560-6.1 Simplicity

560-6.1 Simplicity

• 1.
  1. Breakfast Time 2.Work Time 3. RetailTime 4. Dinner Time 5. Family Time 6. Spare Time
• 2.
  Simplicity Viv Grigg
• 3.
  Holiness is Economic Greed= Idolatory (Col 3:5) • We are likely to be excluded from the Kingdom Nothing Sinful Here
• 4.
  Cho-o-oking But • The caresof the world • The delight in riches • The desire for other things • Cree-ee-eep in – And take away the word, the fire, the source of life
• 5.
  Simplicity, Sacrifice, Detachment, Renunciation Amessage for those who have --------------------------------- Sacrificial, Simple Lifestyles
• 6.
  Its junk orJesus Every possession binds
• 7.
  Jesus Call toApostolic Simplicity Luke 14:26-33 As they were going along the road, a man said to him, Lord, I will follow you wherever you may go. Jesus replied, Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head (Luke 9:57,58). Jesus himself chose to have few possessions, no place to lay his head. He taught his disciples this pattern of economics. In Acts we find them discipling others in the same lifestyle (Mark 1:16ff; 10:17ff, 28ff). He promises that renunciation of possessions will find recognition with God (Mark 10: 28, 29). He tells us not to worry about daily needs (Matt 6:25-34), and refused to arbitrate a land dispute.
• 8.
  Jesus Call toApostolic Simplicity • But lest we overemphasise his poverty, let us also note that he grew up with a carpentry business, and was well supported by well-to-do women (Luke 8:2; 10:38). He tells us to use possessions to support our parents (Mark 7:9), and those in need (Mark 12:41, Matt 6:2; 25:40). He was not an ascetic. Nor a beggar. God provided his needs. • Jesus laid no universal demand for poverty on people. His concern was with our financial status in terms of our total commitments to the cause of proclaiming the Kingdom. Poverty itself has no virtue. The issue here is total commitment to the call of Jesus, and the need to proclaim the Kingdom. • Jesus chose an apostolic lifestyle.
• 9.
  • Surrounded byso great a clowd of witnesses • Travelled with a band of brothers these 30 years – Assissi – Pr John Baptist Lukwago – Paul, Sold a Forest – David, Left a Career – Jim, eats only two meals a day and gives the other to the poor – Now hundreds living among the poor….
• 10.
  The Call ToThe Rich For Radical Repentance 1. Analysis Of Poverty => Analysis Of Riches 2. Jesus Loved The Rich 3. Parable Of the Rich Fool (12:13-21) 4. Give Up Unconditionally Your Attachment To Riches (Luke 12:33, 14:33) 5. You Cannot Serve God And Money (16:13- 15) 6. The Rich Man And Lazarus (16:19-31) 7. Gaining The World, Losing Your Soul (9:25)
• 11.
  •
• 12.
  2. Non-Destitute Poverty TheMaster not only chose poverty in birth, in life and death, he also calls his servants to such a lifestyle. We recognize our basic needs for food and clothing (I Timothy 6:6-8, Matthew 6:25-33), which may include tools of our trade, children’s toys.
• 13.
  2. Non-Destitute Poverty(cont.) We recognize the just need, inferred from the Scriptures for each family to own its own home, although some, like the Master, may choose a mobile, apostolic life with nowhere to lay one’s head (Luke 9:58). In putting our treasure in heaven, we covet the unsearchable riches of Christ.
• 14.
  2. Non-destitute Poverty(cont.) •   We desire to possess nothing that cannot be shared with those around us. Regarding what we have, we hold it not as our own but rather as lent to us for a season. We will seek to exclude from both our personal and communal lives the cares of the world, the delight in riches and the desire for other things (Matthew 4:19).
• 15.
  We will avoidthe abundance of communal properties or wealth. Buildings, administration and ministry shall be developed in the simplest manner consistent with good health and with efficient, well-pleasing work. 2. Non-destitute Poverty (cont.)
• 16.
  3. Inner Simplicity Renouncingpossessions is an outworking of an inner simplifying of our lives which lead to the openness, gentleness, spontaneity, and serenity that marked the Master. In renouncing possessions we seek to simplify our external lives in order to simplify more clearly our inner lives and focus on knowing our Lord.
• 17.
  Along with outwardpoverty, we desire an inner humility; along with servant works, we seek the spirit of a true servant. In caring little for this world where we are strangers and pilgrims, we set our hearts on that spiritual home where our treasure is being saved up, and on that glory which we shall share with our Lord, provided we suffer with him. 3. Inner Simplicity (cont)
• 18.
  We encourage middle-class Christiansto such simplicity of lifestyle. For some it means earning less, and using their time for the kingdom. For others it means to earn much, consume little, hoard nothing, give generously and celebrate living. Such lifestyles are infinitely varied. We refuse to judge others in such areas. 3. Inner Simplicity (Cont)
• 19.
  Principle of Simplicity ITim 6:6-10 A Lifestyle of Simplicity Earn much Consume Little Hoard Nothing Give Generously Celebrate Life
• 20.
  Its junk orJesus Every possession binds Step 1: Forsake, radical action •List your possessions •Give •Or sell and give to the poor •Share Step 2: Live Simply •Budget •Manage •Use for Kingdom •Work as a community