Recap:

We’re in the middle of a series called Rhythm, and rhythm isn’t about perfection, it’s about practice. It’s about learning the spiritual rhythms that shape how we live, how we relate to God, and how we walk through everyday life. We’ve talked about Sabbath. We’ve talked about community. Last week, we leaned into the rhythm of talking to God, opening our hearts the way Adam and Eve were invited to do in the garden when God asked, “Where are you?” Not a question of location, but of relationship.

Today, we take it a step deeper.

Because a real relationship with God isn’t just built on talking. It’s built on listening.

Here’s the big idea that carries the message: Every time God speaks, our response is shaping the relationship. God is speaking, the question isn’t if He’s speaking, but whether we’re listening and how we respond when He does.

We turn to the story of Solomon in 1 Kings 3. David has just died. Solomon is young, overwhelmed, and standing in the shadow of a legendary father. He feels what so many of us feel, How did I get here? Do I have what it takes? In his insecurity and exhaustion, Solomon does something powerful: he opens his heart fully to God. He worships. He sacrifices. He acknowledges his need. And then he falls asleep.

That’s when God shows up.

In the quiet, God asks Solomon a stunning question: “What do you want? Ask, and I’ll give it to you.” And Solomon doesn’t ask for power, wealth, victory, or a long life. He says, “I’m like a child who doesn’t know his way around. Give me an understanding heart.”

But the deeper meaning of that phrase is even more striking. In the original language, Solomon isn’t asking for information, he’s asking for a listening heart. A heart that is tuned in. A heart that is responsive. A heart that stays in sync with God.

This is the biblical idea of shema, to hear, to listen, and to obey as one movement. In Scripture, listening and obedience are inseparable. To truly hear God is to respond to Him.

Jesus reinforces this again and again. He says the one who listens and follows builds their life on solid ground. His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. The closer we listen, the more understanding we receive. Faith grows by hearing. Stability comes from listening. Life is shaped by response.

But Scripture also gives us a warning.

Pharaoh heard God’s voice through Moses over and over again. God spoke clearly. Repeatedly. And each time Pharaoh refused to respond. His heart became heavy, then stubborn, then hard. And eventually, he lost the ability to truly hear. The principle is sobering: a resistant heart doesn’t just disobey God, it slowly dulls itself to His voice.

That’s why this rhythm matters.

God is inviting us into a posture of humility, not just bringing Him our requests, but opening our ears. Not just filling prayer with words, but creating space for listening. Not just hearing sermons on Sunday, but walking through the week with an attentive heart that says, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.”

And when God speaks, whether through Scripture, a conviction, a whisper, a person, or a circumstance, the final step of listening is obedience. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard. Because God never asks us to do something without giving us the grace and power to walk it out.

This message closes with an invitation: to listen, to respond, and to enter into relationship. For some, that means recommitting to a rhythm of listening. For others, it means opening the door to Jesus for the very first time. Either way, the invitation is the same:

God is speaking.
God wants relationship.
And every response is shaping the rhythm of our lives.

So may we be a people who don’t just hear, but listen.
Who don’t just listen, but respond.
And who live each day in step with the voice of God.

Group Questions:

Icebreakers (Choose 1–2 to start)

  1. Listening Wins
     What’s one time in your life when listening well (to a coach, parent, teacher, friend, GPS…) saved you time, pain, or embarrassment?
  2. Noise Check
     On a scale of 1–10, how noisy does life feel right now? What’s contributing most to that noise?
  3. Practice vs. Perfection
     When you hear the word practice, what comes to mind for you, encouragement or frustration? Why?

Opening Reflection

  • The message said rhythm isn’t about perfection, it’s about practice.
     Where do you feel pressure to be perfect in your faith instead of simply practicing?

Scripture & Understanding

Read 1 Kings 3:5–9 together.

  1. Solomon asks for “an understanding heart,” which really means a listening heart.
    What stands out to you about Solomon’s request in this season of your life?

  2. Solomon was young, overwhelmed, and unsure of himself.
    Where do you currently feel underqualified, unsure, or in over your head?

  3. God asked Solomon, “What do you want?”
     If God asked you that today, what do you think your honest answer would be?

Digging Deeper – Listening & Response

  1. The sermon said:
    “Every time God speaks, our response is shaping the relationship.”

    • How does that statement challenge the way you think about prayer?
    • Do you tend to measure prayer by how much you say or how much you listen?
  2. The biblical idea of shema connects hearing, listening, and obeying as one movement.
    Why do you think obedience is such a critical part of truly listening to God?

  3. Pharaoh heard God repeatedly but resisted responding.
    What are some subtle ways a heart can become resistant or dull to God’s voice today?
     (Busyness, fear, comfort, distractions, past hurt, control, etc.)

Personal Application

  1. Where do you sense God may be speaking right now?

    • Through Scripture
    • A conviction
    • A relationship
    • A circumstance
    • A quiet nudge you’ve been ignoring
  2. Is there an area where you’ve heard God but delayed obedience?
     What’s making obedience hard in that area?
  3. What would it look like for you to practice a rhythm of listening this week?
    (Silence, journaling, slower prayer, Scripture meditation, removing distractions, etc.)

Group Prayer & Response

  • Take a moment of silence together (30–60 seconds).
  • Invite group members to quietly pray:
    “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.”

  • Close by praying for:
    • Soft hearts
    • Courage to obey
    • Sensitivity to God’s voice this week