Ever felt like your prayer life is the glitchiest phone call of your day—like God’s on mute or the line keeps breaking up? In this first talk of our “Hearing God” series, Jackson walks through why God speaks in the first place and why so many of us feel like He doesn’t. If you’re tired of treating God like a fortune teller, a vending machine, or an algorithm and actually want to be anchored in His Word and aimed at His presence, this is for you. Come chill, be honest about where you’re at, and let God start reshaping how you listen so you can actually grow and bear real fruit.

HDC Young Adults is a community of 18–28 year olds gathering every Thursday night to be anchored in truth and aimed at God’s presence. It’s a space to breathe, to belong, to ask real questions, and to be formed into the image of Jesus together—not just to attend a program. If you’re anywhere in the High Desert and looking for a place to chill, grow in your faith, and bear fruit that actually lasts, we’d love to have you with us in person.

Scripture in this message includes Hebrews 1:1–3, Genesis 11:1–4, Philippians 2, 1 Samuel 28, 2 Corinthians 5:7, John 6, Philippians 1:29, Matthew 25:14–30, Romans 14:12, 1 John 3:1–2, Romans 8:29, and Galatians 4:19.
Key takeaways:
• God is a speaking God, but we often don’t hear Him because we’re listening in the wrong places and for the wrong reasons.
• God does not primarily speak to help you ascend, guarantee outcomes, help you avoid all pain, or let you dodge responsibility—He’s not your fortune teller, vending machine, or excuse for laziness.
• God’s primary purpose in speaking is to mature you and conform you to the image of Jesus—from the inside out, not just by tweaking behaviors at the surface.
• Real change means letting the Spirit uproot sin and plant new roots of righteousness, learning to live by faith, embrace costly obedience, and own the choices you’ll one day give an account for before God.

0:00 Welcome & Series Kickoff
2:18 Why Hearing God Feels So Hard
6:45 God Is a Speaking God (Hebrews 1)
11:32 Listening in the Wrong Places: Ascend, Assurance, Avoid, Abdicate
27:05 Why God Really Speaks: To Make Us Like Jesus
34:40 Surface Change vs. Deep Formation
41:10 An Invitation to Become God’s Child
44:05 Praying for a People Who Hear and Obey