Simplicity

How do we find the good life?

We are told that the good life is found in accumulation. That more is better. We search for the things that will make us happy, yet happiness never comes. Or at least, it doesn’t last. Searching and coming up empty can bring us to a miserable place. The way of Jesus calls us to create space—in our schedules, in our homes, in our finances—for what really matters. It calls us to life with Jesus, to abide in his goodness, and enjoy life to the full in the Kingdom of God. 

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Teachings

Before you begin the practices with your community, listen through these teachings to understand why this practice is important and discover what it can do in your life.

1

The Propaganda of More

Is there a practice to set us free from the false promise that money and stuff can give us security and satisfaction?

2

Simplicity of Heart

Life is complex. What you center your life on will define who you become, for better or worse.

3

Simplicity of Speech

The ancient Christian practice of simplicity of speech, a disciplined attempt to talk like Jesus.

4

Simplicity of Apparel

Behind the excess, waste, and vanity of modern fashion is a biblical story in which clothing is a response to sin and shame.

5

Simplicity of Stuff

The more you get, the more you want. Many of us live in a kind of captivity to the desire for more. How do we break free?

6

Simplicity of Pleasure

Simplicity of Pleasure declutters the mind and the soul so that we can become active channels of the Holy Spirit.

7

Simplicity & Contentment

We must confront the soul ache within, take notice of why it consumes, and invite God to meet us there.

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Tutorials

As you begin your process of simplifying your home, listen along to these tutorials on best practices and lessons learned along the way from Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist.

Interview with Joshua Becker

An interview with Joshua Becker, one of the founders of the minimalist movement of the last decade.

The Closet

A short tutorial from Joshua Becker, with best practices for simplifying your wardrobe.

Living Areas & Bedrooms

A short tutorial from Joshua Becker, with best practices for simplifying your living areas and bedrooms.

Kitchen, Bathrooms, & Laundry

A short tutorial from Joshua Becker, with best practices for simplifying the workrooms of your house.

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Practice

Follow along with each part of this practice. We recommend you work through it with your community, a small group triad, a weekly meal with friends or neighbors, your roommates, whatever works. Get a group of people, set a time each week to share a meal, then talk and pray for about an hour. Transformation happens in community. 

1

An Experiment in Letting Go

If we allow God’s Spirit to pry open our hands we might see our first glimpses of the freedom Jesus offers.

2

Simplifying Around our Values

It is not enough to just minimize our home or schedule; we have to simplify around something.

3

Simplifying our Speech

Most of what comes out of our mouth isn’t something we consciously think about, but happens automatically.

4

Simplifying our Apparel

Scripture encourages us to live and dress simply, modestly, and not in order to impress others or show off our wealth.

5

Simplifying our Stuff

It's clear that more doesn’t equal better; often, more equals less: less contentment, less margin, less peace.

6

Simplifying our Pleasure

God designed us to experience joy. But we corrupt the freedom of Jesus so that it becomes a license for excess.

7

Discipline of Contentment

The way of Jesus calls us to live simply, enjoy the ordinary pleasures of life, and find deep contentment in God.

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Recommended Reading

Follow along with the recommended reading. We want to continually expand our minds and understanding of the way of Jesus. God wants us to love him not only with our hearts, souls, and strength, but with our minds as well.

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Other Recommended Resources