MRCC Church Online || 4-21-24 || Coming Soon 2.0 "Headphones" || Greg Daulton
SERMON NOTES
240421 - Coming Soon 2.0 “Headphones”
“Now I am going to him who sent me … and you are
filled with grief. But I tell you the truth, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go
away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:5-7)
“Be still, and
know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10).
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that
Elijah had done and how he killed the prophets [of Baal] with the sword. So Jezebel sent a
messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me ever so severely if by this time
tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” (1 Kings 19:1-2)
“Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left
his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom
tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord - Take my
life.” (1 Kings 19:3-5)
Then he laid down
under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar
of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.” (1 Kings 19:5-6)
“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat -
for he grants sleep to those he loves.” (Psalm 127:2)
then He
leads him to a quiet place of solitude where he can listen without distraction*** - "So he got
up and traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
There he went into a cave and spent the night." (1 Kings 19:8-9a)
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Lk 5:16)
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
(Ps 46:10)
“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life. I am no better
than my ancestors.” (1 Kings 19:4)
“There he went into a cave and spent the night,”
(1 Kings 19:9)
“What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been
very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected
your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to
death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to
kill me.” (1 Kings 19:9-10)
“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees
have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
(1 Kings 19:9)
“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and
shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the
wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After
the earthquake there came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.” (1 Kings
19:11-12)
“And after the fire, there came a gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:13)
“Yet I
reserve seven thousand in Israel - all whose knees have not bowed down to
Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18)
“And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Rom 8:28-29)
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray
... “ (Matt 6:6)
“God is spirit,” (Jn 4:24) and He is IN you; “He lives with you
and will be in you.” (Jn 14:17)
“He will not
speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears … He will bring glory to me by taking from
what is mine and making it known to you.” (John 16:13-14)
“The whole town gathered at the door … Very early in the
morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place,
where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him
they exclaimed, “Everyone is looking for you!” (Mark 1:35-37)
“Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also.
That is why I have come.” (Mark 1:38)
BUILD A MAN CAVE (or a woman cave) … “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places
and prayed.” (Lk 5:16)
GET ALONE IN IT ... “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray
... “ (Matt 6:6)
GET QUIET IN IT ... “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
TUNE OUT THE CROWD … “Everyone is looking for you!” (Mark 1:37)
FOLLOW THE WHISPERS ... “And after the fire, there came a gentle whisper.”
(1 Kings 19:13)
This Week's Small Group Questions
SMALL GROUP REFLECTION QUESTIONS
"Just Follow Jesus”
(Psalm 23, John 10:27, Matthew 11:28, John 16:33, Isaiah 54:10, Philippians 4:4-7; et al)
1. Q: Who did you want to be when you grew up? How did you “copy” them? What was it
about them that made you want to be like them?
2. Read Psalm 23 together … Q: Who is doing the most doing? Who is benefiting? What does
the “sheep” gain from following the shepherd? Why is this important to remember?
3. see John 10:27 - Q: Where do you hear Jesus best? Why is it important to know the voice
of God? How much listening do you do in your prayer time?
4. see Psalm 23:2-3 – Q: Are you a person who rushes around a lot? Is it difficult for you to
trust the pace of Jesus? Why? How do you feel knowing that following Jesus means full trust?
Does it make you anxious?
5. … Q: What tends to rattle you more, a shaky economy or all the wars and strife we see in
our world? Why? Share a time where someone else’s presence made all the difference in a
tough situation you faced.
6. Read Psalm 23 again in NIV. Then have one person read the message translation (below).
Just sit quietly and reflect.
1-3 God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head, my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
8. GOING DEEP … Q: What are the areas of your life that you like to control?
9. COOL DOWN … In prayer, ask God to be your shepherd. Learn the contentment that comes
with just following.
SMALL GROUP REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Coming Soon 2.0 = “Headphones”
(1 Kings 19:1-13; Ps 127:2; John 16:13-14; Mk 1:35-38; Ps 46:10; Lk 5:16; Jn 16:5-7; et al)
1. Q: Do you have a pair of headphones? AirPods or in-ear speakers? Are they noise-
canceling? When do you use them? When do you specifically avoid them? What do you like to
listen to more – music? Audiobooks? Podcasts? Audio dramas? How do you feel when you
have your headphones on?
2. see Matt 24:1-2 … Q: Why do you think Jesus “rained on the parade” of the disciples in this
moment? What was He concerned about? How do you think they felt?
3. see Psalm 46:10 … Q: Why do you think “being still and experiencing God are linked int his
verse? What is the connection between stillness/silence and hearing the Holy Spirit?
4. see John 16:5-7 … Q: Jesus said it was “for your good” that He would go away – why? What
was He looking forward to that would be a boon to us? Would you rather have Jesus with you
in a physical sense, or indwelling you by His Spirit? Why? What’s the difference?
5. see 1 Kings 19:1-5 … Q: Why was Jezebel threatening Elijah? Given what happened in 1
Kings 18 and other place, why was Elijah afraid? Should he have been? Why, or why not? Do
your feelings sometimes overwhelm your reason? When? What do you do?
6. see 1 Kings 19:5-6 and Psalm 127:2 … Q: How does God respond to Elijah’s meltdown?
What does this tell you about Him? How do you feel when you see God respond this way?
What do we fear God will do instead?
7. see 1 Kings 19:4-5 … Q: Why is Elijah depressed? What is he feeling? Do you ever feel like
that? Is he depressed over himself, or others, or both? What’s the difference?
8. see 1 Kings 19:11-13 … Q: What is it that God wants Elijah to understand? Where do you
look for the voice of God – in big headlines and spectacular events, or in the small whisper?
9. GOING DEEPER … Q: What do you need to do in order to make space for the “still small
voice” of God to be heard more in your life?
10. COOL DOWN … Ask God to lead you into a “cave” of your own daily, where you can hear
His small voice clearly.
