ENGAGE INSPIRE EQUIP

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Life Group Sermon Study

Joyful Generosity January 25-26, 2014

Break the Ice:

ENGAGE

(A key part of healthy group life is to make sure your group gets to know each other and builds good relationships. The purpose of these first questions is to help your group open up. Please don’t feel like you have to ask each question. Once you feel like the group is ready, move onto the “Inspire” section.)

• What is the cheapest that you have paid per gallon for gas? • Have you ever been forced to learn a tough lesson about money? When was it and what did you learn? • What did God teach you during the message this weekend? Did anything in particular stand out? Prayer: Take some time to pray for God to speak to your group through this week’s study. Questions:

IN SP IRE

(Each question has a lot to unpack. Since the group may need time to process each question, don’t let silence scare you. Try to avoid filling the space with unnecessary explanation or moving on from the question too quickly.)

1. Aaron said, “Generosity has very little to do with how much we have, but more so the condition of our heart.” • What do you think this means? Does this change the way you think about generosity?

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. • What stands out to you from this passage? Why?

2. Read 2 Corinthians 9:11-12 again. Aaron said, “Two tangible things happen when Christians walk in generosity. The first is that real, tangible needs of others get met. The second is that people come to know the Lord by way of our material generosity.” • What are some real, physical, and tangible needs that you have seen Christians meet through generosity? Share stories. How does it feel to be a part of something like that? What is the purpose for Christians to have this kind of generosity? • Have you ever witnessed someone coming to know the Lord through Christian generosity? Share stories. 3. Read 2 Corinthians 9:7-10 again. Aaron said, “Giving a lot of money away is not the same thing as being generous, while at the same time giving what seems like a little could be very generous. You’re not being generous when you give sporadically, reluctantly, or under compulsion.” • Do you plan ahead for what you give or do you give under compulsion? Are you a reluctant or cheerful giver? Why?

Read Luke 21:1-4. Aaron said, “A Christian is someone who feels absolutely rich because of God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, and gift of Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and therefore, turns around and has a different attitude toward their possessions.” • How does this statement hit you?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 4:7. Aaron said, “I’m stewarding an extremely small portion of my Heavenly Father’s wealth for an extremely short period of time. One day, He’s going to ask me about it.” • How would this perspective of our finances and material possessions affect the way that you steward them? How is that different from the way that you steward your resources now? Application:

EQUIP

(These questions will challenge your group members to apply the study to their daily lives. How can they live out what they take in? It is highly important that you go over this section with your group each week for the group study to be a success.)

Read 2 Corinthians 9:10-15 again. • How do you know if you are really being generous? • If you’re not generous now, how do you get there? If you are generous, is it still sacrificial or has it become easy? • What does your next step look like when it comes to generosity? Prayer: Take some time to pray over each group member’s identified action steps and life issues. Equip Your Mind: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)