Living a Simple and Quiet Christian Life | Alex Wilson

Summary

In this heartfelt discussion, the speaker explores the concept of a simple and quiet life, drawing inspiration from Jesus's humility and rejection of fame as depicted in Matthew 8:1-4. They share personal experiences with social media fame and its negative impact on peace and freedom, emphasizing the importance of humility and obedience to God for true contentment and purpose.

Takeaways

• 😷 The speaker is currently at their in-laws' house while their kids are sick and their partner is helping neighbors.
• 📖 They discuss the concept of a 'simple and quiet life', a recurring theme on their podcast and Instagram.
• 🗑️ The speaker has removed content from their social media channels as part of embracing a simpler lifestyle.
• 📜 The script references Matthew 8:1-4, highlighting Jesus' rejection of popularity and choosing a quiet life.
• 🙏 The speaker believes that Jesus' life exemplifies the importance of humility and the dangers of seeking fame and recognition.
• 🔑 Jesus' healing of the leper and instructing him not to tell anyone is presented as a key lesson in humility and simplicity.
• 💬 The speaker shares personal experiences of how seeking social media fame led to stress and a loss of peace.
• 🔄 The speaker emphasizes the need to reject pride and embrace humility to achieve a truly simple and quiet life.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The importance of family and being a good husband and father is highlighted as a masculine and fulfilling role.
• 📖 Biblical verses are cited to support the idea that God promotes those who humble themselves, not those who seek worldly recognition.
• ✝️ The speaker concludes by encouraging listeners to let go of worldly pursuits and embrace the simple and quiet life as modeled by Jesus.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speaker's discussion in this transcript?

The main theme of the speaker's discussion is the importance of living a simple and quiet life, drawing inspiration from Jesus's life and teachings.

Why did the speaker delete all their shorts off their Channel and Instagram?

The speaker deleted all their shorts off their Channel and Instagram as part of their pursuit of a simple and quiet life, rejecting the pursuit of popularity and fame.

What are the first four verses of Matthew 8 in the Bible?

Matthew 8:1-4 describes Jesus being followed by large crowds, healing a leper, and instructing the healed man not to tell anyone about his healing.

Why did Jesus tell the leper not to tell anyone about his healing?

Jesus told the leper not to tell anyone about his healing to reject popularity and to demonstrate the importance of living a simple and quiet life.

How did the speaker's life change when they gained a large following on social media?

The speaker's life became more stressful and less peaceful when they gained a large following on social media, contrary to their expectation of increased freedom and happiness.

What is the speaker's view on the pursuit of fame and recognition?

The speaker views the pursuit of fame and recognition as a form of slavery and a source of stress, preferring a life of simplicity and peace.

What does the speaker believe is the most masculine thing a man can do?

The speaker believes that the most masculine thing a man can do is to be a family man, showing love to God and others, and living like Christ, rather than seeking external validation or achievements.

What transformation is the speaker experiencing as they reflect on Jesus's life?

The speaker is experiencing a transformation where they are realizing the emptiness of societal pursuits and the value of living a life of obedience, humility, and simplicity, as exemplified by Jesus.

What does the speaker suggest is the key to experiencing a 'sweet Ever After'?

The speaker suggests that the key to experiencing a 'sweet Ever After' is to let go of things that don't matter, reject popularity and recognition, and live a life of obedience to God.

What is the speaker's advice for those who want to live a simple and quiet life?

The speaker advises to focus on humility, obedience to God, and letting go of the desire for recognition and popularity, as demonstrated by Jesus in his life and teachings.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Embracing the Simple and Quiet Life

The speaker begins by discussing their current situation, helping out at a neighbor's house while their in-laws are away. They mention their focus on a 'simple and quiet life,' a theme they've been exploring on their podcast and Instagram (@amenpodcast). They've removed all their 'shorts' from their channels, aligning with their desire for simplicity. The speaker references Matthew 8:1-4, which they plan to discuss in more depth in a future podcast episode called 'Approach.' They highlight verse four, emphasizing Jesus's life and how it exemplifies simplicity. The speaker contrasts Jesus's approach with the pursuit of popularity and fame, sharing their personal experience of how social media fame led to stress and a loss of peace. They argue that Jesus rejected popularity for the sake of a simple and quiet life, which is a theme they explore further in this video script.

05:00

🙏 The Pitfalls of Pride and the Pursuit of God's Promotion

In this paragraph, the speaker delves into the concept of pride and its detrimental effects on one's pursuit of a simple and quiet life. They discuss how pride leads to a desire for recognition and self-promotion, which contradicts the teachings of the Bible, particularly in the Books of Psalms and Proverbs. The speaker shares their personal journey of deleting social media content to avoid the trap of self-promotion and the slavery it brings. They emphasize the importance of humility, as exemplified by Jesus, who rejected popularity and chose a humble path. The speaker also touches on the transformation they are experiencing as they align their life more closely with Jesus's example, focusing on family and service rather than societal recognition. They conclude by highlighting the joy found in simple acts of service, such as doing household chores, which they find more fulfilling than seeking external validation.

10:00

🕊️ The Path to True Freedom and Peace Through Obedience

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's will, as demonstrated by Jesus, who was willing to die for what God asked of him. They argue that true freedom and peace come from letting go of worldly pursuits and embracing a simple and quiet life. The speaker reflects on their own need to let go of societal expectations, such as being a great surfer, and instead focus on living a life that aligns with Jesus's teachings. They reference the song 'Sweet Ever After' by Ellie Holcomb and Bear Rinehart, which encapsulates the idea of a life well-lived being one where you lose what doesn't matter. The speaker invites viewers to consider how they can live a simple and quiet life, encouraging a conversation in the comments. They end with a prayer, thanking God for the example of Jesus's life and asking for guidance in living a life that is truly free and at peace.

Keywords

💡Simple and Quiet Life

The 'Simple and Quiet Life' is a central theme of the video, representing a lifestyle choice that prioritizes simplicity, peace, and minimalism over the complexities and stress of modern life. The speaker discusses how they have been exploring this concept on their podcast and social media, and how it contrasts with the pursuit of fame and popularity. The idea is illustrated through the narrative of Jesus rejecting popularity and choosing a humble life, which is seen as a model for achieving peace and freedom.

💡Matthew 8:1-4

Matthew 8:1-4 is a biblical passage that the speaker uses to illustrate the concept of the 'Simple and Quiet Life.' It describes Jesus healing a leper and instructing him not to tell anyone about the miracle. This act is seen as a rejection of fame and a demonstration of humility, aligning with the theme of the video. The speaker uses this verse to emphasize the importance of humility and obedience over seeking recognition.

💡Pride

Pride is a key concept in the video, portrayed as a barrier to living a simple and quiet life. The speaker discusses how pride can lead to a desire for recognition and fame, which in turn can cause stress and a lack of peace. The speaker's personal journey involves recognizing and overcoming pride, which is seen as a necessary step to embracing a simpler, more humble lifestyle.

💡Humility

Humility is presented as a virtue and a key component of the 'Simple and Quiet Life.' The speaker contrasts pride with humility, highlighting how humility allows for a deeper connection with God and a more peaceful existence. The example of Jesus is used to illustrate humility, as he chose to live a simple life and was obedient to God, even to the point of death.

💡Freedom

Freedom is a recurring theme in the video, associated with the ability to live without the constraints of societal expectations and the pursuit of fame. The speaker discusses how fame and the pursuit of recognition can lead to a form of slavery, whereas embracing a simple and quiet life brings true freedom. The concept is tied to the idea of being free from pride and the desire for external validation.

💡Popularity

Popularity is depicted as a potential distraction from the 'Simple and Quiet Life.' The speaker shares their personal experience of feeling more stressed and less peaceful as their social media following grew, leading them to delete their content in pursuit of a simpler life. The speaker contrasts the fleeting nature of popularity with the enduring peace found in a humble, simple lifestyle.

💡Obedience

Obedience is a key concept in the video, particularly in relation to following God's will. The speaker discusses how Jesus was obedient to the point of death, which is seen as a model for believers. The idea is that true obedience involves letting go of personal desires and pride, and instead focusing on living in accordance with God's plan.

💡First Peter 5:6

First Peter 5:6 is a biblical verse that the speaker uses to emphasize the importance of humility and obedience. The verse states that if one humbles themselves under God's mighty hand, they will be lifted up in God's good time. This is used to illustrate the idea that true elevation and recognition come from God, not from human efforts at self-promotion.

💡Promotion

Promotion, in the context of the video, refers to the act of seeking recognition and advancement from others. The speaker discusses how they used to create 'shorts' from their content to promote themselves, but realized this was a form of pride. The speaker contrasts this with the biblical teaching that God is the one who gives true promotion, suggesting that seeking self-promotion is unnecessary and contrary to a simple and quiet life.

💡Society's Norms

Society's norms are presented as a set of expectations that can lead individuals away from the 'Simple and Quiet Life.' The speaker criticizes the pursuit of societal approval and the pressure to conform to external standards, arguing that this can result in a loss of peace and freedom. The speaker encourages viewers to reject these norms in favor of a life that is more aligned with their own values and God's will.

💡Resurrection

Resurrection is used in the video to symbolize the ultimate victory over death and the promise of eternal life. The speaker connects the resurrection of Jesus to the idea of a 'sweet Ever After,' suggesting that choosing a simple and quiet life can lead to a lasting peace and joy. The resurrection is presented as a model for believers, showing that obedience and humility can lead to a profound transformation and ultimate reward.

Highlights

The speaker discusses the concept of a simple and quiet life, which has been a recurring theme in their podcast and Instagram.

The speaker has removed all their shorts from their channel and Instagram to embrace the simple and quiet life.

The speaker will delve into the verses Matthew 8:1-4 to explore how Jesus lived a simple life and the significance of this lifestyle.

The story of the healing of the leper in Matthew 8:2-3 is used to illustrate Jesus' humility and rejection of popularity.

Jesus' instruction to the healed leper not to tell anyone about his healing is highlighted as an example of Jesus choosing a simple life over fame.

The speaker shares personal experiences of how gaining social media fame led to stress and a loss of peace, contrary to expectations.

The speaker reflects on the futility of seeking recognition and the importance of humility, as exemplified by Jesus.

The speaker's realization of the emptiness of societal pursuits and the transformative power of observing Jesus' life is shared.

The speaker talks about the pride that led to a negative attitude towards household chores and how it was overcome.

The joy experienced in performing simple household tasks, unrelated to seeking recognition, is described.

The speaker discusses the masculine ideal portrayed by society and how it contrasts with the humility and service exemplified by Jesus.

The verse from 1 Peter 5:6 is cited to emphasize Jesus' humility and the promise of being lifted up by God.

The concept of losing what doesn't matter in life, as expressed in the song 'Sweet Ever After' by Ellie Holcomb, is related to the simple and quiet life.

The speaker calls for a conversation on how God is asking individuals to live a simple and quiet life, inviting comments from the audience.

The speaker concludes with a prayer, thanking God for the lessons from Jesus' life and asking for transformation and the killing of prideful aspects within us.

Transcripts

hey how are you doing

I'm doing okay I uh all the kids are

sick right now lokilani is next door

helping them out and uh I'm at my

in-laws house they are running errands

right now and so I thought I'd just jump

on here and talk to you real quick about

the simple and quiet life this is

something that we've been talking about

a lot in the podcast on my Instagram

amenpodcast on Instagram and uh you've

probably even noticed I deleted like all

my shorts off of this Channel and off my

Instagram I did that because of the

simple and quiet life and we're going to

get into that more and

these verses Matthew 8 1-4 really get to

the heart of how Jesus lived and it's

really unexpected because you wouldn't

really ex you wouldn't expect to see

such an important character trait of

Jesus such an important secret hack to

the simple life through these verses and

these verses we're going to talk about

more in the podcast in an episode called

approach uh it's four verses Matthew 8 1

through 4 but just for today we're just

going to talk about verse four

um but I want to paint the picture of

what's going on here because I believe

it's going to change something and show

you why you need the simple life why you

can't have the simple life and how to

live and to have the simple and quiet

life here we go Matthew chapter 8 1-4

large crowds followed Jesus as he came

down the hillside look a leper is

approaching he kneels before him

worshiping sir the leopard pleads if you

want to you can heal me then Jesus

touches the man I want to he says be

healed

and instantly the leprosy disappears

then Jesus says to him don't stop and

talk to anyone

go right over to the priest and be

examined and take with you the offering

required by Moses's law for leopards who

are healed a public testimony of your

cure

what's going on here leprosy was an

incurable horrible highly contagious

deathly disease and to approach someone

when you have leprosy was a big big

No-No but this guy has so much faith in

Jesus he doesn't and Jesus heals him

amazing this has never been never been

seen before to be in the crowd like it

says in verse one and to see this after

Jesus just preached the most greatest

sermon to ever live Sermon on the Mount

and then to see him back up those words

by doing this this was Heavy the witness

but what Jesus does next

was almost just as

insurmountable

just as miraculous

and crazy as healing the guy

he says to him

don't tell anyone I healed you

what Jesus this could blow your clout

out of the water

I mean your followers Jesus your Fame

would explode what do you mean don't

tell anyone

Jesus was rejecting popularity why to

choose the simple and quiet life and in

so doing he's showing us why we need the

simple and quiet life

peace

I thought for sure my life would be

better once I got 1.6 million followers

on Tick Tock once I got over a hundred

thousand followers on Instagram my life

got worse I got more stressed I got less

peaceful

it was hectic I hated it

I hadn't become more free with the fame

I'd become more of a slave with the fame

Jesus rejects popularity here because he

knows how fickle it is he's saying don't

tell anyone what I did yes I know no one

else can heal leprosy yes I know this is

the first time you've ever experienced

this yes I know this was miraculous but

don't tell anyone I don't need the

popularity I don't need the fame I don't

need the clout I'm free

Jesus was what the pilots tell us when

we're on planes you're free to move

about the cabin the seat belt sign is

off Jesus was free to move about the

kingdom

Freedom with pride with not with pride

with peace

he was confident in who he was

I want that don't you want that

here's why we can't have it Pride

we were too prideful we want recognition

we want Atta boys

when I was uh thinking about deleting

all my social media and starting over

and deleting my shorts I did that

because I realized that shorts are used

for promotion shorts are sound bites I

would film a long video a sermon a Bible

study and I would take an extra two

hours just to cut up shorts out of it

because I wanted to promote myself and

then I said what's wrong with this

picture

the Bible tells us in the Book of Psalms

in the Book of Proverbs that God is the

one

that gives promotion

so if we try to promote ourselves

we're not actually giving ourselves

promotion we're just inflating our pride

we're just sinking deeper and deeper

into

depression slavery and sin

so I deleted it I was like God I don't

want this I don't want this I want you

to promote me I'm tired of it God I've

become a slave to trying to promote

myself I'm a slave to the popularity

because of my pride pride is the part of

me that reaches out for recognition

pride is the part of me that wants so

badly to be praised by others pride is a

part of me that has no problem praising

myself

I don't want that if I'm going to live

simply and quietly and free and

peacefully

with joy with happiness waking up

excited to have less on my plate instead

of excited to be busy

I had to realize something that flying

all over the world

getting Applause preaching here teaching

there was not going to make me happy and

that's not what simple that's not what

the simple and quiet life that God is

calling us to be looks like

that's Pride

uh Living For

all that stuff The Tick Tock and the

views and the clout and all this stuff

that

was killing me

and so I had to get rid of it it was

killing me to the point where like when

I it was time to wash toilets and to

wash dishes and the mop floors I would

have a bad mood because I would look at

the men in my life and I would see that

they didn't do this kind of stuff I

don't need to do this stuff it was Pride

that was making me angry when my kid

wakes up in the middle of the night and

I have to get out of bed to go help him

what is that just a woman's job is is

only lokilani supposed to do that of

course not

my pride had uh

darkened my heart and my vision so much

that things around the home became

lower to me like that's below me I don't

need to do that what was happening

I the other day I saw uh laundry that

was clean it was in the dryer and I put

it in a basket and I brought it inside

and I did it because my clothes were in

it

um and lokilani was busy but as I was

walking inside I realized like

this is like enjoyable

I'd never felt that before like I had a

lot of Peace doing it and lokilani was

like hey thanks for bringing the clothes

in and I was like oh

yeah no worries and I walked away

and I had not done it for the atta boy I

had not done it to seem like a good

husband I did it really just to bring my

clothes in but that little simple

thing

that household home activity was so

joyful to me

this is happening to me not because I

read a cool book about it

this is happening to me as I look at

Jesus's life as I look at him rejecting

popularity

and as I try to walk in obedience to

that there's a transformation in me

that's happening

where I'm realizing the most masculine

thing I can do is not surf 20-foot waves

is not hunt down the biggest pig

or deer the most masculine thing I can

do

is

change diapers is be with my family be a

family man show them what it means to

love God

to love others

to live like Christ because would Christ

choose popularity over

washing a toilet

why should I seek something that Jesus

didn't seek

he had the simple and quiet life because

he had no Pride he was so humble

listen to this verse

first Peter 5 6.

this describes Jesus so well

and shows us how how we are going to

live this simple and quiet life

first Peter 5 6 it says if you

humble yourself

under the mighty hand of God in his good

time he will lift you up

isn't that Jesus's life he humbled

himself how

did he humble himself under the mighty

hand of God and then be lifted up in

God's good time

Philippians 2 8 says this

he humbled himself even further going as

far to actually die a criminal's death

on the cross What's Happening Here

Jesus was so obedient he was willing to

Die For What God was telling him to do

that's how obedient he was to God and

unless you're that obedient

to the point of death you will never be

lifted up in God's good time

when you humble yourself under God's

Mighty hand to the point of death

where things in your life start to die

things inside of your heart start to die

unless you're that obedient you'll never

be lifted up

by God so because we're not that

obedient because we don't choose a

simple and quiet life Jesus was obedient

to the point of death and then lifted up

in God's good time three days later from

the grave

so that you and I

who chose the proud fool

life the big the bad

the boisterous the wide Road the loud

life we chose that

he did it

and he was lifted up

and he was crucified so we crucify our

flesh and be lifted up by God

the Bible tells us in Psalms in Proverbs

God will promote us

there's no need to chase after what the

world is chasing after the societal

Norms you're killing yourself you're not

free you have no peace because you're

chasing after the promotion and the act

of the

um

the uh recognition of other

accolades you're chasing after that and

you're not free you have no peace you're

constantly running these things in your

head and don't you see Jesus rejected

that

and he was obedient to the point of

death how can you be obedient to a point

of death

so that you can be lifted up by him so

you can be promoted by him

so that you could experience the freedom

I had to let I had to let my desire for

surfing and being a big uh

being known as a great Surfer I had to

let that die

and it wasn't like I had to say no I

can't surf I can't serve no I still

serve

it was that I the Holy Spirit continued

to show me the character of Jesus

and the silliness of what Society

pursues

how empty what the world promises is

and how cool and awesome and upside down

and different Jesus lived

the more I saw that the more it changed

me

he was willing to be obedient to the

point of death to the point of losing

everything

there's this great song right now and

I'll end with this it's called sweet

Ever After by Ellie Holcomb and bear

Reinhardt bear Reinhardt from

Needtobreathe

and he says or she says

the real life lesson in a life well

lived is you lose what don't matter

before that she says

there's a lot of hard days coming our

way

but a sweet Ever After

the resurrection

God raising Jesus in his good time three

days later from the cross after being

obedient to the point of death after

rejecting popularity to the point of

death after rejecting the recognition in

the attaboys of people to the point of

death after choosing the simple and

quiet life so much so he died alone

he was Rose he was risen

why

so we could experience the sweet Ever

After the resurrection means there's a

sweet happily ever after that we are

going to experience for all of eternity

with God

and we get there

by letting things die in our life losing

things that don't matter

that's what I want that's what God

promises that's what he gives us with

the simple and quiet life let us live

that together amen

father God thank you so much for

the beauty of Jesus's life help us to

look at it and stare at it and to see

how different he was so that it changes

and transforms something in us and it

breaks the things in us that need to be

broken kills the things that need to die

in us we love you in Jesus name we pray

amen

how is God asking you to live the simple

and quiet life that's the question I'll

throw it up in the comments I want to

hear what you guys have to say let's get

a good conversation going and uh I love

you I'll see you in the next one amen