Be Attentive

Opening Question: How would you define Attentiveness?

Opening Question: How would you define Attentiveness?

To be Attentive, one must pay close attention to something or someone. The person must be alert and observant. In relationships, an attentive person will show care for the needs or desires of others even when their own needs and desires are being threatened.

Being Attentive can be tricky sometimes because a person can be very observant and pay very close attention to the details of something or someone, but yet be paying attention to the wrong thing. A person inside a forest may be able to identify every tree, but yet not know what forest he or she is in. He can tell you that there are juniper trees, pine trees and oak trees, but he could not tell you about the animals, the insects, or even how large the forest is. A person can become so focused on the trees that they can forget that they are in the forest. This is called selective attention.

Sometimes

Play youtube video on selective attention: https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-pty-pty_maps&hsimp=yhs-pty_maps&hspart=pty&p=selective+attention+gorilla#id=1&vid=2999c7dcdfb2e8c412cb784cc87a97e7&action=view

Scripture

Neglect, Gossip, Strife, and being Mean are opposite terms. They refer to people who have malicious intentions, who love to hear about the discontent and struggles of others, then, repeat it as gossip when they are called to help. The result is a church atmosphere of distrust, and people who are hurt. This malice leads to destruction of property and persons, just as a fire would destroy a home, or even a church. God calls us to be our best. And, when we refuse to grow, and we keep making the same mistakes over, and over again, we hurt Christ, His people, and ourselves (; ).

James 1:19–25 NIV

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

James 19-25

From the passage we are encouraged to be Attentive in 3 areas:

Attentive to People (vs. 19)

In verse 19, James gives us 3 ways we can be attentive in our relationships with people:

1. Be quick to listen

2. Be slow to speak

3. Be slow to become angry

We may resonate or struggle with one more than the other, but they are all very important in being attentive to others. Think about how much attention it would take for a person to listen to someone and understand not just their words, but what they are trying to communicate with their emotions and their body language. Think about how much attention it would take to shut your thoughts off and to just listen to the person who is speaking. Think about how much attention it would take to seek understanding from someone or to hear someone out before who got angry at them. Being attentive is hard, yet is necessary for healthy relationships.

Discussion Questions: 1. How do I exhibit Attentiveness to others in my daily life? 2. What can I do to develop an attitude of, and a willingness to be Attentive to others? 3. What blocks my being Attentive to others? 4. How can I make Attentiveness function better, stronger, and faster, even in times of uncertainty, stress, and, most importantly, time constraints?

Attentive to Anger and Its Impact (vs. 20-21)

Attentive to Our Emotions and Their Impact (vs. 20-21)

In verse 20, James says that the reason we should be slow to become angry is because anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Though it’s okay to feel hurt and be angry about something, it’s important to understand that human anger will never lead to something good, even if it has the right intentions (i.e being upset about social injustice). Anger has never and will never produce the righteousness of God in a person, yet people will still spend a lot of time being angry at something or someone.

James says in verse

Discussion Questions: 1. What impact can anger have on my relationship with God and others? 2. How can I be more attentive to my emotions and their impact on my relationship with God?

Attentive to the Word (vs. 22-25)

In verse 22-25, James says that Attentiveness to God’s Word is summed up by our response to it. If God’s Word is simply heard on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, but we never use it in our daily lives, then we would be better off had we not heard anything. For had we not heard anything, at least we could argue some level of ignorance when Jesus comes back. But when we know what to do, and yet not do it, it is sin. It is important that we do what the Word says, not simply because it says it, but because God first has been Attentive to us. It was God’s Attentiveness to us, that caused Him to send His Son Jesus to die for us. When we both listen and obey God’s Word, we show our Attentiveness to God by paying attention to what He cares about and what He wants and desires for our lives.

Discussion Questions: 1)How can I be more attentive to God’s Word? 2)What type of things are blocking me from being attentive to God’s Word?

James 1:22–25 NIV

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Further Questions to Consider

Further Questions to Consider

Discussion Questions

Do you strive to be Attentive to others as a reflection of who you are in Christ, and what He did for you?

2. What can I do to develop an attitude of, and a willingness to be Attentive?

3. What blocks my being Attentive to others?

4. How can I make Attentiveness function better, stronger, and faster, even in times of uncertainty, stress, and, most importantly, time constraints?

5. Do you strive to be Attentive to others as a reflection of who you are in Christ, and what He did for you?

6. Do you strive to be Attentive to others as a reflection of who you are in Christ, and what He did for you?

How does gossip counteract Attentiveness? Why is Attentiveness something that does not happen as much as it should?

What happens to our relationship with God, and with others, when we become pursuers of only our needs and time, rather than being Attentive?

When have you most been Attentive to others?

8. When have you most been Attentive to others?

In what situation did you fail to be Attentive when you should have been?

What issue is in your life that would improve by your being more Attentive?

Think through the steps you need to take to put Attentiveness into action in a specific instance. Such as, how can you improve your listening skills? How can you make yourself available to others so your needs and desires do not supersede all of the time?