Be Still

silence

show silence power point

In the Garden

The Passover moon, broad and full, shone from a cloudless sky. The city of pilgrims’ tents was hushed into silence.

The Passover moon, broad and full, shone from a cloudless sky. The city of pilgrims’ tents was hushed into silence.

Jesus had been earnestly conversing with His disciples and instructing them; but as He neared Gethsemane, He became strangely silent.

As they approached the garden, the disciples had marked the change that came over their Master. Never before had they seen Him so utterly sad and silent

As they approached the garden, the disciples had marked the change that came over their Master. Never before had they seen Him so utterly sad and silent

He groaned aloud, as if suffering under the pressure of a terrible burden. Twice His companions supported Him, or He would have fallen to the earth.

Often they had passed the night with Him in this retreat. On these occasions, after a season of watching and prayer, they would sleep undisturbed at a little distance from their Master, until He awoke them in the morning to go forth anew to labor

He groaned aloud, as if suffering under the pressure of a terrible burden. Twice His companions supported Him, or He would have fallen to the earth.

Often they had passed the night with Him in this retreat. On these occasions, after a season of watching and prayer, they would sleep undisturbed at a little distance from their Master, until He awoke them in the morning to go forth anew to labor

He feared that in His human nature He would be unable to endure the coming conflict with the powers of darkness.

He feared that in His human nature He would be unable to endure the coming conflict with the powers of darkness.

-TRANSITION-

Jesus needed that time to be still, he wanted his disciples to be still and connect with God not be still to do their own thing

When we are still what are we doing? Can i make a guess?

phone use graphic

Research conducted by British psychologists shows that

young adults use their smartphones roughly twice as much as

they estimate that they do. In fact, the small preliminary study

found that these young adults used their phones an average of

five hours a day — that's roughly one-third of their total waking

hours.Nov 2, 2015

The typical cellphone user touches his or her phone 2,617 times every day.

every day. according to a study by research firm Dscout. But that's

according to a study by research firm Dscout. But that's

just the average user: The study found that extreme cellphone users

— meaning the top 10% — touch their phones more than 5,400 times

daily.Jul 13, 2016

Teens are spending more than one-third of their days using media

such as online video or music — nearly nine hours on average,

according to a new study from the family technology education

non-profit group, Common Sense Media. For tweens, those

between the ages of 8 and 12, the average is nearly six hours per

day.Nov 3, 2015

When was the last time you had quality, quiet time with God?

graphic of how much of the bible is read

"Most Americans don't know first-hand the overall story of the

Bible -- because they rarely pick it up," McConnell said. "Even

among worship attendees less than half read the Bible daily. The only time most Americans hear from the Bible is when someone else is reading it."

only time most Americans hear from the Bible is when someone else is reading it."

else is reading it."

“When they encounter others reading the Bible, teens most commonly say they are happy to see other Christians around (37 percent), they are grateful to see that sacred books are still important to people (36 percent), and they feel encouraged (33 percent),” Barna research divulged. “At the other end of the spectrum, one in 10 teens (10 percent) say it makes them think the person is old-fashioned.”

Frequency of Bible reading

Even though most youth pastors would like to see higher numbers, a good majority of American teens today own a Bible and read it on a regular basis.

“A solid majority — seven out of 10 teenagers (69 percent) — personally own a Bible,” Barna reports.

“Forty-four percent of teens read the Bible at least three or four times a year,

and one in four (25 percent) say they read the Bible at least once a week;

this includes 3 percent who report daily Bible reading,

11 percent who report reading Scripture several times per week and 11 percent who read it once a week.”

The percentage of American adolescents who read the Bible less frequently is slightly lower.

“One in 10 (9 percent) read the Bible once a month, and an additional 1 in 10 (10 percent) report reading the Bible three or four times a year,” the study found.

“Thirty-seven percent of Teenagers say they never read the Bible.

Not surprisingly, teens from non-Christian faith groups and those who say they are atheist or agnostic are most likely to say they never read the Bible (67 percent).”

- TRANSITION-

TRANSITION-

1 kings 19:

1 Kings 19:11–13 NLT

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

we have to be careful

Psalm 46:

Psalm 46:10 NLT

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

Be still. Literally, “let be,” “desist,” “give up.”

God Himself speaks these sublime words. The

first clause of this verse has been paraphrased:

“Hush!

Stay calm be still graphic

" Keep Calm " memes,

actually had it's origin

during the World War II.

Intended to increase the

morale of the British

citizens after the predicted

bombardment of various

cities. ... The original

poster said " Keep calm

and carry on "

thats what is sayin

Cease your tumult and realize that I am

God.”

We talk too much and listen too little.

We lack Christian poise and steadiness, because of

lack Christian poise and steadiness, because of

our ceaseless busyness.

We need to be busy we have a work God has called us to do.

However, we can not let our busyness get in the way of our quiet time with God.

we can not let it be an excuse for not having alone time with God.

Title slide

Sometimes it’s difficult to deal with quiet. For most people,

chaos, deadlines, managing multiple schedules, and being

“so busy” are a way of life.

And if we’re honest with ourselves, we like it.

ourselves, we like it. Busyness implies we are special and

Busyness implies we are special and valued and the work we’re doing is necessary.

valued and the work we’re doing is necessary. And we have

And we have a desperate need to be valued.

a desperate need to be valued.

a couple of weeks ago we talked about mary and martha.

When others failed to recognize Martha’s work—when Mary didn’t hold to the same values—she complained to Jesus.

recognize Martha’s work—when Mary didn’t hold to the

same values—she complained to Jesus.

He responded by rebuking her: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things!

rebuking her: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled

about many things! But few things are necessary, or only

But few things are necessary, or only one thing, for Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her” ().

one thing, for Mary has chosen the better part, which will

not be taken away from her” (). What is the

What is the“better part”?

Psalm 27:4 NLT

The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.

Psalm 27:4

The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple

this is what Mary was doing

“better part”? Mary “sat at the feet of Jesus and was

Mary “sat at the feet of Jesus and was listening to his teaching” (), and Jesus praised her desire to listen and learn.

listening to his teaching” (), and Jesus praised

her desire to listen and learn. Mary was captivated by the

Mary was captivated by the “one thing” that would change the world: Jesus and the kingdom He was ushering in.

“one thing” that would change the world: Jesus and the

kingdom He was ushering in. Jesus showed Martha that she

Jesus showed Martha that she should also give Him this reception—being willing to learn, not anxious about her busy schedule.

should also give Him this reception—being willing to learn,

not anxious about her busy schedule. He asked her to shift

He asked her to shift her perspective.

her perspective. Choosing the “better part” doesn’t

Choosing the “better part” doesn’t invalidate the things we’re busy with; indeed, Martha’s work served the needs of others.

invalidate the things we’re busy with; indeed, Martha’s work

But the things we do shouldn’t shape our identity.

served the needs of others. But the things we do shouldn’t

shape our identity. The “one thing” that should shape our

The “one thing” that should shape our identity—

identity—the one thing we really need—is Jesus. Ultimately,

the one thing we really need—is Jesus.

Ultimately, it’s the desire to know Him and serve Him that should shape our lives.

it’s the desire to know Him and serve Him that should shape

And whatever is not dedicated to that service is not among “the few things [that] are necessary.”

our lives. And whatever is not dedicated to that service is

not among “the few things [that] are necessary.”

What things are you busy with?

Does it align with the one thing?

the land of Midian (, ), Paul 3 years in

Paul 3 years in

the desert (, ; AA 125–128), and Jesus

40 days in the wilderness (, ), in

preparation for the responsibilities of the divine

call. Know. Men become acquainted with God by

observing the acts of God. I will be exalted. The

theme of .