Selective Hearing | Erica Wycoff | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Selective Hearing

Strong Tower Ministries • Aug 30, 2026 • 62 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In a noisy world full of competing messages, believers must guard what they listen to and train their ears to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd. Jesus promises that His true sheep know His voice and will not follow the deceptive guidance of strangers or secular influences. By staying in Scripture, relying on the Holy Spirit as our internal governor, and cultivating a true relationship rather than ritual, we find the Shepherd's guidance, peace, and complete care in every circumstance.

Themes

Hearing God's VoiceThe Good ShepherdSpiritual Guidance and AuthorityRelationship vs. ReligionDivine Protection and PeaceParental Stewardship

Key Points

1.
Believers must actively guard what they incline their ears toward, choosing the Good Shepherd's voice over worldly distractions and false information.
2.
Parents, teachers, and guardians carry God-given shepherd authority over children and must guard their homes against harmful cultural influences.
3.
Secular media, social platforms, and ungodly music act as strangers that mislead children and undermine godly instruction.
4.
The Holy Spirit operates as an internal governor inside the believer, slowing us down and protecting us from self-destructive choices.
5.
Believers cannot recognize the Good Shepherd's voice without staying rooted in God's written Word daily.
6.
Recalling God's scripture promises during unexpected life crises brings supernatural calm and stability when fear threatens to overwhelm us.
7.
God desires an intimate relationship with His people rather than empty religious ritual, welcoming us directly before His throne of grace.
8.
David's faithfulness as a young shepherd boy fighting off lions and bears prepared him to become a wise king over Israel.
9.
Psalm 23 outlines God's complete care for His believers, promising relationship, provision, rest, guidance, peace, restoration, and ultimate protection.

Sermon Moments

“Tik Tok is the stranger. Facebook is the stranger. YouTube videos without parent control is the stranger. They're listening to everything.”

“The Holy Spirit is supposed to be being your governor, saving you from yourself, teaching you how to be a good sheep.”

“Everything in red, the Good Shepherd said. Pick your word up so you can know what the Good Shepherd said.”

“I was sitting in water, listening to Him tell me that the waters wasn't going to overtake me.”

“My sheep hear my voice and I know them. And that's relationship. Not religion. Relationship.”

“Because David was a good shepherd to his sheep, he could be a good king to his people.”

“The Good Shepherd don't love you because of; He loves you in spite of.”

“Psalms 23... The Lord is my shepherd, that's our relationship. I shall not want, that's His provision.”

This Week

Audit the media, music, and social media influences entering your home, removing worldly noise that drowns out godly teaching.

Commit to reading the Bible daily, paying close attention to Jesus' words so you become familiar with His voice.

Pause before making decisions or responding in anger, allowing the Holy Spirit to act as a governor over your thoughts and actions.

Guide and discipline children according to biblical principles rather than secular trends or soft parenting excuses.

Speak God's promises over your situation during overwhelming trials or emergencies instead of giving in to fear.

Approach God directly in prayer with confidence, knowing Christ tore the veil so you can receive grace and restoration.

Meditate on Psalm 23 throughout the week, trusting the Good Shepherd for your provision, rest, leadership, and protection.

Remember This

Believers must stop relying on selective hearing and tune out worldly noise so they can clearly recognize and follow the Good Shepherd's voice in every area of life.

A Challenge for You

Stop having selective hearing. Stop listening to too many people, stop listening to the wrong people, and start listening to the Good Shepherd.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.