Show Notes
How can we model God’s love, and show what it looks like to love others, by truly listening?
In this episode, Noël, Esther and special guest Siân Rees discuss how Christians can become better listeners, both inside and outside the church context.
They emphasise that listening begins with love, humility and attention: choosing to prefer others, resist distractions and be fully present. They reflect on Scripture, including James’ call to be quick to listen and slow to speak, the unity of the early Church in Acts, and Jesus’ use of questions and parables. They explore good listening as a spiritual discipline shaped by prayer, Scripture, community and the Holy Spirit.
The conversation highlights the need for patience, empathy and self-examination, especially when discussing faith with those who think differently. Timestamps
(00:00) - Intro
(01:32) - How do we model good listening within the church and society?
(02:22) - Loving others by giving them time and attention
(03:16) - Listening requires humility
(03:56) - Focused attention and being fully present
(04:43) - Distractions, unhelpful mindsets and learning to trust God
(07:14) - What can we learn from the unity and purposefulness of the early Church community?
(12:05) - The importance of considering people’s circumstances, not just what they say
(15:13) - The motif of hearing and seeing in Mark 4
(17:34) - The need to be patient and let the Holy Spirit do his work
(18:40) - Nourishing our souls: Scripture, prayer and listening to God in community
(23:24) - Listening and deeper engagement – sharing the gospel outside the church
(26:31) - Good news stories of God at work: The Quiet Revival Podcast: what’s the story?
Rooted: Rooted is our devotional journal that helps make the Bible available to everyone, everywhere. Every other month, you’ll receive a new 80-page journal filled with insightful devotionals, thought-provoking prompts, and lots of opportunities to reflect, journal and be creative. Sign up today to receive your first journal for free.Send us your questions! We'd love to hear from you. Submit your question.
Bible Society: The Rooted Podcast is brought to you by Bible Society, a Christian organisation that translates, publishes, and distributes the Bible. We communicate its relevance and invite people to experience the transforming power of the Scriptures in today’s world. Visit our website to find out more.
Bible Society socials: Facebook Instagram X (formerly Twitter)
Disclaimer: This is a Bible Society podcast, but it’s also a conversation between people exploring the Bible together. We won’t get everything right, and we won’t always agree! Please be patient with us and join us on the journey. #Listening #ListeningToEachOther #LovingOneAnother #Love #Humility #Attention #Unity #Patience #Empathy #Prayer #Scripture #Community #James #Acts #Mark #ChristianLiving #ChristianPodcast
Everyday Faith Bible Let Scripture transform every part of your life with the Everyday Faith Bible. Created in partnership with the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC), the Everyday Faith Bible will help you to: Understand Scripture’s real-world context Relate to experiences and emotions in the passage Respond to what you read with practical action Key features: Up to 1,000 margin annotations throughout the Bible, to encourage ‘head, heart and hands’ confidence in applying Scripture to everyday life Real-life stories and quotes from Christian expert practitioners across the UK Whole-page introductions to each genre of biblical writing Whole-page features on important biblical themes
More from The Rooted Podcast
How does God speak to people and how can they discern that it is really his voice? What does it mean to truly listen to God and obey him?
What does the Hebrew word Shema mean and what is the significance of the Shema prayer?
What is pentecost? What can we learn from the early church? Join us as we discuss the significance of Pentecost, exploring its historical and Biblical context, the arrival of the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the early church. We also reflect on the courage and community of the early believers, and the lessons that can be applied to the church today. Join us for a week of Pentecost devotionals. Timestamps
Why has this story been included in the biblical canon? What does it reveal about Jesus’ divine position as just lawgiver and merciful judge?
What does it mean for Jesus to be the true vine, or vineyard? What does it mean to abide in Christ and be fruitful?