DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Choose the right questions for your group; no pressure to use all of them.

1. Icebreaker
• How good are you at sitting still? Is it easy or hard for you?
• When was the last time you were still on purpose, with no or minimal distractions? Were you able to think or did your mind wander?
• What’s your go-to way to fill some extra time? Social media, books, TV, work, or something else?
2. Deeper question: when was the last time you heard clearly from God?
3. Read Psalm 23:1-2. How has God made you lie down in green pastures or lead you beside still waters?
4. Ryan mentioned that Jesus made stillness an intentional habit. Read Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, and Luke 6:12-13. Have you ever intentionally pursued stillness before God? What is getting in the way of you spending more time in stillness?
5. Ryan mentioned that the divine direction and clarity we need only comes from God. Read I Kings 19:12. In what area in your life do you need some divine direction? How can you listen to him this week?
6. Thinking back to your answer about how you fill your extra time, is there a better alternative or way you could spend that time?
7. Read Exodus 14:10-14. God instructed the Israelites to be still. Ryan mentioned that stillness isn’t inaction; instead, it’s faith in action and choosing to trust when trusting feels impossible. What do you think about choosing to be still when things are chaotic? How have you failed or succeeded at being still and trusting God when it feels impossible?
8. Consider practicing 4 minutes of silence and stillness (or less if it’s your first time) during your group meeting or at the end of your discussion time. If you have room, you may want to move so every has their own space. People can also have a pen and paper ready to write down anything they hear from the Lord. Have everyone “breathe out” their stress, anxiety, etc. and “breathe in” the Holy Spirit, peace, and quietness. Come back together and share about the experience – was it good or challenging? Did they hear anything? Were they distracted by anything?
9. Pray for each other to find time to be still and silent before the Lord. Pray that we would surrender before him, give him our attention, listen well and gain peace, rest, direction, and clarity for our lives.

VERSE TO MEDITATE ON AND MEMORIZE

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE (In Between Meetings)

Read Psalm 23. Make a list of which actions or responsibilities are yours and which ones are God’s. Meditate on that list and ask God to help you.

Consider finding a time every day this week to be still and listen to God, even if it is only 4 minutes. Then, spend an extended time in silence with God this week (maybe 15, 30, or 60 minutes). Go outside or somewhere you can be alone; bring your Bible and a notebook.

Encourage others in your group to practice stillness and quiet this week through a text or a phone call. Tell each other when you do practice it.

Silence or solitude is a spiritual practice that Christ-followers have been leveraging for centuries. Consider diving deeper into this practice so that you can include it in your everyday life. Here are some helpful resources and articles:

• A 4-part study from Practicing the Way
• Take a Break from the Chaos from Desiring God
• Understanding Solitude from Renovare

Pray and ask God to help you be still, quiet, and fully focused on him.