Our Discipleship Journey: Part 1Sample

Learning to Listen to God

It’s important for us to recognise Jesus’ voice if we are to walk alongside people of peace who may be curious about following Him. Understanding Kairos moments helps us hear from God and then put what we’ve heard into action. Jesus tells us, ‘The time has come… The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’ Jesus isn’t referring to Chronos time (measurable minutes, hours, or years). He’s talking about Kairos time, meaning the right or opportune time. In Kairos moments – the aha moments of life – God intersects, interrupts, and intervenes in our lives.

Jesus is only ever bringing God’s Kingdom. So, as we learn to listen for His voice, we need to watch for the ways He’s bringing the Kingdom in us and through us, and then join Him. If you don’t feel you have what it takes to introduce someone to Jesus, remember God’s Kingdom is near and Jesus is at work in your life and the lives of those around you. Let that increase your faith and courage!

Jesus gives us a two-part process as we focus on bringing His Kingdom: repent and believe. Repent means reorientate, realign, turn, pivot, or change course. Believe implies acting on what we know to be true, trusting that God will bring about change – and bring His Kingdom – as we obey Him. We tend to miss the believe part of Jesus’ instruction. We read the Bible, hear a great sermon, or have an in-depth discussion with other Christians. God is present and has spoken to us! But then we go home, forget about it, and continue with our busy lives.

The Learning Circle is a tool that helps us to process Kairos moments and put into action what we believe God is saying. First, take three repent steps: observe, reflect, and discuss. Ask: What is getting my attention or stirring my heart? Where do I observe God at work? What is the Holy Spirit saying to me about what I’ve noticed? Then talk to others about what you believe God is saying.

Second, take three believe steps: plan, account, and act (remembering that it’s not about perfection, it’s about obedience). Think about one (specific, achievable) thing you could plan to do this week. Who will you ask to hold you accountable? What would it look like for you to act – to just do it?

Building a culture around hearing God’s voice – and responding – starts with us. As we seek to be disciples who make disciples of others, we need to model this process by sharing our Kairos moments and encouraging others to do the same. Before moving on to Our Discipleship Journey: Part 2, pause to reflect on how you’re listening to God. Be patient with the process. Learning to hear God’s voice and respond takes time. Be gentle with yourself and others as you grow in this. And remember to keep it simple. Kairos moments are often small and subtle. Just be attentive and responsive. Thankfully, God is faithful to include us where He is already at work, building His Kingdom.

This plan was adapted from the series, Our Discipleship Journey: Part 1, on RightNow Media. To find out more, visit: https://www.rightnowmedia.org/au/get-access