Order of Service - September 28, 1994

Call to Worship

Hymn 582 Jesus I am Resting

Opening Prayer

Bible Reading Psalm 1; Jeremiah 33:3

Prayer

Reflection "Listen"

Hymn 747 Jesus Friend of Little Children

Devotion Listening to One Another

Hymn 541 Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah

Benediction HMDV p 81

Listening to One Another

ILLN - Epidemic in our day. 50% of people visit doctor for this. 100% of people suffer from it at one time or another. It afflicts all ages, but seems to afflict some people more often. There is a simple cure, but a costly cure. Talking of loneliness. And it surfaces in a number of ways.

- Visit someone and they unload their whole life story onto you.

- Spend some time with someone and they tell you the same stories over and over.

- Simply talk to someone and they don't want to finish the conversation.

APPLICN - One of the most curable maladies, and yet we so misunderstand it, and misunderstand those who are afflicted with it.

Loneliness can come from the impact of something unexpected or tragic in our lives. It might be illness, it might be family breakdown, it can be something as simple as the anniversary or birthday of one we have lost.

And yet I find that at times like this we tend to steer clear of the real issues facing the person on such occasions. We want to show some interest, but not get clearly involved.

Qn - When was the last time you felt that you were listened to, really listened to, so that you were satisfied that you were understood? And how many times in the last month have you felt that way?

Corollary - when was the last time you really listened to someone else, so that....

ILLN - The problem of words: they confuse the issue. Recent changes to Bible readings:

"I will accept no bull from your house" now "I will not accept a bull from your house" Ps 50:9

"Once I was stoned" now "Once I received a stoning." 2 Cor 11:25

"I am dumb" now "I am silent" Ps 39:8

APPLICN - The important thing in listening is not to hear the words alone, but to understand the person who is speaking, to know their pain, to identify their need.

Psalm 1 - encourages us to meditate on God's law day and night - to understand the heart of God, not just the words. We christians too often play with words, but end up playing with people's feelings.

To really listen to another is to hear their pain, to feel their hurts, to know the weight of their load. To really listen takes an energy and a commitment to another. And yet to really listen is to help in the loneliness, to share the loneliness.

"If only someone would listen to me".

We have a God who listens (Jer 33:3, Is 59:2). We are called to be a people in the image of God - a listening people, a hearing people, a healing people.

ILLN - Doctor diagnoses by listening - in order to heal. Listening first. (Perhaps why so many lonely people visit the doctor).

APPLICN - We cannot be a healing people unless we know their pain. We cannot understand people's pain unless we are prepared to listen.

Gary Heard