Detachment, decluttering, simplicity, renunciation are ancient Christian spiritual traditions. This presentation lays out a modern values system for such simple lifestyle choices.

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 cares of 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
A message for those who have
---------------------------------
Sacrificial, Simple Lifestyles

6. Its junk or Jesus
Every possession binds

7. Jesus Call to Apostolic
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 to Apostolic 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 by so 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 To The 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
The Master 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 avoid the 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
Renouncing possessions 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 outward poverty, 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
Christians to 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
I Tim 6:6-10
A Lifestyle of Simplicity
Earn much
Consume Little
Hoard Nothing
Give Generously
Celebrate Life

20. Its junk or Jesus
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