“Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself.”

-- Leo Tolstoy

Simplicity, solitude, submission and service.

Outward lifestyles must only flow from inward realities.

Submission — Willingly choosing to put the needs and preferences of others above your own

Freedom — the ability to lay down the terrible burden of always needing to get our own way.

Mark 8:34

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”

“The most radical social teaching of Jesus was his total reversal of the contemporary notion of greatness.”

-- Richard Foster

Jesus not only died a cross death. Jesus lived a cross life.

Acts 5:29

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 

• Submit to God
  
• Submit to Scripture
  
• Submit to our family
  

Philippians 2:4

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

• Submit to our Church community
  
• Submit to the broken
  

James 1:27

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. 

• Submit to the world
  

“Our act of submission is a determination to live as a responsible member of an increasingly irresponsible world.”

-- Richard Foster

Submission must grow from the inside to the outside.

 “When I was pulling every string to try to save my life, I was at my wit’s end. But when I turned the strings loose and let Christ control my life completely, I was free.”

-- Josef Tson