Linda Evans Shepherd    Home | About Linda | Books | Speaking | News | Women | Authors | ? | Contact

Week Five:

Chapter Six: Ears to Hear

Read Chapter 6 of Encouraging Hands, Encouraging Hearts prior to study.

1. The gift of listening is one of the less _____________________ but more ___________________ gifts we can give to our friends and family. Why?

2. James 1:19 says, "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." (NIV)

Why is it better to listen than to chatter?

3. It is a wonderful gift to give permission for the grieving to talk about their loss. But we must exercise a lot of patience in this process because bereavement takes time. H. Norman Wright says, "The average grief-recovery time from an accident is averaged at ____ ___________, a suicide in the family is ___ ___________ and homicide is ____________. If the loss of that is your own child recovery may never be fully _____________________. "

4. How did Carla minister to her neighbor who lost her twenty-year-old son unexpectedly. How did this act help Carla’s neighbor?

5. According to Recipe for a Listening Ear, to listen, you must first shut _________ _______________. Can this be difficult? Why?

6. When LeAnn’s children or husband want to talk to her, what does she do? How can you apply this idea to your own life? Please share ideas and suggestions with the group.

7. There are many responses a listener can offer to encourage a friend. They include:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Which of these responses is your favorite and why?

8. We must react to compulsive talkers in love. What did Lynette do to help her friend who was a compulsive talker?

9. We have to discipline ourselves to learn the art of listening. What can we do to allow others a chance to be heard when we are in conversation with them?

10. Can you share a time the gift of listening has been a blessing to you or to someone you care about?

 

Back to Study Guide's Table of Contents

© 1999 Linda Evans Shepherd

Home | About Linda | Books | Speaking | News | Women | Authors | ? | Contact

Linda Evans Shepherd Author and Speaker
Phone: 1-303-772-2035; Fax: 1-303-678-0260 ...  PO Box 6421, Longmont, CO 80501