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Silence in the Way of Jesus

Philippians 2:5-11

• Intentional silence is

.
• Intentional silence is powerful when it is used as a catalyst for , , and .
• Silence with God teaches us how to .


Psalm 46
God is our protection and our strength.
He always helps in times of trouble.
So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes,
or the mountains fall into the sea,
even if the oceans roar and foam,
or the mountains shake at the raging sea. Selah

There is a river that brings joy to the city of God,
the holy place where God Most High lives.
God is in that city, and so it will not be shaken.
God will help her at dawn.
Nations tremble and kingdoms shake.
God shouts and the earth crumbles.
The Lord All-Powerful is with us;
the God of Jacob is our defender. Selah

Come and see what the Lord has done,
the amazing things he has done on the earth.
He stops wars everywhere on the earth.
He breaks all bows and spears
and burns up the chariots with fire.

God says, “Be still and know that I am God.
I will be praised in all the nations;
I will be praised throughout the earth.”

The Lord All-Powerful is with us;
the God of Jacob is our defender. Selah


• Be Still - רָפָה (râphâh):
to

, stop striving, let go.
• Silence with God means on the Lord.
• Silence with God teaches us how to .

“A word with power is a word that comes out of silence. A word that bears fruit is a word that emerges from the silence and returns to it. It is a word that reminds us of the silence from which it comes and leads us back to that silence.” —Henri Nouwen

• Silence and solitude are

together.

“Without silence there is no solitude. Though silence sometimes involves the absence of speech, it always involves the act of listening. Simply to refrain from talking, without a heart listening to God, is not silence.” —Richard Foster

Mark 1:35; Luke 5:15-16; Luke 6:12-16
• Jesus modeled

over .
• Jesus modeled that we don’t always have to to respond.

Luke 23:6-12
• Do we have the ability to

when it counts?

But Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing alone. The Son does only what he sees the Father doing, because the Son does whatever the Father does. —John 5:19

Ways to Practice Silence with God

• Going for a walk, hike, or bike ride.
• Silence in your commute.
• Enjoying a sunrise or sunset.
• Taking a 15 minute pause break.
• Sabbath.

Resources

Vineyard Gilbert: Silence and Solitude
“The Way of the Heart” by Henri Nouwen
“The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer
“Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster