A Quiet Place

our pace is a problem

“Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.” —John 21:25 NLT

let the quiet place set the pace

“The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told Him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest a while.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.” —Mark 6:30-32 NLT

“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” —Mark 1:35 NLT

“Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place.” —Luke 4:42 NLT

“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places.” —Luke 5:16 NIV

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” —Luke 6:12 NIV> “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” —Psalm 37:4 NIV

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” —Psalm 34:7 NKV

“Be still, and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10 NKJV

Small Group Discussion Guide

Opening Question: How would you describe your current pace of life? Do you feel hurried, content, or somewhere in between?

Key Takeaways:
1. Our hurried pace is often a problem, leading to “hurry sickness” and missing out on meaningful moments.
2. Jesus modeled an unhurried life despite having a full schedule.
3. The “quiet place” (eremos) was a regular part of Jesus’ rhythm, especially before and after significant ministry moments.
4. We need to be alone with Jesus, not just alone or distracted.
5. The quiet place should set the pace for our lives, informing our decisions and actions.

Discussion Questions:

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why?

Pastor Thomas-Steele mentioned “hurry sickness.” Can you identify any symptoms of this in your own life?

How do you typically respond when you feel rushed or hurried? How might this impact your relationships and spiritual life?

The sermon highlighted Jesus’ practice of retreating to quiet places. What challenges do you face in creating space for quiet time with God?

How might regularly spending time alone with Jesus change the pace and priorities of your life?

John Mark Comer writes, “Every yes is a thousand nos.” How can time with God help us discern what to say yes or no to?

What does it mean to you to “delight in the Lord” (Psalm 34:7)? How can we cultivate this in our daily lives?

Practical Applications:

This week, try to identify one area of your life where hurry is causing problems. Bring this to God in prayer and ask for guidance on how to address it.

Schedule a specific time (at least 15-30 minutes) each day this week to be alone with Jesus in a “quiet place.” Reflect on how this impacts your day.

Before making any significant decisions this week, commit to bringing them before God in prayer first.

Practice saying “no” or “not right now” to one non-essential commitment or activity this week to create more space for rest and time with God.

Each morning, spend a few moments meditating on Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” How might this change your approach to the day?