Being Simple
How many of us actually enjoyed 2020? Probably not many. Lots of complications; lots of pain. But one redeeming quality was this: life became simpler. Sports stopped. Calendars cleared. Families went on walks together—I know mine did. Life slowed, and space opened up.
Now to be clear, what we mean by simple isn't how its used in Proverbs. The Proverbs warn against simplicity: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?” There, simple means foolish. Our emphasis is different.
The Parable of the Sower
The Gospel of Mark, the shortest account of Jesus’ life, gives us a quick, vivid picture of Jesus’ ministry and describes the different reception Jesus will have in His ministry. In Mark 4:1–9, Jesus teaches a huge crowd by the sea. He tells a parable:
A farmer goes about a field, scattering seed. Some seed falls on the path and the birds eat it up. Some seed falls on rocky soil. It sprouts quickly, but withers without roots. Some seed falls among thorns, but it's choked out by competing plants, producing no grain. Finally, some seed falls on good soil, producing an abundant harvest.
Then Jesus says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Later (Mark 4:10–20), he explains: the seed is the Word of God. The path is those who hear the Word but never receive it. The Word is snatched away. The rocky soil is those who receive with joy, but fall when hardship comes. The thorns—our focus—are those who hear, but distractions, wealth, and desires choke the Word. Only the good soil bears lasting fruit.
The Problem of Thorns
The problem with the thorny soil isn't barrenness. In fact, it's exactly the opposite. It's too full! The Word is present, but competing loves crowd it out.
The cares of the world: endless distractions.
The deceitfulness of riches: believing money can save.
The desire for other things: chasing entertainment, status, or comfort.
The growth of the Word takes root. But it doesn’t vanish; rather, it’s strangled! And thus it is never able to bear fruit.
What does this mean for us?
This is why we say that we are simple. We don't want lives choked out by thorns and thus rendered fruitless. We hold this out on two levels.
Personally. Ask yourself: what defines your life? Is it Christ and his ordinary means of grace—or your job, sports team, or favorite brand? If friends were asked what you’re about, what would they say? Simplicity doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means doing what matters most. Develop ordinary habits: read or listen to Scripture regularly, pray on your commute, prioritize presence in gathered worship—sing, pray, listen, remember. Open your home and calendar not for endless media, but for meals, conversations, and sharing Christ, practicing and enjoying fellowship. These things, done imperfectly but steadily over the years, grow us. As Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12:
“Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands… so that you may walk properly before outsiders.”
Corporately. As a church, our aim is also simple. We leave the lights on, preach through Scripture, sing, and pray. Things don’t always go perfectly—and that’s okay. We’re not here to entertain, but to point to Christ. We resist overprogramming. The church is not a building but people. That means serving people, not just attending events. Invite others into your life. Pray for those who are hurting. Share meals. Share the gospel. Study Scripture together. Enjoy life together. We won’t create a ministry for every possible need. We want members to step into the needs they see. Our aim is people over programs, presence over performance.
The Center of It All
Simplicity isn’t laziness—it’s focus. We want a single-minded attention on Jesus, where He is at the center of our thoughts, words, and actions.
Ultimately, we are simple. We believe God uses the ordinary means of grace to help us mature and make Jesus known from Greer to the ends of the earth.
It’s all about Jesus. It's about knowing Him and making Him known.
Join us.