Discussion Guide
What in the world are prophets? They were chosen by God to be a spokesperson to deliver His will to the people. The prophets had to draw near to God, hear His voice, and know His will. God calls us to do the same—we need to spend time in the quiet listening for His voice. This week we learned from the prophet Samuel that listening isn’t just about hearing—it's about responding. The prophet Micah summed it up this way: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Samuel models for us how to hear and respond to God's voice, and Micah reminds us of what to do once we’ve heard it.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. Are you someone who must fill the silence, or are you ok with silence? Have you ever just wished someone would tell you what God wants you to do about a situation?
2. Read Deuteronomy 18:18-20. What is the danger of claiming to speak for God? Why do you think people in our day are quick to say, “God told me...”?
3. Read 1 Samuel 3:1-7. How are things different now versus in times when God’s Word was rare? Why do you think Samuel did not yet know the Lord? Even though we have the Bible, why do you think so many struggle to hear God? How does God’s Word being “rare” in Samuel’s time compare to spiritual dryness we sometimes experience today?
4. Read John 10:27-28, 1 Samuel 3:8. What is one of God’s greatest desires for us? Why is learning to hear the voice of God over always asking others so important? Why do we sometimes prefer to ask others what God wants instead of seeking Him ourselves? What are ways you have learned to discern God’s voice in your own life?
5. Read 1 Samuel 3:9-11. Why would God wait 3 times for Samuel to listen? Can you share a time when God spoke to you in the silence? Have you ever ignored or missed God’s leading the first time? What happened? How can we train ourselves to be more attentive to His voice?
6. Action Steps: Slow down this week! Ask God to speak and tell Him you are listening! Spend time in His Word to find the answers instead of always asking someone else.
Deeper Dive (Optional): Read Micah 6:8, 1 Kings 19:11-13. How does this verse connect with what we learn from Samuel? Why is it important that we learn to not only hear God’s voice but to also obey it by living justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with Him? Why do you think God often chooses the “gentle whisper” over the dramatic? How does it compare with the story we just read in 1 Samuel? What distractions make it hardest for you to hear God’s whisper?