Questions:
(1)Who is one of the best listeners you know? Why?
(2)Have you ever been caught not listening and you got called out? What happened?
(3)How does it make you feel when you really feel listened to? How does that make you feel about the other person?
(4)In Mark 5:21-34 we read an encounter that Jesus has with a woman. In the story the woman has been suffering for 12 years and when she touches Jesus’ cloak, she’s healed. Then in front of everyone she tells, the verse says, “her whole story”? Jesus was busy and had things to do, but he listens to her whole story. We probably aren’t busier than Jesus, yet we rarely live with that kind of intentionality and willingness to just listen. Why do you think that is?
(5)As the woman shares her story, Jesus sees that she just didn’t need physical healing, she needed emotional and spiritual healing too. Where do we see hints of this? How do you think Jesus’ words in the last verse speak to these issues?
(6)“Listening is loving”. A lot of what people are saying goes unheard because we aren’t really listening. How do you think listening can be a blessing to someone?
(7)The authors of Bless say that Eating is another way we can bless people (don’t you like those guys?!). Why do you think eating with people or doing experiences with people will help you bless them? What can you do to be intentional about eating or experiencing something with others in order to bless them?
(8)This week, continue to pray and ask God to show you who He wants you to bless, then take the challenges below.