Posts filed under God & Money

What God Promises Sacrificial Givers

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Series: God & Money

  1. Sacrifical Giving Stores Up Treasure in Heaven
  2. Sacrificial Giving Changes Us
  3. Sacrificial Giving Shows Off God's Worth
  4. Sacrificial Giving Brings Great Joy
  5. Sacrificial Giving Brings Blessing on Earth

Discussion Questions

Download the discussion questions as a printable PDF file.

GETTING TO KNOW ME

Describe someone you know who is a sacrificial giver; what are they like?

INTO THE BIBLE

  1. Review the benefits God promises sacrificial givers. Discuss how this impacted you.
  2. Read Matthew 6:21. Discuss how our emotions follow our spending and giving. Have you seen this?
  3. Read Isaiah 58:6-11. What is the summons here? What rewards are promised if we obey?
  4. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-14. What is Paul’s advice here? Summarize it in your own words.
  5. Read Matthew 6:1-4, 19-21. Is it legitimate to obey God for reward? Why or why not? What does this text say?
  6. Read Luke 19:11-27. Discuss how faithfulness with money in this life impacts rewards in the next life.
  7. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-4. Discuss the phrase, “they gave . . . beyond their ability.” What might this look like?
  8. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-3, notice the connection between giving and joy. Have you seen this?
  9. How is our giving a window into our relationship with God?
  10. Read Malachi 3:6-10. Does it surprise you that God says to “test Him”? Why or why not? When God promises to pour out “so much blessing,” what might this include? Why?

APPLICATION

What excites you most about sacrificial giving?

Posted on April 13, 2014 and filed under God & Money.

Investing God's Way

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
Series: God & Money

  1. Who Should Give?
  2. When Should We Give?
  3. How Much Should We Give?
  4. Where Should We Give?

Discussion Questions

Download the discussion questions as a printable PDF file.

GETTING TO KNOW ME

Have you listened to any of the “prosperity preachers” on TV? If so, what did you think?

INTO THE BIBLE

  1. Read Genesis 14:20 and 28:22. Why do you think Abram and Jacob chose to give the amount of “a tenth”?
  2. Tithing appears before the Mosaic Law. It is part of God’s expectations for all time? Why or why not?
  3. Read Matthew 19:21. What does it mean to have “treasure in Heaven”? How do we get this?
  4. Read Deuteronomy 14:22-27. Summarize what Moses is saying. Why does he command tithing?
  5. In light of 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, how is the New Testament even more radical than the Old Testament?
  6. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-4. What does Paul mean, “they gave . . . beyond their ability”?
  7. Read Malachi 3:8-10. What does God promise to faithful tithers here? Why? Who is cursed?
  8. Read Luke 11:42. Jesus mentions tithing here; what is His point?
  9. Read Matthew 6:21. What does it mean, “wherever your treasure is—there is your heart also”?
  10. Why is tithing so weak in the American church? Should we tithe gross or net?

APPLICATION

How did you make your decision about what amount of money to regularly give EFCCL?

Posted on April 6, 2014 and filed under God & Money.

The Money Monster

Speaker: Pastor Jay Childs
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31
Series: God & Money

  1. The Power of the Monster
  2. Killing the Monster

Discussion Questions

Download the discussion questions as a printable PDF file.

GETTING TO KNOW ME

If you could give away one million dollars, what cause would you give it to?

INTO THE BIBLE

  1. Read Matthew 6:19-24. Summarize what Jesus says here about money. Why such strong language?
  2. What does Jesus mean, “You cannot serve both God and money”? Be specific.
  3. Read 1 Timothy 6:3-10. What does Paul say here about money? What is his point? Have you seen this?
  4. What is “the love of money”? Describe this as specifically as you can.
  5. Read Matthew 19:24. Why would Jesus say this? What does He mean? Does this offend people?
  6. Why are so many churches hesitant to talk about tithing?
  7. Read Luke 12:15. How can we “be on our guard against greed”? What steps need to be taken?
  8. How does our culture promote the love of money? How should the church address this?
  9. Read Proverbs 11:24-25. Why does God call us to be generous with our money? Be specific.
  10. How do our giving habits reveal what we really think about God?

APPLICATION

In what areas does ‘the Money Monster’ most attack you? How are you fighting this?

Posted on March 23, 2014 and filed under God & Money.