Question 1

Why is listening so important?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 1:9What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.Listening is important because it can help us grow and mature. Good listening fosters learning, which leads to knowledge and wisdom.Proverbs 5:13-14“Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors? I have come to the brink of utter ruin, and now I must face public disgrace.”Listening is important because it can keep us from making mistakes we could have avoided. When we truly listen to advice, we absorb it with our minds and in our hearts. It will then be useful at the right time, when we are most vulnerable to temptation.Luke 9:35A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.”Luke 11:28“Even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”John 16:13“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”Revelation 2:11“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”Listening is important because listening to God is essential to making good decisions for now and for eternity. When we truly listen to the Holy Spirit and to God’s commands, we will have the guidance we need to make wise choices.Proverbs 8:6“Listen to me! For I [Wisdom] have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception.”Listening is important because it keeps us from being closed-minded, providing us opportunities to hear a variety of ideas from many different sources. The more we listen, the better our chances of hearing an excellent nugget of wisdom. God’s truth is found in God’s word, but the application of God’s truth is often found through the advice and experience of others.Exodus 18:24Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions.Job 29:21-23“Everyone listened to my advice. They were silent as they waited for me to speak. And after I spoke, they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them. They longed for me to speak as people long for rain. They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain.”Listening is important because it shows that we respect others. It honors their words. We feel affirmed when we have been listened to.Proverbs 21:13Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.Romans 12:15Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.Listening is important because it connects us with others. It helps us to know when they are in need and how best to help them.

Question 2

How can I be a good listener?

Accepted Answer

Job 2:13They [Job’s friends] sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.Romans 12:15Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.Galatians 6:2Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.Good listening begins with the heart. When someone is in pain, patient listening and silent comforting are often the best gift we can give them. When someone is joyful, we can strengthen that joy by listening as they share their excitement.Acts 11:1-4, 18Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. “You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” they said. Then Peter told them exactly what had happened. . . . When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”Being a good listener involves asking questions. Joseph wanted to listen to how his brothers answered this question because their answer would reveal whether their hearts had changed. The Jewish believers wanted to know why Peter disobeyed the Jewish laws and ate with gentiles. When they listened to Peter’s answer, they realized this was part of God’s plan all along, and they rejoiced! Asking the right questions and keeping an open mind is essential to good listening.Acts 17:11The people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.1 John 4:1Do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.An open mind is different from gullibility. An open mind listens to different perspectives and puts them to the test. A gullible mind merely accepts every passing idea as true. We should listen patiently and fairly, but be discerning in what we choose to believe.Proverbs 15:32If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.Being a good listener involves an openness to advice. To grow in understanding, we must be willing to accept correction when we make mistakes.Proverbs 15:28The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.The godly think before speaking.James 1:19You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.Being a good listener often involves saying less and carefully choosing our words.

Question 3

Why should I listen to God?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 1:23“Come and listen to my [Wisdom’s] counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.”Proverbs 9:10Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.Isaiah 48:12“Listen to me, O family of Jacob, Israel my chosen one! I alone am God, the First and the Last.”Hosea 14:9Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them.We should listen to God because he is the source of all wisdom and knowledge.Deuteronomy 6:3“Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.”Deuteronomy 28:13“If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom.”Only when we truly listen to God will we know how to receive his blessings. We must not miss them by refusing to listen.Psalm 16:11You [Lord] will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.We should listen to God because it brings lasting joy. Following God’s ways is like following a pathway of peace, but we must listen for his directions to stay on course!Isaiah 46:3“Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born.”We should listen to God because that allows him to better care for us. God gives us instructions to protect us from trouble and guide us in bringing his life-giving presence to others.

Question 4

How can I better listen to God?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 4:3You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him.Psalm 5:3Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.We can better listen to God by spending time with him regularly. After talking to God, we should stop and listen for a while. God always answers prayer, but he answers clearest when we take the time to listen.Psalm 46:10“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”Matthew 6:5-6“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”Luke 5:16Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.Being quiet prepares us to better hear God’s voice. We need to find times and places with less noise, without competing voices. Then we simply must take the time to be still and to listen.1 Kings 19:12After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.It can be helpful to listen to God by listening for his whispers. God often speaks to us in quiet moments and places. As we are quiet before God, our hearts may begin to nudge our thoughts in a certain direction. We should ask if this whisper is from God. If we are sincerely seeking God, he will make clear what he wants us to know.Luke 8:18“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my [Jesus’] teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”When we think we have heard something from God, we should pay attention. We should pursue opportunities to receive a word from him. The more we listen to God, the more we will hear him speaking to us. If we close our ears and heart to God, we won’t receive his wisdom and truth.

Question 5

What are the consequences of not listening to God?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 16:20Some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.Leviticus 26:14-21“If you do not listen to me or obey all these commands, and if you break my covenant by rejecting my decrees, treating my regulations with contempt, and refusing to obey my commands, I will punish you. I will bring sudden terrors upon you—wasting diseases and burning fevers that will cause your eyes to fail and your life to ebb away. You will plant your crops in vain because your enemies will eat them. I will turn against you, and you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will run even when no one is chasing you! And if, in spite of all this, you still disobey me, I will punish you seven times over for your sins. I will break your proud spirit by making the skies as unyielding as iron and the earth as hard as bronze. All your work will be for nothing, for your land will yield no crops, and your trees will bear no fruit. If even then you remain hostile toward me and refuse to obey me, I will inflict disaster on you seven times over for your sins.”Hebrews 2:1So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.God wants to protect us from sin and trouble, and that is best accomplished when we listen to his voice and obey his commands. Refusing to listen to God is like shutting down our spiritual immune system. When we lose touch with God, we lose touch with the One who gives us the strength to withstand the onslaught of sin. When we are too weak to fight the temptations of sin, we will give in and do harmful things that hurt both us and those we love.

Question 6

In addition to God, whom else should I listen to?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 10:20The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.We should listen to godly people.1 Kings 10:24People from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him.We should listen to people filled with God’s wisdom.1 Samuel 3:19As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.We should listen to people who walk with God.1 Chronicles 13:1David consulted with all his officials, including the generals and captains of his army.We should listen to wise and skilled leaders.Proverbs 1:7-9Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.Children should listen to their parents.Proverbs 5:13“Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?”Students should listen to their teachers.Romans 13:1, 5Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. . . . So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.We should obey those in authority over us.1 Kings 10:24People from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him.1 Samuel 3:19As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.Proverbs 10:20The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.We should listen to godly people who are committed to walking with God, those who are full of God’s wisdom and rich in experience.

Question 7

To what should I not listen?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:6The woman . . . saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.Matthew 6:13“And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”We must not listen to anyone who tempts us to disobey God.Leviticus 19:16“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.”We must not spread slanderous gossip in our families and communities.Proverbs 26:20Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.We must not listen to or spread gossip, which provides fuel for destructive fires in any community. We can snuff out such fires by changing the subject or directly confronting those spreading the gossip.Proverbs 12:18Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.We must not make remarks that demean and bully others.Mark 13:21-23“If anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!”John 10:2, 4-5“The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. . . . After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”We must not allow ourselves to be drawn into false teaching. The more we learn to recognize God’s voice through prayer and studying his word, the better we will recognize false teaching when it arises.Ephesians 5:4Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.We should not listen to insults and off-color comments. They are not consistent with godly living.Proverbs 13:5The godly hate lies; the wicked cause shame and disgrace.Proverbs 29:5To flatter friends is to lay a trap for their feet.We should avoid listening to flattery. Sometimes, a lie can be quite attractive. Lies and flattery may be exactly what we want to hear, but they often lead us into foolish, prideful, and sinful behavior.Isaiah 8:19Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?Jeremiah 23:16This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people: “Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for the Lord!”1 Corinthians 15:33Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”We shouldn’t listen to people who oppose God, which includes false prophets, those involved in the occult, those who love evil, and those who try to turn us from God.

Question 8

Does God really listen when I pray?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 17:6I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.Psalm 102:17He [the Lord] will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.Psalm 116:2Because he [the Lord] bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!Isaiah 59:1The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.1 John 5:14-15We are confident that he [God] hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.God hears every prayer, listens carefully, and answers. His answer may be “yes,” “no,” or “not yet,” but his answer is always whatever is best for us.Matthew 7:7-11“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”Luke 18:1-4, 7-8One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally . . . he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”God does not listen to our prayers begrudgingly. He is a good heavenly Father who loves his children. Jesus himself encourages us to never give up praying or doubt his goodness!

Question 9

When do people listen to me?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 3:19As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.1 Kings 10:24People from every nation came to consult him [Solomon] and to hear the wisdom God had given him.Acts 16:25Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.People are attracted to godly wisdom. While our ungodly neighbors may not identify it as God’s wisdom, they will want it because it makes so much sense.Psalm 66:18If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.Isaiah 59:2It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.Zechariah 7:13“Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.James 4:3Even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.When we persist in our sinful ways of life and turn away from God, he will not listen to our requests because they will all come from selfish motives. If we are not sincere when we come to God in prayer, our prayers will be meaningless and without effect.

Question 10

How can I improve my listening to God?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 5:3Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.We can improve our listening to God by coming to him regularly and waiting expectantly.Psalm 46:10“Be still, and know that I am God!”Luke 5:16Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.We can improve our listening to God by finding times to be quiet and meditate on his word.Luke 8:18“So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”Acts 17:11The people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.Hebrews 2:1We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.We can improve our listening to God by being attentive to the Bible, his word. If we are unsure if an idea or message is from God, we can examine it against the truth of his word.1 Kings 19:12After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.We can improve our listening to God by being aware that God often communicates with us during quiet moments and in quiet places.James 1:22-23Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.Listening to God is pointless if we do not remember and apply what we have heard. True listening follows through with action.John 10:27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.We can improve our listening to God by learning to recognize the Shepherd’s voice and follow him. The more we practice this, the easier it will be to hear his voice above the voices of others.

Question 11

At what times will God not listen to us?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 1:42-45“The Lord told me to tell you, ‘Do not attack, for I am not with you. If you go ahead on your own, you will be crushed by your enemies.’ “This is what I told you, but you would not listen. Instead, you again rebelled against the Lord’s command and arrogantly went into the hill country to fight. But the Amorites who lived there came out against you like a swarm of bees. They chased and battered you all the way from Seir to Hormah. Then you returned and wept before the Lord, but he refused to listen.”Jonah 4:1-4This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”1 John 5:14We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.In his perfect love and wisdom, God desires what is best for us and others. If what we ask for contradicts that, he will not answer our prayer. Israel lacked faith and disobeyed God, so God determined they were not ready to enter the Promised Land. When Israel decided to try to enter anyway, God warned them it would end badly. After Israel was soundly beaten, they ran back to complain to God, and Moses had to tell them, “God told you so!” Another example comes from Jonah. Jonah was angry at the Ninevites, and he became angry at God for showing mercy to them. Naturally, God didn’t incinerate Nineveh like Jonah wanted. Instead, God taught Jonah a lesson in his divine love and compassion. God does not listen to our selfish or wrong requests, but he always offers answers to our real needs. To receive his answer, we must learn to listen ourselves.Psalm 66:18If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.Isaiah 59:2It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.Jeremiah 11:11This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring calamity upon them, and they will not escape. Though they beg for mercy, I will not listen to their cries.Zechariah 7:13“Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”James 4:3Even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.When we persist in sinful living, God will not listen to any of our requests because they will all come from selfish motives. If we are not sincere and unselfish when we come to God in prayer, our prayers will be meaningless.Psalm 23:1-4The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.Matthew 13:58So he [Jesus] did only a few miracles there [in Nazareth] because of their unbelief.Matthew 14:30-31When he [Peter] saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”Mark 9:22-24“Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”James 1:6-8When you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.Lack of faith toward God may lead to a lack of response from him. But God still loves and cares for those with a weak faith. Just as Jesus had compassion on the man with the demon-possessed son who asked for greater faith, and just as he lifted Peter from the waves when Peter’s faith failed, he also comforts and strengthens our faith. Growing in faith is not growing in willpower, trying to force God to do what we want. Growing in faith means growing in a relationship with the good Shepherd and trusting him to meet our needs. The good Shepherd cares for all his sheep, but a trusting and obedient sheep will benefit most from the Shepherd’s guidance.Luke 18:1-4, 7-8One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally . . . he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”Sometimes, we can feel as though God isn’t listening to us. Jesus assures us that God is not an unjust judge. He does not help us begrudgingly. He does not require bribes. He genuinely loves us and wants what is best for us. So we should keep praying!