Are We Listening? Sermon Notes for Sunday

Are We Listening?

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27

So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
1 Samuel 3:9

Five ways to listen to God:

 Teaching

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
1 Timothy 4:13

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
Ephesians 4:14

 Relationships

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 3:8

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

 Disciplines

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Psalm 5:3

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

 Ministry  

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
Matthew 25:44-45

 Circumstances  

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:13-14

Listening to Each Other:

He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame.

Proverbs 18:13

1. Let’s listen without judging.

2. Let’s listen without rushing to speak.  

3. Let’s listen without distraction.

4. Let’s include God in the conversation.

5. Let’s make sure we hear correctly.

6. Let’s know when to stop listening.

How can I be sure I’m hearing God’s Voice

1.  Does it line up with the written scriptures?

2.  Does it lead you into a closer relationship with God?

3.  Does it lead you into expressing love to God and others?

4.  Does it lead to you decreasing and God increasing?

5.   Does it cause greater dependence upon God?

6.  Does it cause greater love, joy, and peace from God in you?