Live Simply So Others May Simply Live
Sermon Summary
In this message, Jimmy Seibert teaches that God is our provider and that money is ultimately a heart issue, not a lifestyle issue. Whether we have a little or a lot, we tend to grip what we have, but God invites us to open our hands: to receive freely from Him so that we can freely give. Living simply practically means living out of a place of peace, avoiding unneeded debt, enjoying what God has given without longing for more and staying attentive to the needs of others. The purpose is not simply to get out of debt or be a better Christian, but to be free to love God with all our heart, love our neighbor as ourselves and give our lives to making disciples.
Key Scriptures
Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV)
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. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Proverbs 22:7 and Romans 13:8 (NIV)
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Instructions for Groups
Choose a few of these questions from the various categories to go deeper in the sermon and put the truths of Scripture into practice. You don’t need to answer every question. Select the ones that will best help your group engage with God’s Word and apply it to your lives.
Discussion Questions
Scripture Study & Deeper Understanding
1. Jimmy described the mission behind living simply using Matthew 22:37-39, Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8, and then pointed to the early church in Acts 2:44-45, where believers “sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” What do these passages reveal about what God’s people were created for? How did the generosity of the early church flow out of that mission?
2. Read 1 John 2:15-17. John names three things that come “from the world”: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. What does each of these describe? Why does John say that love for the world and love for the Father cannot share the same place in a person’s heart?
3. In 1 Timothy 6:6-10, Paul warns “those who want to get rich” and says “the love of money” is a root of all kinds of evil. Why is that wording significant, as opposed to simply condemning money or wealth? How does it connect to where we put our affection and trust?
Encouragement, Challenge & Personal Testimony
4. Jimmy used three heart postures toward money: hands gripped tight (“it’s mine” or “there’s not enough”), hands raised in surrender and hands open to receive from God and give to others. Which posture best describes your relationship with money right now? What experiences have shaped that posture?
5. Where is desire most often stirred up in you: social media, advertising, comparing yourself to friends or something else? Is there anything you are holding onto or grasping for that may be crowding out your love for God?
6. Tito and Jackie Serrato shared that paying down their debt often felt mundane, yet God was writing a beautiful story behind the scenes. Share a time when obedience with your finances didn’t make sense but God proved faithful. What did that experience teach you about God as your provider?
Putting It Into Practice
7. Jimmy offered several practicals to live simply: meet with God every day, pray for the needs of others, monitor what you watch and who you compare yourself to and ask God before deciding what to do with money that comes in. Which of these is the Holy Spirit highlighting for you? What is one specific step you will take this week to put it into practice?
8. Jimmy invited everyone to ask, “Holy Spirit, what is my act of obedience?” For you, that might be building a budget, making a plan to get out of debt, setting aside to give, meeting a specific need you know about or adopting a habit like “when I buy something for myself, I buy something for someone else.” What is your act of obedience, and who can you invite to walk alongside you and hold you accountable?
Prayer
9. Listening to the Holy Spirit
We’re going to take focused time to listen to the Holy Spirit and what He wants to speak to us personally based on our time in Scripture and discussion. Let’s sit in silence for 60 seconds and ask the Spirit to speak to each one of us.
[After the minute of silence] What do you sense the Holy Spirit highlighting or speaking to you as we prayed?
10. Prayer Requests from Our Study
What prayer requests come up for you based on our Scripture study and discussion? How can we pray for you as you seek to apply what God has shown you?