Series: Short Stories with Jesus
Message: Barnburner
Preacher: Sam Leonor
Reflection: Sam Leonor
Live Wonder: Zan Long
Live Adventure: Zan Long
Live Purpose: Kyle Smith
Editor: Becky De Oliveira

Refresh: Begin with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.

Read: Luke 12:13-21 in the English Standard Version (ESV). Note 1–3 insights or questions.

Reflect: The Message paraphrase of the Bible ends the passage for this week in this way: “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.” Our goal should always be to fill our lives with more of God, less of ourselves.

To live a blessed life is to live in relationship with God and neighbors. This will sometimes require us to give up material wealth and comfort, to experience persecution instead of popularity, and it will lead to a life led in total dependence on God instead of on our own resources and gifts. But the reward is what our hearts really yearn for: Healthy and whole relationships with each other and with God. Could this be what filling our barn with God looks like?

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Have you been delighting yourself in the Lord but spending time focusing on the desires of your heart? What if the real meaning of this verse is actually “Delight yourself in Me and I will become the desire of your heart”?

Recalibrate: Is there now or has there been in the past a desire or pursuit in life that has diverted your attention away from God?

Respond: Pray that today, and every day, your desire and delight will be for God.

Research: Watch the TED presentation from the founders of Minimalist, a blog.

Draw a big heart with lipstick on your mirror and hold your little one up to look at it. While looking at your reflection, tell your child how much you love them, how they fill your heart with joy, and how there is nothing they could do that would make you love them less. Abundant love is a gift from God. Share it.

Every day is an opportunity to share what God has given us. This could be food or kind words or our toys or our friends. Sharing says that the person you are sharing with is more important that the thing you are sharing. It can be tough learning how to share but once you get the hang of it—and with Jesus' help—it will be awesome! Plan to share today!

Verse 21 talks about being “. . . rich toward God.” Some think this verse is talking about money, but I think it is talking about so much more. What does it mean to you to be rich toward God? How can 
you be “rich toward God” in all the areas of your life?