The Habit of Silence

Life on the West Side

What we do is what we become. Christians replace cultural habits we've imbibed with spiritual habits we intentionally embrace. What if we thought of our spiritual community as a spiritual habit?

The sermon today is titled "The Habit of Silence." It is the eleventh installment in our series "Follow Me", and the third in the sub-series "Spiritual Habits." The Scripture reading is from 1 Kings 19:1-18 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on April 13, 2025. All lessons fit under one of 6 broad categories: Begin, Instill, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under GROW: Spiritual Disciplines.
Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Podcast Notes (resources used or referenced):

• Ruth Haley Barton, Invitation to Solitude and Silence (IVP Books), 2004.
• Tim Keller Sermon, “The Still Small Voice,” Sep 26, 1999.
• Peter J. Leithart, 1 & 2 Kings, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible.
• Iain W. Provan, 1 & 2 Kings, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series.

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Chapters

1. James Anderson on Silence (00:00:00)

2. We Fight Against What We Need The Most (00:03:23)

3. Elijah Journey To Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19) (00:07:08)

4. The Story As We Remember It (00:10:57)

5. The Story As God Reveals It (00:17:30)

6. What Silence and Solitude Can Teach Us (00:33:50)

7. Conclusion: Can We Be Still Long Enough To Hear? (00:34:23)