March 7: Love Matures: Copying Jesus in the Habits of Renewal - Habit #3 Simplicity

1. Ten Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe
1. You can do immeasurably more than you can imagine, if you just go for more hours, work harder and make as much money as possible. All the power is within you. YOU can DO and HAVE MORE!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.  Ephesians 3:20

1. You can do all things through a larger salary, more stuff and stacking your schedule as tightly as possible.

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:10-13  {“all this” means being content in every situation}

1. What is Contentment?  Contentment is the attitude of acceptance concerning where God has you in life with what God has given you. Contentment grows in the soil of trust and dependence upon God. This means that contentment is a posture of the heart towards our position and possessions grounded in the goodness of God. It’s an orientation of satisfaction towards the present. It’s about finding fulfillment with now instead of always longing for later.
2. The MORE that you are invited to in life is a deeper connection with God, not a packed schedule, house so full you need a storage unit, and a bulging bank account.

• Love Matures: Copying Jesus in the Habits of Renewal

1. Scripture
2. Sabbath
3. Simplicity:  Less = More
1. Simplicity – A Small Inner Circle
1. 12 Disciples (Inner 3 of Peter, James & John)
2. Close with Mary, Martha & Lazarus
2. Read Matthew 12:46-50
3. Simplicity Prayer Exercise :  A Relational Inventory
1. Write names, then pray: “Holy Spirit, speak”
2. Who is God asking you to invest in?  
3. Who invests in you?
4. Simplicity – a Small Amount of Stuff
1. The Average American home has 300,000 items in it.
2. As a society we consume twice as much material goods as 50 years ago.
3. 25% of people with two car garages have so much stuff they can’t park either car inside. Another 32% only have room for one car to fit inside.
4. Average American has $15,000 in credit card debt.
5. Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.  Luke 12:15
6. Read Hebrews 13:5-6a