Small Group Toolbox: Listening to the Holy Spirit
Summary: Thirty seconds or a minuet of silence communicates that we value what the Holy Spirit has to say to us.
In the “Toolbox” series of blog posts, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about leading Small Groups. If you have questions you’d like answered, drop us a message!
- How do I help my small group listen to the Holy Spirit.
At the beginning of our meetings, we can share a simple story about listening to the Holy Spirit that week. Describing experiences in mundane, ordinary life may not seem “story-worthy.” But these daily moments cultivate a hunger for Spirit-led living because we make the Holy Spirit accessible and not distant.
In the response time of our meetings, we can make space for silence. Thirty seconds or a minuet of silence communicates that we value what the Holy Spirit has to say to us. After these times of silence, we must be willing to share, in simple, short phrases, what the Holy Spirit has convicted us about. We are modeling a life that listens to the Holy Spirit.
- What do I do with hyper-spiritual people in my small group?
Some people may intimidate others in the small group by the emphasis they place on their experiences with the Holy Spirit. When they share, we can celebrate that they listened to the Holy Spirit and responded to him; rather than celebrating the experience. We can ask, “How did you respond to the Holy Spirit after he revealed that to you?” In this way, we value their participation in the group while guiding them deeper into our values.
