovingly call us closer to God. They serve as a reminder that there is no condemnation for those in Christ, but rather a loving rebuke that invites us to repent and draw near to Him. This understanding encourages us to embrace the gifts of the Spirit as a means through which God speaks to His church, urging us to deepen our relationship with Him and respond to His call with open hearts. [32:21]

"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be more open to the gifts of the Spirit in your life, allowing them to draw you closer to God and His purposes for you?


Day 3: Community Prayer and Fasting for Spiritual Alignment
Engaging in 21 days of prayer and fasting as a community is a powerful practice that helps us collectively seek God's voice for our church's direction. This spiritual discipline is crucial for growth and alignment with God's will, as it allows us to dedicate time to listen to God's voice both individually and collectively. Through prayer and fasting, we create space for God to speak into our lives, guiding us in the path He has set before us. This communal practice strengthens our faith and unites us in our pursuit of God's will for our lives and our church. [47:04]

"Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods." (Ezra 8:21, ESV)

Reflection: How can you participate in a community practice of prayer and fasting, and what specific intentions will you bring before God during this time?


Day 4: Discipleship Through Hearing God's Voice
Hearing God's voice is central to discipleship, as Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls His followers to know and follow His voice. This relationship goes beyond rule-following, emphasizing a relational aspect of discipleship that involves listening and obeying. Engaging in a two-way communication with God allows us to deepen our relationship with Him, as we learn to recognize His voice and respond to His guidance. This practice of listening and obeying is exemplified by the Shema, an ancient prayer that emphasizes hearing and following God's commands. [55:46]

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to better recognize and follow God's voice in your daily life, and how can this practice enhance your discipleship journey?


Day 5: Practical Ways to Hear God's Voice
There are various practical ways to hear God's voice, including through Scripture, circumstances, desires, and the prophetic. Listening prayer is a practice that helps us tune into God's voice, encouraging us to use our imagination to visualize Jesus and listen to what He might be saying to us. By engaging in these practices, we open ourselves to the guidance and wisdom that God offers, allowing His voice to shape our decisions and actions. This intentional pursuit of hearing God's voice enriches our spiritual journey and strengthens our relationship with Him. [01:17:24]

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21, ESV)

Reflection: What practical steps can you take this week to intentionally listen for God's voice, and how can you incorporate these practices into your daily routine?

Quotes

"Well, good morning, everyone. Welcome to Parkway Church. Super excited that you're with us in the house. And for those of you online as well, just thanks for joining us this morning. You know, it's our heart and our vision that everyone would experience Jesus in a life -changing way. If you've been around here long enough, we say that, that everyone would experience Jesus in a life -changing way. And I say it like this, that's not just for those who are far from God, although our hope is you would be moved by the presence of God in a way that changes you. It's for those of you who have been here for a long time, right, that you would encounter the Lord and His presence in a way that still changes you, because you have not yet arrived. We have not yet arrived, but we're here because of Jesus. We're here to celebrate the Lord." [00:15:31]

"Psalms 105 says this, give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name, make known, among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him. Sing praises to Him. Tell of all His wonderful acts. That's what we do this morning when we sing. We're proclaiming all the things that God has done. Glory in His name. Glory in His name. Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord in His strength and seek His face always. Can I just encourage us as Parkway Church? Can we sing this morning? Can we sing to the glory of God? Can we praise Him? Can we declare and proclaim His wonderful acts this morning? Father, we praise You in the house. We give You glory. God, we honor You. We sing to You. Would You draw us nearer, God, to Your presence this morning? Would You open our eyes to see Your presence that is here? God, would You tune our spirits to Yours this morning?" [00:16:41]

"And he speaks through gifts of the spirit that have been given to the church for the edification of the church. One of those is the gift of tongues. And I just want to give space for a moment. Let's just wait for the interpretation. If you have the interpretation or it's burning your heart right now, would you give it? for those of you who are new or newer, maybe this is new for you. You know, in the book of Corinthians, specifically, Paul teaches the church, a church that had overwhelmingly amount of tongues and interpretation of tongues giving that this was a gift given to the body for the edification of the body. And when we hear that tongue and the interpretation, it's God speaking to his church." [00:28:54]

"there's a rebuke there. But there's also a caring call to come in, right? Like the Lord is never condemning to those that are in Christ Jesus. There's no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. But there's a rebuke and a call and you hear the Lord's heart says, come to me. Come to me. Maybe, maybe many of us in the room have been living life far from him and he's calling to you to come and repent of that way and draw near. Would you just bow your heads, lift up your hands, begin to draw near. Father, we draw near to you. Forgive us for our sin. Forgive us of the ways, Lord, in which we have, have lived for us. have put ourselves in the driving seat, God, and live for the glory of me. Forgive us, Lord, in Jesus' name." [00:31:47]

"I just want to talk about what the Lord's doing in our house. We are in 21 days of prayer and fasting. For those of you who know, we've been fasting and praying as a community just to hear God's voice. Great way to begin the new year among all the practices and habits and things that you do to start off your new year. Prayer and fasting as a faith community is probably of the utmost importance. And we're just asking ourselves, what is the Lord saying to us as a church? If you were to turn in the Bible to the book of Revelation, you see different messages that the Lord brought to John. John to seven churches. And at the end of each of these messages, there's this little line that says, what is the Spirit, right? Is anyone who's got ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church? And what is the Spirit saying to us in 2025?" [00:43:57]

"Now, sheep is a word picture if you don't know for disciple in the first century. Apprentices of Jesus are called his sheep. And Jesus is saying that all of those that are truly his sheep will know his voice and follow it. To be a true disciple of Jesus is to know his voice. So, for Jesus, discipleship, being a Christian, being an apprentice of Jesus isn't just listening to good teaching. And it's not just following a rule of life. But there's a relationship component there. Like being a follower of Jesus doesn't mean just coming to a service on a Sunday morning, maybe opening up the Bible once in a while and living a nice moral everyday life. Staying away from things that maybe churches would consider to be sinful. For Jesus, discipleship is relationship with God." [00:55:11]

"To sit at the feet is an idiom for discipleship in the first century. It was what students did. If you were a student of a rabbi or teacher, you would sit at their feet, so to speak, to learn. And what was Mary doing as she sat at his feet? She was listening. She was listening. A disciple of Jesus is someone who's found with Jesus listening. Now, if you look throughout Scripture, listening to God is a central theme, and we can trace it all the way back. In the New Testament, we looked at one of the core teachings of prayer, which was the Lord's Prayer, and Jesus gives this exposition on it as his disciples ask him to teach us to pray." [00:56:39]

"But in the Old Testament, there's this ancient prayer that was an anchor for the Jewish people for thousands of years. They would pray this ancient prayer three times a day, and they would write it on little scraps of animal skin, and they'd put this in this thing, and they'd bind it on their foreheads as they would repeat their morning prayer. And they would pray this ancient prayer three times a day, and they would and they bind it to the doorposts in their home. And it's found in Deuteronomy chapter 6 called the Shema. Has anybody ever heard of the Shema? It's named after the first word in Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4 says this, hear, O Israel. Look at somebody and say hear. Hear, that's that word Shema, O Israel. The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. Shema, that word here, is kind of an imperative command. It means to listen and obey." [00:57:44]

"How do we hear God in our circumstances, in our desires, in our thoughts, in prayerful reading of scripture? How do we hear God's voice in a way that brings a picture, word, and vision to mind? And this is where I come to the practice, which is listening prayer. Listening prayer. This is a practice, a practice that needs to be practiced and grow and learn. And I said it like this, I wrote this down. It's not a language learning module. It's not AI where you can put something into a prompt on a browser and get a quick answer. It's not what this is, right? God is not a machine. Listening prayer is simply waiting quietly for God to speak to your mind and heart." [01:16:36]

"Listening prayer is the part of prayer where you stop talking and you just be still. When we think of prayer, we think of something I am doing, something I am saying, but that's not what prayer is. That's petition. We're talking to God. But listening prayer is the part of prayer where He gets to do it. He gets to talk and I get to listen. I'm going to invite the worship team to come. I really like the practice that Neil Miller offers in his book. I have this book here called What If Listening to God Was Easy by Neil Miller. What if listening to God was easy?" [01:19:18]

"Now, yes, this is our imagination. Right? So, word of caution. Your imagination, depending on who you are, can take you anywhere. So, that's when we go back to those tests. Is it alignment with scripture? that we could go to him in prayer, ask him to speak to us in prayer, and he will speak. Why not trust that after I've asked him to speak, and then I've quieted my mind and opened my mind and started listening, believe that what comes to pass through my thoughts is the Lord? Again, you've got to test it. You've got to discern. You've got to discern." [01:31:51]

"We thank you, Lord, that you say that your sheep hear your voice and they follow. And so as we, as Parkway people, begin to tune our mind's eye and our spirits to what your spirit is saying, God, help us to hear with clarity. Help us to trust. Help us to discern what you're saying to us. As individuals, Lord, and as a collective body, we bless you. We give you praise. In Jesus' name, amen." [01:33:53]

Chatbot