Here are some tips about how to listen to God better as a group.

When we gather as a group to worship and encourage each other, sometimes people have questions they would like us to answer.  Rather than having it quickly answered by the most educated, informed, spiritual, or bold we deliberately slow down and take some steps to listen to God together.

Step One:  We agree on the question we want to ask God.

Step Two:  We pause for a few minutes to quietly listen for words, sentences, impressions or pictures the Lord may give us. Some write down what they hear, which can help with accuracy and the freedom to hear more.

Step Three:  We ask, after the quiet time is over, for individuals to share what they heard.  We weigh the messages with scripture, love, and respect being careful not to quench the Spirit (see 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Corinthians 14:29).

Step Four:  We often share a second round about what the Holy Spirit is bringing to us from all the messages.  A main theme usually starts surfacing and we are amazed at the powerful group “sermon” that comes forth.

Here are a few of the things we shared with each other (Step Three) in answer to the question “Lord, what do we need to be useful for you and others?”  Each of these responses is from a different individual in our group.

• I heard Jesus say: I like it when you give me space to be a part of your life and when you treat me as a friend. Then I can let you know more about how I want you to  be useful. (see John 15:15)
• I heard: Keep on.
• I heard: Family, and sense that it is about me communicating and asking and listening better with them
• I heard: We are all family and that with the Bible we are to be loving and respectful with each other.
• I heard three words: Selflessness (willing to give), Joy (that spills over to others), and Perseverance.
• I heard: “Follow God.”
• I saw a flower that followed the sun like a sunflower does and I heard three words:  Openness (to God’s light), Flexibility (to follow the Lord), and Vulnerability (to let God in).
• I heard: Diligence, and sense that we are useful by diligently focusing on the Lord.

Then in our “Step Four” second time of listening, we heard a lot about being useful by giving space to the Lord and to each other to listen, learn, and lovingly respond.

You may wish to try this in a group.  It has worked well for us in groups of two up to as many as 30.  The benefits are:

• Many are engaged in the learning process instead on one person doing the talking.
• The sharing is interesting and a powerful encouraging theme often results.
• Group members become more comfortable with God, ourselves and each other.
• All of this helps us be more tuned in loving communication and service at home, work, and in community life.