Listening to God: Embracing Faith Amid Life's Storms

Today began with a reminder to entrust each day to the Lord, recognizing that God is moving in powerful ways, even in our nation. We celebrated stories of revival and baptism, emphasizing that God is raising up a new generation and calling all of us to be part of His work. The heart of the teaching focused on the importance of listening—not just hearing, but truly listening to God’s Word and responding in obedience. Jesus taught that listening is a skill that must be developed, and that our spiritual growth is directly tied to how we listen and act on what we hear.

We explored the reasons people often fail to listen: personal biases, assuming we already know the message, distractions, underestimating the importance of the message, and resisting conviction. God holds us accountable for the truth we receive, and He desires that we not only receive His light but also share it with others. Our testimony is meant to shine, not be hidden, and we are responsible for helping others find their way to Christ.

We also looked at the profound truth of spiritual adoption. When we receive Christ, we are adopted into God’s family, gaining a new identity, relationship, inheritance, and security. This spiritual kinship can be even deeper than biological ties, offering a sense of belonging and love that transcends earthly relationships.

Finally, we considered the storms of life. Even when we are in the center of God’s will, storms will come. Jesus’ presence does not guarantee the absence of trouble, but it does guarantee that we are never alone. The story of Jesus calming the storm reminded us that peace is not found in the absence of storms, but in knowing who is in the boat with us. Storms reveal where our faith truly lies and are opportunities for growth, deeper trust, and a greater testimony.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True listening is more than hearing; it is an active, humble posture that seeks to understand and obey God’s Word. Spiritual growth is not automatic—it is the result of attentive listening and faithful response. God promises greater understanding to those who steward His truth well, but warns that neglect leads to loss of even what we think we know. [09:03]
• 2. Our testimony is not meant to be hidden. God gives us His light so that we can illuminate the path for others. Sharing our faith may feel daunting, but we are called to be faithful witnesses, trusting that God prepares hearts and uses even our imperfect words to draw people to Himself. [16:04]
• 3. Spiritual adoption means we are fully accepted into God’s family, with all the rights and privileges of children. This new identity brings a deeper security and belonging than any earthly relationship can offer. The love and kinship found in Christ’s family often surpasses that of our biological families, especially when earthly ties are strained or broken. [30:08]
• 4. Storms are not a sign of God’s displeasure or our disobedience; they are part of the journey, even when we are exactly where God wants us. Jesus’ presence in our lives does not remove trouble, but transforms how we walk through it. The key is to humble ourselves, cast our anxieties on Him, and remember that nothing can separate us from His love. [43:54]
• 5. Faith and fear cannot rule our hearts at the same time. In the midst of life’s storms, our focus determines our response: if we fix our eyes on the problem, fear will dominate; if we fix our eyes on Jesus, faith will rise. Every storm is an opportunity for God to deepen our trust, change our future, and give us a testimony that can encourage others. [50:28]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:31] - Remembering Spiritual Leaders
• [01:11] - Stories of Revival and Baptism
• [04:20] - The Importance of Listening
• [05:46] - Listening as a Skill
• [07:39] - Asking Good Questions
• [08:22] - Accountability for What We Hear
• [11:36] - Five Reasons We Don’t Listen
• [14:47] - Three Life-Changing Principles
• [15:25] - Shining God’s Light
• [17:23] - The Responsibility of Testimony
• [23:44] - The Opportunity to Belong to God’s Family
• [28:51] - The Meaning of Spiritual Adoption
• [33:25] - Jesus in the Storm
• [41:13] - Lessons from the Storm
• [52:26] - Embracing the Storm and Prayer
• [55:47] - Closing and Invitation

Bible Reading

Luke 8:16-25 (ESV) — 16 “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

James 1:22-25 (ESV) — 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Romans 8:14-17 (ESV) — 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Observation Questions

1. According to Luke 8:18, what does Jesus say about the way we listen to his teaching? What is the result for those who listen well versus those who do not? ([09:03])
2. In the story of Jesus calming the storm, what was the disciples’ reaction to the storm and to Jesus’ response? ([38:33])
3. What does Jesus say about his true family in Luke 8:21? How does he define who belongs to his family? ([28:14])
4. According to the sermon, what are some reasons people fail to truly listen to God’s Word? ([11:36])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus connect spiritual growth to the way we listen and respond to his Word? What does this say about the difference between hearing and truly listening? ([09:03])
2. The sermon mentions that our testimony is not meant to be hidden. What might it look like for someone to “hide their light” in everyday life? ([16:04])
3. The idea of spiritual adoption is described as giving us a new identity, relationship, inheritance, and security. How might this new identity affect the way someone views themselves and others, especially if they have strained earthly relationships? ([30:08])
4. The disciples were in the center of God’s will, yet they still faced a storm. What does this teach about the relationship between obedience and life’s difficulties? ([43:54])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says that true listening is an active, humble posture that seeks to understand and obey God’s Word. What is one practical way you can improve how you listen to God this week? Is there a specific distraction or bias you need to address? ([09:03])
2. Think about your own testimony. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear how God has worked in you? What is one step you can take to share your story or faith with them, even if it feels intimidating? ([16:04])
3. The message talked about spiritual adoption and belonging to God’s family. If you struggle with feeling like you belong, how can you remind yourself of your identity in Christ this week? Are there ways you can help someone else feel included in God’s family? ([30:08])
4. When storms or difficulties come, what is your usual first response? Do you try to handle things on your own, or do you turn to Jesus in prayer? What would it look like to “humble yourself and cast your anxieties on Him” in a current challenge you’re facing? ([43:54])
5. The sermon said that faith and fear cannot rule our hearts at the same time. Is there a specific area of your life where fear is winning over faith? What would it look like to shift your focus from the problem to Jesus this week? ([50:28])
6. The pastor mentioned that storms are not a sign of God’s displeasure. Can you think of a time when you were following God but still faced a hard situation? How did God use that time to grow your faith or give you a testimony? ([43:54])
7. What is one way you can be a “light” in your workplace, school, or neighborhood this week? Is there a specific action or conversation you feel prompted to take? ([16:04])