18 Jan Spiritual Disciplines for Regular Guys: Solitude and Fellowship
Spiritual Disciplines
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Pouring In |
Pouring Out |
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Study |
Obedience |
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Solitude |
Fellowship |
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Silence |
Speaking |
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Prayer |
Activism |
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Sabbath |
Work |
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Worship |
Evangelism |
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Journaling |
Service |
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Fasting |
Feasting |
Spiritual Disciplines for Regular Guys: Solitude and Fellowship
- Grace and I – early marriage & ministry disagreement
- Introverts vs Extroverts
- NOT if you love people, or are good with people, but what energizes/drains
- Introverts – strong solitude, weak fellowship
- Extroverts – weak solitude, strong fellowship
=ME – old Jeep in the woods snowmobile path, today in the mountains
Solitude (Pouring In)
Matthew 14:23 “after he [Jesus] had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”
Mark 6:31 “he [Jesus] said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
Luke 4:42 “when it was day, he [Jesus] departed and went into a desolate place.”
Luke 5:16 “he [Jesus] would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”
-Solitude = fasting from people/crowds
-Everyone needs it – caregivers, some jobs require more
Solitude and other Spiritual Disciplines:
Worship
Prayer
Study
Journaling
Sabbath
= Difference between isolation & solitude
Fellowship (Pouring Out)
Genesis 2:18 “It is not good that the man should be alone…”
Mark 12:33 “…love your neighbor as yourself…”
John 13:34-35 “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love
1 John 1:7 if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
- Most of the NT was written to local churches not individuals
- Most of the NT cannot be obeyed alone
Trinity = relational
Jesus’ Fellowship
- God the Father and the Holy Spirit
- John the Beloved (John 13:23)
- Peter, James, John (Mount Transfiguration Mark 9:2-3; Jairus daughter Luke 8:49-56; Gethsemane Matthew 26:36-38)
- Mary, Martha, Lazarus (John 11)
- The 12 (Luke 6:12-16)
- The 72 (Luke 10:1,17)
- The 120 (Acts 1:15)
- Multitudes in large and very large crowds
Discussion and Prayer
- Are you better at solitude or fellowship?
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What difference has being at the table with the men made for you?
How can we pray for you?
