How Do I Hear The Holy Spirit? Part 1

Opener 1. Have you ever received directions from someone and then realized later you misunderstood what they meant? What happened? 2. Think of a time when you had an important decision to make. What were some of the things you considered before moving forward? Discussion 1. Read Acts 15:1-29, paying particular attention to verse 28. What stands out to you about the way the early church made decisions? What did they seem to rely on as they discerned God’s direction together? 2. The sermon introduced five “beacons” the Holy Spirit often uses to guide us: Scripture, prayer, a surrendered heart, community, and wisdom/circumstances. Which of these five beacons do you tend to trust most naturally? Which one do you tend to overlook or neglect? 3. Rather than relying on a single feeling, dream, or coincidence, the early church looked for multiple indicators pointing in the same direction. Why do you think God often guides us through a process of discernment rather than simply giving us immediate certainty? What does that require from us? 4. One of the sermon’s key ideas was that hearing God is not just about receiving guidance but becoming the kind of person who listens. Read Colossians 3:15-17. How do gratitude, surrender, and obedience affect our ability to recognize and respond to God’s leading? 5. Looking back on your life, can you think of a time when several of the “beacons” aligned and helped bring clarity to a situation? What did you learn from that experience? Application 1. Which of the five beacons—Scripture, prayer, a surrendered heart, community, or wisdom/circumstances—would you like to pay closer attention to this week? What is one practical step you can take? Close in Prayer Spend time asking the Holy Spirit to make you more attentive to His voice. Pray for wisdom, discernment, and a surrendered heart that is willing to follow wherever Jesus leads. Ask God to use His Word, prayer, community, and everyday circumstances to help each person grow in recognizing His guidance.