The Voice, part 3—God’s Voice in Scripture
Welcome to our series, The Voice: Listening for God in the Day to Day. We will be learning to tune into God in the midst of our noisy lives. This week, Pastor Pete Stearns focused on hearing God through scripture.
Ice Breaker: What is your favorite Bible verse or passage? How does God speak to you through it?
Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17.
1.What does it mean to you that scripture is “God-breathed” (verse 16)?
2. How old were you when you were first introduced to the Bible? Were you introduced by your parents, a Sunday school teacher, or someone else? Discuss your memories about this.
3. What do you think the difference is between reading, or even studying, scripture and being immersed in scripture?
4. Another way to think about the previous question is to discuss the difference between “using” the Bible for our purposes and allowing God to use scripture to form us for His purposes. Talk about this.
Read Deuteronomy 6:1-5.
5. Verses 4 and 5 are known as the Shema, a prayer central to morning and evening Jewish prayer services. How does the Shema help us frame our reading of scripture with our whole selves?
6. In his sermon this week, Pete connected the previous two passages in an interesting way. Discuss the following list together. What stands out as especially meaningful to you? What is most difficult for you?
LISTENING TO GOD’S WORD HOLISTICALLY
Teaching – Hearing God with our Heart (Listening to God through scripture leads us to know Him in our hearts)
Rebuking – Hearing God with our Soul (Knowing God in our Hearts will lead us to a posture of repentance)
Correcting – Hearing God with our Mind (Repentance will produce in us a renewal of our mind)
Training – Hearing God with our Strength (Renewal of our Mind will transform our life)
(*Video available after Sunday services)
