SMALL GROUPS May 15th, 2012

 

Listen Up! – Week 2 – Quiet

 

PARENT EDITION:

 

This is the second week in our series called Listen Up! Last week we discussed the importance of hearing from God, but how hard it can be because often times we don’t know how to hear from Him. This week we’re talking about the noise in our lives, and how it can distract us from hearing from God. In 1 Kings we see a story about Elijah wanted to talk to God, and going up a a mountain to wait for Him. God doesn’t come in the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire, but he comes in the silence with a still small voice. We want our Jr. Highs to see that sometimes it’s good to shut everything off around them and just listen for what God is trying to tell them.

 

Question 1: As a parent, do you ever have time to shut everything off around you and listen to what God is trying to tell you?

 

Question 2: What types of things in your life stop you from shutting things down from time to time to listen for God’s voice?

 

Question 3: Do you ever try and do things to enable your Jr. Highs to listen for God’s voice in the silence? What kinds of things do you think you can do?

 

Question 4: What can you do to make more of a conscious effort to teach your student how to listen for God’s voice?

 

 

HOW CAN WE PRAY?

 

1. That our students will start to understand that it is possible to hear God’s voice and have two-way conversations with Him.
2. That as parents, God will grant you the opportunities to show your students how to listen for God’s voice.
3. That our leaders will be able to answer questions that our students have on the topic of listening to God’s voice.

 

 

SMALL GROUPS May 15th, 2012

 

Listen Up – Week 2 – Quiet

 

LEADERS:

 

This is the second week in our series on what it means to hear from God. When I was younger, one of the things that influenced the direction of my life was a video called Noise by Nooma. As I watched this ten minute clip, I realized that the way I was trying to listen for God was way off, and my relationship drastically changed. This week we’re going to show this clip to our Jr. Highs. Though I know not all 120 Jr. Highs will be affected the same way I was, I’m hoping that many of our Jr. Highs realize that despite all the noise in their everyday lives, they have an opportunity to shut things down and listen for God’s voice.

 

Question 1: Go around the room and give a High and Low from last week.

 

Question 2: Did you have an opportunity to take some time to listen for God’s voice this week? What was he telling you?

 

Question 3: When was the last time you weren’t watching TV, on your computer, on your phone, playing games and sat in total silence? How hard as that to do?

 

Question 4: Why do you think that our society is so fixated on noise, and always being plugged in to different technologies?

 

Question 5: How hard do you think that it would be to shut everything off and spend time listen for God’s voice every day? Do you think you could do it?

 

 

“11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”

1 Kings 19:11-13

 

Go around the room and encourage each one of your students to do their best to listen for God’s voice this week. Encourage a few of your students to pray for the rest of the group.