Hearing God - Leaders Guide

LEADER’S GUIDE
Hello!
Thank you for choosing to lead a group through the Hearing God course. We are so excited
to journey with you and explore the different ways God speaks to each of us.
Many have believed that God no longer speaks to us today. This couldn’t be further from
the truth! God longs to have a personal and intimate relationship with us. How can we build
an intimate relationship with someone who doesn’t personally communicate with us? The
truth is that He’s a loving Father who wants to speak to each of His children directly.
This course will take you and your group on a journey to discover the different ways that
God communicates with us. You and your group will be equipped to recognize His voice
and cultivate a deep and intimate relationship with Him.
There’s nothing that can satisfy us more than having a vibrant relationship with our Creator!
Our prayer is that you enjoy deeper fellowship with Him as you apply the truth from God’s
Word.
Sincerely,
John Bevere
HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 2

A B OU T TH IS G U ID E
We’re so excited that you’re leading a group through the Hearing God course. Before you
dive in, there are a few things that we want to share with you.
This is a journey. As the leader, you are on the journey with your group. Your group will
have a unique experience, so be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
Don’t feel like you must have all the answers. You can still lead your group effectively by
pointing them to God and the Bible. With that being said, we know that God will give you
what you need to facilitate this course.
You are not alone. There’s a support team standing by to help you navigate some of your
group’s specific questions and challenges. Don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything
we can do to help. (Our contact information can be found on page 4 of this Leader’s Guide.)
BEFOR E YOU B EGIN
Familiarize: Become acquainted with the course’s content and set up your group account.
Equip: Give your group access to the study by sharing your designated login information
with them.

FOR EAC H GR OU P M EET ING
Each lesson of this Leader’s Guide contains two main sections: Prepare and Lead.
In the Prepare portion, you will have prompts and journaling space to engage with God
about that lesson’s topics.
In the Lead portion, you will find Watch, Discuss, and Take Action steps to help you struc-
ture your activities each time your group meets. Plan for each meeting to last 60–90 min-
utes.
Here is a sample schedule:
Group members arrive

Watch video lesson: 25–30 minutes
Discussion time: 30 minutes
Take action: 15 minutes
Close in prayer: 10 minutes
BET WEEN GR OU P M EET INGS:

Study: Encourage your group to use the Hearing God course guide. It will help them per-
sonally apply the truths from each lesson.
Meditate: Encourage your group to engage with the Meditation Guide. There are some
additional directions within the Meditation Guide download.
If you have any other questions or if you need support, please contact our Messenger Rela-
tions team at churchrelations@messengerinternational.org or call (719) 487-3000.
Enjoy!
P.S. When you finish the Hearing God course, please send us your feedback. Our goal is to
continually improve the course experience. Thank you!

LESSON 01
D O E S G O D S TILL S PEAK?
P R EPA R E
Reflect
Review the following key concepts from this lesson to prepare your heart and mind to lead.
Take some time to journal through the ideas that resonate with you.
• God still speaks today, and He wants to walk with us.
• God longs to speak to us as a father longs to speak to his children.
• We will not hear God’s voice unless we have faith that He wants to speak to us.
• When God speaks to us, it will not contradict the counsel of His written Word.
• Each of us has a unique relationship with God. We’re invited to discover which way
He most frequently communicates with us.
Pause
Listen to God’s heart for this lesson. Spend time in prayer asking the Lord what He wants
to share with those in your group. Journal what you hear below. Make sure to include any
ideas you have for your group time.

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L EA D
Watch
Start by watching Video Lesson 1. Suggest that group members take notes and write down
what resonates with them.
Discuss
Spend some time discussing the video content, covering the key concepts and talking
points you prepared. Ask two or three questions to stir conversation. Here are some ques-
tions you could use:
• Does God still speak today? If so, does He only communicate through the Scrip-
tures?
• Whatever God speaks will always agree with the counsel of Scripture. What does
this mean to you?
• Is there a difference between speaking and communicating?

TAK E ACT ION
Spend time in groups of two or three, and have group members share a time when God
was communicating with them. Take note of how many different methods are mentioned.
Thank you for stepping out and leading your group in discovering how God speaks!

LESSON 02
ELI M I NAT I NG VOICE B LOCKERS
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• God longs to speak to us, but we need to make space to hear His voice.
• Five major hindrances to hearing God’s voice:
• Business/distractions
• Competing voices
• Unprepared heart
• Having idols in your heart
• Sin/disobedience

Pause
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L EA D
Watch
what stands out to them.
Discuss
Spend some time dialoguing about the video content, covering the key concepts and
talking points you prepared. Ask two or three questions to stir conversation. Here are some
questions you could use:
• Of the five major hindrances mentioned in the lesson, what is one of your biggest
hindrances?
• As a group, discuss what idolatry looks like in a believer’s life. How do you remove
an idol from the heart?
• What are some ways we can prepare our hearts to hear God?

TAK E ACT ION
Ask each group member to individually identify their biggest hindrance to hearing God, and
to plan one action step to remove that hindrance. Afterward, in groups of two or three, ask
each member to share their action step.
Great work! Now let’s move on to Lesson 3, where we’ll learn about intimacy with the Holy
Spirit. As you are experiencing testimonies in your group, we would love for you to share
these with our team at churchrelations@messengerinternational.org.

LESSON 03
I N T I MACY WITH TH E H OLY

S PIRIT
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• It is through a relationship with God’s Spirit that we experience intimacy with God.
• There are three levels of relationship: physical, soul, spiritual. The spiritual level of
relationship is the deepest level. We can experience relationship with God on a
spiritual level.
• Developing intimacy with the Holy Spirit develops our ability to discern how God
communicates uniquely with each of us.
Pause

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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• Why do you think the Holy Spirit is the most ignored person in the church?
• How can you develop an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit?
• What’s the benefit of knowing that we communicate with the Holy Spirit?
TAK E ACT ION
Ask each group member to assess how they pray. Do they address the Holy Spirit directly?
Do they engage Him in conversation while alone throughout the day? Encourage them to

begin speaking directly to the Holy Spirit at least once a day and to take note how their
intimacy with Him deepens.
Ready for the next lesson? We can’t wait to dive back in!

LESSON 04
WAYS G O D S PEAKS – PART 1
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• God wants to speak to you in any way that you can recognize.
• God longs to speak to us as a father longs to speak to his child. How we view our-
selves shapes how we hear His voice.
• Here are different ways in which God speaks:

• Journaling
• Inner witness or peace
• Visions
• Dreams
Pause

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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• In the lesson, Lisa shared that God doesn’t “use” us. What can we practically do to
position our hearts toward God, not based on what we do for Him, but rather who
we are to Him?
• As a group, share different methods that God has used to speak to you and take
note of the different methods.
• As it relates to hearing God’s voice, why do you think God wants us to deal with any
offenses that we may have, or that someone may have against us?

TAK E ACT ION
Challenge each member to ask God to help them recognize how He’s communicating to
them and to set aside time this week to be with Him.
You’re doing so well! We can’t wait to continue learning and growing with you. As you are
experiencing testimonies in your group, we would love for you to share these with our team
at churchrelations@messengerinternational.org.

LESSON 05
WAYS G O D S PEAKS – PART 2
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• Here are different ways in which God speaks:

• Dreams
• By prophecy
• Audible voice
• Parables and symbolism
Pause
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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• How can we properly steward a prophecy given to us?
• Has God used a parable to speak to you? This can also include a picture, a story, a
movie, or illustration. If so, share with the group.
• As a group, discuss different methods that God uses to speak that may not have
been covered in the lessons.
• As it relates to our world of influence, how has this lesson changed your view on the
importance of hearing God speak to you regularly?

TAK E ACT ION
Have each group member ask God to personally speak to them. Ask them to write what
they hear, sense, or see in their journal or on paper.
Lesson 5 is complete! In our next lesson, we will discuss The Authenticity of Scripture!

LESSON 06
T HE AUTH EN TICITY
OF SCRIPTU RE
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• The Bible has 66 books from 40+ writers from different nations and languages writ-
ten over 1,500 years.
• To hear God through the Scriptures, we must be open to the illumination of God’s
Spirit.
• Read the Bible using both the Old and the New Testaments together.
• Take time to both read and meditate on the Word.
Pause

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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• Ask group members to share how they felt when they heard the research from Dr.
Peter Stoner on the probabilities of one man fulfilling just 8, 16, and 48 prophecies
of the Messiah.
• Discuss as a group why you think the Bible has been so attacked, even inside the
church.
• Ask the group to discuss what their biggest challenge is when reading the Bible.

TAK E ACT ION
Get into groups of two or three, and have each person make a simple Bible reading plan for
just one week. Choose a portion of Scripture (something realistic) such as a short chapter
or a short portion of Scripture. The goal is to read it every day for one week, and meditate
on it at least twice a day. As you progress through the week, write down what stands out to
you. Have the members of the small group hold each other accountable.

LESSON 07
H E A R I N G G O D TH ROU G H TH E
BIB LE
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• Every scripture is God-breathed, inspired by the Holy Spirit. We must read it with
Him.
• Anything God speaks to us will never contradict the written Word of God.
• Don’t read what you believe; believe what you read.
• Reading the Bible gives us the knowledge about who God is.
• Our goal is to not read through the Bible for the sake of reading it. Our goal in read-
ing Scripture is hearing from God and knowing Him.
Pause

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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• As a group, identify some things that hinder people from reading the Scriptures on
a regular basis.
• What are the differences between reading what you believe, and believing what
you read?
• Ask different group members to share study strategies or habits that have helped
them hear God’s voice as they read the Scriptures.

TAK E ACT ION
Get into groups of two or three, and have each person share how their reading plan from
the previous group meeting went. Then, choose another reading plan and have the small
group members hold each other accountable between group meetings. The goal is to hear
God speak through the Scriptures.
Great work! Now let’s move on to Lesson 8, where we’ll learn about the relevance of the
Old Testament. As you are experiencing testimonies in your group, we would love for you
to share these with our team at churchrelations@messengerinternational.org.

LESSON 08
T HE R E L EVAN CE OF
T H E OL D TES TAM EN T
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• We are a spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body.
• The Word of God helps you identify whether you’re hearing His voice or your own.
• Reading the Old Testament gives us context to who Jesus is.
• God speaks to us by His Spirit to our spirit.
Pause

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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• After hearing this lesson, has your view of the relevance of the Old Testament
changed?
• What are some practical ways to read the New Testament and the Old Testament
together?
TAK E ACT ION
Split into two smaller groups. Choose a New Testament passage that quotes Old Testament
passages. Ask one group to read the New Testament passage together. Then have the

other group read the context of the Old Testament passage together. After a few minutes,
come back together and discuss the different perspectives from each reading.

LESSON 09
S E E K I N G GOD D ILIGEN TLY
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• We are invited to diligently seek God. When we do, we will find Him.
• The opposite of diligent seeking is inconsistent, fickle, neglectful, lazy seeking.
• Schedule quality time alone with God (without your phone!).
• Be authentic when you communicate with God.
• Be present in the moment and remain diligent and patient, even when you don’t
hear His voice right away. In time, you will!
Pause

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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• When was the last time you were intentionally alone—without your phone?
• Do you find that you lean more toward being diligent or casual in your pursuit of
God?
• In your season of life, what does diligently seeking God look like for you?

TAK E ACT ION
Set specific time aside in the upcoming week to be alone with God to simply get to know
Him. Get into groups of two or three and share your plan with the group to keep each other
accountable.

LESSON 10
H OW TO H EA R G OD
T HR OU G H PRAYER
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• God is more passionate about being with us than we are about being with Him.
• God must be regarded as Holy by all those to approach Him.
• We must come to God in faith, believing that we will hear from Him when we spend
time with Him.
• Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue—it’s a two-way conversation.
• Discover how God communicates with you.
Pause

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L EA D
Watch
Start by watching Video Lesson 10. Suggest that group members take notes and write
down what stands out to them.
Discuss
• Does your prayer life reflect the fact that God is more passionate about spending
time with you than you are about spending time with Him? Do we truly believe this?
• How can we be reverent and honoring, and still be relational with our Father?
• How can we keep an open ear of communication with God throughout the day in a
practical way?
• Discuss the difference between God’s omnipresence and His manifest presence.

TAK E ACT ION
As a group, take time to spend with God for 15 minutes. Make the focus of your prayer time
on the meditation of His greatness. Think about how Holy, Perfect, Faithful, Beautiful, Mer-
ciful, and Loving He is.
Lesson 10 is complete! In our next lesson, we will discuss the Heavenly Language!

LESSON 11
THE HE AV E N LY LA N GUAGE
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• There are four different types of tongues that the Bible speaks about.
• Speaking in a heavenly language gives us greater ability to communicate with God.
• We receive rest when we pray in the Spirit.
• We receive counsel and wisdom directly from God when we pray in the Spirit.
Pause
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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• After hearing this lesson, how has your view of speaking in tongues changed?
• Why do you think speaking in tongues has been attacked so much?
• Do you pray in the Spirit on a regular basis?
TAK E ACT ION
Get into groups of two or three. Spend time as a group praying in the Spirit. If there’s any-
one who does not yet speak in tongues, lead them in a prayer to ask the Lord for them to
be filled or baptized with the Holy Spirit.

LESSON 12
S T E WA R D I N G REVELATION
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• God longs to reveal mysteries to us.
• Revelation from God is hidden for us to discover.
• We must practice active listening so that we’re receptive to hear His voice.
• We must be careful with what He shares with us. Caring for the truths that God has
entrusted to us will position us to receive more from Him.
• Meditation is the digestive system of the soul.
• There is revelation in heaven reserved for our day.
Pause

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L EA D
Watch
down what resonates with them.
Discuss
• What was the last instruction God gave you? How have you responded to that re-
quest?
• What do you think biblical meditation means?
• Have you had God share an idea with you that would benefit your world of influ-
ence?

TAK E ACT ION
Have your group pick one verse of Scripture, and then ask them to meditate on that Word.
You may refer to the Meditation Guide for instruction on how to meditate on Scripture.
Great work! Now let’s move on to Lesson 13, where we’ll learn how fasting changes the
way we see. As you are experiencing testimonies in your group, we would love for you to
share these with our team at churchrelations@messengerinternational.org.

LESSON 13
FAS T I N G CH A N GES
T H E WAY YOU S EE
P R EPA R E
Reflect
Take some time to journal through the ideas that resonates with you.
• A diet may change the way you look, but a fast will change the way you live.
• A diet may change your appearance, but a fast will change the way you see; it will
alter your inner perspective.
• Disciplining your soul through fasting can give you clarification and insight.
• Fasting can give us a reset in our season.
• A diet changes the way you look, but a fast changes the way you see.
• Fasting allows us to move from the realm of self so that your influence can rise in
the darkness.
• Fasting gives us a sensitivity to hear His voice more clearly.

Pause
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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• How does fasting position us to hear God’s voice more clearly?
• What are some things that are currently taking up space in your life that you can fast
for a season?
• How can we approach fasting in a way that isn’t works-based?

TAK E ACT ION
Identify those things that are taking up too much space in your daily routines that you can
fast for a time during the upcoming week. Get in groups of two or three and share what
you’re choosing to fast within the group for accountability.

LESSON 14
THE VO I C E O F CON S CIEN CE
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• In order to finish well, we must maintain a clear conscience.
• Our conscience is the voice of our spirit.
• The Holy Spirit uses our conscience to speak with us.
• The mind of the Spirit gives us the mind of Christ.
• Habitual disobedience silences the voice of your conscience.
• The Lord shed His blood for our conscience to be clean so that we can hear the
voice of God.
• Walk out your personal convictions; don’t place your personal convictions on oth-
ers.

Pause
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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• After hearing this lesson, how has your view of conscience changed?
• Describe the condition of a person with a clear conscience, and the symptoms of a
person with a conscience that they’ve violated?
• Have you experienced the silencing of your conscience by disobedience? How did
you turn away from that?

TAK E ACT ION
Get into groups of two or three, and read Romans chapter 14 as a group. Discuss some ar-
eas that fall into the realm of personal conviction that we shouldn’t place on someone else.

LESSON 15
TH E VO I C E WITH IN TH E VOICE
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• You can hear God through the voice of others.
• When we receive people as if God sent them to us, then we can easily hear God’s
voice within their voice.
• Don’t relate to others according to the flesh; rather, relate to them according to the
Spirit.
• When you are listening to or reading something from the Word, write down what
resonates within you.
• It’s the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things, but many times He will utilize the voice
of others to teach us.

Pause
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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• Have you ever heard God speak to you while someone was teaching the Word?
• What are some examples of regarding people according to the flesh? What would
regarding them according to the Spirit look like?
• How can we gain first-hand revelation from someone else’s teaching?

TAK E ACT ION
Get into groups of two or three and review the notes that you took from past instructors in
the Hearing God course. Share with the group what God has opened up to you as a result
of hearing His voice within the voice of others.
=Lesson 15 is complete! In our next lesson, we will discuss Led by God’s Voice!

LESSON 16
L E D BY GOD’S VOICE
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• Sheep know a shepherd’s voice through the quality time that they spend with him.
Similarly, hearing God’s voice comes from spending time with Him.
• God will lead us by being out front when He’s taking us to uncharted territory. When
we’re moving in familiar territory, He will often give us direction from behind as we
continue moving forward.
• God has gone before you to prepare the way.
• When you hear a call and you don’t know if it’s from God, don’t automatically run to
something else; run to God and get clarity.
Pause

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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• Share a time that you followed God’s leading and what the outcome was from that
situation.
• If you sense that God is leading you to do something, but you’re unsure, what’s a
practical way to ask God for confirmation? (Ex.: Ask for peace, a confirmation by
Scripture, etc.)

TAK E ACT ION
Take a few minutes to pray. Ask God to speak to you something specific during this time.
Write down what He says to you, and then share it with the group.

LESSON 17
F I N D I N G A N S W ERS
TO B I G QU ES TION S
P R EPA R E
Reflect
• God will give us a peace that transcends all understanding when making difficult
decisions. He will often lead us through that peace.
• Thanksgiving is one of the most powerful forms of spiritual warfare.
• Here are four practical steps to take when making a big decision:
• Do your due diligence.
• Seek counsel from someone who has walked the process before you.
• Get quiet before God and become neutral in your heart.
• Follow the peace that transcends understanding.
Pause

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L EA D
Watch
Discuss
• What are some big decisions that God has led you through in the past? Share what
that process looked like for you.
• How do you determine the difference between someone giving wisdom versus an
opinion?
• How can thanksgiving help us in having the clarity to make the right decision?

TAK E ACT ION
Take time to make a list of all the things you’re thankful for. Practice getting into a heart of
gratitude, which will position you to hear God’s voice more clearly.
• End by watching the final video lesson: A Closing Word
• Pray for the group
The course is finished! Thank you for leading your group to experience God’s presence and
learn how to hear God’s voice. We would love for you to share any testimonies that were
experienced in your group. You can send them to our team at churchrelations@messenger-
international.org.

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LEADER’S GUIDE

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 2

BEFOR E YOU B EGIN

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 3

Here is a sample schedule:

Group members arrive

BET WEEN GR OU P M EET INGS:

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 4

• God still speaks today, and He wants to walk with us.

• God longs to speak to us as a father longs to speak to his children.

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 5

• Is there a difference between speaking and communicating?

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 6

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 7

ELI M I NAT I NG VOICE B LOCKERS

• Five major hindrances to hearing God’s voice:

• Having idols in your heart

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 8

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 9

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 10

I N T I MACY WITH TH E H OLY

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 11

TAK E ACT ION

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 12

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 13

WAYS G O D S PEAKS – PART 1

• Here are different ways in which God speaks:

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 14

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 15

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 16

WAYS G O D S PEAKS – PART 2

• Here are different ways in which God speaks:

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 17

• How can we properly steward a prophecy given to us?

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 18

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 19

• Take time to both read and meditate on the Word.

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 20

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 21

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 22

• Don’t read what you believe; believe what you read.

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 23

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 24

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 25

• We are a spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body.

• Reading the Old Testament gives us context to who Jesus is.

• God speaks to us by His Spirit to our spirit.

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 26

TAK E ACT ION

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 27

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 28

S E E K I N G GOD D ILIGEN TLY

• The opposite of diligent seeking is inconsistent, fickle, neglectful, lazy seeking.

• Schedule quality time alone with God (without your phone!).

• Be authentic when you communicate with God.

HEARING GOD LEADER’S GUIDE | 29