Week of 7/10/2016

Memory Verse:

Luke 6:38 - “Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken

together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Day 1 – Read John 6:1-6

Dig In: Why were the crowds following Jesus at this point? How did the crowds following Jesus set the stage for the miracle that was about to take place? What was Jesus trying to teach Philip with his question in vs. 5?

Take Root: Jesus looked up and saw the crowd pressing in on His disciples on the mountain and decided to do something about it. Philip was from this region, so Jesus likely asked Him because He was a local. However, Jesus had a greater purpose and lesson in His question. Jesus knew what He planned to do before Philip did, but He asked Philip the question to teach him. Jesus took advantage of a situation that presented itself to teach a lesson. We have the same opportunity with our friends and family who are just beginning to understand generosity. Jesus noticed a need, responded to it, and taught as he responded.

Cultivate: How does the fact that Jesus: a)knows what needs to happen, b) will provide for that need, and c) then allow those who are following him to learn from that experience impact your relationship with Him?

Journal: Write down 1 area of your life that you need to start working on to be more generous.

Day 2 – Read John 6:6-14

Dig In: Why is it significant that Jesus knew what He would do in verse 6? How did Philip respond to Jesus’ request (v. 7)? How did Andrew respond to the small amount the young boy had to give (v. 9)? This story reminds us Jesus has unlimited resources and knows the outcome of every situation. How should these truths impact our generosity?

Take Root: Jesus knew they had all the resources He needed to do what He planned. Philip did not see the situation from Jesus’ point of view. He missed what Jesus was able to see clearly, and so do we. Many people stop short of being generous because they are afraid what they are giving is not enough or won’t make a difference. Such a response echoes Andrew’s. Yet behind the scenes, Jesus understood all that was going on. When we are generous, the amount does not matter as much as the practice of willingly giving to the work of the Lord.

Cultivate: With Jesus, what we are able to give is enough. The boy started giving by giving what he could. Everyone is able to give something. When we realize there is no threshold we have to meet before we give, we will be free to give as we are able. Why is the simple act of giving more important than the amount given? What does giving teach us about Jesus and our relationship with Him?

Day 3 – Read Luke 10: 25-37

Dig In: How do you respond when your day is interrupted? Do you respond with grace, or are you more easily frustrated? What does your response to the interruption teach you about the way you view your time and resources?

Take Root: In Luke 10 we are introduced to a character we know today as the good Samaritan. This man saw someone in distress and allowed his day to be interrupted. He didn’t permit the inconvenience or expense to stop him. While others passed by, the Samaritan stopped to help. He gave of himself to a person whom he would likely never see again. He saw a need and immediately responded. Generous people are both simple and alert. This story could look a little heroic, but it’s really just common courtesy. Giving consistently means that we are able to stop and respond to the needs we see in front of us, like the good Samaritan.

Cultivate: While the emphasis of this story is the good Samaritan, how do you find yourself identifying with the scribe and his questions? What types of people are most challenging for you to love? Do you find it easier to love people who are similar to you? Why or why not?

Day 4 – Read Luke 19:1-10

Dig In: What do we know about Zacchaeus before he met Jesus? How would the crowds have responded to a man like Zacchaeus approaching a well-respected religious teacher like Jesus? Who in today’s culture would you compare to a man like Zacchaeus?

Take Root: In Luke 19, Jesus meets a man named Zacchaeus, who was a tax collector with a record of defrauding many people. When Zacchaeus began to follow Jesus, Jesus did not ask Zacchaeus to give away his possessions, but Zacchaeus did so because of the joy he found in following the Lord.

Cultivate: As a result of his encounter with Jesus, what did Zacchaeus say he would do? Why do you think he responded the way he did? Did Jesus ask Zacchaeus to respond the way he did? At this point, Jesus could have responded by saying, “No, you don’t have to do that,” or “Well, it’s about time!” What did He actually say? What can we learn from this about what pleases God?

Day 5 – Read Mark 14:3-9

Dig In: What do you know about Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, from other Gospel accounts? How does her act of extravagant giving in this passage compare or contrast with those other stories? When we realize who Jesus is, why is extravagant generosity the only right response?

Take Root: Before Jesus was to be crucified, a woman anointed Jesus with expensive oil. While the disciples squabbled about her excessive gift, Jesus commended the woman. Jesus’ extravagant sacrifice leads to extravagant generosity from His people.

Cultivate: The selfless act of Mary challenges us to give our best to Jesus. God will not overlook any service for Him. We should not allow others’ critical attitudes or our own self-consciousness to hinder us from expressing our love for the Lord. Ultimately, the example of lavish, immediate obedience that we follow is not Mary’s, but Jesus’ own example. How did Mary choose to show her obedience to Jesus? What was significant about her action? What message does Mary’s example of lavish giving to God hold for us today? What is the connection between worship and generosity?

Working the soil - Philippians 2:5-8

• What do you think it was like for Jesus to leave heaven and become human? What did He give up in doing so? What did we gain from His action?

• In what ways did Jesus’ obedience to the Father convey and require strength? How did Jesus give extravagantly to us?

• What does a believer’s life look like when he or she is focused on giving their best to God, regardless of the cost?

• Why does giving to God develop humility?

Small Group Questions:

Key Passages: Acts 4: 31-35

• Share with the group a time where someone made a big impact in your life through building you up. Ask others to share.

• We heard about 6 giving areas on Sunday as we began learning about how our generosity will allow us to build other people up: Time, Praise, Help, Partnership, Grace, and Challenge. Which of these is the easiest and which is the hardest to give? Receive?

• What does it say about our walk with God?

• Who can our group (or individuals) reach out to in the next month that will build them up? Who will help our group follow up with that person?

• How can we help each other hear these truths and put them into practice in our lives? How will community help us not “merely listen to the word”, but do what it says?