Small Group Guide
“The Generosity of the Church”
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Message Summary
As Paul concludes his first letter to Timothy, he instructs this young pastor to guide the Ephesians believers to put their hope in God and not on riches. As we have studied 1 Timothy this semester, we have examined various matters that relate to our life together as a local church, and as 1 Timothy 6:17-19 promotes, one way in which the local church reflects the character of God is in being generous with the resources that God has provided. Our generosity should reflect the joyful generosity of the God we serve.
With this, we see two approaches to life – a pagan approach and a Christian approach. Because the pagan approach rests its hope on “the uncertainty of riches” and lives as though this world is all there is (v. 17), it results in pride, anxiety, and busyness. However, Paul directs Timothy and us to “take hold of that which is truly life” and to invest our lives and resources in what will eternally endure (v. 19). If we are living for the life to come, it means that we have discerned the difference between false hopes and true riches, and as a result, we will be joyfully generous with money and possessions, not tight-fisted. We will take next steps to obey God’s commands, specifically with regard to giving, and we will believe that Jesus’ Kingdom is unstoppable.
Discussion & Application Questions
After briefly reviewing the message summary, use these questions to further examine the sermon and to discuss how these truths apply to daily life, so we can “be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (Jas. 1:22). Based on your knowledge of the people in your small group, select the questions that will best help you frame the group’s discussion of this sermon and sermon text.
FALSE HOPES (V. 17)
1. How do we know if we are consumed with a love of money or possessions? What are the symptoms?
2. In what ways does a love of riches deceive us?
3. Read Ez. 28:4-5; Jer. 9:23-24; James 4:13-5:6. What is the relationship between pride and riches? In what ways do we boast in what we have?
4. How do we guard against materialism in our lives?
5. In what ways can riches hijack our dependence on God (see Prov. 30:8-9)? How have you seen this in your own life?
6. What changes do you need to make in your attitude towards money or in how you manage money? What next step will you take to make that change?
TRUE RICHES (VV. 18-19)
7. Why is it important to be generous and to serve with our money?
8. Read 1 Timothy 6:18-19. What are examples of ways we can serve with our money?
9. Read Luke 12:13-21. How can we be sinful about saving, not just about spending?
10. How do cultivate a greater enjoyment of God in our lives?
11. How do we enjoy God’s gifts without becoming consumed by them?
12. Why should it take faith in Christ for an unbeliever to understand why we as Christians handle our money the way that we do? Does our use of money mystify unbelievers? What should be different in the way we spend and save for this to occur?
13. Read 1 Timothy 6:19. What does it look like to store up treasure for the coming age? What are practical examples of how to do this?
SO BROOK HILLS…TAKE THE NEXT STEP AND BELIEVE THAT JESUS’ KINGDOM IS UNSTOPPABLE
14. What next step do you need to take in light of these truths?
15. How would you define biblical generosity? What does it look like? How does it differ from the generosity of the world?
16. How is it a test to have wealth? How do we respond to wealth with faith in God?
17. What is our motivation for giving? What should it be?
18. How do we change our motivation, if it is not what it should be?
19. Why is Christ worth living, spending, saving, and serving according to 1 Timothy 6:17-19?
20. How do we free ourselves from a love of money? How does generosity play a part in this?
Things to Consider
If you have people in your group who did not hear the sermon, read the sermon text (1 Timothy 6:17-19) together and briefly summarize the main points of the sermon. Recapping the sermon text and sermon outline can also be a helpful way to start the group, even if everyone did hear the sermon.
In 1 Timothy 6:17, Paul describes God as One who “richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”
Before jumping into a small group discussion on generosity, take time as a group to reflect on God’s generosity. In what ways has He given generously to you? After answering this question, ask someone to offer a prayer of praise to God for His generosity to us.
Divide the group into pairs or triads, and in those smaller groups, direct them to share with each other whether they are inclined more towards spending or saving. Why is that their inclination? In those smaller groups, have them discuss what that inclination says about their view of God. What does it say about their hopes, desires, and even coping mechanisms? What does it say about what they treasure? Why do they handle money the way that they do?
In the sermon, Pastor Matt made the comment that “biblical generosity is a spiritual muscle, and we strengthen it by regular use.” As we are nearing 2018, challenge your small group to plan for generosity as they determine their budget for the next year. How will they plan to exercise the spiritual muscle of generosity? Encourage them to take one step at a time, and maybe the first step is to pray that God will change their heart regarding their use of money. Another step could be to analyze their current spending habits to determine areas that could be trimmed and to decide where they will give that money instead (the local church, a missions organization, missionaries who are raising support, Christian ministries, etc.). If they aren’t tithing to the church, urge them to add that into their budget. If they are already giving, can they increase their giving by even 1%?
Remind the group that what we do with our riches makes a statement about our definition of true riches. Another way to think about this is to consider that if every Christian gave as you do, what would be the state of the church, the lost, and the world? As you plan for 2018, how will you contribute to the advancement of the gospel? What will it look like – both in your use of time and money – for you to invest in what’s eternal?
In the “So Brook Hills” part of the sermon, Pastor Matt urged our faith family to take a next step with what they have heard. Each person’s step will look different with regard to financial generosity, but set the expectation for each person to identify their next step over the holidays. Knowing your group, what will be the best way to check in regarding their next step? Should they have a partner who checks in them? Will you as the leader check in with each person/couple? Think through this, and be sure to follow up in the beginning of the new year.
Weekly Prayer Focus
Pray for Our Church:
· Praise God for the many resources with which He has blessed us, and ask Him to help us best steward those resources.
· Pray for wisdom and discernment as we consider our proposed ministry budget for 2018, and pray for God’s provision to meet budget.
· Pray for Him to grow our generosity and sacrificial giving and for Him to use our efforts to spread His gospel here and around the world.
Pray for Our City:
· Pray for The Foundry Ministries, a local nonprofit organization that provides life-changing guidance and hope for the addict, the ex-inmate, and those in low-income communities.
· Pray for First Baptist Montevallo and for Pastor Terry Sutton.
Pray for Our World:
· Pray for the peoples of Vietnam, specifically for six unreached people groups in that country. Evangelical Christians make up about 1.8% of the people of Vietnam, and because Christians there face persecution both from the government and their families, World Watch List designates them as #17 in the world for the persecution of Christians. To learn more about how to pray, visit prayforvietnam.org
· Pray for our Short-Term team serving in Cambodia with Neverthirst.
The Church at Brook Hills “The Generosity of the Church,” November 19, 2017 | Page 4