The Porch Swing | A Hearthside Study

The Porch Swing | A Hearthside Study

An 11-page individual Bible study about stillness, attention, and the presence of God when circumstances remain unresolved.

The mountain was still there. The chores were still waiting.

The only thing that seemed different was me.

The Porch Swing begins with the swing my father built, hung beneath an old elm tree behind my parents’ house. Through summer evenings filled with conversation, silence, worries, and whispered prayers, it became a place that could take us somewhere without ever leaving the same patch of ground. From that familiar scene comes a deeper question—what might we notice if we slowed down long enough to remember who God is within the life we are already living?

Rooted in Psalm 46:10 and Philippians 4:6–7, this Hearthside Study considers the invitation to be still amid upheaval, bring our concerns before God, and receive His peace even before an answer comes. It explores what fills our quiet spaces, how we become attentive to God’s presence, and what it means to carry the same circumstance differently.

Inside the 11-page designed PDF, you’ll find the original The Porch Swing essay, Scripture readings and context, eight guided study and reflection questions, personal reflection prompts, a closing prayer and application, and space for notes. The study can be worked through quietly on your own or shared informally with others around a table.

This download includes: one 11-page, full-color designed PDF for personal use.

Want to gather a group around the table? The Porch Swing | A Hearthside Gathering includes this study along with the complete host and gathering materials.