BY: Sarah Auger
DATE: Sunday 11 February 2024

‘BIBLE PASSAGES: Read online
1 Timothy – Chapter 6, verses 17-19
Matthew – Chapter 6, verses 19-33

EXCERPT:

Financial worries are always near top of the list when it comes to life anxieties. For some people, the reason why is clear. But for many of us, perhaps the reason why is less clear. What if the reason we are so worried about money is because we value it too highly? What if we trusted the one who gave us the very breath in our lungs more than we trusted the gifts he gives? Part of the joy of generosity is that it is beneficial for us. As we give generously, it sets us free from being slaves to money. We learn to control how we use it, rather than be controlled by it. Perhaps part of our fear about being generous is because we value money too highly. Perhaps we need to remember that where our treasure is, there is our heart.

“Hold loosely to the things of this life, so that if God requires them of you, it will be easy to let them go.” (Corrie Ten Boom)

“Money is an excellent servant, but a terrible master.” (Anonymous)

TRANSCRIPT:
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YOUTH RESOURCES:
Sorry, no youth resouces are available for this series. However, please do check out our Youth Page to see how you can connect and get involved. 

KIDS RESOURCES:
Details about all our church activities and resources for anyone aged under 11 can be found on our Kids Page. On this page you can also find the contact details for Sarah Thomson, our Head Of Children’s Ministry.

Each week there are TWO different sets of questions for you to use, whether you are exploring the Bible within your Life Group, in other group settings, or simply using them on your own.

A | DISCUSSION STARTERS
These are simple questions to provoke discussion together out of the talk (ideal if you are watching our Sunday Service online with others in your group):

1 | Was there anything that particularly helped you during the talk?

2 | Was there anything that you didn’t necessarily agree with, or found difficult to understand in the talk?

3 | As a result of the talk, what:

3a. Changes do you want to see?

3b. Truths do you need to remember?

3c. Actions do you need to take?

B | QUESTIONS TO EXPLORE
These are questions that are based on the talk and the surrounding themes:

Read:
1 Timothy – Chapter 6, verses 17-19
Matthew – Chapter 6, verses 19-33

1 | What do you think Jesus thinks of money and wealth?

2 | Read Mark 10:17-31. How do you personally relate to the rich young ruler’s question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” What are some modern equivalents to his question in today’s context?

3 | Compare the account of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-31 with its counterparts in Matthew 19:16-30 and Luke 18:18-30. What unique perspectives or details does each Gospel provide?

4 |Have you ever felt conflicted between your material possessions and your pursuit of spiritual growth? How does the encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler resonate with your own experiences?

5 | Jesus calls his disciples to radical obedience and detachment from worldly possessions (Mark 10:21, 28-30). How does this challenge resonate with our contemporary culture, which often emphasises material success and accumulation?

6 | Notice that Jesus says, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (v23) and “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (v25). What does this reveal about the values of God’s kingdom compared to the values of the world? How does this challenge our modern understanding of wealth and discipleship?

7 | During her talk on Sunday, Sarah quoted John Stott when he said, “Life, in fact, is a pilgrimage from one moment of nakedness to another, so we should travel light and simply.” What do you make of this quote?

8 | How can we identify and overcome the temptation to prioritise material gain over spiritual growth and obedience to God?

9 | Take some time to pray, asking that God would help you to have the right view of material possessions. Pray that God would fan into flames a generous spirit.

As you explore these questions pray for one another to deepen and develop your relationship with Jesus.

BOOK:
Christian Generosity according to 2 Corinthians 8–9’ by Viateur Habarurema

BOOK:
Money Counts’ by Graham Beynon

Some of us want to escape money. Some of us want to embrace money. We fear money, and we desire it. We think about it every day, and yet often we try not to think about it. Graham Beynon shows us how to control our money rather than our money controlling us. In this readable, realistic book, he takes us to the gospel to show how we can handle money well in our hearts, so we can handle it confidently and wisely with our hands.

ARTICLES:

‘Giving’ and ‘How do I handle money?’ by Timothy Keller

‘Four creative ways to be Generous’ by Kristen Wetherell

‘Financial Wellbeing’ by Dave Smith

‘The delusions of the Prosperity Gospel’ by Femi Adeleye

VIDEO:

Generosity – The Bible Project

Coming Soon