3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” 9 Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” – Mark 4:3-9 (NLT)
If only I had more .
“Despite the statistics saying that humans have never had it so good, we don’t feel so good.” – Dick Meyer
“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15 (ESV)
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)
Simplicity is the practice of pursuing more of what really matters and less of what doesn’t.
The spiritual discipline of simplicity is the intentional practice of prioritizing God and His kingdom above distractions, busyness, and material possessions, leading to a life of freedom, contentment, and undivided devotion.
“The Christian Discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward lifestyle.” ~ Richard J. Foster
Internal Simplicity
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. – Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” – Mark 12:29-31 (NLT)
“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” – Dallas Willard
External Simplicity
Less Distraction – Simplicity with Screens
Less Busyness – Simplicity with Schedules
Less Clutter – Simplicity with Stuff
The Parable of the Sower, Seed, and Ground: Mark 4:3-9, 14-20
14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. – Mark 4:14-15 (NLT)
Less Distraction – Simplicity with Screens (The Hardened Ground)
“There are only two industries that call their customers ‘users’: illegal drugs and software.” – Edward Tufte
How do we become less distracted? Embrace Boundaries
“We can outsmart our smartphones. Technology might run our world, but it needn’t rule our lives.” – Courtney Ellis
Embrace boundaries around your screen by turning your phone from temptation to tool.
Monitor screen time, Delete entertainment and social media apps, grayscale the colors, put your phone to bed, no phones at meals, leave your phone in the car when out to dinner.
“It’s not about giving up technology. It’s about freeing our souls so we can wring the most out of this one life we are given. It’s about entering into family and friends and neighborhood space unencumbered by having the entire human race buzzing about in our pockets. It’s about fewer dings and pings and more talking and listening. It’s about space and peace and rest and grace.” – Courtney Ellis
Less Busy – Simplicity with Schedules (Rocky Ground)
16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. – Mark 4:16-17 (NLT)
“If the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy.” – Corrie ten Boom
How do we become less busy? Embrace Margin
“For many people, the barrier to spiritual growth is not lack of commitment, but over-commitment to the wrong things.” – Rick Warren
Less Clutter – Simplicity with Stuff (Thorny Ground)
18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. – Mark 4:18-19 (NLT)
“In a nation that was proud of hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption. Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns. But we’ve discovered that owning things and consuming things does not satisfy our longing for meaning. We’ve learned that piling up material goods cannot fill the emptiness of lives which have no confidence or purpose.” – Jimmy Carter
“For a lot of people, things aren’t just things; they are identities.” – John Mark Comer
How do we become less cluttered? Embrace Contement
1Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. – Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)
Enough: As much as is needed
“We have to choose between our stuff and our serenity because physical clutter creates mental clutter.” – Jan Johnson
“Practicing [simplicity] involves two changes: limiting what we already own (continually clearing out our possessions and giving them away), and limiting what we acquire (buying more possessions, hours spent shopping).” – Jan Johnson
What is at stake when we are addicted to things? The word of God being choked out of our lives.
And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” – Mark 4:20 (NLT)
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)