The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: Week 3 - Silence & Solitude

Silence and Solitude are not optional for spiritual health - they were foundational to Jesus’ life and power. We will never hear God clearly if we are never quiet.

Reading: Mark 1:21-39, Matthew 4:1-3

Discussion Questions:

  1. When was the last time you felt bored—and how did you respond? What does your instinctive response to boredom reveal about your relationship with silence, distraction, or control?

  2. A distracted soul, not sin or evil, may be the greatest threat to spiritual growth. Where do you see distraction most clearly affecting your ability to be present with God, others, or even yourself?

  3. Read Mark 1:21-35 together. Considering everything Jesus had just done the day before, what stands out to you about His choice to withdraw and pray? How does this challenge the way we think about busyness, productivity, and spiritual maturity?

  4. Which is harder for you right now: turning off external noise (devices, media, constant input) or quieting internal noise(anxious thoughts, mental replay, worries)? Why do you think that is?

  5. What is one realistic step you could take this week toward practicing silence and solitude (time, place, or plan)? What obstacles do you anticipate, and how can this group help you follow through?

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: Week 2 - Sabbath

Sabbath is demonstrated from the very beginning of the world. But sabbath is not about stopping productivity - it’s about stopping to remember who really sustains our lives. Sabbath is the resistance against hurry and trust in God’s provision.

Reading: Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11

Discussion Questions:

  1. The sermon suggested that hurry is often driven by fear. How does it practically show up in your schedule or pace of life?

  2. Read Hebrews 4:9–11 aloud as a group. Why do you think the author says we must “make every effort” to enter rest? How does this challenge the way you usually think about rest?

  3. The sermon described Sabbath not just as rest, but as resistance against a culture of more, faster, and never enough. What would it look like in your life for Sabbath to be an act of resistance rather than just a day off?

  4. If Sabbath is a gift we often miss because it requires planning and discipline, what is one realistic change you could make to begin moving toward a true Sabbath rhythm (even if it’s just 12 hours)? What might you need to say “no” to in order to say “yes” to rest?