A Note from Michael Gossett
The Simple Life
Simplicity in life is quite virtuous. Lynyrd Skynyrd apparently thought so as well. In the famous song, Simple Man, the lyrics are better than we think on the surface:
And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man
Oh, won’t you do this for me son, if you can?
Forget your lust for the rich man’s gold
All that you need is in your soul
And you can do this, oh, baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied
And be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man
Oh, won’t you do this for me son, if you can?
Oh, yes, I will
Lynyrd Skynyrd is on to something here. However, he leads us to a concept that is biblical, but the approach and the route in getting there is misleading. Unfortunately, the simple life cannot be achieved by avoiding but rather by abiding. You cannot follow your own heart nor can you avoid everything on the earth in order to achieve simplicity. So, what is the biblical understanding of simplicity as a biblical virtue?
Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-24, “19 “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness, how deep is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
The life of discipleship will have this type of deep understanding of simplicity. A life of discipleship can only be maintained as long as nothing becomes priority over Christ Himself. Simplicity in Christ does not necessarily mean escape from complexity in life, but rather an ability to simply navigate complexity. Jesus makes it abundantly clear that life is most simple when our lives are ordered according to His word.
The call in Matthew 6 is not to avoid prosperity because this could be a gift from the Lord. The call is instead to hold the things of this world loosely while gripping the things of Heaven tightly. Jesus gives us this marker to understand the simple and wise life. Simplicity supports the attitude that all things given by God are not meant to be collected but meant to be used for the glory of God.
Throughout scripture, and with Jesus specifically, there is a consistent warning concerning possessions and material goods. Matthew chapter 6 certainly gives us the clarity needed for a simple life—a life of complexity results from being double-minded in our pursuit of what is most excellent. Approving what is superior and what is excellent in our lives leads us down the path of simplicity. What is most important to you today? Simply put, what is your purpose today? What is monopolizing your time? Energy? Resources? The Bible is abundantly clear, whatever is taking your time, energy, resources, and thoughts, is what is most important. If anything is taking place over Christ in these areas of our lives, it will inevitably lead to complexity rather than simplicity.
I want to leave you with Psalm 73 as a reminder of simplicity in our walk with Christ. Psalm 73:21-28 (With added notes for clarity) says:
“21 When I became embittered
and my innermost being was wounded, (complexity)
22 I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward you. (complexity)
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold my right hand. (simplicity)
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me up in glory. (simplicity)
25 Who do I have in heaven but you?
And I desire nothing on earth but you. (simplicity)
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever. (simplicity)
27 Those far from you will certainly perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. (complexity)
28 But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all you do. (simplicity)
The life of simplicity is aimed toward knowing Christ and making Him known to others. What more in life is there? This begins with our own life that is surrendered to Jesus then flows to our families, then our neighbor. When we live surrendered to Christ and place Him in charge of all things, simplicity in life follows. Let us strive toward Him and toward the simple life today.
I want to invite you to join my wife, Katie, and me on a journey of a lifetime. We are going back to visit the sites primarily focused on Paul’s second missionary journey, October 26-November 4, 2025. I have mentioned these sites in my sermons from Philippians because it was on Paul’s second missionary journey that the Lord brought him to Philippi. However, there is much more on this trip! Here is the itinerary of all the places we have planned to visit.
DAILY ITINERARY
DAY 1 (OCT 26): BEGINNING OF YOUR TOUR: Depart from DFW for an overnight flight to Thessaloniki, Greece. Bus to/from DFW is included in the price.
DAY 2 (OCT 27): INTO THE FOOTSTEPS OF PAUL: Arrive in Thessaloniki. Meet with the guide and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
DAY 3 (OCT 28): THESSALONIKI/KAVALA/PHILIPPI: Begin the day traveling near the port of Kavala, where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. This port was also a destination for Luke the evangelist when he sailed from Troas. See a Byzantine castle, the Roman Aqueduct, and the ruins of an acropolis. Follow the Via Egnatia, a remnant of Rome’s highway system, viewing Roman and Greek tombs. Next, stop in Philippi, where Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and sowed the seeds of Christianity. Among the ruins located on the rocky ledge above the town’s main road is the prison into which Paul and Silas were thrown. Meander down the riverbank to the site of Lydia’s baptism, the first baptism on European soil. Return to Thessaloniki, where Paul planted a church that would later receive two New Testament epistles. Visit one of the most beautiful basilicas in the city, St. Demetrius. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. Lunch included.
DAY 4 (OCT 29): THESSALONIKI/BEREA/KALAMBAKA: In the morning, spend time in the ancient city of Thessaloniki. Explore the ruins of the Roman Forum and see the Rotunda. View the triumphal Arch of Galerius and continue along the waterfront to the massive White Tower. Next, travel to Berea (Veria) to see the ancient bema, where Paul spent many hours sharing the Gospel. Head south to view the awe-inspiring rock formations of Meteora. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.
DAY 5 (OCT 30): METEORA/THERMOPYLAE/ATHENS: Take in the striking monasteries of Meteora that seem to hang in the air, crowning the summits of these pinnacles with their wooden galleries and corniced rooftops. Dangerously hanging over the stunning abysses, these primitive dwellings compose one of the most fascinating sites on earth. A special treat awaits with a visit to one of these timeless monasteries to see the exquisite specimens of Byzantine art on display. Journey through the amazing countryside, taking in the beauty of Greece. Stop at the mountain pass of Thermopylae, the location where the Greeks victoriously fought for their freedom during the Greco-Persian wars in 480 BC. See the statue of Leonidas, king of the Greek city-state Sparta. Continue to Athens for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6 (OCT 31): ATHENS/LAVRIO/MYKONOS: Begin the day with a drive to the Port of Lavrio and step aboard The Discovery to start a 4-day Greek Islands cruise. Spend the afternoon exploring the Island of Mykonos, world-renowned for its lovely windmills, small cobblestone streets, and countryside. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight. Lunch included onboard.
DAY 7 (NOV 1): EPHESUS, TURKEY/PATMOS, GREECE: Step off the ship at Kusadasi and into nearby Ephesus, Turkey, Asia Minor’s greatest archeological site. This Greek and Roman city has been remarkably preserved. Step along the broad marble where Paul walked. Gaze at the Temple of Artemis (Diana), the Temple of Hadrian, and The Celsus Library. Marvel at the massive theater where Paul was opposed for speaking boldly about Christ. In the afternoon, enjoy cruising aboard The Discovery to the island of Patmos, built on a mass of volcanic rock. The island marks the site where the apostle John was exiled. Visit the Monastery of St. John and the cave where he received the vision he recorded in the book of Revelation. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight. Lunch included onboard.
DAY 8 (NOV 2): CRETE/SANTORINI: Arrive in Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands and the cradle of the Ancient Minoan Civilization. This island is where the Apostle Paul spent time as he was being transported to Rome as a prisoner and where Titus remained to help the churches. Take a leisure walk through Heraklion, the capital of Crete, and enjoy the shopping and local culture. Board The Discovery for an afternoon cruise to the famous island of Santorini, formed by the half-submerged crescent of a volcanic caldera. Perched atop high cliffs, savor the island’s breathtaking views from Oia. Dinner and overnight on the ship. Lunch included onboard.
DAY 9 (NOV 3): ATHENS/CORINTH: Early morning arrival in Athens to begin the day’s excursion. Proceed to Corinth through the Bay of Salamis and the Saronic Gulf. This city was home to the apostle Paul for over a year and inspired two of his most familiar letters. Spend time at the Corinthian Canal, then tour the ruins of this ancient city. Return to Athens to view the world-renowned Acropolis and marvel at the ancient glory of the Parthenon, built 2400 years ago. Gather at Mars Hill, where Paul addressed the intellectual men of the most informed city of the time, pleading for the cause of Christianity. Dinner and overnight in Athens. Lunch included.
DAY 10 (NOV 4): ATHENS/USA: Transfer to Athens airport for your return flight to the USA with your heart full of memories from spectacular views and unforgettable experiences.
Come and join us on this incredible trip! You can sign up here!
THIS SUNDAY! We are continuing our series in Philippians, In Christ. We will study Philippians 1:12-20 and the title is, “Surpassing Joy.” It is going to be a great Sunday to gather together as we worship, see baptisms, see new members, see new believers, and continue to serve Him faithfully!
Do not forget! Ladies, the Fall Friendship Dinner is coming, and I can already tell you that this is going to be the best one yet! You do not want to miss this time of encouragement and fellowship. Our Fall Friendship Dinner is our Women’s Ministry highlight event of the year, and we are planning for about 1250 women! Registration has closed, but you can click the picture above to join the waitlist.
THIS WEDNESDAY, join us at WEBS (Wednesday Evening Bible Study) starting at 6:00pm. This is for ALL campuses who would like to join at the Tyler Campus in Crosswalk. We have an incredible lineup with a rotation of teachers. This Wednesday will be led by Pastor David Dykes! You will not want to miss this! We will be rotating between Pastor David Dykes, Jim Little, as well as myself. It is going to be a great fall of WEBS!
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett