Sermon Based Curriculum
Sermon Date: Nov. 15, 2009
Sermon Title: Doing Faith Financially
Sermon Text: Habakkuk 2:4, Mal. 3:7-12, Luke 6:38
Small Group Text: Readings from 1 & 2 Cor. 1 Tim. and 1 John
Introduction
Discussion
In the face of dark and fearful times, the prophet Habakkuk heard God respond: “The righteous shall live by faith.” Faith is the confidence we have in God’s nature and character based on the past experiences of God’s people. As we read the Bible, we encounter stories of God “coming through” for his people in difficult times. Even in day, believers share stories of God “coming through” in tough times. For many of us, the financial part of life is the most dark and most fearful. How is it possible to live by faith financially in an economic downturn? Living generously – is an “on-ramp” to living a life of faith financially. The Bible is filled with examples that underscore this principle. Let’s look at some New Testament principles and priorities that help us do faith financially. The Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, discusses what he calls the grace of giving (2 Cor. 8:7). This particular grace is described by three different principles that help Christ-followers exercise their faith financially. 1. Read 2 Cor. 8:12. What giving principle(s) do we learn from this verse? (Give willingly and proportionately.) How do you decide how much to give? (According to how much one has.) 2. Read 2 Cor. 9:7. What giving principle(s) are taught in this verse? (Give freely and cheerfully.) How could giving of our financial resources create cheerfulness in the heart of a giver? 3. Read 1 Cor. 16:2. What giving principle is taught in this verse? (Give regularly.)
4. In addition to principles for giving, the New Testament also establishes some priorities for giving. While the principles define how we give, the priorities specify where we give. Read 1 Tim. 5:8. What is the clear financial priority taught here? (To provide for our family.) Why is this so important for our Christian witness? (A true
Christian is a Christian at home before he is a Christian anywhere else. Even non-Christians understand and fulfill their family responsibilities.)
How
might this priority be abused? (We can abuse this principle by focusing only on our family and neglecting everyone else. Or to the contrary, we can “give our money to God” and neglect our family.)
5. Read 1 Cor. 9:14, 2 Cor. 8:1-4, and Gal. 6:6. What priority do these verses teach us? (Giving to our church for ministry and mission.) 6. Read 1 John 3:16-18. What priority for giving do we see in these verses? (Giving to fellow Christians who are in need.) 7. Living within our means is a responsible way to live. But how far does the principle of The World at Large giving extend when we think of living within our means: Just to our family? Other Christians in Need The mission of the Church? Other Christians in need? Or the world at Church Mission large? Family
Application
1. Which giving principle (giving willingly, proportionately, freely, cheerfully, regularly) is toughest for you to practice? What step might you take in the next three weeks to work on that principle? 2. One of the ways that we grow in our faith is by sharing with other believers how God has “come through” for us in the past. Would someone in the group be willing to share of a time when God “came through” as the principles and priorities of giving were practiced?
Sermon-Based Curriculum