Bill Hybels - The Power of a Whisper Participants Guide: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond

If you are looking for something super-personal, then it is not a question of choosing between the Christian idea and the other ideas.

The Christian idea is the only one on the market.

C. S. Lewis

W ELCOME TO T HE POWER OF A W HISPER FOUR-SESSION journey toward getting better at hearing from God and getting bolder about obeying what he asks us to do. Youre in for quite a ride as you explore what it means to let input from heaven navigate your life here on earth! Before you dive in, skim the following notes, which will set you up for success in your small-group setting.

Whether your small group has been meeting together for years or is convening for the first time to engage with this curriculum, be sure to designate a consistent time and place to work through the four sessions that follow. For example, consider meeting for an hour on four consecutive Tuesday mornings or Wednesday evenings or Sunday afternoons at a local coffee shop, in a group members living room, at a nearby park or in a common gathering area at your church.

Once you establish the when and where of your times together, select a facilitator who will keep discussions on track and an eye on the clock. If you choose to rotate this responsibility, assign the four sessions to their respective facilitators upfront, so that group members can prepare their thoughts and questions prior to the session they are responsible for leading.

As facilitator, you are responsible for honoring the sixty-minute timeframe of each meeting, for catalyzing helpful discussion among your group, and for keeping the dialogue equitable by drawing out quieter members and helping more talkative members to remember that others insights are valued in your group.

You might find it helpful to preview each sessions video teaching segment and then scan the Group Discussion questions that pertain to it, highlighting various questions that you want to be sure to cover during your groups meeting. Ask God in advance of your time together to guide your groups discussion, and then be sensitive to the direction he wishes to lead.

Each session includes five parts that are intended for the small-group experience:

Opening prayer [allow 3 minutes] words to help you devote your group time to God

Getting Going question [allow 5 minutes] a simple icebreaker that relates to the session topic and invites input from every group member as the meeting begins

Video-based teaching [allow 2025 minutes] practical help from pastor and author Bill Hybels regarding how to hear from God and how to meticulously obey the instruction you receive

Group discussion [allow 2530 minutes] questions and exercises that reinforce the session content and elicit personal input from every group member

Giving the Whisper-Led Life a Try challenge [allow 2 minutes] an easy-to-implement opportunity to practice the ideas introduced during each session before your group convenes again

Additionally, you will find an Individual Reflection segment at the end of each session that includes a recap of the content covered, as well as questions and exercises for group members to explore on their own between group meetings.

Prior to each session, group members will be encouraged to read two to three chapters from Bill Hybelss hardcover book, The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond (Zondervan, 2010). While these readings certainly help flesh out participants understanding of the concepts covered in each sessions video segment, they shouldnt be considered prerequisites to engaging in group discussions.

Hopefully, you and your group will discover inspiring stories, practical teaching points and helpful discussion starters throughout each of the four sessions. Enjoy the glimpse into what a whisper-led life can look like when Gods people prioritize hearing from heaven and following the direction they receive!

Referring to the relationship between devoted followers of Christ and their Good Shepherd, Jesus said, My sheep listen to my voice (John 10:27). If there is one goal for this four-session experience, it is precisely that that you would learn to pick out the voice of God from the cacophony of other voices vying for your attention each day. And then, that you would choose to obey.

If you share this goal, then commit now that for all four sessions, you will be still, you will push aside other priorities, you will seek to engage this content with your full attention and you will focus on hearing from God frequently, consistently and intimately.

Practically, youll want to bring the following items to each group meeting:

Your Bible

Your copy of the book, The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond

This participants guide and a pen

Rest assured that your earnest preparation for and serious devotion to this experience will yield great things in your life. Trust in the L ORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, Proverbs 3:56 promises, and he will make your paths straight. What a thrill it is to know that when you allow God to guide your steps, those steps will fall on a perfectly straight path.

Let the whisper-led journey begin!