Two Sundays ago we ended our Face Your Fears series talking about facing our fear of being alone. We have now moved on to our new series, LIAR, but I want to take one last look at the topic of loneliness. I was really taken back the Sunday we talked about this at how this topic connected with people. We have never had as many requests for cd/dvd copies of a sermon as we did last Sunday. Why? Because loneliness is no respecter of persons.
The American Council of Life Insurance did a study to find out what group of people in America are the loneliest. To my surprise, the most lonely group in America ended up being college students. Behind them came divorced people, welfare recipients, single mothers, rural students, housewives and then the elderly. Again let me say it – loneliness is no respecter of persons.
Even those whom you feel would never experience loneliness find themselves facing being alone. It has been said that the higher up one goes in leadership, the lonelier they become. I can tell you from personal experience that this is true, especially for those in ministry. When you pastor a large church you know a lot of people and a lot of people know you. Many even look favorably on you. But close friends are rare. I remember my Grandpa, who was a pastor for 50 years, telling me that if you find one close friend in each church you pastor, you are blessed.
I think that is why last Sunday connected with so many people. We all have experienced loneliness, sometimes even when we are in the midst of a crowd. So last Sunday we looked at 6 examples from Scripture of individuals who faced being alone. From each of their situations we learned a lesson that we can apply to our lives when we face loneliness. I am just going to list the lessons below. You’ll have to go to our church website (http://www.meetgrace.org/) to watch or listen to the message and get the whole context.
Elijah found himself alone in cave in 1 Kings 19. The cause of his loneliness was self-pity. The lesson we learn is that in times of loneliness we need to lead a full life.
Joseph found himself alone in a pit in Genesis 37. The cause of his loneliness was betrayal. The lesson we learn is that in times of loneliness we need to believe that God has a purpose.
Hannah found herself alone at a banquet in 1 Samuel 1. The cause of his loneliness was infertility. The lesson we learn from her life is that we need to pour our hearts out to God.
Ruth found herself alone in a land in Ruth 1. The cause of her loneliness was grief. The lesson we learn is that in times of loneliness we need to lean on a support system of friends.
Paul found himself alone in a jail in 2 Timothy 4. The cause of his loneliness was imminent death. The lesson we learn is that in times of loneliness we need to deal with our circumstances head on.
Jesus found Himself alone on a cross in Matthew 26. The cause of his loneliness was rejection. The lesson we learn is that in times of loneliness we need to develop our relationship with God.
The American Council of Life Insurance did a study to find out what group of people in America are the loneliest. To my surprise, the most lonely group in America ended up being college students. Behind them came divorced people, welfare recipients, single mothers, rural students, housewives and then the elderly. Again let me say it – loneliness is no respecter of persons.
Even those whom you feel would never experience loneliness find themselves facing being alone. It has been said that the higher up one goes in leadership, the lonelier they become. I can tell you from personal experience that this is true, especially for those in ministry. When you pastor a large church you know a lot of people and a lot of people know you. Many even look favorably on you. But close friends are rare. I remember my Grandpa, who was a pastor for 50 years, telling me that if you find one close friend in each church you pastor, you are blessed.
I think that is why last Sunday connected with so many people. We all have experienced loneliness, sometimes even when we are in the midst of a crowd. So last Sunday we looked at 6 examples from Scripture of individuals who faced being alone. From each of their situations we learned a lesson that we can apply to our lives when we face loneliness. I am just going to list the lessons below. You’ll have to go to our church website (http://www.meetgrace.org/) to watch or listen to the message and get the whole context.
Elijah found himself alone in cave in 1 Kings 19. The cause of his loneliness was self-pity. The lesson we learn is that in times of loneliness we need to lead a full life.
Joseph found himself alone in a pit in Genesis 37. The cause of his loneliness was betrayal. The lesson we learn is that in times of loneliness we need to believe that God has a purpose.
Hannah found herself alone at a banquet in 1 Samuel 1. The cause of his loneliness was infertility. The lesson we learn from her life is that we need to pour our hearts out to God.
Ruth found herself alone in a land in Ruth 1. The cause of her loneliness was grief. The lesson we learn is that in times of loneliness we need to lean on a support system of friends.
Paul found himself alone in a jail in 2 Timothy 4. The cause of his loneliness was imminent death. The lesson we learn is that in times of loneliness we need to deal with our circumstances head on.
Jesus found Himself alone on a cross in Matthew 26. The cause of his loneliness was rejection. The lesson we learn is that in times of loneliness we need to develop our relationship with God.
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