GROUP GUIDE
Leading a group through these questions? Here’s a simple guide for a 1.5-2 hour GROUP meeting.
Welcome and Opening Prayer. (5 minutes)
Read the passage aloud. (5 minutes)
Guide the group through the questions. (30-60 minutes)
Take time to share prayer requests and pray for each other. (15-30 minutes)
TEACHING RECAP
SUMMARY: Are you stressed about money? How do we move towards thriving in the areas of finances? In the middle of a long talk about money, Jesus tells us to stop worrying, and invites us into practices that we can choose and God can use to transform our lives for the better.
Main Points:
Financial health is not improved by getting more money (15-21).
Financial health is not improved by worrying about money (22-30).
Financial healthy people put God first and trust him to provide (31-32).
Simplicity and generosity are powerful practices to grow our trust in God (33-34).
On-Ramps:
Are you experiencing financial health or financial anxiety?
What is a truth from today that you want to take to heart?
What is the next step in generosity for you?
Discussion
What stands out to you from this passage? How does this passage most challenge or encourage you?
Read the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21. Compare the apparent priorities of the person in the crowd with the priorities of the rich fool and Jesus.
In what ways do you see God display His generous nature during the drought in 1 Kings 17? How does this account emphasize what Jesus says in this week’s scripture passage about our Father? What other events, stories or verses in the Bible display this characteristic of God?
Anxiety can be described as a sign that we are focused on less important things, a force that takes our attention away from important things and a symptom that shows that we are trusting in ourselves instead of God. How do you see each of these three aspects of anxiety in the world around you?
Is our world today similar to how Jesus describes the “pagan world” in this week’s passage? What is our world running after?
What is causing you to worry these days? Are you experiencing financial anxiety? What have you been “considering” (looking at or thinking about) that might be contributing to that anxiety?
God demonstrated His generosity in the most profound way through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Have you accepted His generous offer of salvation? How does God’s generosity propel you to be more generous? What is the next step in generosity for you?
What is a truth from this week’s passage that you want to take to heart?
PRAYER
How can we pray for you as a group?
Next week: John 3:1-21
