Even the most casual reading of Scripture reveals that throughout the ages, God has used a wide variety of means to speak. From the following list, check those that God used to speak to people in the Bible. 

• dreams 

• prophets 

• a donkey 

• angels 

• a trumpet 

• fire 

• fleece 

• preaching 

Did you check them all? God spoke to people in the Bible through … 

• angels (Luke 1:26) 

• dreams (Matt. 2:12-13) 

• symbolic actions (Jer. 18:1-10) 

• a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12) 

• a burning bush (Ex. 3:2) 

• prayer (Acts 22:17-18) 

• fire (1 Kings 18:37-39) 

• writing on the wall (Dan. 5:5) 

• visions (Gen. 15:1) 

• prophets (Acts 21:10-11) 

• preaching (Jonah 3:4) 

• miraculous signs (Ex. 8:20-25) 

• a donkey (Num. 22:28) 

• a trumpet (Ex. 19:16, 19) 

• fleece (Judg. 6:36ff.) 

• casting lots (Acts 1:23-26) 

Make a list of ways you know God speaks today. 

• _________________________ 

• _________________________ 

• _________________________ 

• _________________________ 

God spoke “at various times” (Heb. 1:1). God did not speak at just one time of the day or one day of the week. He spoke to men in their youth and their old age. He spoke to people in the workplace—not only at church. God speaks at various times in our lives. A growing number of senior adults are hearing a fresh word from God. To their surprise, God continues to speak to them about new assignments and many are responding with great joy! Many children and youth are experiencing a fresh word from God as well. I do two things to be open to anything God wants to say to me. 1. I make myself accessible to many opportunities for God to communicate with me. For example, although God uses my quiet times with Him to speak to me, He can and will also use the preaching of His Word at my church, a Bible study, or a Friday morning group prayer time. 

Quality conferences provide wonderful opportunities to hear from God, but be careful not to limit God to one way of speaking to you. Reading books by a particular Christian author or exercising certain Christian disciplines can also become a way to hear from God. We are not advocating particular authors or disciplines, but warning you not to become too dependent on any one author or practice. Being a part of a local church is also important because it provides many opportunities and people through whom God can speak. Jesus used a variety of times, places, and ways to speak to His disciples. 

Turn to Mark 1 in your Bible, and let’s walk through this chapter, identifying times, places, and ways Jesus spoke. 1:14— “Jesus came to ____________, ____________ the gospel of the kingdom of God.” 

1:16— “And as he walked by the _______ of _____________, He saw Simon and Andrew…” 

1:21— “Then they went into _____________, and immediately on the __________ He entered the ____________ and ___________.” 

1:29— “Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the of Simon and Andrew.” 

1:32— “Now at __________, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were ___________ and those who were ______________________.” 

1:35— “Now in the _____________, having risen a long while __________ _____________, He went out and departed to a ____________ ___________; and there He ____________.” 

1:39— “And He was ___________ in their ____________ throughout all ____________; and ____________ out demons.” 

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus spoke at different times: in the morning and throughout the day, in the middle of the night, on the Sabbath, in the middle of the workweek; at meal times, during funerals, and in storms. He spoke at various places: on the mountainside, in the middle of an urban crowd, at parties, in the synagogue, in a boat, while walking along the road, in homes and in the temple. 

Jesus spoke in various ways: sermons, individual contacts, miracles, His personal example, the forces of nature, and the presence of children. 

Check which of these ways you have heard God speaking to you. 

worship services 

Christian books 

small-group studies 

Christian films 

Christian conferences 

walking 

blessings 

parents 

Sunday School 

prayer 

work 

meditation 

friends 

spouse 

world events 

other ___________________________ 

Bible study 

music 

nature 

fasting 

tapes 

tragedy 

mission speakers 

If you are experiencing God speaking through only one or two methods, pray now and ask God if He wants to speak in other ways as well. 

2. I cultivate my relationship with Christ. The more I know Him, the easier it is for me to recognize His voice. When I married Marilynn, I thought I knew her well. I soon discovered there was much I did not know. There were times I assumed I understood what she was telling me, only to discover to my disappointment that I had not. However, the more time I spent with her, the more I came to understand how she thought, what was important to her, and what she wanted to do. I came to anticipate things she would say or ways she would feel. Today, we can communicate a great deal and say very little. Catching my eye from across a room, giving me that certain look, or mentioning a person’s name can tell an entire story! The more I know Marilynn and share experiences with her, the easier it is for us to communicate. Our relationship to Christ is similar. When we first become Christians there is much about God we do not know and have not experienced. The longer and more intimately we relate to God, however, the more we come to know His presence and activity in our life. We build a history of shared experiences upon which we can draw to understand what God says to us. Abraham is described as a friend of God (read Isa. 41:8). The Lord spoke to Moses as a friend (read Ex. 33:11a). Jesus called His disciples His friends (read John 15:15). “You, Israel, are My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend” (Isa. 41:8). “The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Ex. 33:11). “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). Is your relationship with God intimate enough to describe God as your friend? Yes No 

How do you express your friendship with God? ___________________________________________________ Is your relationship to God close enough that He would call you His friend?    Yes    No   

On what do you base your answer? ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ 

Don’t be discouraged when Christians who are mature in the faith seem to have an easier time than you understanding how God is leading them. The longer we relate to God, the more we are “tuned in” to His voice and His communication with us. God constantly encourages His people to seek to know Him. What did God say to you during your study today? ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ 

What will you do as a result? ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________