Hurry: Simplicity.
Week #5
Opening Reflections.
Where have you seen God at work in your life this week?
How has your spiritual practice been this week? Have you experimented with anything new?
Do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-34
A response to Pete’s message.
1. Was there anything which particularly resonated with you? (Any moments of ‘Aha!’)
2. Was there anything you felt resistance to? (Any moments of ‘Grr’, or ‘Oh, no!’)
3. Was there anything else you particularly noticed?
Pete talked about the wedding day KISS advice he and Sammy were given – to ‘Keep It Simple (Stupid)’. What might the practice of simplicity look like for you and your family?
Jesus said, ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy (generous), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy (stingy), your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and Money.’ Matthew 6:19-24 (Notice Jesus doesn’t say, ‘don’t serve God and money.’ He says it is impossible.)
Where is your treasure? How hard is it to let go of your ‘stuff’? How do we stop our possessions owning us?
Jesus continues, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?’ Matthew 6:25
What do you worry about? What makes you anxious? In what ways do you think God may be trying to speak to you at the moment?
RUMINATE ON PETE’S PRACTICAL KEYS – Which of these look like useful practices for you to introduce this week?
Pray before you pay. Shop Intentionally, not impulsively. Ask, do I need this or just want it?
Shop sustainably. Repair, re-use, recycle. Celebrate charity shops! Reduce your wardrobe.
Live to give. Think generously. As the early Church Father, Tertullian, wrote, ‘ One in mind and soul, we do not hesitate to share our earthly goods with one another. All things are common among us but our wives.’
Subvert the system with sarcasm. Decode, deride and deconstruct the adverts – especially with your kids!
Lectio Divina.
Ask someone to read Matthew 6:31-34.
1. LECTIO (read)
Read these verses again on your own
2. MEDITATIO (meditate)
Ponder the text, imagine you are Martha and Jesus is speaking to you, allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read
3. ORATIO (pray)
Turn you reading to prayer
4. CONTEMPLATIO (contemplate)
Silent prayer as you experience the love of God
Closing Reflections.
What you will take away from this study and discussion?
Pray together for each other, in response to your answers.
