Humility & Listening
Desired Takeaway:
Humility is not self-deprecation but seeing ourselves rightly before God. It’s the foundational posture for spiritual growth, deep listening, and loving relationships. Participants will walk away with a clearer picture of what humility looks like in everyday life and how to cultivate it by staying close to Jesus.
Icebreaker:
Who is someone in your life that you would describe as truly humble? What makes them stand out to you?
Flow Questions
1. Lean In:
Do you think our culture values humility? Why or why not?
2. Look Down:
Read Philippians 2:3–8 aloud together.
3. Look Out:
Humility is described as “spiritual armor” and “wisdom for relationships.” Where have you seen pride damage relationships—at work, at home, in church, or in society at large? How might humility have changed the outcome?
4. Look In:
In what areas of your life are you most tempted to rely on your own sense of being right? How is that affecting your ability to listen well or stay open to others?
Is there someone in your life right now who needs your full, humble attention?
How does the example of Jesus as “gentle and humble in heart” challenge or comfort you?
5. Live It Out:
Imagine a community shaped by Christ-like humility. What would relationships, conflict resolution, and everyday interactions look like in such a place?
How could our homes, workplaces, and churches be transformed by this kind of humility?
Optional Exercises for the Week
Prayer Prompt
“Jesus, you are gentle and humble in heart. Help us draw near to you, not to perform but to be formed. Teach us to see ourselves rightly—not lower than we are, not higher—but as deeply loved and deeply in need of grace. Quiet our pride, open our ears, and make us spacious with your love.”
Humility is not self-deprecation but seeing ourselves rightly before God. It’s the foundational posture for spiritual growth, deep listening, and loving relationships. Participants will walk away with a clearer picture of what humility looks like in everyday life and how to cultivate it by staying close to Jesus.
Icebreaker:
Who is someone in your life that you would describe as truly humble? What makes them stand out to you?
Flow Questions
1. Lean In:
Do you think our culture values humility? Why or why not?
2. Look Down:
Read Philippians 2:3–8 aloud together.
- What stands out to you most about Paul’s description of humility in this passage?
- How does the example of Jesus challenge or reshape your understanding of what it means to live humbly?
- Paul says to “value others above yourselves”—what might that look like in your real, daily relationships?
- What specific phrases in this passage feel the hardest or most countercultural to actually live out?
3. Look Out:
Humility is described as “spiritual armor” and “wisdom for relationships.” Where have you seen pride damage relationships—at work, at home, in church, or in society at large? How might humility have changed the outcome?
4. Look In:
In what areas of your life are you most tempted to rely on your own sense of being right? How is that affecting your ability to listen well or stay open to others?
Is there someone in your life right now who needs your full, humble attention?
How does the example of Jesus as “gentle and humble in heart” challenge or comfort you?
5. Live It Out:
Imagine a community shaped by Christ-like humility. What would relationships, conflict resolution, and everyday interactions look like in such a place?
How could our homes, workplaces, and churches be transformed by this kind of humility?
Optional Exercises for the Week
- Daily Prayer Prompt: Begin each day with, “Holy Spirit, grow humility in me. Help me see myself rightly.” Journal anything God brings to mind during the day.
- Practice Listening: Choose one conversation this week to enter with no agenda—just to truly listen. Reflect afterward: How did it feel to give someone your full attention?
- Humility Inventory: Review your last 3 relational conflicts or tense moments. Where did pride show up? Where could humility have brought peace?
Prayer Prompt
“Jesus, you are gentle and humble in heart. Help us draw near to you, not to perform but to be formed. Teach us to see ourselves rightly—not lower than we are, not higher—but as deeply loved and deeply in need of grace. Quiet our pride, open our ears, and make us spacious with your love.”