How do we listen with our full selves? In reality, all of our senses are used when we listen – with our ears, our eyes, our mouths, and our bodies. As disciples, we listen to ourselves, our neighbors, and God. When we listen, we find new perspectives, shared history, and common ground.

Questions to Consider:

  • What is something you learned from listening to your heart?
  • What is something you learned from listening to a stranger?
  • In a year of GOING, how will you listen to those around you?

Prayer: Listening God, help me stay open to the surprises you provide while on the road this summer. Amen.

Suggested Song: Listen, God is Calling (ELW 513)

Listen: Resources

Listen Handout

Downloadable handout that is great for bulletin inserts, enewsletters, or posting on a bulletin board!

Download Resource
Walkie Talkie Prayer Practice

Check out the Walkie Talkie prayer practice for July! This prayer practice encourages us to make space to listen to God's response to our prayers.

Walkie Talkie Prayer Practice
Listen Slide

A downloadable PowerPoint slide available for sharing!

Download Slide
Listening with 'The Lorax'

Dr. Seuss' story 'The Lorax' can spark some great conversations about the importance of listening. Whether you read the picture book or watch on TV, take some time and consider it's listening themes. Download the PDF to get started!

Download 'The Lorax' Listening Guide
Conversations with New People

Summer is a time of vacations, county fairs, community gatherings, and so much more. Take time to engage in conversation with those you meet. Here are three questions to help you get started: (1) How did you land here? (2) Is there something special you want to share with me? (3) What is a song that makes you smile every time? Why? So, What did you hear? What did you learn?

Practicing the Sacred Art of Listening

Author Kay Lindahl writes that listening is a choice, gift, and an art. Check out this book review and dig in to the sacredness of listening.

Download Book Review
W-H-E-A-T

Peer Ministry Leadership, with by Lyle Griner, has set up a strategy for getting to know new people. With the help of the acronym ‘WHEAT’, we have a series of prompts for questions to asks others and actively listen to their response. WHEAT stands for: W-Where, H-Hobbies, E-Events, A-Acquaintances, T-Travel. Try WHEAT-ing with someone you meet, and let us know how it goes at goand@nebrasasynod.org!

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Discernment & Listening

Discernment is always grounded to listening to God, engaging in community, and asking questions. It is about being open and attuned to what God is up to. We are called to listen to God, to our selves, and to others. How could you incorporate all three ways of listening in your daily life and prayer? What are you hearing as you listen? If you are listening, what is holding you back?

Bible Study - Listen

Open your Bible to Luke 18:35-43. What are the voices and sounds that are part of the story that we are not seeing in the print? Some translations use ‘the blind man’. Being sensitive to how people are labeled, we encourage you to use ‘people first’ language – in this case, instead of ‘the blind man’, we would say ‘the man who is blind’.

Read This Passage
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