3.Discussion notes

‘Starter for Ten’ Question – to introduce the holy habit and get everyone talking

Have you ever tried a decluttering method such as Marie Kondo’s? Share your experiences.

Looking at the Bible – to see what God says about this holy habit

Read Matthew 6:24-33 in the Bible.
What examples does Jesus give in this passage for why we shouldn’t worry about money or food or clothing? What other examples could you add?
What are the ‘masters’ in your life and what could you do about this to ‘seek the Kingdom of God above all else?’

Discussion Questions – to dig a bit deeper into the holy habit

What has the lockdown season taught you about simplicity that you hope to carry forwards?
How is God’s heart for justice linked to simplicity, and what does this mean in a society where we are encouraged to think about and look after ourselves?

Getting Practical – to put the holy habit into practice in our lives

Naomi said: “[Simplicity] is far more than an outward shift. The real change has to come from the inward which then makes the outward difference.”

Spend some time looking together at what your values are and write them down. Think about what you believe and how you want to live.

Choose a day this week to record how you spend your time and energy. Record not just what you spend your time doing, but also what you spend your time thinking about.

Compare your values with your day, and ask God to highlight areas in which you might need to practice simplicity. You might want to do this last step together next week at the beginning of your community time.

We always want the easiest route, yet often we choose the hardest.

To get into my quiet place with God, I feel like I need my music, the right song, the next teaching or podcast, and my journal. These are all good, but do I ‘need’ them because it may feel too daunting to go into a quiet place with God without all the accessories and just be?

I was really challenged listening to a missionary friend years ago explain that where she lived there was often no power to charge the iPod or not enough internet to access the latest album. Worship simply had to be singing God’s praises, and that is where she got life.

If we could truly feel confident in the presence of God alone, then surely that is where we would go straight away?

And this is the heart of the Simplicity message: living truly to our values. If our value is seeking first the Kingdom of God, then why do we clutter our lives and time with stuff, accessories and busy schedules? Are these things to make life easier, our time more efficient, happier or to make up for something?

For almost a decade of my life I regularly lived out of a suitcase or two as a travelling missionary. I regularly agonised over which items I had to leave behind. I learnt that I really didn’t need more than two weeks’ worth of clothes, as I just wore my favourites whether I had access to my entire wardrobe or just those I had packed. It was so much easier to make decisions the less I had. I also learnt that the more I had, the more I wanted; that nicer coat, the better interior for my room, the extra kitchen implement that would make my life easier.

We know there is nothing wrong with having or wanting things and, as a faith-missionary, I frequently saw God provide me with many items or trips I simply just wanted. The problem comes when it’s the ‘things’ that dominate our thoughts, desires, actions and behaviour.

In reality, the stress, effort and time preparing for a trip became about getting or packing the right things over preparing my heart. Why was I doing this? Ultimately it would roll back to the fear of ‘not having’. The fear of not feeling good about how I looked, not being able to do what I wanted, not fitting in and the fear of being bored. In other words: a fear of LACK!!! Lack of stuff, friendships or things to do.

And here lies the importance of looking at simplicity: Why do we run after and spend most of our time, energy and stress on things that are only going to give temporary fulfilment and not ultimately what I really want?

“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?

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

So 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. – Matthew 6:25, 27, 31-33

Often in our head is the feeling that if I do really trust God to sort everything out, I’ll probably live an irrelevant life, far from fitting in, being miserable, uncomfortable and alone.

Do I need the distractions and all the extras to make up for doubt, unanswered questions, my belief in how good He really is? It maybe makes sense as to why Jesus would ask the rich young ruler to give everything away.

When everything else is gone, we see the reality. If we see the reality then we can truly live from the heart, which is where we are going to find life as we walk in truth. Maybe then, that is where we will see God come through with the little things that make us smile.

We’d encourage you to watch the video together online, discuss the questions, and read the blog post in order to go deeper.

It might look something like this:

7:30pm: Saying hi and catching up
7:45pm: Watch the teaching video
8:00pm: ‘Starter for Ten’ question
8:10pm: Look up the Bible passage and discuss
8:30pm: Discussion questions
8:45pm: Practice the holy habit and/or make plans for how you can do that this week
9:00pm: Say your goodbyes – see you next week!
Don’t forget to begin by debriefing next week!

We know that every group is different, so feel free to do this in a way that works for you.

Not part of a community but want to join the journey? We’d love to hear from you and help you be part of the family! Email Charlotte on charlotte.henard@wellsheffield.com.

If you’re a community leader and have questions or need technological help, get in touch and we’ll see what we can do!