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Sermon 15 June 2008

Quiet Time and Prayer: To Be Or Not To Be?

Preached by Rev Darryn Hickling on Sunday 15 June 2008 - Pentecost 7

Scripture: Psalm 23; Matthew 14: 6-13, 22-33

Have head phones on: MY PHONE HAS AN MP3 PLAYER IN IT AND WHEN THE VOLUME OF THE MUSIC IS UP LOUD YOU CAN’T HEAR ANYTHING ELSE! A new study has found that most people who have ipods or MP3 players walk around with there music up to loud and consequently, audiologists are predicting that 60% of the current generation of young people will suffer severe hearing loss in the future[1].

To Be Or Not To Be: Quiet Time and Prayer

Psalm 23 has images of times of quiet (powerpoint). He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides still waters, he restores my soul. All images of quietness

In Matthew’s gospel the public ministry of Jesus begins when John the Baptist is put in prison (Matthew 4:12; 17 powerpoint) Jesus takes some time out, some quiet time once he hears the news of the death of John the Baptist (Mt14:13). He goes away to a solitary place. What do you think he did?, How do you think he felt? What do you think we can learn from this? Have you ever had a time when you’ve needed some time away, some quiet time? (SIT ON THE CHAIR)

In Chapter 14 Matthew Jesus puts the disciples into a boat, dismisses the crowd and once again heads away for some time alone into the hills to pray. Then there is walking on water (the experience of a storm for the disciples). Interesting that there is quiet and then the storm. What do you think we can learn from the passage? Quiet times need to be planned.

To Be Or Not To Be

Where are places that we know of where it’s quiet? Quiet places: A library, during exams, in the bush, tennis. At the Australian open tennis before the players serve, if the crowd is noisy the umpire can be heard to say QUIET PLEASE. A simple sign (a finger to the mouth) means quiet.

Steve Biddulphs Book on Manhood. He describes how it is healthy for a man to take some time out and away for four days before his birthday to re-orientate his life.

Often times of quiet need to be planned. Retreats: Mark and I went away a couple of times a year and Joe and I head off for an overnight stay at Tarra Warra Abbey in a few weeks time.

Surrounded by noise: At present the Church can be a noisy place to be during the week with the extensions at Shoppingtown and the work on the units across the road.

At times when I’m driving and feel like some time of quiet I turn the radio off in the car. (SIT ON THE CHAIR)

To Be Or Not To Be: Quiet Time and Prayer

We are designed to be able to have times of quiet that’s why we have two ears and one mouth.

One of the symptoms of feeling stressed or anxious is having so much information buzzing around in our heads and it becomes difficult to concentrate and think. A quiet time allows the mind and body to be still and listen for God in stillness, in quietness. May each of us plan a time of quietness this week.

[1] Herald Sun Tuesday June 10^th, 2008.

This message was preached at
by Rev Darryn Hickling of Pilgrim Uniting Church, Doncaster,
20 Westfield Drive Doncaster 3108.
Phone: 9889 1138 Mobile: 0403 265 342
darrynhickling@pilgrimuca.org.au
www.pilgrimuca.org.au

Enquiries about the Christian faith are always welcome.

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