Just Teach Sheet Adults Week 2

�� Adult Just Teach Sheet – August Week 2

Theme: Listening to God in Prayer

Whole Community Catechesis Theme (August): Prayer & Personal Relationship with God
Goal: To rediscover prayer as a two-way relationship—where listening is just as essential as speaking.

��️ Opening Prayer (use at the start of each session/day)

Lord, You are not a distant God.
You speak through Scripture, silence, and the events of my life.
Help me quiet my heart so I may hear Your voice.
Teach me to listen with faith. Amen.

��️ Day 1 – Prayer Is Not a Monologue

�� 1 Samuel 3:10

“Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.”

�� Teaching Point:
Prayer is often mistaken for talking at God. But Christian prayer is a dialogue.
We may struggle to hear Him—but He still speaks.
Listening to God requires not special skills, but attention, humility, and practice.

�� Catechism Reference:

“Prayer is the response of faith to the free promise of salvation… always presupposing a listening heart.” (CCC 2562–2567)

�� Reflect or Discuss:

Do I ever pause in prayer, or do I move quickly from request to request?

What might God want to say to me if I gave Him the chance?

✍️ Practice:
Before you speak in prayer today, simply say:

“Speak, Lord, I’m listening.”
Then be still for 2 minutes. Let that silence be part of your prayer.

��️ Day 2 – God Speaks in Many Ways

�� Hebrews 1:1–2

“In many and various ways God spoke… but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.”

�� Teaching Point:
God speaks not only through Scripture, but also:

In the silence of prayer

Through conscience

In unexpected moments

In the voice of others
But the Church teaches clearly: Jesus Christ is the fullness of God’s revelation.

�� Catechism Reference:

“Christ… is Himself the fullness of all revelation.” (CCC 65)
“The Holy Spirit… recalls everything Christ has said.” (CCC 1099)

�� Reflect or Discuss:

When in my life has something unexpected felt like a message from God?

Do I expect God to speak only in dramatic ways—or am I open to the subtle?

✍️ Practice:
As you go about your day, say:

“Lord, help me notice You.”
Write down anything that catches your attention spiritually.

��️ Day 3 – Listening Through Scripture (Lectio Divina)

�� Luke 10:39

“Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what He was saying.”

�� Teaching Point:
In Catholic tradition, we read Scripture not just for information but for encounter.
The Church calls this method Lectio Divina—“Divine Reading”:

Read – slowly and attentively

Meditate – notice what strikes you

Pray – respond to God

Contemplate – rest in God’s presence

�� Catechism Reference:

“The Church forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful… to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures.” (CCC 133)

�� Reflect or Discuss:

When I read Scripture, do I listen for God—or just look for ideas?

Have I ever let a single verse become a prayer?

✍️ Practice:
Try Lectio Divina with Luke 10:38–42.
What word or phrase stood out?
Ask: “Lord, what are You saying to me today?”

��️ Day 4 – Silence Is the Language of God

�� 1 Kings 19:11–12

“The Lord was not in the wind, or earthquake, or fire…
but in a still, small voice.”

�� Teaching Point:
In a noisy world, silence is countercultural—but essential for spiritual growth.
God does not force His voice upon us. He waits for us to make space.
The Saints called silence the “language of God.”

�� Catechism Reference:

“Contemplative prayer is silence, the ‘symbol of the world to come’ or ‘silent love’.” (CCC 2717)

�� Reflect or Discuss:

Do I create intentional silence in my day—or do I avoid it?

What happens internally when I sit quietly in prayer?

✍️ Practice:
Spend 5 minutes today in silence before the Blessed Sacrament, a crucifix, or simply in a quiet space.
Let your prayer be:

“Lord, I desire to hear You.”

��️ Day 5 – Learning to Discern God’s Voice

�� John 10:27

“My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me.”

�� Teaching Point:
Over time, we begin to recognise God’s voice more clearly.
It leads to peace (even when it’s challenging), truth, and love.
The Church, Scripture, and prayer all help us discern what is truly from God.

�� Catechism Reference:

“The Christian must discern between the voice of God and other voices…” (cf. CCC 1777–1782, 2690)

�� Reflect or Discuss:

When I sense a thought or direction, how do I test if it’s from God?

Does it lead to truth, peace, and love—or confusion and fear?

✍️ Practice:
Ask God directly:

“Lord, help me know what’s from You.”
Then journal what comes to mind. Review it later with Scripture or a trusted guide.

�� End of Week Reflection

Personal or group journaling questions:

Where was I most aware of God’s presence this week?

What distracted or discouraged me from listening?

What helped me slow down and listen more deeply?

What prayer habit do I want to continue or begin next week?

�� Practical Insight: How Do I Know It’s God?

God’s voice:
✅ Is consistent with Scripture
✅ Brings peace, clarity, and conviction
✅ Never contradicts Church teaching
✅ Builds love, trust, and truth
❌ Does not shame, confuse, or pressure you into fear

If in doubt, bring it to confession, spiritual direction, or a trusted priest.