Are we comfortable with noise and crowds, but not silence and solitude?

Why be a learner?
• Jesus was – Luke 2:46-47
• Character of the wise – Proverbs 9:9
• Learning is loving God.

Tips for practicing silence and solitude: 
• Pray for a learner’s heart
o Ask God to break loose the habit of slothfulness
o Don’t be an accidental or convenience driven learner
• Pinpoint where you will start
o Is there a habit to start?  One to stop?
o Is there a method of learning that you have overlooked or let die off?
• Reading – Try a 1-page a day commitment
• Memorize one verse a week.
• Determine when you will start.
o Communicate it to others
o Proverbs 13:4

“Learn from me”, Jesus says.
• Are you teachable before your Lord?
• Are you actively seeking Him.
• To learn of Him leads to knowing Him.
• Knowing Him leads to loving Him.

Are we comfortable with noise and crowds, but not silence and solitude?

Silence and Solitude: 

• It was modeled by Jesus. Matthew 14:23 
• It minimizes distractions in times of prayer. 1 Kings 19 
• Expresses worship to God through a God focused stillness.
  • Habakkuk 2:20 
• Expresses faith in God 
  • Are your prayers verbalized fear and doubt, or are they expressions of faith? 
• Physical and spiritual restoration 
• Seeking the will of God 
• Can help us gain spiritual perspective 
  • When you are alone, is your heart seeking Him and His Word?

Tips for practicing silence and solitude: 

• Take a minute retreat – turn off the noise and focus your heart and mind fully upon Him for 1 full minute. 
• Set a goal of daily silence and solitude – a time of silence devoted to Bible intake, prayer, and worship. 
• Find your place to get away – a closet, a park, a room at the church during the week, a lodge or cabin, or even just underneath an apron! 
• Make a plan – set the time, take your Bible, take a journal 
• Trade off daily responsibilities with someone to make this possible. 

Stewardship of Time Notes
•Make the best use of time because the days are evil – Eph 5:15-16
•Prepare now for your eternity. 2 Corinthians 6:2
•Time is short – James 4:14
•Time is passing away – 1 John 2:17
•Time is uncertain – Proverbs 27:1
•Understand that time cannot be regained. Phil 3:13-14
•We will give an account of our time. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
•Time is easily lost. Fight against slothfulness. Proverbs 26:13-14; 24:33-34
•Time’s value in eternity. Luke 16:22-25

Serving Notes
· To serve God is to obey God. Deuteronomy 13:4
· Let your service stem from gratitude towards Him. 1 Sam 12:24
o Reflect upon the salvation He has given.
· Serve Him with gladness. Psalm 100:2
· Don’t serve from guilt…serve from His gracious forgiveness. Isaiah 6
· Dwell on the humility displayed as Christ washed the disciples feet.
· Love is the ultimate driver of your service. Galatians 5:13
Places to get involved serving:
· At Walnut Ridge: o Preschool Ministry – Jerica@walnutridge.org
o Children’s Ministry – Brady@walnutridge.org o Youth Ministry – Katherine@walnutridge.org / Landon@walnutridge.org
o Adult Ministry – Jim@walnutridge.org
o Senior Adult Ministry – Linda@walnutridge.org
o Choir / Orchestra – Chris@walnutridge.org
o Praise Team / Worship – Jason@walnutridge.org
o Audio / Video Team – Graham@walnutridge.org
o Mission Team – Travis@walnutridge.org
o Greeting Team – Jody@walnutridge.org
o Parking Lot Team – See info desk in foyer
o Safety Team – Kent@walnutridge.org o Ridge Sports – Chris@walnutridge.org / jason@walnutridge.org
Local / International Ministry Opportunities
o https://walnutridge.org/missions-partners

Put yourself into situations where evangelism can happen.
· Go to dinner with a lost person
· Take a house-warming gift to a new neighbor
· Help a neighbor with yard work or chores Walk in wisdom, make the best use of time.
· Learn to ask good personal questions
· Let them know that you specifically pray for them
· Ask them how you can be praying for them
Write down the gospel.
· https://www.namb.net/evangelism/3circles/
· https://www.navigators.org/resource/ one-verse-evangelism/ 

•Direct your focus upon God.
•Respond to His worthiness of praise.
•Look at creation through the lens of God’s might and glory.
•Respond in worship.
•Read His Word.
•Respond in worship.
•Balance your worship in Spirit and Truth. 

Make a plan to pray, and discuss your plan with another.  I will discuss my plan with _________________________.

• Time
• Location
• Method

Pray the Bible.

• Read a verse, and then pray to the Lord from the thoughts that verse sparks within you.  When you run out of things to say, move to the next verse.

Pray with others.

• Come to Evensong.
• Listen to how others pray through passages, pray for others, and pray for missions.

Be a student of prayer.
Remind yourself that He expects us to.  He hears you.  He answers you.