Cornerstone’s 40 Days of Experiencing More of the Spirit
WEEK 3: Hearing the Spirit’s Voice
Using chapters 4-5 of Alan Kraft’s book “more” and the message from Doug on Sunday, respond to the following questions before going to your group.
Breaking the Ice
When you consider God speaking to you, does the idea fill your heart with excitement, fear, or something else, and why?
Why do you think God would want to speak with you?
Briefly, in just a couple of minutes ...
Look over John 10:27 and your understanding of Doug’s message on Sunday, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged, or spoke to you personally?
Did it raise any questions or create any push-back for you?
If you read Chapters 4-5 in the book “more”, how did your reading complement and deepen your understanding of this week’s theme?
Exploring God’s Word
Don’t feel pressured to answer every question.
Read Luke 2:26 and Acts 8:29 and answer: What are some of the examples that come to mind of people in the Bible who heard God speak to them?
What stands out in these examples and the significance of this communication?
In the Bible we see God speaking in a variety of ways. Why do you think this is?
Read aloud and make your general observations about 1 Kings 19:11-13.
What does this passage tell us about how we often expect God to speak to us and how He may actually often does so?
Have you ever experienced the gentle whisper of God? If so, describe the experience and how you knew it was God.
What are some specific ways we can be more attentive to hearing God?
Read Acts 13:2 and Luke 2:27.
How do these people hear the Spirit speak?
What keeps us from hearing God in these same ways?
In Acts 2:17–18, God declares that in this post-Pentecost age of the Spirit, He will speak to His people through visions and dreams.
Have you ever experienced God speaking to you through either of these means?
If so, describe.
Read aloud 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Why is it important that the Bible provides our foundation for hearing God’s voice?
However, why is it also important that we not limit God speaking to us only through the Bible?
Making It Real
In which of the following areas do you most sense the need to grow in the process of hearing God’s voice, and why?
Expectancy: to live in the reality that God actually wants to speak to me.
Attentiveness: to position my heart and mind to hear what God might want to say to me.
Discernment: to be aware of whether or not it is God who is actually speaking to me.
What would be a practical next step for you in growing in this area?
Think about a specific question you would like to ask God. After doing this, spend a few quiet moments together, enabling group members to ask God this question and then listen for His response.
Before transitioning to prayer, debrief this experience with one another.
What was it like for you to do this?
Did you hear anything, feel anything, see a picture, or were you drawn to a passage of Scripture, etc.?
Prayer and Group Support
In advance of praying for specific requests, spend time praying for the Spirit to help your group members grow in their ability to listen to the Spirit’s voice, and take those steps necessary to listen to Him more expectantly, attentively, and discerningly.
Breaking the Ice
When you consider God speaking to you, does the idea fill your heart with excitement, fear, or something else, and why?
Why do you think God would want to speak with you?
Briefly, in just a couple of minutes ...
Look over John 10:27 and your understanding of Doug’s message on Sunday, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged, or spoke to you personally?
Did it raise any questions or create any push-back for you?
If you read Chapters 4-5 in the book “more”, how did your reading complement and deepen your understanding of this week’s theme?
Exploring God’s Word
Don’t feel pressured to answer every question.
Read Luke 2:26 and Acts 8:29 and answer: What are some of the examples that come to mind of people in the Bible who heard God speak to them?
What stands out in these examples and the significance of this communication?
In the Bible we see God speaking in a variety of ways. Why do you think this is?
Read aloud and make your general observations about 1 Kings 19:11-13.
What does this passage tell us about how we often expect God to speak to us and how He may actually often does so?
Have you ever experienced the gentle whisper of God? If so, describe the experience and how you knew it was God.
What are some specific ways we can be more attentive to hearing God?
Read Acts 13:2 and Luke 2:27.
How do these people hear the Spirit speak?
What keeps us from hearing God in these same ways?
In Acts 2:17–18, God declares that in this post-Pentecost age of the Spirit, He will speak to His people through visions and dreams.
Have you ever experienced God speaking to you through either of these means?
If so, describe.
Read aloud 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Why is it important that the Bible provides our foundation for hearing God’s voice?
However, why is it also important that we not limit God speaking to us only through the Bible?
Making It Real
In which of the following areas do you most sense the need to grow in the process of hearing God’s voice, and why?
Expectancy: to live in the reality that God actually wants to speak to me.
Attentiveness: to position my heart and mind to hear what God might want to say to me.
Discernment: to be aware of whether or not it is God who is actually speaking to me.
What would be a practical next step for you in growing in this area?
Think about a specific question you would like to ask God. After doing this, spend a few quiet moments together, enabling group members to ask God this question and then listen for His response.
Before transitioning to prayer, debrief this experience with one another.
What was it like for you to do this?
Did you hear anything, feel anything, see a picture, or were you drawn to a passage of Scripture, etc.?
Prayer and Group Support
In advance of praying for specific requests, spend time praying for the Spirit to help your group members grow in their ability to listen to the Spirit’s voice, and take those steps necessary to listen to Him more expectantly, attentively, and discerningly.