God is a communicator. He wants to speak to us. But many people struggle to hear His voice. This study will examine the common ways God speaks to us: through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, through trusted voices, through our conscience and inner witness, and through events in our life. Through this study you will cultivate a deeper capacity to hear from God.

GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS WORD

1. Have you ever felt God speak to you before? What was it like?
2. Read 1 Samuel 3:8-10. Why do you think God repeatedly calls out to Samuel?
3. Samuel’s response in verse 10 is so simple. What does his response teach us about hearing from God?
4. How can we position ourselves to hear God’s voice more?
5. One of the ways we hear from God is by reading the Bible. Why are commitment and discipline necessary to read God’s Word?
6. The purpose of reading the Bible is relational, not informational. How does this affect the way you read your Bible?
7. Do you have a regular time and place to hear from God? Explain.
8. What are the benefits of having a set time and place to hear from God?

HOW TO HANDLE THE SCRIPTURES

1. Read 2 Timothy 3:16. According to this verse, what is the Bible useful for?
2. Read 2 Timothy 3:17. According to this verse, what is the outcome of studying God’s word?
3. How does the Bible equip us for “every good work”? What does that mean?
4. Why is knowing the big story of the Bible important? How well do you know that story?
5. The purpose of God’s Word is to reveal God’s character and nature to us and to invite us into a relationship with him. How does knowing this affect how you read the Bible?
6. Last week, we talked about having a set time and place to read God’s Word. What should that time look like? What does it look like for you when you study the Bible?
7. Use the S.O.A.P. method to study a passage of scripture.

GOD SPEAKS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. Read John 14:16-17a. How does Jesus describe the Holy Spirit in these verses? What do you think these terms mean?
2. According to these verses, why did Jesus say He would send the Holy Spirit? Why is this important?
3. How often do you ask the Holy Spirit to help you or be with you? Explain.
4. Read John 14:26. What does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will do for us? Why is this important when hearing from God?
5. How does the Holy Spirit illuminate God’s Word to us today?
6. The Holy Spirit wants to speak, but we have to be willing to listen and to obey what He says. Why is obedience tied to hearing from God?
7. Is there something God has told you to do recently? If so, what is it, and are you obeying what He said?
8. Read Luke 11:13. Are you in the habit of asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you? Explain.

WHO TOLD YOU THAT?

1. Why is it important to consider the source of the voices we listen to?
2. Read Proverbs 12:15. What does this verse tell you about foolishness?
3. Why do we have a tendency to use confirmation bias to make poor decisions?
4. Have you ever used confirmation bias to make a bad decision in the past? Explain.
5. According to Proverbs 12:15, what is the solution to making poor choices?
6. Whose advice should we listen to? How do you determine if someone is a good person from whom to seek advice? What should be the criteria?
7. Look at the list of five bullet points on page 102. Who in your life fits this list (or comes relatively close)?
8. Is there a decision you are trying to make, or an issue you need wisdom handling? What is it?

HEARING GOD THROUGH OUR CONSCIENCE

1. How would you describe the voice of your conscience?
2. Is our conscience always right? How do we know when we can trust it?
3. The Bible teaches that your conscience can become “seared” through deception and disobedience (1 Timothy 4:2). What do you think it means to have a seared conscience? How would that affect someone?
4. In what ways can you help your conscience become more sensitive to God’s voice?
5. We need to develop both our incoming and outgoing channels of communication with God. How would you describe the difference between those two channels?
6. Do you struggle more with the incoming channel or the outgoing? Explain.

HEARING GOD THROUGH LIFE EVENTS

1. There are two extremes regarding how we view circumstances. One extreme is to think God doesn’t use circumstances to speak to us at all, and the other extreme is to think that every circumstance is a message from God. Do you tend to lean one way or the other? Explain.
2. Read Acts 16:6-10. According to these verses, how was God working through Paul’s circumstances?
3. Why would God use circumstances to try to get our attention?
4. Do you think God still uses circumstances today to speak to us? Explain.
5. Have you ever felt like God was using a certain situation to get your attention or to tell you something? What was it?
6. How can we know if God is trying to speak to us through a particular circumstance?
7. Whenever you find yourself in a significant life event or circumstance, why is it helpful to reflect on God’s goodness and faithfulness in the past?
8. Looking at all the ways God speaks to us—through His Word, through the Holy Spirit, through trusted voices, through our conscience, and through circumstances—which is the most important? Why?