By: Taylor Warren
Optional Kids Practice
Invite kids in your group to join the Community for a few minutes. Once they seem ready to engage, ask them to spend a few moments in silence with you. You can ask them if they’ve ever played the “silent game.” Likely, they will be familiar. Tell them they are playing that, but in the moments of silence, think about Jesus. You can spend 30 seconds to 1 minute in silence, depending on the age of the kids in your group. After you break the silence, ask the kids the following questions.
- What were you thinking during the silence?
- Was it easy or hard to stay silent?
In an age-appropriate manner, explain that God can speak through silence, and us adults are learning more about it, and we want to invite them into spending time in silence to hear God. Thank them for doing the practice with us.
Begin with prayer
Gather as a Community in a comfortable setting. Begin by sitting in silence, acknowledging the presence of Jesus. Take a few extra moments of stillness today, consider setting a timer for anywhere between 2-10 minutes (depending on the needs of your group). Afterward, pray, inviting the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.
Debrief the most recent teaching
- What did you take away from the teaching, and how has it added to what God is doing in your life?
- Is there anything God revealed to you in silence this week?
Read this overview
Psalm 62:5 says, “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” Silence is an act of surrender, a willingness to be still before the Father. Pastor Gavin Bennett speaks about the power of silence through the metaphor of pond water; “think back to a time when you were a kid sitting at the edge of a pond. The water is clear, and you can see the 10 inches or so to the bottom – the small fish going back and forth, the plant life, and the mud lying calmly at the bottom until someone steps into the water right where you’re looking. They stir up the sediment on the bottom and send it whirling. What was at first totally clear is now cloudy and dark, and you can’t see anything in it. But over time, the water clears again. Life is similar. One moment, things seem clear, then everything is stirred up, and our field of vision narrows. The challenge, though, is that we’re not great at stopping and waiting for things to settle in our lives like we were with the pond. In the era of fast food and instant everything, waiting and slowing down have been all but eliminated.” In silence, we gain clarity and have eyes to see as Jesus does.
Silence is a practice that can feel uncomfortable, even unsettling. Silence slows us down, quiets the noise, and allows us to see as Jesus does. It reveals what is hidden beneath the surface, our fears, desires, and distractions, helping us to notice what we might otherwise overlook. In stillness, we become more aware of God’s presence, His work in our lives, and the needs of those around us. Silence isn’t about emptiness but about making space; space to listen, to perceive, and to align ourselves with God. In a world filled with noise, choosing silence allows us to see more clearly and is an act of resistance, a declaration that our lives belong to God, not the noise around us.
Discuss the following prompts
- Have you ever had a moment when silence helped you hear from God more clearly? What was that experience like? If not, why do you think that is?
- Do you find it challenging to sit in stillness without distractions? What usually stirs up the “muddy waters” in your mind?
- What do you think needs to “die” in your life in order for something new to grow?
Practicing right now:
Take a few minutes as a group to discuss practical ways to intentionally incorporate silence into your weekly routine. Consider different moments throughout your day where you could create space for stillness, whether it’s starting your morning in silence before checking your phone, taking a few minutes of silence on your commute, or setting aside time before bed to be still with God. Share any challenges you anticipate and encourage one another with ideas for making silence a consistent and meaningful part of your spiritual practice. Look at your calendar and see if you can add a 10-minute “silent” appointment.
Practicing this week:
This week the Practice is to incorporate centering prayer. At least once or twice this week, follow the below prayer method.
Choose a sacred word as the symbol of centering yourself in God’s presence. Ask God to give you a word that you need at this moment. Common words to use; Holy, Breath or Ruach, Yahweh, Love, Glory, Father, Spirit, Gracious, Mercy, or Abba.
Posture your body in a comfortable position. The goal would be to avoid moving, so make sure to find a posture that is comfortable. Sitting upright with your feet on the ground is typically best. Laying on your back or stomach is also an option, but avoid falling asleep. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of entering God’s presence.
When engaged with your thoughts, return to the sacred word. Your mind will seize this opportunity to run wild with thoughts, feelings, memories, to-do’s, and distractions. That’s okay. Don’t judge yourself. When you notice your mind start to wander, just recenter with a quick prayer, like, “Father…” or return to your sacred word, and come back to silence.
At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes. You can recite the Lord’s Prayer to end your time.
Close in prayer
End by spending a few moments in silence. If kids are around, invite them in for 30 seconds to 1 minute of silence, then end by blessing the time and thanking Jesus for the way he works in silence.