Week 2 Extravagantly Generous Discussion Guide

Sermon recording

If anyone missed Sunday's sermon, encourage them to watch the recording. Note that the first several minutes of this week's sermon were not recorded due to technical difficulties.

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.

Video:

Watch this video from the Bible Project together.

Opening question:

In Pastor Aaron’s sermon on Sunday, he discussed a “collision of worldviews” in the story of the Feeding of the 5,000. As you just saw in the Bible Project video, Jesus has a worldview of abundance. The disciples (and we often too) have a worldview of scarcity. How would you describe the difference between these two worldviews? What is most difficult about inhabiting the story of abundance in the face of the myth of scarcity?

Reading of Scripture:

Have someone read Genesis 1:24-31 aloud

• As God spoke creation into existence, how do you picture his demeanor? What does this creation story tell us about who God is?
• The book of Genesis paints the picture of a God who is a “generous host”. What is it like to be at an extravagant party hosted by a generous host? What is the most extravagant party you have ever been to? What was it like?

Have someone read Genesis 3:1-6 aloud

• What is the lie that the serpent told Eve? How does it connect to the myth of scarcity?
• The first temptation is for humans to take and close their fists, rather than receive God’s good gifts open-handedly. How do you experience that temptation in your own life?

Have someone read Mark 6:30-44 aloud

• What resonates with you in this passage? Where do you experience resistance?
• In what ways do you notice the disciples carrying a scarcity mindset? How might this miracle challenge the myth of scarcity?
• In verse 40, Jesus looked up to heaven, gave thanks and broke the loaves. What would it look like for you to practice these things regularly? How can you keep your head set on heaven, your heart set on gratitude and your hands set on giving? If you engaged in these practices regularly, how might your life look different?
• What is something Jesus might be inviting you to give to Him so He can use it and multiply it? 

Have someone read Mark 6:45-52 aloud

• Verse 52 says, "the disciples had not understood about the loaves." What is the lesson of the loaves? How can the lesson of the loaves help us during storms in our lives?
• When storms hit your life, do you find yourself "straining at the oars"? What does striving look like in your life? What would it look like to trust God during times when all you see is lack?

Practice:

The disciples likely had 12 baskets of food in their boat during the storm, as reminders of Jesus' provision and faithfulness. What are baskets in your boat? What are the stories of God's faithfulness to you?

Call to mind a time when all you saw was your lack and God came through for you. Share stories in your group.

Giving as a spiritual discipline:

One of the main takeaways from the Feeding of the 5,000 is that God can do big things with our small offerings. What is one small (or big) thing that I can share with someone else this week and pray that God uses it in a mighty way?

Ministry Time:

After the feeding of the 5,000, the disciples are on a boat in a windstorm (Mark 6:45-52). Jesus walks toward them on the water and calms the storm. “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid," Jesus says.

When the winds of life pick up and your boat is rocking in the storm, we can trust Jesus will be faithful and provide what we need. Is there anyone in your group going through a storm right now? Take some time to pray for one another.