Solitude

Entering on a new year, Rob acknowledged that we want to focus on Jesus as we begin our new series about the prayers of our Lord. We want to understand not just the content of His prayers but also Jesus’ posture entering prayer — His attitude as well as His physical position.
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Definition:

Solitude is creating a space for prayer. Prayer is distinct from solitude, but prayer seems to grow into a robust spiritual life where solitude is
created.
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If Eugene’s research is correct that our attention span is only 47 seconds, you will not reach this sentence. I’m rooting for you.

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Warm Up:

Name a time or a place where you encountered solitude. What was different there than your everyday living?
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Read Mark 1:35-39

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Questions:

1.) Eugene identified four barriers to solitude which have thwarted many good intentions of increasing prayer in our lives. What strategies have you already used to overcome such barriers?

A.) Solitude is not a cultural priority.
B.) We are busy.
C.) We live during the noisiest time in human history.
D.) Everything is clamoring for our attention, trying to shape
our identity.

Have you checked your phone since community group started?

2.) Eugene urged us to commit to strategies of practice in order to create space for solitude in our lives. He detailed the following remedies. Which of these might help you?

A.) We aren’t seeking solitude under our own power or simply for the sake of better mental health, but are being guided by the Holy Spirit. He will help you.
B.) Receive rest, solitude, and the Sabbath as gifts of God, not as more tasks to complete. Jesus was never hurried. When was the last time you encountered someone who wasn’t in a rush?

C.) We need to act with intention. Although we can’t control some things in our culture, we can control others and follow through.
D.) We need to say No to some worthy opportunities in order to say Yes to the most important priorities.
E.) We have to build our identity on Christ and resist the temptation to treat Jesus as a spiritual ATM by making our agenda replace His agenda for our time together.

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Application:

Eugene mentioned our cultural commitments to social media and our phones in various ways in his sermon while at the same time recognizing that we are too busy and distracted by interruptions for solitude. Opening the service, Rob mentioned that Jesus may want to prune us in the new year. Is there a time in your daily schedule where you could prune out an existing activity in place of a reserved time for solitude with Jesus?

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Community Group Questions written by John Dodd (CG Leader)