Living simply and spending less

In a culture driven by consumerism, we as Christians must learn to follow Jesus in everything—including with our money. This practice of economic discipleship leads to discerning ways to consume less. There are many reasons for making lifestyle changes to live more simply—developing a focus on gratitude and contentment, experiencing freedom from “stuff,” reducing our impact on the environment—but equally importantly, simple living frees resources for transformative giving.

Lots of reasons for living simply – but Not just minimalism

Books and Readings

• Ron Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity. (1978, updated 2005).
• Richard Foster, Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World, updated 2005.
• John Kavanaugh, Following Christ in a Consumer Society: The Spirituality of Cultural Resistance. 2006.
• John Michael Talbot and Steve Rabey, The Lessons of Saint Francis: How to Bring Simplicity and Spirituality into your Daily Life, 1998
• Doris Janzen Longacre, Living More with Less, 30^th Anniversary Edition, 2010
• Arthur Simon, How Much is Enough: Hungering for God in an Affluent Culture, 2003
• Michael Schut, Editor, Simple Living, Compassionate Life: A Christian Perspective. Updated 2009.
• Mary Sharon Moore, Living in God’s Economy, Second Edition, 2016
• Lee Van Ham, Reading the Bible Economically, 2008
• John Wesley, Sermon on The Use of Money, 1872
• Adam Hamilton, Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity, Updated 2012.
• Sondra Wheeler, Wealth as Peril and Obligation: The New Testament on Possessions, 1995

Multimedia

• The Story of Stuff, 2007
• Affluenza: The Show (PBS, 1997)
• Peter Menzel, Photography. Material World: Family Portraits; Hungry Planet: Family Food Portraits.

Web Resources

• Becoming Minimalist, a blog by writer, speaker, and pastor Joshua Becker
• Simple Living Works! A large online clearinghouse that compiles the decades-long work of Alternatives for Simple Living, a group that began out of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ECLA).
• Breathe Network 
• Jubilee Economics Ministries, faith-based simple living resources including a blog and a podcast.
• Miss Minimalist, features stories of people from all backgrounds pursuing simpler living.