Series Introduction
Historians will look at the year that just ended as a financial train wreck that left millions of foreclosed homes, bankruptcies, and lost jobs. Yet very few will speak of how far our spending habits and views on money have shifted from the Biblical principles God has presented us to protect and guide us when such a crisis occurs. This is a “back to basics” series about how God views money, how we can benefit from consulting God when it comes to finances experiencing joy in giving.
Session 1
CONSUMED
Big Idea
Even in perilous economic times, God challenges us to trust and follow Him in our finances rather than be consumed by fear or greed.
Ice Breaker
What is one thing you were “consumed with” as a kid?
Introduction
The Bible says that where we put our time, energy, and money is where our heart will also be. Some of the things that consume us are a reflection of where our hearts should be, but there are other things with which we are consumed that we wouldn’t be as eager to admit if indeed it is any indication of what’s in our hearts.
1. What consumes most of your time now? Why?
2. What choices have you made in your life to sacrifice when it comes to time or money? How did those choices make you feel? Why?
3. Do you feel like these choices were a reflection of your heart?
READ Matthew 6:19-21(NLT)
Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Anderson Cooper recently posted his “10 Culprits of the Collapse”, calling out CEO’s of corporations like AIG and Lehman Brothers, the chairman of the SEC, and government officials like Phil Graham and Alan Greenspan. These “culprits” are the ones who (according to Cooper) allowed or caused the recent financial crisis. They made millions and millions on Wall Street while many on Main Street lost everything.
The recent, unprecedented financial upheaval in world financial markets boils down to two prevailing, driving factors: fear and greed, and what drives most of us in our financial lives is not that different from what drives the global economy: we are either consumed by fear about not having enough money or consumed with having enough so that our lives will be happy.
In terms of our own personal economics: is it fear or greed that keeps us chasing the almighty dollar? Or is it both?
4. What are some things that you think God has to say about finances?
5. How do you feel about the things you think God has to say about money and finances?
Two of Jesus’ most famous sayings about money are found in the same passage of Scripture. One comes after talking about the danger of greed (“You can’t serve God and money”) and the other comes after talking about worrying about material things (“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”) Greed and fear: greed is trusting in the accumulation of money to make life happy and meaningful and fear is when our primary focus is on not having enough.
6. What qualities do you think God wants people to exhibit when it comes to money?
7. In what ways has your relationship with God impacted your finances?
READ Philippians 4:19 (The Message)
You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity.
What’s Next?
We encourage you to put a check mark in the box as you progress over the course of the next week and take a commitment step by telling someone what you are doing to grow spiritually.
Memorize Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Pray and repeat the Philippians verse when making financial decisions.
For further reading on prayer in regards to financial decisions go to
www.ctlibrary.com/72881
Session 2
FREE
“What’s Next?” Follow Up
Take a moment to revisit last week’s “What’s Next?” to see and hear how people have grown or have been challenged.
Big Idea
In order to experience true financial freedom we need to shift our focus toward a relationship with God, trusting in Him with everyday spending and other financial decisions.
Ice Breaker
Imagine you are given $2 million, no strings attached. What would you do with it (fun, selfish, generous, noble, or practical)?
Introduction
God wants us to be free from the love of money and to be content. Yet we can’t get free from the love of money once any more than we can get our house free from dust once. It calls for ongoing action that is part of our lives; the love of money will always try to creep back into our lives.
1. The saying “enough is always 23% more than what you have now” is a reflection of how most of us view our financial situations. How have you experienced this in your life?
READ Hebrews 13:5-6 (The Message)
Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote,
God is there, ready to help;
I'm fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?
2. When was a time in your life when you felt peace in regards to your finances? What was it like?
3. Is God a regular part of your financial decisions? Why or why not?
Read 1 Timothy 6:6 (The Message)
A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.
Getting free from the love of money is a relational thing: God promises something that money can’t do: to never let us down nor walk off and leave us. Money will sooner or later leave us and let us down, one way or another. God says that knowing Him in a personal way, knowing that He won’t leave us, is the key to how to get free from the love of money and find financial peace. God is the replacement to money as our helper, as the one who makes us safe and secure in this world.
4. How might a relationship with God help with our financial decisions?
5. What would it take for you to trust God with your finances?
READ Proverbs 3:4-6 (The Message)
Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.
Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.
Earn a reputation for living well
in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
6. Is it possible to feel financial peace in poor economic times?
What’s Next?
We encourage you to put a check mark in the box as you progress over the course of the next week and take a commitment step by telling someone what you are doing to grow spiritually.
Identify areas in your finances in which you can ask God for peace.
Take a step toward trusting God with your finances (sign up for Financial Peace, give a financial donation and trust that God will provide, pray when paying bills, and/or cut an area of spending and trust God to bless the decision).
Session 3
GENEROUS
“What’s Next?” Follow Up
Take a moment to revisit last week’s “What’s Next?” to see and hear how people have grown or have been challenged.
Big Idea
Our God delights in being generous and He invites us to experience that same extreme joy in following Him toward living a generous lifestyle.
Ice Breaker
What turned out to be one of the worst things you ever spent money on?
Introduction
Sometimes the thought of generosity is like a bad game of “Would You Rather.” Some of us would rather have a root canal than give away any of our time or money, but in reference to the ice breaker question, it would be difficult to find someone who referred to a time they gave financially as one of the worst ways to have spent money.
There are many different reasons to be generous: to feel good about ourselves, to help others, to make a difference and change the world, to set an example, to be obedient, to feel needed, because we like being thanked and appreciated. The best reason is to become more like God.
1. Have you ever been the recipient of another person’s generosity or witnessed someone’s generosity to another? Explain.
2. How did the generosity you experienced or witnessed affect your life?
3. Can you recall a time when you exhibited generosity? How did it feel?
There are so many things that God is that we have no chance of being: omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and perfect. There is no need to even attempt to be like God in any of these ways. We’ve got no chance. Being generous, however, is our chance to be more like Him.
READ Matthew 10:8 (The Message)
You have been treated generously, so live generously.
4. In what ways can you become more generous¬¬—more like God?
5. Are there specific needs you see around you with which you can help?
God gives knowing that there will be no return to Him for His generosity. He makes the sun shine and the rain fall on both the just and the unjust (i.e., the people who care about Him and who don’t; the ones who deserve it and the ones who don’t). To chase the Almighty is to seek to become more like Him. And He is generous.
READ Luke 6:31-34
Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
6. What are the qualities and characteristics of people that you consider to be truly generous?
7. Which of these qualities would you like to adopt in your personal finances and relationship with money?
8. Would you rather give to be more like God or give to get something back?
What’s Next?
We encourage you to put a check mark in the box as you progress over the course of the next week and take a commitment step by telling someone what you are doing to grow spiritually.
Identify one way you can be generous this week.
Clean out your closet, drawers, and/or garage. Donate some of the things you don’t need. Include at least one thing that is important to you. (When cleaning out our stuff there is always that shirt or pair of pants that you forgot you had but you are excited that you found. This time make a commitment to give it away in spite of the excitement of finding it. You didn’t miss it before you found!)
