Study 5: LIFESTYLE

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#999933" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="040006e0ddwnfv.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Sage - Oxford's Christian Environmental Group</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |    </B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sage Oxfords Christian Environmental Gr"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>LIFESTYLE</B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" background="041bec00esnpes.png"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="069aea50.png" border=0 width="174" height="165" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Study 5: LIFESTYLE</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Introduction</B> It is clear that our small planet cannot sustain the greedy consumption of the wealthy West. To achieve a more or less equitable distribution of the earth's resources we must cut back our economic standard of living. A simplified lifestyle should grow out of the realisation that creation is good, and a precious gift of grace to be cherished. However, it is difficult to lay down rules about simplicity of lifestyle. The aim of this study is to help people to consider changes to their own lifestyle, starting from where they are now.</div> <div> <B>Read </B>Luke 3:10-14</div> <div> <B>Note</B> "What should we do then?" is a question you may well be asking after the previous studies. Here John the Baptist challenges people to change their attitudes and lifestyles in different ways appropriate to them. This leads us to think about what needs to be changed in our own lives. Encourage your group to be specific about practical changes they could make.</div> <div> <B>Discuss</B></div> <div> (1) What are the general principles for living which John gives to these people?</div> <div> (2) Why do you think he gives different answers to different people?</div> <div> (3) What would John say to you if you were to ask him "What should I do then"?</div> <div> (4) In what specific ways would you change your lifestyle? Pick several actions you could take.</div> <div> <B>Read</B> Luke 10:38-42 </div> <div> <B>Note</B>  This is a passage about priorities and how we can easily get bound up in things that are peripheral, albeit with good intent. Christians attach great importance to listening to Jesus, yet we so often get bogged down in the "preparations" surrounding it. Explore with your group how this happens to you and how you can break free from it. Some ideas you might like to consider are:</div> <div> Moderation - only having what we need and being willing to give the rest away;</div> <div> Discipline - being detached from possessions and refusing to attach undue importance to them; </div> <div> Sacrifice - being willing to share everything we possess and even surrender it completely if and when God calls us to do so.</div> <div> Discuss</div> <div> (5) Comparing Martha with Mary, what are the distractions that stop you from changing your lifestyle?</div> <div> (6) Thinking about both these passages, and your discussions in the previous study, is a simpler lifestyle more than just giving up this or that and taking certain practical actions?</div> <div> (7) Discuss the right attitudes that are needed to achieve the Christian discipline of simplicity. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Worship</B></div> <div> A new commandment</div> <div> God's eye be within me (Wild Goose) </div> <div> Dear Lord and Father of mankind </div> <div> Seek ye first </div> <bR> <div> <B>Pray</B></div> <div> Lord, make us instruments of your peace.</div> <div> Where there is hatred, let us sow love, </div> <div> Where there is injury, pardon,</div> <div> Where there is doubt, faith,</div> <div> Where there is despair, hope,</div> <div> Where there is sadness, joy.  </div> <div> O Divine Master, </div> <div> Grant that we may not so much</div> <div> Seek to be consoled as to console,</div> <div> To be understood as to understand,</div> <div> To be loved as to love. </div> <div> For it is in giving that we receive,</div> <div> It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,</div> <div> It is in dying that we are born again</div> <div> To everlasting life. </div> <div> Amen.</div> <div> <I>St. Francis</I></div> </td> </tr></table></body>