Week 23
Bible Reading
Daily readings from the last week:
Acts 12-18
Reflect
What stood out to you from your daily readings over the last week? Any questions?
How did you go with what you said you’d do last week?
Discuss
Have someone read the passage and use the SOAP method to explore the text.
Don’t miss
Generosity
Here’s Jesus with the upside-down kingdom again: two copper coins are worth more in God’s eyes than riches poured into the treasury. How can this be? It seems our Lord is more concerned with our heart posture toward giving than the actual amount we give. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 says ‘God loves a cheerful giver’. We see something of the widow’s heart here. Those two small coins were everything she had to live on, and yet she gladly, willingly and lovingly gave it back to God in worship - and trusted him to meet her needs! We will only be generous to the extent that we grasp the infinite generosity we have received in Christ. What does generosity look like in your life? With your time? Skills? Finances? Spiritual gifts?
Learn
As we’ve discussed, generosity isn’t simply limited to how we use money, but giving to the Lord financially is an important aspect of our worship in following Jesus. The best way to start is simply to start. Even if it’s $1 a week, begin the discipline of giving to your church and/or a Christian-based non-profit organisation. Talk about how each of you will set this up, then follow up on how it’s going in the coming weeks/months.
If you’d like to understand more about how we see money as a church, you can check out the Cash series. In particular, you may find the Hands message useful because it’s focused on giving.
Pray
Spend time praying about what you’re learning.
Next Steps
What is a key takeaway from today?
Who are you going to tell about what you’ve been learning?
Read Acts 19-25 before you come back next time.