Leverage (Sample)

SESSION 1

Why Are We to Give?

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein...

PSALM 24:1

David’s Story

"Whatever you can do to help people in crisis or transition — well, all I can say is you'll receive blessings that you wouldn't have imagined.”

David Gettle, M.D. went into medicine because he wanted to help people. At medical school, he worked in a free clinic in inner-city Indianapolis. Humbled by the surprising generosity of some of his impoverished clientele, he wanted to do more.

In 1999, David was able to go into the medical mission field in Kosovo. “Needless to say, I had never worked in a war zone. But now I had to get an emergency room up and running in one, despite the fact there was only very sporadic electricity and precious few supplies. We even had to use batteries to run monitors and other medical equipment…It was truly an eye-opening experience.”

In the most difficult places from Kosovo, to Iran, and beyond, David learned that the most important thing he could offer was compassion and love. Sometimes, giving a little girl a teddy bear in the midst of a horrific situation meant even more to the families than medical care. “We were able to show compassion, which meant a lot to them.”

David has been able to deliver aid in the aftermath of many other international crises. But David and his wife Karan note that you don't have to fly halfway around the world to help others in need. "Whatever you can do to help people in crisis or transition — well, all I can say is you'll receive blessings that you wouldn't have imagined," says David.

Read More

SCAN TO READ DAVID’S FULL STORY:

IMPORTANT GROUP LOGISTICS

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.

• In this world, what sum of money makes someone wealthy?

• What was your very first act of generosity?

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.

Use the Teaching Notes space provided on the following pages 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.

Watch the Video Discussion

1. Read 2 Corinthians 9:8. How does this verse conflict with the notion of being self-made?

2. Read Proverbs 3:9-10. How is giving an act of faith?

3. What power does money have over people? How does giving break the power of money?

4. Read Philippians 4:17. What fruit does giving produce? How have you experienced this?

Application

1 2

How are you using your God-given resources to accomplish God-given goals?

How are you submitting your financial decisions to God?

3

In the video, someone said, “At the end of the day, we are responsible for stewarding what God has entrusted to us and for using it to bring honor to Him and accomplish His purposes. To achieve this, we need to mistrust ourselves.” What does it mean to mistrust yourself with your resources? Who holds you financially accountable (or could)?

4

How generously are you giving? What should change about your giving?

Circles of Life

Take a look at the Circles of Life diagram and write the names of two or three people you know who need to know Christ. 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.

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.

DAY 1

Read Matthew 6:19-21.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

REFLECT

What do your treasures say about the condition of your heart?

Daily Devotions

DAY 2

Read Matthew 6:19-21.

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

REFLECT

Why is it impossible to serve both God and money? Who are you serving?

DAY 3

Read Leviticus 23:22.

DAILY DEVOTIONS

And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.

REFLECT

What are you leaving to meet others’ needs?

DAY 4

Read 1 John 3:17.

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

REFLECT

What need are you aware of? How should you get involved?

Devotions

DAILY DEVOTIONS

DAY 5

Read Revelation 22:12.

Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

REFLECT

What kind of reward are you expecting from God?

DAY 6

Reflect

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.

Reading Plan

The Leverage: Using Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gain 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.

DAY 1: Read pages 27-31 (ending at the Six Reasons for Giving)

DAY 2: Read pages 31-34 (reading the first three Reasons for Giving)

DAY 3: Read pages 34-36

DAY 4: Read pages 85-89

DAY 5: Read pages 89-91

David’s Story

"Whatever

you can do to help people in crisis or transition — well, all I can say is you'll receive blessings that you wouldn't have imagined.”

David Gettle, M.D. went into medicine because he wanted to help people. At medical school, he worked in a free clinic in inner-city Indianapolis. Humbled by the surprising generosity of some of his impoverished clientele, he wanted to do more.

In 1999, David was able to go into the medical mission field in Kosovo. “Needless to say, I had never worked in a war zone. But now I had to get an emergency room up and running in one, despite the fact there was only very sporadic electricity and precious few supplies. We even had to use batteries to run monitors and other medical equipment…It was truly an eye-opening experience.”

In the most difficult places from Kosovo, to Iran, and beyond, David learned that the most important thing he could offer was compassion and love. Sometimes, giving a little girl a teddy bear in the midst of a horrific situation meant even more to the families than medical care. “We were able to show compassion, which meant a lot to them.”

David has been able to deliver aid in the aftermath of many other international crises. But David and his wife Karan note that you don't have to fly halfway around the world to help others in need. "Whatever you can do to help people in crisis or transition — well, all I can say is you'll receive blessings that you wouldn't have imagined," says David.

Read More

SCAN TO READ DAVID’S FULL STORY:

David Gettle, M.D.

"WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO HELP PEOPLE IN CRISIS OR TRANSITION — WELL, ALL I CAN SAY IS YOU'LL RECEIVE BLESSINGS THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED.”

David Gettle, M.D. went into medicine because he wanted to help people. At medical school, he worked in a free clinic in inner-city Indianapolis. Humbled by the surprising generosity of some of his impoverished clientele, he wanted to do more.

In 1999, David was able to go into the medical mission field in Kosovo. “Needless to say, I had never worked in a war zone. But now I had to get an emergency room up and running in one, despite the fact there was only very sporadic electricity and precious few supplies. We even had to use batteries to run monitors and other medical equipment…It was truly an eye-opening experience.”

In the most difficult places from Kosovo, to Iran, and beyond, David learned that the most important thing he could offer was compassion and love. Sometimes, giving a little girl a teddy bear in the midst of a horrific situation meant even more to the families than medical care. “We were able to show compassion, which meant a lot to them.”

David has been able to deliver aid in the aftermath of many other international crises. But David and his wife Karan note that you don't have to fly halfway around the world to help others in need. "Whatever you can do to help people in crisis or transition — well, all I can say is you'll receive blessings that you wouldn't have imagined," says David.

Read More

SCAN TO READ DAVID’S FULL STORY: