Book Reviews, Christian Walk, Hope, Jesus

Jesus: Listening for His Voice, A Review

Kay Arthur and David Arthur have created a six-week no-homework small group Bible study that walks the group through Mark 7-13.

Even though there is no homework, the study introduces the principles of Inductive Bible Study. This Bible Study could spark a small group member’s interest in a more in-depth study, like a Precept Upon Precept Bible Study.

Small group members observe Scripture, mark specific words and phrases, and discuss their observations. Key insights into the background of the topic or the culture help participants understand the Scripture more fully. For example, week one introduces us to the scribes and Pharisees, their devotion to the Law and the traditions of the religious life. (P. 4)

Throughout the study, we are encouraged to question our understanding and learn from the Scriptures.

What we learn from how Jesus responded to questions.
What we learn about Jesus from His words and actions.
What we learn about ourselves as we meditate on His words and apply them to our lives.

“The life and ministry of Jesus pointed to the great reversal of power, displacing the world’s preconceived notions about societal ranks and what was truly important.” (p. 63).

Each week examines a topic that prompts us to listen deeply to Jesus:

Are You Giving Priority to Jesus or to Tradition?
Who Is Jesus and What Will It Cost to Follow Him?
“I Do Believe; Help My Unbelief”
What Do You Want More Than the Kingdom of God?
How Much Love Does Jesus Want from You?
Listen Carefully: The Son of Man is Coming.

True to Scripture, Jesus: Listening for His Voice, is a great small group Bible study or a solo Bible study for busy participants.

Kay and David Arthur have provided a valuable tool for Bible study that asks for more than study … it asks for an assessment of our understanding of Jesus and His words and of what we value.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. I have been a Precept Upon Precept Bible Study leader

More Information

Author Bio

My prayer

Father, thank You for Kay and David Arthur’s commitment to Your Word and to Your followers. Bless them with the fullness of all spiritual blessings in heaven, and bless those who participate in this study. Convict them as You have convicted me, and renew their minds and lives with a fresh commitment to listening deeply to the voice of Jesus. Praise the name of Jesus! Amen.

Please share in the comment section how you are listening to Jesus and how your listening to Him has directed your life, your career, your values.

6 responses to “Jesus: Listening for His Voice, A Review”

possesshispromises

April 16, 2016

Kitt, Thank you for your candid and soul-felt response. You have surrendered all to Jesus. That’s what He requires of us, isn’t it? He surrendered all, and we’re to surrender all, and yet, it sometimes takes brokenness to be able to do that. I suppose because we’re imperfect creatures trying to do what our perfect Savior did.

You have listened deeply and learned. You have learned to trust and take those steps of faith to follow our Lord.

Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

May the Lord continue to speak to you, guide you, and pour out His Spirit onto, into, and within your body, mind, soul, and strength.

Blessings,
Karen

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1. Kitt J.
  
  April 16, 2016
  
  Thank you for your encouraging words Karen. I remember listening to your story via the video on blueletter. I connected with your experience, it is what drew me to your site. When time allows I enjoy pondering what you share. Your sister in Christ 🙂 Blessings to you as well.
  
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  1. possesshispromises
    
    April 17, 2016
    
    Kitt, I’m here for you. Let me know how I can pray for you. Blessings, Karen
    
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    1. Kitt J.
      
      April 20, 2016
      
      Your offer touched my heart Karen. It has taken some sorting to know how to put it into words. Recently I somehow by mistake betrayed myself to a degree that I still cannot fathom. I cannot describe how weighty this ordeal has been. The Lord showed His miraculous mercy to a degree I’ve not experienced before, I was indescribably blessed in that way no doubt! However I am changed in that I feel I cannot depend on myself. Every aspect of my life has been rocked to the core. Some time has passed and I find I’m having difficulty extracting the lessons of benefit from under the heavy grief of my blunder.
      
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      1. possesshispromises
        
        April 21, 2016
        
        Kitt, I’m so sorry for the error you experienced. You are now at a place in your life where you understand your weakness. God told Paul that through his weakness, God was strong and that God’s grace was sufficient for Paul. Place your life and your mistake in God’s hands. He will work it for His good. He knew you would stumble. The Lord loved you before the stumble, and He loves you after the stumble.
        
        Father, empower Kitt to wait upon You for Your good work in her life. As she waits upon You, Father, renew her zest for life, her strength, and her confidence in You. Cause her to rise up and soar on wings like eagles, to run and not grow weary, to walk and not faint, Lord. Renew Kitt’s love and passion for You and cause her to learn what You would have her to learn, turning the ashes to beauty. Thank you, loving Father. Amen
        
        Kitt, I’m praying for you. Karen
        
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Kitt J.

April 16, 2016

Wow, how I listen to Jesus and how listening to Him has directed my life, career, and values brings up a load of thoughts and emotions! I began this way of living when I reached the last micro-fraction of life’s rope. MY rope was wrung and warped, with not a wisp of fuel to spark. In that place of vacuity, pride had fallen to nothingness. Fully spent and broken, I relinquished even years of suicidal obsession over to the Lord.

It is odd how in the felt state of having nothing to give, I was able to relinquish all. I held back no part of me. It IS ‘Amazing Grace’ that took in that pathetic sight! I had been stripped and was bereft of this fallen earth’s goals and dreams. The process had ripped my heart in pieces. Yet there is truth in the lyrics: “You are blessed if you’ve a broken heart, you are blessed if you’ve been torn apart.”

Slowly it was in that state I was able to learn how much better it is to possess a crystal clear grasp that flesh can produce nothing that can satiate or save a soul! I now own a strong sense of John 12:25 – “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” For years I drank from this earth’s unsatisfying water. At last I cried out to Him, imploring that He’d make Himself real to me. I had proven there was no where else to go for life.

I began learning to listen in earnest; He’s led me to stay in His Word daily, in a fellowship of believers, in prayer, to pray for boldness in serving Him, to ask for support and prayer from other believers, to get Biblical counsel, to speak His truth to others, to reach out, to risk and commit to having a small group at my house… The list goes on! I’ve fallen, I repented, He’s picked me up again and again.

I’m slowly growing ever more consistent with His help to pray for refreshment of His Spirit daily as I plan to live a life I did not choose, and choose to live the life He has for me. I have experienced the truth in John 12:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

In His timing I have found and eaten the Lord’s words of life. His words HAVE become the joy and delight of this heart. (Jer. 15:16) I have had the literal sense over the last number of years of stepping life out bit by bit. With each foot I am ready to move, I pray and pause and or wait until I can discern a spot in the heavily distracting path of life that has been unmistakably cleared. I listen harder when I perceive I have a strong preference!

As blessings and tumultuous events collide then intermingle, I hear the portion of Jason Gray’s ‘Nothing Is Wasted’ that echo Romans 8:28. “…every broken piece is – Gathered in the heart of Jesus – And what’s lost will be found again – Nothing is wasted – Nothing is wasted – In the hands of our Redeemer – Nothing is wasted”.

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