The Hearing Stage – The Call to Follow
Every disciple’s journey begins with a moment of hearing. Before transformation, before faith, before service — there is a voice. The voice of Christ calls through the Word, and those who truly hear are changed forever.
The Hearing Stage is the first stage of discipleship, the entry point into following Jesus Christ. It’s the stage where the Word is received, conviction begins, and the heart opens to divine truth. It is here that the seed of faith is planted, and the soul awakens to the reality of God.
1. What Is the Hearing Stage?
The Hearing Stage is the moment of spiritual awareness, when the Word of God is no longer just information, but revelation. Jesus described this vividly in His parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3–23). The seed — the Word of God — lands on various soils, but only the receptive heart bears fruit.
“Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
— Romans 10:17
Hearing, in the biblical sense, is not passive listening. It means receiving with understanding and responding with faith. The word translated “hear” in Scripture often implies attention, obedience, and response. In other words, hearing is active participation in the revelation of truth.
Without this kind of hearing, no genuine discipleship can begin. The Hearing Stage is the foundation upon which every other stage of growth is built.
2. Why the Hearing Stage Matters
The first disciples began their journey not by performing miracles or teaching crowds, but by hearing Jesus say, “Follow Me.” That simple command was the dividing line between the crowd and the committed.
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”
— Mark 1:17–18
The same is true for every believer today. The Hearing Stage does three critical things:
- It separates — those who listen with the heart from those who only hear with the ears.
- It reveals — God’s truth shines into the darkness, exposing sin and revealing His purpose.
- It forms — it begins shaping the believer’s heart toward obedience and trust.
When a person truly hears, something begins to shift internally. The Word pierces the heart, conviction sets in, and awareness of divine truth dawns. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, who “convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8).
3. The Spiritual Dynamics at Work
The Hearing Stage is more than a mental process — it is a spiritual encounter. Three invisible dynamics unfold within the heart:
a. Conviction
Conviction is the inner realization that one is out of alignment with God. It is not condemnation; it is invitation. The Holy Spirit illuminates truth and exposes falsehood, producing the awareness that leads to repentance.
“When He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”
— John 16:8
Without conviction, faith remains shallow. Conviction breaks pride and opens the heart for truth to enter.
b. Awakening
This is when spiritual hearing begins. The listener starts sensing the voice of God, not as abstract doctrine, but as living reality. The heart recognizes the difference between human speech and divine calling.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
— John 10:27
Awakening is the first sign of life — the stirring of the soul toward God.
c. Decision
Every hearing leads to a choice. The Word demands response. One cannot remain neutral before the voice of truth. Jesus’ call — “Follow Me” — is both invitation and challenge.
In the Hearing Stage, the listener stands at the crossroads: respond in faith, or retreat in doubt. This decision determines the path of discipleship.
4. The Process of Hearing to Transformation
Discipleship doesn’t happen in a moment; it unfolds in stages. Within the Hearing Stage itself, Scripture outlines a four-step pattern:
| Step | Description | Spiritual Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hearing | Exposure to the Word through teaching, preaching, or reading. | Awareness of divine truth begins. |
| 2. Understanding | The Holy Spirit brings illumination—truth becomes revelation (Matthew 13:19, 23). | Faith and comprehension develop. |
| 3. Keeping | Retaining and obeying the Word (Luke 11:28). | The Word is rooted and guarded in the heart. |
| 4. Transformation | The Word produces inward change and outward fruit (2 Timothy 3:16–17). | Character begins to reflect Christ. |
This process is cumulative—each step builds upon the previous one. That’s why Isaiah said, “precept upon precept, line upon line” (Isaiah 28:10).
Truth isn’t absorbed all at once; it is built progressively as the disciple holds onto what was heard. Retention of truth leads to revelation of truth, which leads to transformation.
5. The Role of the Heart
The heart is the control center of discipleship. It is the soil where the seed of the Word is planted (Luke 8:15). The mind may comprehend, but the heart must consent.
If the heart is closed, distracted, or hardened, the Word cannot take root. Jesus warned of three dangers that block hearing:
- The hardened heart – truth bounces off through pride or indifference.
- The shallow heart – receives quickly but with no depth; faith withers under trial.
- The crowded heart – truth is choked by worries, wealth, or worldliness.
Only the good heart — soft, receptive, and persistent — bears fruit. Hearing rightly means cultivating the heart to remain open, humble, and teachable before God.
6. The Responsibilities of the Hearer
At this initial stage, the disciple’s responsibility is not to perform but to receive.
Spiritual growth begins with submission, not activity.
The Hearer’s Call:
- Listen intentionally — silence distractions and tune your inner ear to God’s voice.
- Receive with humility — approach Scripture as a learner, not an expert.
- Respond in faith — act on what you hear, even before full understanding comes.
- Repent sincerely — allow conviction to produce change, not just emotion.
- Obey the call — take practical steps of surrender, such as prayer, confession, or joining fellowship.
True hearing produces response. When the heart receives the Word, faith is conceived, and the new life in Christ begins to form.
7. The Outcome: Faith Awakens
The genuine outcome of this stage is faith. Not blind belief, but trust born out of revelation.
When one hears and believes, the Word becomes alive within. The soul begins to experience peace, conviction, and the assurance of God’s reality. This is where salvation begins — when hearing turns to believing.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life.”
— John 5:24
8. Transition to the Next Stage
Once the Word is received and faith is born, the disciple naturally moves into the Believing Stage – The New Birth. This next phase involves confession, baptism, and identification with Christ (Romans 10:9–10).
But none of it can happen without first hearing. Every spiritual birth begins with a call heard and answered. The quality of one’s discipleship is determined by the quality of one’s hearing.
9. Reflection: Hearing as a Lifestyle
The Hearing Stage is not left behind after conversion; it becomes a lifelong discipline.
Disciples never outgrow the need to hear.
Daily hearing — through Scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit’s prompting — keeps faith alive. Jesus said,
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
Disciples live on divine dialogue. Each day is another opportunity to hear and respond anew.
In Conclusion. The journey of discipleship begins not with action, but with attention — the ability to truly hear.
To hear Christ’s voice is to enter His kingdom. To ignore it is to remain among the crowd.
The Hearing Stage is God’s gracious invitation into transformation. It is the stage where truth enters, faith begins, and a new direction unfolds.
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
— Hebrews 3:15