Week One:

Profound Simplicity and Gracious Acceptance

“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3

Jane and I welcome you to Week One of The Simple Life! We are very excited to be with you during this journey into the simple. In the weeks leading up to this study, we have been praying for you. Thank you for answering God’s call; it is not an accident that you have joined this study. God is calling you to leave the complicated and embrace the simple.

Weekly Homework

Each week we will add your assignments to a password-protected post. Look for the password every Tuesday evening in your email. Below you will find homework for each level of study. Feel free to change from Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 as your schedule allows! Remember, there is no pressure to complete every activity. These are just options for your growth. They can be accessed at any time, even after the study ends.

Level 1, Study: Weekly Goals

For Week 1, do chapters 1 and 2 in Becoming A Woman of Simplicity.
Remember to focus on Jesus.
Feel free to do any of the other activities from Levels 2 and 3 as your time allows.

Level 2, Community: Weekly Goals

For Week 1, do chapters 1 and 2 of Becoming A Woman of Simplicity.
Answer the question on the Speak Your Mind comment section at the bottom of this post.
Join the Community Call, Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. EST on Talk Shoe (Information on TalkShoe is in your weekly email.)
Listen to the Podcast for information on the discipline of silence and solitude. Simply click on the link below.

Silence and Solitude podcast

Level 3, Opportunity: Weekly Goals

For Week 1, do chapters 1 and 2 of Becoming A Woman of Simplicity.
Answer the question on the Speak Your Mind comment section at the bottom of this post, join the Community Call on Wednesday night on TalkShoe, and listen to the Podcast at the link provided up above.
Don’t forget to check out our private Facebook page. Leave your comments about this week’s study,post your prayer requests, or share any insights/questions you may have. Only members of our Bible study group will see these posts.
Your Simple Challenge activity for this week is Solitude. Before next Wednesday, set a goal to take four 15-minute mini-retreats n a quiet peaceful place where no one can find you. It is in the quiet places that God has our full attention and often reveals things to us that we miss in the rush of the day. Unplug everything and rest in God. He is waiting to refresh you.
Take advantage of the Extra Simple resources by clicking on the links below:

Simplicity, A Not So Simple Choice

May She Rest in Peace

For your listening and worshiping pleasure, please be blessed by the beautiful music of Paul Cardall:

Questions of the Week (Please respond in the Speak Your Mind section at the very bottom of this page).

1. How did you feel about your mini-retreat this week? What did you feel or what did you notice? What did God teach you through this quiet time?

Week 1 Community Call

For those of you who missed the Week 1 Community Call on Talk Shoe, here is a recording of it. Simply click on the sideways arrow to listen to the call.

Image courtesy of evgeni dinev / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of Vlado / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

New! Online Bible Study at Only By Prayer

Fresh from our Proverbs 31 Ministries She Speaks 2013 Writers and Speakers conference, Mary and I are flush with ideas God has given us for Only By Prayer. We’d like to share with you one of the big things that will going on here this fall:

Imagine doing your Bible study with your small group without ever having to leave the comfort of your home, dorm room — or back deck. If this sounds like your kind of study, we would love for you to join our first ever online Bible study. This six-week online Bible study starts on Wednesday, September 11, and will help you to simply your life by:

Focusing on the One
Living in the present
Embracing simplicity

We will be using Cynthia Heald’s Becoming a Woman of Simplicity Bible study. To simplify the process, you will each purchase your own book from your local Christian bookstore. We’ve also included a link to the CBD online bookstore if your prefer to purchase it that way.

Christian Book Distributors:

Becoming a Woman of Simplicity

A Bible Study for All Levels of Maturity

Challenge your faith by choosing one of three levels of involvement.

Level 1: Study. Simply complete the work in your Bible study book.
Level 2: Community. Complete the work in the Bible study book and participate in weekly community conversations (blog/Facebook) about what you’re learning.
Level 3: Opportunity. Complete the work in the Bible study book, participate in community conversations, and complete application activities that will be emailed to you.

In addition, each Wednesday evening from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST, Jane and Mary will host an optional call on Talk Shoe that will include a teaching time on that week’s lesson. But remember, you are free to do your work at any time during the week that fits your schedule.

Sign Up for The Simple Life Bible Study

The cost to participate in the online Bible study (same price for every level) is only $5 (in addition to your book fee that you purchase). If you’d like to join us in this fall’s study of The Simple Life, please click on the button below. You will both pay and register through this one button. Once you have signed up, you will be emailed a link to confirm your registration. You must click on that link to be put on the list for the Bible study.

Thanks so much for your participation. Feel free to invite your friends! Please click on the link below to register and pay. You will be given the option to pay either with Pay Pal or with your credit card. If you don’t have a PayPal account, simply click the option that says “Check Out.” Clicking on that will then open another screen and one of your options will say: “Don’t have a PayPal account?” Click on this option, which will bring up a screen that will let you either pay with a regular credit card or open a PayPal account.

Questions or problems with registration? Click on this contact button to email Jane.

The Simple Life Week 1