Relationship Greater than Religion Week 5: Ears to Hear

Ears To Hear
based on a sermon preached by Tim Bach, 2/15/26

Opening prayer
“Lord Jesus, thank You that You still speak to Your sheep and call us by name. We confess that we often value activity for You more than time with You. Calm our minds, slow our pace, and help us listen for Your gentle voice. Open our ears to hear, our hearts to respond, and our lives to change. Be present in our discussion and draw us closer to Yourself. In Your name, amen.”

Scripture readings

1. Mark 1:35–37 – Jesus withdrawing to a solitary place to pray, even when “everyone is looking for” Him.
2. John 10:2–4 – The sheep hear His voice, know His voice, and follow Him.
3. 1 Kings 19:11–13 – God not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in the gentle whisper.
4. Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”
5. Habakkuk 2:20 – “The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.”

Discussion topics and related questions
Topic 1: Time with God vs work for God
Main idea: We have an unhealthy estimation of our own importance when we think our work for God is more important than our time with God.
Questions:

• When you look at your last month, which has received more intentionality: time with God or work for God? Why do you think that is?
• How does Mark 1:35–37 challenge our assumptions about “being needed” and always being available? What do you notice about Jesus’ priorities here?
• In what subtle ways can ministry, serving, or even parenting become a substitute for being with Jesus instead of flowing from being with Him?
• What would it look like, practically, to re-order your schedule so that time with God is non-negotiable rather than “if there’s time left”?

Topic 2: Hearing His voice in the noise
Main idea: We starve our relationship with God by feeding on activity; when we block out His voice, the other voices become louder.
Questions:

• What are the loudest “other voices” in your life right now (work, phone, social media, expectations, anxiety, etc.)? How do they affect your ability to hear Jesus?
• John 10:3–4 says the sheep know His voice and follow Him. How would you describe what it’s like when you sense Jesus speaking to you (through Scripture, a thought, a conviction, a word of encouragement)?
• 1 Kings 19 shows God speaking in a gentle whisper rather than in dramatic events. Where might you be looking for God in the “wind, earthquake, and fire” instead of in the quiet?
• Share a time when you only realized later that God had been speaking or guiding you. What kept you from noticing in the moment, and what helped you recognize His voice afterward?

Topic 3: Pace of life and soul health
Main idea: If your relationship with Jesus is not growing, it might be your pace of life; no external success will redeem an unhealthy soul.
Questions:

• How would you describe your current pace of life—unhurried, sustainable, or constantly rushed? How does that pace show up in your body, emotions, and relationships?
• Which statement resonates most with you and why: “The busier I am, the more I quiet the only voice that really matters,” “Relationship will always require intentionality,” or “We are spiritual marathon runners that keep ignoring every water station”?
• What “water stations” has God already placed in your week (Sabbath, a quiet drive, early mornings, a walk, lunch break) that you tend to rush past?
• If you believed deep down that “no external success will redeem your life,” what would you do differently with your time and energy this coming week?

Topic 4: Practicing silence and solitude
Main idea: Solitude is an opportunity to open up our souls to Him for whom we were made; the Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.
Questions:

• When you hear the words “silence” and “solitude,” what feelings come up for you—relief, discomfort, fear, boredom, longing? Why do you think that is?
• How do Exodus 14:14 and Habakkuk 2:20 challenge or affirm your instinct to always “do something” when life is stressful?
• What might God want to heal, surface, or say in your life that you can only notice if you slow down and become quiet before Him?
• What is one small, realistic way you could begin to practice silence and solitude this week (for example, 5 minutes a day with no phone, a weekly hour alone with God, a walk without earbuds)?

Follow-up exercise for the week
Invite the group to choose a simple, concrete practice that creates space to hear Jesus’ voice.
Step 1: Choose a daily quiet moment.
Ask each person to pick one consistent time each day this week (for example, right after waking, during lunch, before bed) to spend 5–10 minutes in silence with God.
Step 2: Practice silence and listening.
During that time, encourage them to:

• Begin by slowly reading one of the week’s passages (Mark 1:35–37, John 10:2–4, 1 Kings 19:11–13, Exodus 14:14, or Habakkuk 2:20).
• Sit quietly before God, paying attention to their breathing and gently returning their attention to Jesus when their mind wanders.
• Ask, “Lord, what do You want to say to me today?” and then simply listen without striving.

Step 3: Reflect and record.
Have each person jot down a few words afterward: what they noticed, sensed, or struggled with, even if they “felt nothing.”
Step 4: Share next time.
At the next group meeting, spend a few minutes inviting volunteers to share what they learned about God, about themselves, or about their pace of life through this practice.

Closing prayer
“Father, thank You that You are in Your holy temple and that all the earth is called to be silent before You. Thank You that You fight for us while we keep silent and that Jesus is the Good Shepherd whose sheep know His voice. Forgive us for starving our relationship with You by feeding on constant activity. Teach us to slow down, to come to the quiet, and to make space for Your gentle whisper. Strengthen our desire for time with You, and grow our ability to recognize and obey Your voice this week. In Jesus’ name, amen.”