// participant s guide. Main Ideas

Transcription

1 Main Ideas As we continue to study how we can Get in the Game and Connect, Grow, and Go, our focus continues to stay on GO this week. But now we want to focus on an area where a number of Christians struggle giving/tithing. Seeking the Kingdom of God above all else means making Jesus the Lord and King of your life, in ALL areas. As we ve been sharing in this series, God must control every area, our work, play, plans, relationships and our money/possessions. As Lord and Creator, God wants to help provide what we need as well as guide how we use what He provides. QUESTIONS Opening Discussion Question: We ve all heard it s better to give than to receive. Why is that and why do you feel so good when you give something to others? - Answers will vary 1. Are we required to tithe (give 10%) as a follower of Christ (Christian)? Read 2 Matthew 6:21 2. Tithing is a Lordship issue in our lives and can indicate an area we are holding back from God s control. The Kingdom of God isn t only one of our many concerns, but should be central in all we do. What are some indicators that we might be holding back in this area of our lives and what steps can we take to correct? Read Malachi 3: Pastor Rick Bezet emphasized in this passage, we don t give the tithe, we bring the tithe. What s the difference in thinking between give versus bring our tithe to God? 4. Satan uses fear to limit our relationship with God. Some of those lies are: God won t forgive us for all we ve done, He doesn t really know who we are, He doesn t want a personal relationship with us and so on. We struggle with giving up control of our money and trusting God in this area of our life. However, God gives us permission and allows us to test Him in our tithing. How have you let fear get in the way of tithing and what happened when you finally trusted in God? Read Exodus 23:19, Proverbs 3:9-10, 1 Corinthians 16:2 5. God s Word instructs us to set aside each week and give of our first fruits. Why is giving to God first important in our obedience to Him and what does that look like practically?

2 In 2 Corinthians 9:7-10 we read He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and will increase the harvest. God gives us resources to use and invest for Him. Paul uses the illustration of seed to explain that the resources God gives us are not to be hidden, foolishly devoured, or thrown away. Instead, they should be cultivated in order to produce more crops. When we invest what God has given us in His work, He will provide us with even more to give in His service. Ask yourself these questions during the week as you connect with God through His Word and prayer. - Is the Kingdom only one of your many concerns, or is it central to all you do? - Are you holding back any areas of your life from God s control? Does God s love touch your wallet? Does your money free you to help others? - Where do you put your time, money, and energy? What do you think about most? - How should you change the way you use your resources in order to reflect Kingdom values more accurately? - Do you selfishly want to keep 100 percent of what God gives, or are you willing to return at least 10 percent for helping to advance God s Kingdom? God himself is a cheerful giver. Consider all He has done for us. He is pleased when we, who are created in His image, give generously and joyfully. Do you have a difficult time letting go of your money? Are you a cheerful giver? If not, it may reflect ungratefulness to God. Sunday Matthew 6:19-24 Monday John 14:15-21 Tuesday Malachi 3:8-12 Wednesday Proverbs 3:9-10 Thursday 1 Corinthians 16:2, Acts 2:44-47 Friday 2 Corinthians 9:7-15 Saturday 2 Corinthians 8:3-7

3 c. Harvesting (examples) i. Being willing to listen first and then share ii. Be receptive slowing your life down and look for those seeking God iii. Serving as a Prayer Partner d. We are to GO, whether it is next door or to another country, and make disciples. It is not an option but a command to all who call Jesus Lord. e. We are not all evangelists/preachers in the formal sense, but we have all received gifts we can use to help fulfill the great commission. f. As we obey, we have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us. Read: 1 Peter 3:15 5. Are you prepared to tell others what Christ has done in your life? How can we make sure others know and can see why we have hope in Christ? a. Our faith is more than just a personal matter that should be kept to oneself. It is true that we shouldn t be boisterous or obnoxious in sharing our faith, but we should always be ready to give an answer, gently and respectfully, when asked about our faith, our lifestyle, or our Christian perspective. b. Peter tells us to be prepared. Although we all know in our heart why we have hope in Christ, take the time to write it down on paper. c. Make it short and natural, avoid using religious words others my not understand. d. Practice it so you can share in just a few minutes without preaching it. e. Lastly, pray and ask God to help you with the right words. Avoid religious words a non-believer may not understand or have been misused. Words like: believe/accept Christ, possible substitute would be: trusted or relied on Christ for my salvation. Sin, substitute: rebelled against God s ways, hurt God by my actions. Went forward, substitute: decided to turn my life over to God. Saved/Born again: accepted God s forgiveness. Christian, substitute: a follower of Christ f. When our requests match up to His will, God s hears those prayers. Read I John 5:14,15 and James 1:5 As you go through this week, pray about how God can use you to plant seeds, nourish and harvest. Add to your daily prayers that God will place someone in your path who is seeking Him so you can share your testimony and/or the reason you have hope in Christ. If you need help in preparing your story, seek out a fellow believer you look up to assist you in preparing your testimony. Lastly, as covered in the message the week before, make sure you re using what God has given you to help God reach those He sent His Son to save. Read the following scriptures this week. They are all about the different one anothers : Sunday 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 Monday 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Tuesday Galatians 5:13-26 Wednesday John 16:8-15 Thursday 1 Corinthians 3:5-23 Friday 1 John 3:13-21 Saturday James 1:5-7 // leader s guide

4 c. Harvesting (examples) i. Being willing to listen first and then share ii. Be receptive slowing your life down and look for those seeking God iii. Serving as a Prayer Partner d. We are to GO, whether it is next door or to another country, and make disciples. It is not an option but a command to all who call Jesus Lord. e. We are not all evangelists/preachers in the formal sense, but we have all received gifts we can use to help fulfill the great commission. f. As we obey, we have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us. Read: 1 Peter 3:15 5. Are you prepared to tell others what Christ has done in your life? How can we make sure others know and can see why we have hope in Christ? a. Our faith is more than just a personal matter that should be kept to oneself. It is true that we shouldn t be boisterous or obnoxious in sharing our faith, but we should always be ready to give an answer, gently and respectfully, when asked about our faith, our lifestyle, or our Christian perspective. b. Peter tells us to be prepared. Although we all know in our heart why we have hope in Christ, take the time to write it down on paper. c. Make it short and natural, avoid using religious words others my not understand. d. Practice it so you can share in just a few minutes without preaching it. e. Lastly, pray and ask God to help you with the right words. Avoid religious words a non-believer may not understand or have been misused. Words like: believe/accept Christ, possible substitute would be: trusted or relied on Christ for my salvation. Sin, substitute: rebelled against God s ways, hurt God by my actions. Went forward, substitute: decided to turn my life over to God. Saved/Born again: accepted God s forgiveness. Christian, substitute: a follower of Christ f. When our requests match up to His will, God s hears those prayers. Read I John 5:14,15 and James 1:5 As you go through this week, pray about how God can use you to plant seeds, nourish and harvest. Add to your daily prayers that God will place someone in your path who is seeking Him so you can share your testimony and/or the reason you have hope in Christ. If you need help in preparing your story, seek out a fellow believer you look up to assist you in preparing your testimony. Lastly, as covered in the message the week before, make sure you re using what God has given you to help God reach those He sent His Son to save. Read the following scriptures this week. They are all about the different one anothers : Sunday 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 Monday 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Tuesday Galatians 5:13-26 Wednesday John 16:8-15 Thursday 1 Corinthians 3:5-23 Friday 1 John 3:13-21 Saturday James 1:5-7

5 In 2 Corinthians 9:7-10 we read He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and will increase the harvest. God gives us resources to use and invest for Him. Paul uses the illustration of seed to explain that the resources God gives us are not to be hidden, foolishly devoured, or thrown away. Instead, they should be cultivated in order to produce more crops. When we invest what God has given us in His work, He will provide us with even more to give in His service. Ask yourself these questions during the week as you connect with God through His Word and prayer. - Is the Kingdom only one of your many concerns, or is it central to all you do? - Are you holding back any areas of your life from God s control? Does God s love touch your wallet? Does your money free you to help others? - Where do you put your time, money, and energy? What do you think about most? - How should you change the way you use your resources in order to reflect Kingdom values more accurately? - Do you selfishly want to keep 100 percent of what God gives, or are you willing to return at least 10 percent for helping to advance God s Kingdom? God himself is a cheerful giver. Consider all He has done for us. He is pleased when we, who are created in His image, give generously and joyfully. Do you have a difficult time letting go of your money? Are you a cheerful giver? If not, it may reflect ungratefulness to God. Sunday Matthew 6:19-24 Monday John 14:15-21 Tuesday Malachi 3:8-12 Wednesday Proverbs 3:9-10 Thursday 1 Corinthians 16:2, Acts 2:44-47 Friday 2 Corinthians 9:7-15 Saturday 2 Corinthians 8:3-7