LIVING GENEROUS
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE
LIVING GENEROUS
FINDING CONTENTMENT
through GIVING
RON BLUE
& BRETT EASTMAN
WHERE IS YOUR
I SESSION HEART?
MEMORY VERSE
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
MATTHEW 6:21
This is an inspiring story about someone who turned their finances over to God. They learned to bless others and became a blessing themselves. This is an inspiring story about someone who turned their finances over to God. They learned to bless others and became a blessing themselves.This is an inspiring story about someone who turned their finances over to God. They learned to bless others and became a blessing themselves.This is an inspiring story about someone who turned their finances over to God. They learned to bless others and became a blessing themselves.
Important quote that should stand out from this story or a wrap up point should go here.
Open your group with prayer.
This should be a brief, simple prayer, in which you invite God to give you insight as you study. You can pray for specific requests at the end of the meeting, or stop momentarily to pray if a particular situation comes up during your discussion.
Before you start this first meeting, get contact information for every participant. Take time to pass around a copy of the Small Group Roster on page, a sheet of paper, or pass around your Study Guide, opened to the Small Group Roster. Ask someone to make copies or type up a list with everyone’s information, and email it to the group during the week.
DISCUSS
1. When you hear the word “generosity,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
2. How did you make a decision for Christ? If you haven’t yet, feel free to pass.
• Whether your group is new or ongoing, it’s always important to reflect on and review your values together. On page ??? is a Small Group Agreement with the values we’ve found most useful in sustaining healthy, balanced groups. We recommend that you choose one or two values—ones you haven’t previously focused on or have room to grow in—to emphasize during this study. Choose ones that will take your group to the next stage of intimacy and spiritual health.
• If your group is new, welcome newcomers. Introduce everyone—you may even want to have name tags for your first meeting.
• We recommend you rotate host homes on a regular basis and let the hosts lead the meeting. Studies show that healthy groups rotate leadership. This helps to develop every member’s ability to shepherd a few people in a safe environment. Even Jesus gave others the opportunity to serve alongside Him (Mark 6:30-44). Look at the FAQs in the Appendices for additional information about hosting or leading the group.
• The Small Group Calendar on page ??? is a tool for planning who will host and lead each meeting. Take a few minutes to plan hosts and leaders for your remaining meetings. Don’t skip this important step! It will revolutionize your group. If anyone is hesitant, simply tell them to think about it, and you’ll get back to them.
WATCH
VIDEO SESSION 1
Use the Teaching Notes space provided to record key thoughts, questions and things you want to remember or follow up on. After watching the video, have someone read the discussion questions and direct the discussion among the group. As you go through each of the subsequent sections, ask someone else to read the questions, and direct the discussion.
TOGETHER LEARN
1. “Generosity and financial freedom are inextricably linked.” Do you agree or disagree? Why? How have you found this to be true?
2. Share a time when you were a cheerful giver or remember a time when you weren’t a cheerful giver.
3. Have a volunteer read Ruby’s story aloud to the group (pages 23-26). What inspires you about Ruby’s story?
4. What comments or questions does Ruby’s story bring to mind?
GROW
TOGETHER
1. What is your reaction when someone presents you with a need?
2. How has God blessed you because of your generosity?
3. How do you discern what causes you contribute to?
4. “God does not need our money. True, he commands and expects us to give, but our money is not what he’s really after. What God really wants is our heart.” How have you found this concept to be true in your life?
5. What does your giving say about your heart?
SMALL GROUP NEXT STEPS
Take a look at the Circles of Life diagram below and write the names of two or three people you know who would benefit from hearing the message of generosity. Commit to praying for God’s guidance and an opportunity to share with each of them. Perhaps they would be open to joining the group? Share your lists with the group so you can all be praying for the people you’ve identified.
FAMILY
immediate or extended
FAMILIAR
Neighbors, kids’ sports, school etc.
FUN gym, hobbies, hangouts
FRIENDS
FIRM work
• Also consider someone—in this group or outside it—that you can begin going deeper with in an intentional way. This might be your mom or dad, a cousin, an aunt or uncle, a roommate, a college buddy, or a neighbor. Choose someone who might be open to “doing life” with you at a deeper level and pray about that opportunity.
• This week, how will you interact with the Bible? Can you commit to spending time in daily prayer or study of God’s Word (use the Daily Devotions section to guide you)? Tell the group how you plan to follow Jesus this week, and then, at your next meeting, talk about your progress and challenges.
• Commit together to taking a risk and going deeper in your group and in your relationships with each other.
• Ask, “How can we pray for you this week?” Invite everyone to share, but don’t force the issue. Be sure to write prayer requests on your Prayer and Praise Report on page ???.
Close your meeting with prayer. READING PLAN
The Generous Living book is a great way to reinforce what you are learning in your small group time every week. The work you do on your own will greatly benefit you and your group time. Read the following chapters before your group’s next meeting.
Chapter 3 Chapter 4
FOR ADDITIONAL
STUDY
If you feel God nudging you to go deeper, take some time before the next meeting to dig into His Word.
Explore the Bible passages related to this session’s theme on your own and jot your reflections in a journal or in this study guide. A great way to gain insight on a passage is to read it in several different translations. You may want to use a Bible app or website to compare translations.
• READ MARK 12:41-44.
• What did the widow’s gift say about the widow?
• What does it mean to “give out of your wealth?”
• What would it mean for you to give like the widow?
• READ MATTHEW 6:25-34
• Why does Jesus not want you to worry about your life?
• What does it mean to seek God’s kingdom first?
• What is significant about living in the present instead of living in the future?
DEVOTIONS DAILY
1
Read Luke 6:38.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
RESPOND: How have you been blessed through your generosity?
2
Read Proverbs 28:27.
Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
RESPOND: How are you giving to the poor? What causes could you contribute to?
3
Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
RESPOND: Are you a cheerful giver? Why or why not?
4
Read Matthew 6:21.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
RESPOND: Where is your treasure and your heart these days?
5
Read Matthew 6:24.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
RESPOND: What does it mean to serve money? Who are you serving?
6
REFLECT on the verses from this past week, and use the following space to write any thoughts God has put in your heart and mind about the things we have looked at in this session and during your Daily Devotions time this week.
WITH VIDEO TEACHING LEADER & STUDY GUIDES
Generous Living: Unlocking the Joy of Giving
In Generous Living, Ron Blue reveals the freedom and fulfillment found in a life of biblical generosity. Through timeless principles and real-life stories, he challenges readers to shift from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance and impact, using wealth as a tool for God’s Kingdom.
The breakthrough Financial Wisdom Trilogy published in partnership with LifeTogether, is designed to help advisors and churches coach families of wealth in generosity and stewardship. These resources provide a practical, biblical framework for financial decision-making, guiding families to live with purpose, steward their wealth wisely, and leave a lasting legacy of Kingdom impact.
Ron Blue: A Legacy of Biblical Financial Wisdom
Ron Blue, entrepreneur, author, and speaker, has dedicated over 40 years to equipping Christians with biblical financial wisdom to steward their resources for greater contentment and Kingdom impact.Daily Devotions time this week.
