Review this week's message.

Key Thought:

It is always more fulfilling to give than to receive.

Key Quote

“There’s nothing wrong with having things, just make sure things don’t have you.” – Pastor Bil Cornelius

Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.

• Name someone you’ve always admired & tell the group why.
• Had you ever heard of Andrew Carnegie before? What would you do with $400 million?
• What is your dream car? Where would you drive it?
• Do you have a material thing you love? If so, tell the group about it.

Start thinking. Ask a thoughtful question.

• Why is it more fulfilling to give than to receive? What is it about giving that brings more satisfaction?
• Why is it so easy to fall for the trap that accumulating things brings joy?
• Why is it important to be a cheerful giver?
• Why can the topic of money and giving be such a big deal for some people?

Start sharing. Choose questions that create openness.

Do you give through Church Unlimited? Why or why not?

When was a time that gave generously? How did it make you feel?

How has God blessed you? What will you do to bless others?

What area or need do you feel called to serve/make a difference?

Start praying. Be bold, and pray with power.

Dear Jesus, thank you for modeling what it looks like to be the perfect giver. Not only did you display a giver’s heart day in and day out, but you also displayed it at the end of your life when you gave your life for us. Help us to have the same heart you had, give to others generously, and shine your light everywhere we go. In your name we pray, Amen.

Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.

• It is important to remember that everything we have has actually been given to us by God. All throughout Scripture, we see a biblical principle modeled in which God’s people bring back the first 10% of what God has given to them. If you are not currently practicing the biblical tithe, commit to being faithful with your finances and bringing the first 10% of your finances to the House of God.
• Church Unlimited filters everything through the lens of taking “As Many People To Heaven As We Can Before We Die. Period.” and that is not stopping in 2020. Continue to pray for what God wants you to give towards the 2020 Vision offering next weekend.
• Take a moment and commit to increasing your generosity. If you’ve never given, commit to giving. If your giving isn’t regular, commit to giving with every paycheck. If you’re giving but not tithing, commit to the tithe. If you’re tithing, commit to giving an offering over and above your 10%. Using discretion to protect personal boundaries, ask the group to hold you accountable to this new commitment to generosity.

Scriptures

I will present a thank offering to you, and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord before all his people. Psalm 116:17-18 NET

When you sacrifice a Thanksgiving-Offering to God, do it right so it will be acceptable. Leviticus 22:29 MSG

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” Psalm 50:14-15 ESV

“Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.” Revelation 22:12 NLT

The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 1 Corinthians 3:8 NLT

“...the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.” 2 Peter 3:7 NLT

Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 MSG

And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Luke 10:35 ESV

But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity. Isaiah 32:8 NLT

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44 NLT