Silence and Solitude

Introduction:

As you likely know I was a Resident Assistant my last two years at Missouri Baptist University. I had many wonderful experiences as a RA. I first began to take interest in, talk with, and date the woman who would be my bride during my first year as an RA. However, for this sermon’s purposes there is one event of RA training that is particularly relevant. One afternoon each year my boss took all of the RAs to a park where He took our phones and sat each of us down in a spot where we couldn’t see anyone or talk to anyone. All we had was a Bible, journal, pen, and a bottle of water and he left us there in that spot for five hours. My boss called this a five hour solo. To some it was just that, a time of peaceful solitude. Some climbed and relaxed in a near by tree, one tried to climb a tree and miserably failed. You know that RA and it wasn’t me. I read, journaled, prayed, sat in silence, and took a brief nap until several deer ran up on me. It was time of refreshment and spiritual nourishment. However, to others it was a time of misery and dread. On girl had a panic attack both years just thinking about five hours without five hours connection. In my opinion she missed the point of the exercise. This was not meant to be a time of disconnection, but a time of deep and focused connection with our creator and redeemer. It was a time to practice the Biblical spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude. The disciplines silence and solitude is what we are going to explore tonight.

Body:

I. Silence and Solitude Explained

Silence is the voluntary and temporary abstention from speaking so that certain spiritual goals might be sought.

Solitude is is the voluntary and temporary withdrawing to privacy for spiritual purposes.

4 thoughts on silence and solitude

Silence and solitude serve other spiritual disciplines like Bible Intake and Prayer

Silence and solitude are complementary to fellowship: with out silence and solitude we are shallow and without fellowship we are stagnate. We must be balanced in how we spend our time.

Silence and solitude are usually found together

Silence and solitude are difficult in a culture where constant noise and connection are treasured, sought after, and the norm.

II. 9 Reasons for practicing silence and solitude

To follow Jesus’ example: ; ; ;

To minimize distractions in prayer: , ; ;

To express worship to God: ; ;

To express faith in God: , ;

To seek the salvation of the Lord:

To be physically and spiritually restored:

To regain a spiritual perspective: ,

To seek the will of God:

To learn to control the tongue: , ; ;

III. Suggestions for Silence and Solitude

Minute Retreats

A Goal of Daily Silence and Solitude

Getting Away for Solitude and Silence

Special Places

Trade Off Daily Responsibilities

Conclusion:

If you are a Christian, silence and solitude is not a time of dread or disconnection. Instead, it is a time of celebration and connection, for in it you are able to focus and rest in your relationship with your God through your savior Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. If Jesus need to times of solitude and silence, how much more do you need them. The whole world is in the hands of your God and a refusal to get away or sit in the quite is evidence that you don’t trust him and that you believe you have more control then you actually do. Silence and solitude reminds us that we aren’t in control, we aren’t God, and we are creatures. It is in the stillness of disciplined focus that we take in God’s word and pray the best. Yes, it is not silence and solitude that saves you, Jesus does, but God’s Word promises that when we devote ourselves to spending alone time with our God He will bless our efforts and make us more like Jesus. Will you make times silence and solitude fixture of everyday of your life or will you give into the cultural impulse for artificial connection and worrisome busyness? Trust and follow Christ by practicing the Biblical discipline of silence and solitude.