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  LET US BE THE LISTENING CHURCH
  by E. Stanley Jones
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Summary: As Christians, we must listen to God in order to be a listening
church and have fresh news from God to share with the world.

Topics: "Corporate Prayer", "Listening To God"
Scripture References: Psalm 85:8, Proverbs 2:6, John 10:27, James 1:19, Revelation 2:7

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DESCRIPTION
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E. Stanley Jones emphasizes the importance of Christians listening to
God in a world filled with uncertainty and confusion. He shares a
powerful anecdote of a caretaker challenging the pastor about receiving
fresh news from God before attending church. Jones suggests dedicating
time during church services for the congregation to listen to God's
guidance collectively, fostering a sense of expectancy and active
participation. Small prayer and listening groups are highlighted as
essential for training individuals in corporate listening, with a church
witnessing tremendous impact through this practice.

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CONTENT
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The world of uncertainty and confusion will not listen to us as
Christians unless we listen to God. A caretaker, when asked by the
pastor why he didn't attend church service, replied: "Have you had any
fresh news from God?" The listening church will have fresh news from
God.

Suppose on Sunday morning ten minutes were set aside for the audience to
listen to God, listen to what God would say in answer to this question:
"What would You have us as individuals and as a collective body to do?"
Then have a church meeting to prayerfully listen to the suggestions that
emerge. It would bring a sense of expectancy into the Sunday morning
service. Now we listen to a sermon and leave it at that. And that is the
result -- it is left at that, nothing happens.

In order to produce a listening congregation, small groups for prayer
and fellowship and listening to God may be the training ground for
corporate listening in a church. I know of a church where there are
seventeen of these prayer and listening groups. They are the training
ground for collective prayer and listening. The total impact is
tremendous.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/e-stanley-jones/let-us-be-the-listening-church/
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