Let Us Run: Simplification APPETIZER: Western Culture DINE-IN: A ...
09-13-15: Jamie George
Let Us Run: Simplification APPETIZER: Western Culture Culture of ADVERTISEMENT & MARKETING: Buy more! Our possessions very accurately relate the history of the decisions we have made in life. - Marie Kondo
DINE-IN: A Response To Greed
Jesus warns against the evils of Greed 1. What we want is often not what we need. The circumstance that created the desire, is probably meant to teach us more than the immediate gratification. 2. Continue the Pursuit of God & beware of “impaired prudence.” “Letting go is far more important than adding to.” –Marie Kondo 3. Beware goals of Comfort & Withdrawal. This creates no concern or responsibility for others. What excuses keep you from caring about others? 4. A fool acts without God (inherently self-‐destructive). In the failure of generosity, we will have heightened stress. It destroys our spirit of gratitude.
God is always testing our HEART Don’t get lost in the shame of financial failure. You can get paralyzed in that place of entitlement, victimization, or shame. The crisis in your life is meant to reveal something to you. When we’re not doing the work spiritually, we look for something to bring us momentary relief. What is your “go-‐to” for momentary relief? TAKE-OUT: Luke 12:22-34 1. Redefine what you need. Be aware of the language you use when it comes to making purchases. Maybe even try fasting from a non-‐essential (coffee, TV, sweets, social media, etc…).
2. Remember your Identity. Am I purchasing this because it reinforces my identity? 3. Redirect ambition, industry, & prudence. Work hard, make money, be responsible, but guard your heart from the love of money. One of the best ways to do this is to be generous! This week, give to someone in need, an organization, or donate to The Prop Closet.
4. In what ways does your life reflect the “fool” who built larger store-‐houses for his wealth? What, in your life, could be considered “impaired prudence”? Ask God how you can serve others with what you have. Then do it!
THE PROP CLOSET: Donation Times at Building 8 Monday: 12-‐6:30pm Tuesday: 9am-‐4pm Sunday (9/20): 4-‐8pm
Village Conversation HANGOUT (Warm-up) 1. Jamie mentioned the importance of listening to the “vital few” above the “trivial many.” Who are some of the “vital few” in your life?
HEAR (Listen to God through scripture) 2. Read the following scripture aloud twice: Luke 12:13–34 3. Before responding to it, take 1-‐2 minutes of silence to let the words sink in. a. What verse or idea stands out to you? Why? b. If life “does not consist in an abundance of possessions,” where is it found? Where do you find life? c. Who is a “fool” in the story? What does it mean to be rich towards God? d. If it is truly better to give than to receive, how does that flip this story on its head? How could the “fool” have responded differently to the abundance of wealth?
HUDDLE (Making it Personal & Praying together) 4. 5. 6. 7.
What makes it hard to trust God with finances? In your eyes, what makes someone “rich toward God”? Where do you tend to be greedy? Money? Time? Possessions? As a village, look over this week’s TAKE-‐OUT. Take a few minutes to pray together.
QUOTES/SCRIPTURE… 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an
arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Luke 12:13-34 (NIV) Our possessions very accurately relate the history of the decisions we have made in life. - Marie Kondo The essentialist deliberately distinguishes the vital few from the trivial many, eliminates the nonessentials, and then removes obstacles so the essential things have clear, smooth passage. - Greg McKeown, Essentialism Death is the Gate of Life. Man's natural thought of death is that of a dreary ending in decay and dissolution. And from his standpoint he is right: Death as the punishment of sin is an ending. But far other is God's thought in the redemption of the world He takes the very thing that came in with the curse, and makes it the path of glory. Death becomes a beginning instead of an ending, for it becomes the means of liberating a fresh life. - Lilias Trotter
Let Us Run: Simplification APPETIZER: Western Culture Culture of ADVERTISEMENT & MARKETING: Buy more! Our possessions very accurately relate the history of the decisions we have made in life. - Marie Kondo
DINE-IN: A Response To Greed
Jesus warns against the evils of Greed 1. What we want is often not what we need. The circumstance that created the desire, is probably meant to teach us more than the immediate gratification. 2. Continue the Pursuit of God & beware of “impaired prudence.” “Letting go is far more important than adding to.” –Marie Kondo 3. Beware goals of Comfort & Withdrawal. This creates no concern or responsibility for others. What excuses keep you from caring about others? 4. A fool acts without God (inherently self-‐destructive). In the failure of generosity, we will have heightened stress. It destroys our spirit of gratitude.
God is always testing our HEART Don’t get lost in the shame of financial failure. You can get paralyzed in that place of entitlement, victimization, or shame. The crisis in your life is meant to reveal something to you. When we’re not doing the work spiritually, we look for something to bring us momentary relief. What is your “go-‐to” for momentary relief? TAKE-OUT: Luke 12:22-34 1. Redefine what you need. Be aware of the language you use when it comes to making purchases. Maybe even try fasting from a non-‐essential (coffee, TV, sweets, social media, etc…).
2. Remember your Identity. Am I purchasing this because it reinforces my identity? 3. Redirect ambition, industry, & prudence. Work hard, make money, be responsible, but guard your heart from the love of money. One of the best ways to do this is to be generous! This week, give to someone in need, an organization, or donate to The Prop Closet.
4. In what ways does your life reflect the “fool” who built larger store-‐houses for his wealth? What, in your life, could be considered “impaired prudence”? Ask God how you can serve others with what you have. Then do it!
THE PROP CLOSET: Donation Times at Building 8 Monday: 12-‐6:30pm Tuesday: 9am-‐4pm Sunday (9/20): 4-‐8pm
Village Conversation HANGOUT (Warm-up) 1. Jamie mentioned the importance of listening to the “vital few” above the “trivial many.” Who are some of the “vital few” in your life?
HEAR (Listen to God through scripture) 2. Read the following scripture aloud twice: Luke 12:13–34 3. Before responding to it, take 1-‐2 minutes of silence to let the words sink in. a. What verse or idea stands out to you? Why? b. If life “does not consist in an abundance of possessions,” where is it found? Where do you find life? c. Who is a “fool” in the story? What does it mean to be rich towards God? d. If it is truly better to give than to receive, how does that flip this story on its head? How could the “fool” have responded differently to the abundance of wealth?
HUDDLE (Making it Personal & Praying together) 4. 5. 6. 7.
What makes it hard to trust God with finances? In your eyes, what makes someone “rich toward God”? Where do you tend to be greedy? Money? Time? Possessions? As a village, look over this week’s TAKE-‐OUT. Take a few minutes to pray together.
QUOTES/SCRIPTURE… 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an
arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Luke 12:13-34 (NIV) Our possessions very accurately relate the history of the decisions we have made in life. - Marie Kondo The essentialist deliberately distinguishes the vital few from the trivial many, eliminates the nonessentials, and then removes obstacles so the essential things have clear, smooth passage. - Greg McKeown, Essentialism Death is the Gate of Life. Man's natural thought of death is that of a dreary ending in decay and dissolution. And from his standpoint he is right: Death as the punishment of sin is an ending. But far other is God's thought in the redemption of the world He takes the very thing that came in with the curse, and makes it the path of glory. Death becomes a beginning instead of an ending, for it becomes the means of liberating a fresh life. - Lilias Trotter
