Practice of Prayer Part 3 - Listening to God - Nov 16th 2025 - Gareth Brown

Prayer is not a transaction, but a relationship—a deeply personal, living connection with God who knows us by name and desires to speak with us. In a world where so many of our interactions are automated and impersonal, God’s invitation is radically different: He is always available, always attentive, and always present. Just as a shepherd knows his sheep and calls them by name, so God calls each of us into a relationship where we not only speak, but also listen.

Listening to God is rooted in relationship. Like Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet, we are invited to take a posture of stillness and receptivity, not just bringing our requests, but being present to hear and receive. This is not about progression or spiritual achievement, but about maturity—learning to recognize the Shepherd’s voice amidst the noise of life. When we listen, we grow in discernment, learning to distinguish God’s voice from the many false voices that clamor for our attention.

The biblical concept of listening—“Shema”—means both to hear and to obey. God’s voice is not just for our information, but for our transformation. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength, holding nothing back. Every area of our lives—our finances, relationships, time, and talents—becomes part of the conversation with God. Spiritual growth is not measured by how much we hear, but by how much we put into practice.

God speaks in many ways: through Jesus, who is the living Word and the perfect revelation of God; through Scripture, which is alive and personal; through circumstances, which must be carefully discerned and never taken in isolation; through our desires, which must be sifted and tested against the character of Christ; through prophecy, dreams, and visions, which are always to be weighed and confirmed; and through listening prayer, where the Holy Spirit gently guides our thoughts and hearts.

Learning to listen is a practice—a way of discipleship that shapes us into the image of Christ. It requires patience, humility, and a willingness to bring every part of our lives before God. As we grow in recognizing His voice, we find peace, clarity, and direction, even in the midst of chaos. The invitation is simple but profound: “Lord, speak, for I am listening.” God is speaking—are we ready to listen with our whole lives?

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Relationship, Not Transaction God’s desire is for a personal, attentive relationship, not a faceless transaction. Unlike the automated systems of our world, God is always available and fully present to us. In prayer, we are not just another appointment in His diary; we are known, loved, and heard. This transforms prayer from duty to delight, and from routine to relationship. [05:25]
• 2. Listening Means Hearing and Obeying The biblical “Shema” calls us to both hear and obey God’s voice. True listening is not passive; it leads to action and transformation. We deceive ourselves if we only hear but do not respond. Obedience is the fruit of genuine listening, and it is through this that we are shaped into Christ’s likeness. [14:44]
• 3. Discernment in a Noisy World God speaks in diverse ways—through Jesus, Scripture, circumstances, desires, prophecy, and listening prayer. Each must be tested and discerned, always through the lens of Christ’s character and mission. Discernment grows as we practice listening, helping us distinguish God’s voice from fear, culture, or self-interest. [18:55]
• 4. All of Life Is Included God invites us to bring every part of our lives into the conversation—nothing is off-limits. Our finances, relationships, decisions, and desires are all areas where God wants to speak and guide. Spiritual maturity is marked by an “all-in” posture, where we hold nothing back from God’s loving voice and direction. [15:20]
• 5. The Gentle Voice of the Shepherd God’s voice is often gentle, non-condemning, and brings peace, even when calling for change or sacrifice. Learning to recognize this voice comes through relationship and repeated practice. As we grow in familiarity, we find security and clarity, able to follow the Shepherd even through uncertainty. [36:04]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:34] - Introduction: The Practice of Prayer
• [01:45] - Talking to God: The Lord’s Prayer
• [02:55] - Listening to God: John 10
• [04:10] - Relationship vs. Transaction
• [06:02] - A Personal Encounter: The Building Society Story
• [09:04] - Relationship as the Foundation for Listening
• [09:40] - Mary’s Posture: Sitting at Jesus’ Feet
• [10:16] - Keeping Our Eyes on the Shepherd
• [12:14] - The Shema: Hearing and Obeying
• [14:44] - Loving God with All We Are
• [18:55] - Six Ways God Speaks
• [19:31] - Jesus: The Living Word
• [21:32] - Scripture: Alive and Personal
• [24:41] - Circumstances: Discerning God’s Voice
• [29:00] - Desires: Sifting for God’s Will
• [33:00] - Prophecy, Dreams, and Visions
• [34:14] - Listening Prayer: The Spirit’s Whisper
• [36:04] - Recognizing the Shepherd’s Voice
• [37:56] - Responding: “Lord, Speak, I Am Listening”

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Listening to God in Prayer**

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### Bible Reading

**John 10:2-6 (ESV)**
> 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.

**Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (ESV)**
> “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

**James 1:22 (ESV)**
> But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

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### Observation Questions

1. In John 10:2-6, what are some of the ways Jesus describes the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep? What stands out about how the sheep respond to the shepherd’s voice? ([02:55])
2. According to Deuteronomy 6:4-5, what does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, and might? How does this relate to the idea of listening and obeying? ([14:44])
3. In James 1:22, what warning does James give about listening to God’s word? What does he say is the danger of only listening? ([15:20])
4. The sermon mentions Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet in Luke 10:39. What was significant about Mary’s posture and choice in that moment? ([09:40])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus uses the image of sheep recognizing the shepherd’s voice to describe our relationship with him? What does this say about how personal God wants our connection to be? ([03:32])
2. The word “Shema” in Deuteronomy 6 means both “hear” and “obey.” Why is it important that listening to God is not just about hearing, but also about responding with action? ([12:14])
3. The sermon says that God’s voice is often gentle and brings peace, even when calling for change. Why might God choose to speak this way, and how can we learn to recognize his voice among all the other voices in our lives? ([36:04])
4. The sermon lists several ways God speaks—through Jesus, Scripture, circumstances, desires, prophecy, and listening prayer. Why is it important to test what we hear against the character of Jesus and Scripture? ([20:12])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon contrasts transactional, automated relationships with the personal, attentive relationship God offers in prayer. In what ways have you treated prayer more like a transaction than a relationship? What could you do differently this week to make your prayer time more relational? ([05:25])
2. Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen, even when there were other expectations on her. What are some practical ways you can create space in your life to be still and listen to God, rather than just bringing your requests? ([09:40])
3. The “Shema” calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength. Is there an area of your life—finances, relationships, time, or talents—that you tend to keep separate from your conversations with God? What would it look like to invite God into that area? ([15:20])
4. The sermon warns that we can deceive ourselves if we only listen to God’s word but don’t put it into practice. Can you think of a recent time when you sensed God prompting you to do something, but you hesitated or ignored it? What held you back, and what could help you respond with obedience next time? ([15:20])
5. God speaks in many ways, but not every voice we hear is from him. What are some “false voices” (fear, culture, self-interest, etc.) that you struggle to distinguish from God’s voice? How can you practice discernment this week? ([10:55])
6. The sermon says that God’s voice is often gentle and non-condemning, bringing peace even when calling for change. Think of a recent decision or situation where you needed guidance. How did you sense God’s leading, and what did his “voice” feel like in that moment? ([36:04])
7. The invitation at the end of the sermon is simple: “Lord, speak, for I am listening.” What would it look like for you to pray this prayer honestly this week? Is there a specific area where you need to hear God’s voice and are willing to listen and obey? ([37:56])

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