Sermon Recap 🎬
Pastor Michael Wurz's sermon "Less is More" in "The Patterns of Jesus" series uses a personal candy-eating story to teach that pursuing less leads to true contentment. He warns against society's lie that more is better, drawing from Adam and Eve's fall in the Garden of Eden. Quoting Ecclesiastes, he shows how having less can lead to a more fulfilling life, advocating for simplicity and debt reduction. By valuing relationships and experiences over possessions, Pastor Michael encourages prioritizing God and meaningful connections for true contentment and fulfillment.
Ice Breaker 🧊
If you could only eat one type of candy for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Discussion Questions 💬
How can having less in our lives lead to greater contentment and fulfillment?
- Pastor Michael spoke about true contentment coming from having less and focusing on what truly matters.
- What is one area in your life where you can practice having less to experience greater contentment?
What are some lies society tells us regarding the pursuit of more possessions and achievements?
- Pastor Michael mentioned the lie that society often tells us, that more is better.
- Have you experienced the emptiness of chasing after these lies? How can you realign your life to focus on what truly matters?
How does the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden relate to our modern-day pursuit of more?
- Pastor Michael referenced the story of Adam and Eve as an example of pursuing more knowledge and possessions, which led to their fall.
- In what ways have you experienced the consequences of pursuing more? How can you resist these temptations?
What does Ecclesiastes 4:6 teach us about the value of contentment, and how can we apply this to our lives?
- Pastor Michael shared Ecclesiastes 4:6, which states, 'Better is one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.'
- What is one area of your life where you can choose contentment over the pursuit of more? How might this choice impact your life?
How can shifting our desires toward wanting more of God, time with loved ones, and experiences help us find true contentment?
- Pastor Michael encouraged us to shift our mindset and desires toward more meaningful aspects of life, rather than accumulating possessions.
- What is one practical step you can take this week to shift your desires and focus on what truly matters?
Prayer 🙏
• Ask for any prayer requests
• Pray for contentment with what God has provided
• Pray for wisdom to avoid the distractions of material pursuits
• Pray for a focus on spiritual disciplines and relationships