Part 1
Throughout the Old Testament we see the children of Israel experience God’s faithfulness; from before the exile, to their years in the wilderness guided by a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud, and when they were brought to the promised land. Each of us experiences God’s provision in different ways and we know His faithfulness continues today. However, there may be areas of life where we find it challenging to trust in Him. The challenge is not for Him to show or provide more, but for us to check our heart, our relationship with Him, and our faith in Him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we ask or think.
Read Deuteronomy 1:30-33, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Discuss
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- In Deuteronomy 1:31, Moses reminds the Israelites of how God cared for them and that “He has brought you to this place.” (Read Deuteronomy 1 for context.) What does ‘this place’ that God has brought you to look like in your current reality? In the past couple of weeks, how has God cared for you?
- Read Deuteronomy 14:23. Tithing is not just an act of compliance with the law, but it teaches us to fear the Lord. What have you been taught about giving in the form of tithing and/or offering? How have those teachings shaped your understanding of giving?
- Read Jeremiah 29:5-6. In your current context, what opportunities are you seeing to “build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Multiply and not decrease”?
- The practice of tithing has always been the way children of God live and it was done before the law was even written. From Abraham to Nehemiah, and fast forward to the poor widow in the New Testament (Luke 21:2), God’s people practiced tithing. Why might tithing seem radical to our broader society now?
- How are you going in trusting God in the practice of tithing? Why do you think we struggle sometimes to give/tithe? If you were to look at all the places your money goes, what would it say about your trust in God?
- Pastor Dale listed some key principles (see below) for tithing from 1 & 2 Corinthians. Which of these principles have you have been practising? What are some that you want to work towards, and how?
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- Giving as a sacrifice
- Systematically
- Whole heartedly
- Proportionally
- In real time
- To invoke the “do unto others” principle
- Willingly
- Cheerfully
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Respond
This week, take time to really think about putting your trust in God in the domain of tithing. Honestly reflect upon how you have been stewarding His provision for you and ask God how you can be better at it to develop your trust in Him.
Part 2
In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus teaches the importance of stewarding our financial resources well. As believers, we understand that money comes from God, and we need to be intentional in how we use it. If we are not careful we can fall into the trap of wanting more and more, to the point that we work for money instead of making money work for us.
Read 1 Timothy 6:9-11, Matthew 6:24
Discuss
- What do you think are some of the characteristics of a person who loves money? Do you think they are aware of their love of money? Discuss.
- Read Proverbs 21:20. It is a biblical principle to spend less than you earn, and Pastor Dale teaches the important of creating a financial buffer to make space for life’s uncertainties. If someone was to look at your bank account, what would your spending habits say about you? Would it match your core values?
- Read Ecclesiastes 5:10. We live in a society where people often think they will be happier and more content if they have more money. What does the verse say about that notion? What are some challenges that make it harder to think biblically about money?
- We have to be able to make money work for us, instead of us working for money. Pastor Dale reminds us that risk is involved when we want to make money work for us. What is your attitude towards financial risk? Identify some variables that could blind us from seeing some risks.
- Read Ecclesiastes 5:13, 18-20. As we give, save and build our God-given financial resources, spending is part of the process. Pastor Dale added that it should be fun. What is the difference between this biblical principle of spending, and reckless spending?
- What will you do differently in your personal and/or family finances after hearing and discussing this?
Respond
We need be the master of our money, not the other way around. We all have needs – go around the group and lift up each others’ financial needs. Have everyone pick one of the four principles that Pastor Dale taught on: Give, Save, Build, Spend, as an area in which they want to grow in Spirit. Commit to a specific goal you want to accomplish over the next few weeks.