Sabbath (Part 2): How Do We Practice Solitude?

TO START: In our journey of being filled with all of what God wants to give us we have focused on five particular rhythms to incorporate for this season (although there are many more). These five rhythms include Sabbath, Solitude, Fasting, Generosity, & Witness.  So, for our opening Fall series, we are jumping into the rhythm of solitude. 

At RRCOC,  we define solitude as the practice of withdrawing from internal and external noise to be present to ourselves and to God. Solitude is simple to define, but less easy to practice, so the guide below will give you and your small group questions as ways to start wading into the waters of this time with God. 

TO READ: Matthew 4:1-4

TO DISCUSS:

(1.) What’s the longest stretch of time you’ve gone without talking to anyone?

(2.) In Sunday’s message, we unpacked how Jesus withdrew into solitude for centering, strength, humility, discernment, grief, and surrender. Which of these is the most difficult–and the least difficult–for you to sit in with God during solitude?

(3.) Read 2 Corinthians 2:11. In what areas of your life does the Enemy try to influence you or pull you out of alignment with God’s heart and purposes. 

TO CLOSE/TO PRAY:

We invite you to close small group by recognizing the prevailing emotion that comes to your mind when thinking about this past week. It could be joy, exhaustion, sadness, grief, confusion, excitement, hope or anything in between. Start the closing prayer time off by offering this prompt and then praying a simple prayer of: “Come, Holy Spirit” or “Jesus, we welcome you here”. Then, after a minute of silence, invite each person to name the prevailing emotion without any explanation. Next, after everyone has shared, pray a version of the prayer that Jesus prayed in Gethsemane over the whole group…

“Father, you know what we are feeling this week and the desires that come with them, we trust you as we name them together, and now we say together in all things, not our will but yours be done. Amen.”