Week 4 — Listen to My Voice

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal)

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants share that they heard God’s voice or a time when someone else’s voice was particularly insightful.

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes)

Read: John 10:11-18

The job of shepherds is not common or familiar to many Americans today. How does the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd illuminate who Jesus is? [His voice (teaching) gives his followers guidance. He also provides protection from the dangers that seek out easy targets such as sheep.]
Do you struggle with the idea of needing help? Another way to ask this question is, “How comfortable are you with sharing your inadequacies (not to be confused with false humility)?”
Do people truly need a Savior? A Savior from what? [One way of putting it might be – We are incapable of restoring our relationship with God. We have broken the covenant. For the covenant relationship to be restored requires the stronger partner to enact forgiveness and make a way to help us more fully live into that covenant. We need a Savior from that which keeps us from being faithful covenant partners.]
How is Jesus being our Good Shepherd good news?
How do we let others know that God’s voice is a voice worth hearing?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End by praying the following or a similar prayer:

God of compassion and grace, we are thankful for your guidance and protection. We confess there are times when have failed to acknowledge your protection and guidance or to be aware of how you have led us through difficulties. Help us to hear your voice and discern your direction, so that we might follow you and so that others might see God’s voice in our way of being. Amen.