Extravagantly Generous Discussion Guide Week 1

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE: WEEK 1

Check-in
Share with the group something you are grateful for and something that is causing you stress

Opening prayer (pray aloud together):
Godliness with contentment is great gain. We bring nothing into this world, and we take nothing out of it. We, who call Jesus LORD, devote ourselves to resisting greed, which plunges the human heart into ruin and pierces it with many griefs.

We are determined to practice generosity with free hearts, fixing our hope on GOD and not the uncertainty of wealth. We desire to be rich in good deeds and willing to share all that we have, laying up for ourselves treasure that will not decay but will shine in the age to come. Amen.

Opening questions:

• On Sunday, Pastor Robb asked us to fill in the blank: “In my relationship with money, I am _______.” Share how you would respond.

• Being extravagantly generous is one of DCV’s guiding principles. In what ways have you seen or experienced the generosity of our church?

• How are the values of ‘exceedingly grateful’ and ‘extravagantly generous’ connected?

Practice:

On Sunday, Pastor Robb invited us to write down five things we are grateful for. Share with the group a couple things you are grateful for.

Are there any possessions you are thankful for? How might you share these with others?

Scripture discussion:

Have someone read Matthew 25:14-30

• What resonates with you in this passage? Where do you experience resistance?
  
  
• This passage identifies us, not as consumers, but as managers or stewards. What is the difference? 

• Based on the passage, what is God’s expectation of our stewardship?

• What has God entrusted you with? How do you think you are doing in stewarding the money and resources you’ve been given? How are you using them for Kingdom purposes?

• In the parable, why do you think that the servants were given different amounts? What can that teach us about fairness and comparison?
  
  
• If everything you have was on loan from someone else, how would that change the way you relate to your possessions and resources?

• Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” According to Scripture, everything you have is literally on loan from the Creator. James Luther Mays says: “The declaration that the Lord is owner is an intentional denial that anyone else is.” Do you experience any resistance to the idea that all you possess is God’s? 

• Our culture has conditioned us to believe that my stuff is mine. I worked hard for the money, so it’s my choice how I spend it. What are ways we can push back against this cultural narrative?
  
  
• Mark Allan Powell wrote: “We own nothing but manage everything. God trusts us in a way that we are reluctant to trust each other and places confidence in us beyond anything that our record thus far would seem to warrant.” What does it say about God that He would trust us with His riches?

Giving as a spiritual discipline

When it comes to financial stewardship, we as a church don’t want something from you but something for you. As we learn to have an open-handed posture with our money and practice generosity, we open ourselves up to freedom, joy, peace, contentment and so much more. When we practice generosity, we also open our hearts to be transformed by the Spirit into generous people.

What is one practice of giving that you can begin right now that will begin to form in you the generosity of God?

Ministry time

Take some time to pray for one another in your journeys toward becoming generous stewards of what God has entrusted.