Open: Have you ever experienced generosity? Share your story. How did it make you feel? How did it encourage your faith?
Read: 2 Corinthians 8-9; Psalm 24:1; Ecclesiastes 5; Matthew 6; Luke 12; 1 Timothy 6:10
Discuss:
1. Why do you think discussions surrounding generosity and giving in the church make us so nervous? What misunderstanding and assumptions do we have about generosity and giving that make us fearful of the topic? How do most Americans view money? How has this infiltrated the church?
2. How does our misunderstanding about ownership and greed affect our generosity? What is the difference between giving and generosity? In what ways are we as Americans great at giving but not very generous?
3. In what ways does Divine ownership (God as the owner of everything) help free us to be generous? Describe the Old Testament concept of “tithing” (10%). How is generosity the greater command of the New Testament? In what ways is a tithe meant to be the basis of giving and generosity the faith of giving? Describe the Biblical concept of sowing and reaping. What keeps us from sowing bountifully?
4. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul describes to the Corinthian Christians that God loves a cheerful giver. What does this mean? Would you consider your giving “cheerful”?
5. How does generosity bring greater contentment in our lives? How have you seen contentment grow a heart of generosity in your own life? Where are you lacking contentment?
6. How does generosity multiply gospel impact in your life personally? How is ministry expanded through your generosity? How would you rate your generosity?
Pray: Take a moment to thank God for all the ways He has been generous to you. Ask God to grow your generosity. Pray that God would show you specific ministry areas in the church in which your generosity could help further.
Memorize/Meditate: The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
