In part two of our series, "Disciples", we will look at 1 Corinthians 7:17, and the topics of calling and vocation.  People are meant to live the life God has called them to.  Just as God calls the body of believers to go out and make disciples of all nations—as discussed in part one of this podcast series as we looked at the Great Commission in Matthew—God also calls individual believers to go and disciple others within their spheres of influence.

The question we will explore during this podcast is: In what ways do you proclaim the gospel and disciple others in your sphere of influence? Identify the areas in which you can improve.

This week we look at Mark 1:35–37 and focus on the topics of: Work, Silence, and Rest.  As Jesus begins his public ministry of preaching, he seeks time apart with God in prayer.  When we are faced with any new or significant task, a time spent alone in silence and prayer with God empowers us for the work ahead.

In Matthew 14, after hearing of his cousin John’s death, Jesus seeks solitude before returning to his ministry. Solitude makes a space for grief—and ultimately for hope. A time apart can help us heal after suffering a loss.

Airplane Mode: Practicing Spiritual Disciplines, Part 1 "Big Decisions" 

We live in a noisy world. Even when alone, apart from sound, we’re bombarded with texts, emails, and social media messages. The desire to seek solitude and silence isn’t only about finding a quiet place. It’s about discovering the gift of removing ourselves from the dissonance of messages to find our rest in the Word, and that is Jesus. Drawing from the life of Jesus and the apostle Paul, this four-part series extends that invitation at four critical life junctures: a big decision, a big loss, a big job, and a big change. At each point, a time of silence and solitude in God’s presence can heal us of the past and prepare us for our futures.

Just as Jesus sought solitude and silence before announcing the twelve men who would lead the effort to share the good news with the world, we also grow from a time apart in the midst of big decisions in our lives.

When approaching a major decision, an intentional time of solitude and silence lends us wisdom and confirms that we are following God’s lead.