Listening to God: Cultivating an Active Faith
Summary
Summary:
As we embark on a new year, our focus is on cultivating a faith that is active, visible, and transformative. This journey, which we call "The Road to One," involves looking internally to understand God's presence within us, communally to see His work among us, and externally to witness His actions through us. The foundation of this journey is a personal relationship with God, akin to our best human relationships, which thrive on solid communication. This relationship with God begins with listening, as exemplified by the story of Samuel, who learned to recognize and respond to God's call. God persistently calls us into a relationship, desiring our active listening and engagement.
Listening to God is primarily achieved through His Word, the Bible, which provides a reliable and verifiable way to hear His voice. We are encouraged to embark on a journey of reading the Bible in a year, not as a mere task but as a means to meditate on His Word and listen deeply to what He is saying to us. This practice, coupled with prayer, forms a two-way relationship where we not only hear from God but also speak to Him, sharing our burdens and seeking His guidance.
However, none of this matters if we haven't first placed our faith in Jesus Christ. Our relationship with God begins with acknowledging our sinfulness and accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus' sacrifice bridges the gap between us and God, offering us redemption and a new life. Declaring Jesus as Lord means entering into a relationship where He genuinely cares for us and desires to act on our behalf. Whether we have already placed our faith in Him or are seeking to do so, God is continually calling us into a deeper relationship, offering His grace and love.
Key Takeaways:
1. Active Faith Requires Listening: A faith that works begins with listening to God, much like Samuel learned to recognize and respond to God's call. Listening is foundational to our relationship with God, allowing us to be equipped and used by Him. [15:57]
2. God's Persistent Call: God is not "one and done" but persistently calls us into a relationship with Him. He desires to partner with us for His purposes, and our response should be to actively listen and be available for His use. [18:29]
3. The Role of Scripture: One of the primary ways God speaks to us is through His Word, the Bible. Engaging with Scripture allows us to hear God's voice and understand His will for our lives. This requires a commitment to reading and meditating on His Word. [20:20]
4. Prayer as Communication: Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God, allowing us to speak to Him, share our burdens, and seek His guidance. It transforms our relationship into a two-way communication, deepening our connection with Him. [23:04]
5. Foundation in Christ: Our journey of faith begins with placing our faith in Jesus Christ. Acknowledging our sinfulness and accepting Jesus as our Savior is essential for entering into a relationship with God, who desires to be our Lord and guide. [31:26]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Introduction to the Series
- [04:30] - The Goal of a Visible Faith
- [07:22] - The Road to One
- [09:45] - Importance of Internal Reflection
- [11:07] - Samuel's Story and Faith
- [13:30] - God's Persistent Call
- [15:57] - Listening to God
- [18:29] - The Challenge of Listening
- [20:20] - Engaging with Scripture
- [23:04] - The Power of Community
- [25:45] - Meditation and Prayer
- [27:37] - Foundation in Christ
- [31:26] - Salvation Through Jesus
- [33:53] - Invitation to Faith
- [35:13] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Road to One
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Samuel 3:1-10
2. James 1:19
3. Romans 10:9
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Observation Questions:
1. In the story of Samuel, how did God persistently call him, and what was Samuel's eventual response? (1 Samuel 3:1-10)
2. According to the sermon, what role does listening play in our relationship with God, and how is this exemplified in Samuel's story? [15:57]
3. How does the sermon describe the importance of Scripture in hearing God's voice? [20:20]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the nature of God's call to us, and how does it relate to our availability to listen? [18:29]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Samuel's story teach us about recognizing and responding to God's call in our own lives? How might this apply to modern-day believers? (1 Samuel 3:1-10)
2. How does the sermon suggest that active listening to God can equip us for His purposes? What might this look like in practical terms? [15:57]
3. In what ways does the sermon highlight the importance of Scripture and prayer in maintaining a two-way relationship with God? [23:04]
4. How does the sermon explain the foundational role of faith in Jesus Christ for our relationship with God? What implications does this have for believers? [31:26]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationship with God. How can you improve your listening skills to better hear His voice, as Samuel did? [15:57]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of Scripture. What steps can you take to incorporate regular Bible reading and meditation into your daily routine? [20:20]
3. Consider the role of prayer in your life. How can you make your prayer time more of a two-way communication with God, as suggested in the sermon? [23:04]
4. The sermon discusses the necessity of placing faith in Jesus Christ. Have you made this commitment, and if so, how does it impact your daily life? If not, what is holding you back? [31:26]
5. How can you actively respond to God's persistent call in your life, making yourself available for His purposes? [18:29]
6. Think about a time when you felt God was calling you to do something. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in the future to ensure you are listening and ready to act?
7. The sermon encourages community involvement in faith practices. How can you engage with others in your church or small group to support each other in this journey of faith? [23:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Listening as the Foundation of Faith
A faith that is active and transformative begins with listening to God. This is exemplified by the story of Samuel, who learned to recognize and respond to God's call. Listening is not a passive activity but an active engagement with God's voice, allowing us to be equipped and used by Him. It requires intentionality and openness to hear what God is saying, both through His Word and in the quiet moments of our lives. As we cultivate this practice, we become more attuned to His guidance and direction, enabling us to live out our faith in meaningful ways. [15:57]
1 Samuel 3:10 (ESV): "And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant hears.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you create space in your daily routine to actively listen for God's voice today?
Day 2: Responding to God's Persistent Call
God's call to us is not a one-time event but a persistent invitation into a deeper relationship with Him. He desires to partner with us for His purposes, and our response should be to actively listen and be available for His use. This requires a willingness to be open to His leading, even when it challenges our comfort zones or preconceived plans. By responding to His call, we align ourselves with His will and become instruments of His love and grace in the world. [18:29]
Isaiah 6:8 (ESV): "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God calling you to step out in faith? How can you respond to His call today?
Day 3: Engaging with Scripture as God's Voice
One of the primary ways God speaks to us is through His Word, the Bible. Engaging with Scripture allows us to hear God's voice and understand His will for our lives. This requires a commitment to reading and meditating on His Word, not as a mere task but as a means to deepen our relationship with Him. As we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we gain insight into His character and purposes, equipping us to live out our faith with clarity and conviction. [20:20]
Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Reflection: How can you incorporate a regular practice of reading and meditating on Scripture into your daily routine this week?
Day 4: Prayer as a Two-Way Communication
Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with God, allowing us to speak to Him, share our burdens, and seek His guidance. It transforms our relationship into a two-way communication, deepening our connection with Him. Through prayer, we not only present our requests but also listen for His response, aligning our hearts with His will. This ongoing dialogue with God nurtures our faith and empowers us to live out His purposes in our lives. [23:04]
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What is one specific burden or concern you can bring to God in prayer today, and how can you listen for His guidance in response?
Day 5: Building a Foundation in Christ
Our journey of faith begins with placing our faith in Jesus Christ. Acknowledging our sinfulness and accepting Jesus as our Savior is essential for entering into a relationship with God, who desires to be our Lord and guide. Jesus' sacrifice bridges the gap between us and God, offering us redemption and a new life. Declaring Jesus as Lord means entering into a relationship where He genuinely cares for us and desires to act on our behalf. Whether we have already placed our faith in Him or are seeking to do so, God is continually calling us into a deeper relationship, offering His grace and love. [31:26]
Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Reflect on your relationship with Jesus. What steps can you take today to deepen your faith and trust in Him as your Lord and Savior?
Quotes
"To help you and me and Pastor Jonathan, our staff, our elders, to help all of us develop and nurture a stronger and more active and visible faith. Right? That's the goal. We want to develop a stronger and more active faith, right? A visible faith. This is a theme of the year because when we get to the end of this year, like when we get to December and we look back at all that has happened throughout this year, no matter what happens next, right? With our personal lives, with our building, our location, no matter what happens next for all of us, we want to be able to look back and say that we had an active belief in God Almighty that impacted our perspective and our responses in visible ways." [00:05:34] (50 seconds)
"Having a faith that works, guys, it's actually right in front of us. It's right there. We can take hold of it. In fact, we can take hold of it right now, right here, today. It's not so far away. It's actually simple. But it does require something of us." [00:07:06] (19 seconds)
"Everything flows guys from knowing God personally everything else flows out of knowing God personally having a personal relationship with him now think about your best relationships think about all your relationships and then think about the best ones maybe it's your spouse maybe it's your best friend your friend group maybe you've just got this amazing co -worker or a business partner right well think about those relationships and think about what makes those relationships great like what sets them apart what sets them out and makes them different like maybe you've got shared interests right you'd like to do the same kinds of things you know sports or music or the theater maybe it's a shared interest with one another maybe it's just you have you really good times together. You make one another laugh, right?" [00:09:05] (50 seconds)
"He speaks through his word, right? He speaks through his word. He speaks to us through the Bible, which is his inspired word to us. The Bible is a book where it just lays out who God is and what he expects of us. But again, the question that we have to always ask ourselves is, are we listening to him? Are we actively listening and waiting for his response? Are we actually spending time in his words so that we can, well, so that we can actually hear from him, hear his word for us?" [00:20:20] (34 seconds)
"Don't just read it. We don't want to just read it as if it's just something to get done each day. We want to meditate on it. We want to meditate on his word. And that means that we actively listen to what God is speaking to us as we do read it, right? And what does that mean? It means that we're processing. We're processing deeply. God, what are you trying to say to me right now? What are you speaking into me, God, through your scripture?" [00:24:03] (25 seconds)
"None of this matters if you haven't first placed your faith in Jesus, right? None of this matters. Like we can talk all day about listening and speaking and praying, but none of it matters if you haven't actually placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and as your Savior. It all begins there. Why? Because it's all about the relationship that we get to have with Him." [00:27:50] (27 seconds)
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