A message about money small group study

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_____________________________________________________A Message About Money Charles Montgomery March 7-8, 2015
 
 Living with Limits Series Ecclesiastes 5-6

Attention Leaders! Be prepared for God to speak to your group. The Holy Spirit is with you as you prepare, as you open Scripture, and as you lead discussion. Prayerfully consider the needs of your group; who will be there; and what God has done recently in your group. Remember, aim for balancing discussion and teaching; more sharing than answering; and more listening than telling. Sermon Summary (Time Suggestion: 5 mins) These notes are to help you give your group a quick recap of the weekend sermon in your own words. If God spoke to you personally through the message, do share that too!

I.

Money Must Honor God

II.

Money Can’t Satisfy A. More Challenges B. More Expenses C. More Worries

III.

Money Is Transitory

IV.

Money Is To Be Enjoyed

Charles began his message this past weekend by explaining the advantage of having different perspectives on things. He and his wife watch the morning traffic report because the perspective is given from a helicopter which hovers high above the highways giving it a different perspective and a distinct advantage to those simply traveling in their cars. From the perspective of the helicopter camera one can see obstacles ahead, avoid troublesome areas, and plan a better approach to your destination. The Bible offers this kind of “elevated” perspective on all key areas of our life. Including the use of our money. Money is often a sensitive topic for most people. Although it may feel like a personal matter, the Bible has an elevated and unique perspective on money which should shape anyone who claims to follow Jesus. Money is no private matter. Sixteen of Jesus’ 38

parables are about money. The New Testament has more passages on money than it does on heaven and hell combined. Chapter 5 of Ecclesiastes begins with laying a firm groundwork to build on. The follower of Jesus is called to fulfill their commitments to God. Not only in the area of money! In every area of our life, we are to fulfill our promises to God. By keeping our commitments to God we honor him. Prioritizing God in our finances, our talents, and our time honors him and brings him the glory he deserves. Charles also explained how money doesn’t bring more satisfaction, but that it can bring more expenses, more worry, and more challenges. In the end, money is transitionary and meant to be enjoyed. This means not hoarding it and using it to honor the King of our Kingdom!

Link to the Sermon (Time Suggestion: 5 mins) Think about the furniture you have in your home. Is it yours? Why is this true? Why is this false? Who will have the furniture in your home 30 years from now? Will the people who have your antique picture frame in 30 years really “own” it? Now think about the money you have today and the money you will have tomorrow. Is it yours? This Week’s Bible Study Text: Luke 12:16-31. Background and Context (taken from biblica.com) The author’s name does not appear in the book, but much unmistakable evidence points to Luke. This Gospel is a companion volume to the book of Acts, and the language and structure of these two books indicate that both were written by the same person. They are addressed to the same individual, Theophilus, and the second volume refers to the first (Ac 1:1). Luke was probably a Gentile by birth, well educated in Greek culture, a physician by profession, a companion of Paul at various times from his second missionary journey to his final imprisonment in Rome, and a loyal friend who remained with the apostle after others had deserted him (2Ti 4:11). The Gospel is specifically directed to Theophilus (1:3), whose name means “one who loves God” and almost certainly refers to a particular person rather than to lovers of God in general. The use of “most excellent” with the name further indicates an individual, and supports the idea that he was a Roman official or at least of high position and wealth. He was possibly Luke’s patron, responsible for seeing that the writings were copied and distributed. Such a dedication to the publisher was common at that time. The fact that the Gospel was initially directed to Theophilus does not narrow or limit its purpose. It was written to strengthen the faith of all believers and to answer the attacks of unbelievers. It was presented to displace some disconnected and ill-founded reports about Jesus (see 1:1–4 and note).

Study and Discuss We are about to read a passage in scripture that you may have heard. It is one of the many times where Jesus gives his “elevated perspective” about money. The context of Jesus teaching this parable is interesting. There is a man who comes to Jesus and asks him to arbitrate a family financial dispute. In essence, the man comes to Jesus and says, “Teacher, preacher, get involved in my finances. You’re authority in my financial issue is what I desire.” Followers of Jesus must come to the place where we invite Jesus as our financial advisor. Let’s find out what Jesus’ perspective is in the parable and subsequent instruction. Could we get a few volunteers to read a few verses each? We’ll be reading from Luke 12. (One way to increase participation in small group is to ask people to do something as simple as reading part of the passage. This is a great passage to break into a few sections. Maybe ask someone who participates less frequently to read one of the sections.) Read Luke 12:16-21, 22-26, 27-31 (recommended to read them out loud twice) 16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself ?' 21 "This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God." 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life ? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 "Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 1.

What type of perspective does the rich man in verses 16-19 have about money? Do you see this perspective in our society today? Is this an admirable or desirable perspective? • Is anyone brave enough to say that this might be us if we were in the same situation as the rich man?! :) • Describe the perspective that God has in verses 20-21. What does God’s elevated perspective allow him to see? • In what small ways can we, as a small group, help each other to have this eternal perspective? How might we keep each other accountable to this?

2. In verses 22-26 what every-day real-life anxieties is Jesus trying to address? Why is hard to trust God in the area of finances? • This is a safe space where we can trust each other. What are areas that you struggle to trust God with? What anxieties do you have that you would gladly rid yourself of? • What is one way this week that you can respond to God’s assurance that you are valuable to him? 3. Verse 29 says the words “set your heart” and verse 31 says to “seek” in a way that differs from what the world “runs” after in verse 30. What are ways that we can “re-set our hearts” and “seek anew” the Kingdom of God? • Is there something that we can commit to as a group that will help us re-set and seek anew the Kingdom of God with our finances? Is there some ministry at the church we could take up an extra gift financially above and beyond for? • How can we help each other honor God with our finances? How can we help each other budget our finances so that we can tithe faithfully together?

Ministry Time Money is always a sensitive topic. That is why it is best to talk about it in a safe place with friends who love you! On our journey to be faithful and honor God in all parts of our life, we must take time to pray for each other and listen to the Lord. Some of you may have even felt a little squirmy when we mention tithing 10% of your income to the church. This is the best place and best people to work out those feelings! Let’s welcome the Holy Spirit into our group time. He is the God who values us all and knows what we need. (Allow time to welcome the Holy Spirit in silence and wait on him to speak. We really want people to experience the presence of God personally and small group is the perfect context for this to happen. Model for your small group risk taking and a willingness to be dependent on God. Remember that God often comes in power when we are weak!) •

Ask if anyone in the time of silence (recommended 2 minutes) got a picture, word, song lyrics, images, etc. that may be from the Lord. Pray for each other in the group.

Direction for common prayer: Ask your prayer partner what area in their finances they want to trust God more in. Pray for their faith to increase in that area. •

Ask your prayer partner if there is any other area that they want to engage in God’s Kingdom work at the church, work, or community. Pray for God to give them the opportunity and means to seek anew God’s Kingdom in that way.