The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg
Week 10: Chapter 9 — Abundant Simplicity (The Practice of Simplicity and Secrecy)
Read Chapter 9 of The Life You've Always Wanted. Key passages: Matthew 6:19-24; Luke 12:15-21.
Previewing Week 10 of The Life You've Always Wanted
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
Ortberg challenges us to examine our relationship with possessions, status, and recognition — and to discover the surprising freedom that comes from holding these things loosely.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Ortberg describes how our possessions can quietly begin to possess us — how accumulation creates anxiety rather than security. Does this ring true in your own experience? What possessions, roles, or achievements do you find yourself most anxious about losing?
2.Jesus warned in Luke 12 against 'all kinds of greed' — a remarkably broad category. Ortberg notes that greed is not just about money; it is a posture of the heart that says 'more will finally be enough.' Where do you see this posture showing up in your life beyond money?
3.Matthew 6:19-24 contains Jesus' teaching about treasures in heaven versus treasures on earth, ending with the striking claim that 'you cannot serve both God and money.' What does Jesus seem to understand about the nature of money that makes it a rival to God rather than just a neutral tool?
a.How does Mammon function as a kind of alternative security system, promising what only God can provide?
b.Where do you feel the pull of Mammon most strongly?