Ideas for Small Groups
Giving is Fun Weeks of Self-Denial 2014 Discussion ideas on the General’s Appeal for the Weeks of Self-Denial 2014 The following suggestions for discussion take passages from General André Cox’s appeal, as it is reprinted in The Salvation Army’s Forum, and invite you to talk about them and relate the contents to your own lives. The General’s words are printed in a different typeface and in italics. I suggest that you read the relevant passages out loud and then follow the suggestions for discussion.
The following paragraph seems to offer me a key to the answer: The Bible also speaks to us about the heart of the giver. The Old Testament deals with the subject of tithing, by which we give a certain percentage of what we have. The New Testament adheres to this teaching. At the same time it places in the centre the joyful, willing, sacrificial and generous giving of the believers. Paul writes these wise words to Timothy: ‘But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs’ (1 Timothy 6:6-10).
‘We take care of God’s property’ General Shaw Clifton (R) writes in his book Never the Same Again: ‘When you are a Christian, you begin to see possessions in a new light. Yes, you still possess things, whether few or many, small or big. But your right of ownership is not governed by the laws of this world. Your eyes are now focused on a more distant horizon and you understand: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). So if you have money, it is all God’s money. If you own land, it is all God’s land. If you have books, or a car or clothes, everything belongs to God. You possess it but, ultimately, everything belongs to God as owner. He has entrusted it to you as trustee or custodian. You take care of it for him and use it according to his will.’ •
•
When I saw how few worldly goods my brother had when he died, I realised how worthless they are for people who have to leave the world. My perspective has changed since then. A psalmist suggests that we keep in mind that one day we have to die. That would be a wise thing to do.
Remember back to the moment when you first became aware that your life belongs completely to God. To what extent did this have an influence on your relationship to your possessions? How do you feel about the fact that you no longer have sole control over your possessions? How does that match with the freedom for which Christ has set us free? (Galatians 5:1)
•
What objects do you cling on to especially? What would happen if they were destroyed in a flood?
•
What would change if you started to give away every tenth book and every tenth DVD you possess?
1 Frank Honsberg // Evangelist & Territorialer Sekretär für Entwicklung geistlichen Lebens // Impulse 2014 SVW 02 ENG Die Heilsarmee THQ // Salierring 23-27 // 50677 Köln // frank.honsberg@heilsarmee.de // 0221-20819-0