WEEK 1 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

The Practices That Changed Me: Stories of Everyday Transformation.

Introduction:

We all feel it — we’re bombarded by noise like never before. Jesus has an invitation for us: Step away from it all to be alone with Him, for the sake of our souls and the sake of others. Simply put, it’s a moment of intentional time in the quiet to be alone with God. In the modern era, this may be the first step toward a life well-lived.

Something To Talk About:

“If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.” – A.W. Tozer.

The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in helping us find and experience true solitude. While solitude can initially feel uncomfortable, the Holy Spirit empowers us to embrace it, drawing us closer to God, fostering self-reflection, and ultimately transforming our relationship with Him and others. The Holy Spirit longs to spend time alone with you to refresh you, teach you, and share His heart with you. Listen to His prompting, for it’s about a response to a Person, rather than following a rule book.
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to make wise use of their time by guiding them towards God’s will, providing wisdom, and convicting them of sin. By cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit through prayer and studying God’s Word, believers can receive guidance on how to prioritize tasks, discern between good and bad influences, and ultimately live a life that honors God.
Spend time talking to the Holy Spirit, asking for His guidance and wisdom in managing your time.
The Bible is a primary tool the Holy Spirit uses to reveal God’s will and principles for living.
Learn to love being alone: make the most of small “solitudes”which come your way—the minutes before the household rises, the solo car trip, waiting for a bus. You may need to resist the temptation to fill every silence with a text message…

Discussion Questions:

What does solitude look like for you? Explain
What are the key differences between solitude and isolation?
Do you ever spend time in solitude before the Lord? Why or why not? If you don’t, what is keeping you from doing so?
What does solitude look like in your life? Do you regularly practice it, or is it something you struggle to find time for?
If spiritual solitude is about disconnection from the world to connect with God, what are the things you need to disconnect from to connect with God?
What are some practical steps you can take to integrate the spiritual discipline of solitude into your faith walk?
How does solitude help us to hear God’s voice more clearly?
What does it mean for the Holy Spirit to be our guide in solitude? How does He guide us?
In what ways does the Holy Spirit empower us to be more receptive to God’s voice during times of solitude?
How can the Holy Spirit help us to overcome the challenges of solitude and make it a more meaningful practice?
How does solitude relate to other spiritual disciplines like prayer, meditation, and fasting?
What are some practical steps you can take to integrate the spiritual discipline of solitude into your faith journey, guided by the Holy Spirit?

Take one thing home with you:

Matthew 4:1-3 says, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

The wilderness isn’t a place of weakness; it’s a place of strength. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, and after a month and a half of prayer and fasting in a quiet place, He was able to withstand the devil himself and walk away unscathed. That’s why, over and over again, you see Jesus come back to the desolate or quiet place. Solitude is a disconnection from the world to connect with God, and this is necessary in the life of the believer. It’s a place of strength, not weakness. It’s a place of connection with God, allowing us to fulfill God’s will.