SMALL GROUPS CORE CONVICTIONS CURRICULUM Growth MANAGING GOD S MONEY Book Study / Author: Randy Alcorn WEEK 1 / Introduction and Chapter 1 ICEBREAKER: If you could only spend $10 or less on a meal at any restaurant in town, where would you go and what meal would you buy? 1. Our perspective on money and possessions lies at heart of our Christian life 2. We are God s money managers and we will give an account to Him 3. The Bible has told us everything we need to know for wise money management 4. The focus of this book is on major principles, rather than specific financial advice 5. Following Christ becomes exciting and tangible when we connect our decisions about money to our Christian life 1. When have you been tempted to think that you would be able to serve God better if only you had more money? 2. Alcorn mentions that there are thousands of verses in the Bible about money. In your own words, why do think that God emphasizes this topic so much? 3. In Luke 3:7-14, which can be found on pages 7-8 of the book, John the Baptist calls the people to repent, and to prove their repentance by their actions. He describes what examples of what repentance might look like for several different groups of people, and all of them relate to money. If he was speaking to us today about proving our repentance, what types of money-related practices do you think he would mention? 4. We tend to think that money is a very private, personal matter. Why do you think it is difficult for us to discuss it, and why is it easy to get so defensive when we are instructed on it? 5. What do you hope to gain by studying a book about money over the next couple months?
WEEK 2 / Chapters 2-3 ICEBREAKER: When have you stolen or had something stolen from you? 1. God is the owner of everything 2. The reality of God s ownership can be very freeing 3. As stewards, we use money and possessions with the owner s desires in mind 4. God encourages us to use money and possessions strategically 5. We should be ready for the return of the owner 1. When have you been entrusted with managing something important that belonged to someone else? What was your mindset as you managed what was entrusted to you? 2. Have you ever had someone do something with your property that you didn t want to be done? What was your response? 3. Have you ever experienced significant loss of property? Explain how you reacted. 4. Alcorn makes the following statement: God s ownership and sovereignty offer a life-changing and freeing perspective when the house is robbed (or burns to the ground), the car is totaled, the laptop computer is stolen or the diagnosis is terminal cancer. How well do you embrace the idea of God s ownership in the middle of great loss? In what ways would your life change if you could embrace this principle more? Do you have any recent examples of struggling with this? 5. How does Alcorn define the eternal friends and dwellings and true riches mentioned in Luke 16 (see p. 22-25)? Have you ever thought about it this way? How might this change your perspective on money? 6. Do you think you are ready for the master s return? Why or why not? Managing God s Money 2 / 11
WEEK 3 / Chapters 4-5 1. God s perspective on money is counter-cultural 2. Money is neither good nor evil, although extremes are easy to adopt 3. Materialists love things and use people, rather than the other way around 4. Purchases often take more time, money and heart than we anticipate 5. Worries and the pursuit of wealth can choke out Christ s words 1. Alcorn mentions how what he has said so far about money is fairly counter-cultural. This is true of the Christian life in many areas besides money. When has your faith led you to do or consider doing something that seemed very strange to the rest of the world? 2. Do you tend to hold judgmental attitudes towards those that seem to use money in an excessive way? How so? 3. Have you ever felt guilty for enjoying material things? When? 4. Alcorn, using the example of a boat, describes how things cost more than just their purchase price. There s usually time, heart and money put into their management, use and maintenance. When has a purchase taken much more than you expected in terms of time, heart and money? 5. In Matthew 13, in the parables of the sower, Jesus mentions that people are unable to hear his message because they are choked by worries and desires for wealth. In what ways has this been true of you? Have there been times when you felt unable to achieve close connection with God because your heart was consumed by those types of things? 6. When have you been tempted to think that you would be satisfied with only a little more? Managing God s Money 3 / 11
WEEK 4 / Chapters 6-7 1. Materialism is dangerous in many ways (briefly review ten dangers) 2. Parents can easily and unknowingly teach their children to be materialistic 1. Do you think your pursuit of material goods has ever distracted you from pursuing God? How so? 2. When have you been nearly obsessed with something only to find out that after obtaining it, it brought only short-term satisfaction and you soon didn t care for it much at all? 3. Alcorn claims that putting our hope in earthly treasures only multiplies anxiety. When have you experienced great anxiety due to your pursuit or maintenance of earthly treasures? 4. When has gratitude been difficult for you? That is, when has a lack of material blessing distracted you from reflecting on your spiritual blessing? 5. Our children will not remember what we did for them nearly as much as they ll remember what we did with them. We can all be tempted to satisfy relationships (whether with children or others) through material or superficial means. Have you ever felt that an attempt was made to buy your relationship with material things? If so, how did it make you feel? When have you been guilty of doing that yourself? 6. Things we would have deeply appreciated in small or moderate amounts become unappealing in excess. When have you known this to be true in your life (or in the life of your children)? 7. Sometimes our actions speak so loudly that our children can t hear a word we re saying. Go around the circle and share a way in which you feel like you are currently struggling with materialism and could be subtly encouraging it in others. Now pray for the person on your right regarding that struggle. Managing God s Money 4 / 11
WEEK 5 / Chapters 8-11 ICEBREAKER: What are you really looking forward to right now? 1. Neither prosperity or adversity are sure signs of God s approval or disapproval 2. Seeking treasures in heaven is the most sensible investment 3. Heaven will be an extremely desirable place 4. Our goods works are very important to God and will be commended 5. Seeking rewards is a proper motivation 6. When have you been tempted to assume that either your prosperity or adversity is a sign of God s approval or disapproval? When have you suffered for doing right? 7. Alcorn describes how certain possessions, like a car, can be used greatly for God s purposes. However, it s also easy to try to rationalize the purchases of such tools, when your motivation may in reality be more self-focused. In what ways have you been tempted to rationalize what may be unwise purchases? In contrast, have you ever passed up an opportunity to purchase a legitimate tool because of a false frugality? 8. Alcorn repeatedly writes that having a motivation based on personal gain (that is, eternal rewards) is acceptable. How do you feel about this? Is this something that you think of often? 9. Alcorn mentions several things that we might look forward to in heaven, including: learning, creating, remembering, knowing loved ones, meeting historical people, and working/resting in right proportions. Have these kinds of things been included in your traditional impression of heaven? Did this week s reading change or alter that impression? Which of the above aspects of heaven might you particularly look forward to? 10. Alcorn describes three proper motivations for doing good: love, fear and reward. Which are you typically motivated by? Which do you need to grow in? What do you think could help you achieve balance? Managing God s Money 5 / 11
WEEK 6 / Chapters 12-13 1. Tithing is not inherently legalistic (just like other spiritual disciplines) although it can become so 2. Tithing is a good starting point for giving 3. Tithing is often spiritually liberating 4. God is often faithful to provide when people trust him through obedience 5. Voluntary giving can be a great expression of love, joy and worship 6. God blesses us in order to give us opportunity to pass on blessing to others through generosity 1. When you hear instruction about tithing/giving, what is your typical reaction? Guilt? Skepticism of the motives of the one teaching? Inspiration? Something else? 2. When was the first time you truly wrestled with a commitment to tithing (if you have yet)? Describe the process you went through and the conclusion you came to. 3. When you consider giving to the church or some other organization, what hesitancies do you wrestle with? If you decide to give, what motivates you to do so? 4. What do you think are the main purposes God has for the other 90% of your income (after the tithe)? Being honest, what do you see your priorities being for that money? 5. Have you seen God bless in unexpected material ways when you have given freely? In what ways has giving brought you joy and freedom? 6. In what ways have you been blessed financially through the generosity of individuals in the church? Managing God s Money 6 / 11
WEEK 7 / Chapters 14-15 ICEBREAKER: Share a time when you were in need and somebody helped you in a significant way. 1. Caring for the poor is basic to the Christian faith 2. People are poor for different reasons, and therefore helpful approaches may vary 3. We should help support both people s physical and spiritual poverty 4. There are two different types of callings: (1) Leave everything and go where help is needed, and (2) Be a part of a stable home community and help support those that are going 5. More than just living simply, we are to live strategically 1. Alcorn says that for Christians, caring for the poor is not an option. In our care for the poor, however, what should our main motivations be (there may be more than one)? 2. When you see a poor person, what is your typical reaction? What do you assume about that person? How might you respond to them? In what ways might you help? What are your reservations? 3. Why is it sometimes difficult to help the poor? What gets in the way? 4. List some of the different reasons people are poor. Brainstorm some good ways to help each category. 5. Alcorn highlights the need to give to help both people s physical and spiritual conditions. Is one easier to give to than the other? Why? What are generally your priorities when considering how to help people? 6. Alcorn encourages having a strategic lifestyle. What do you think that means? Do you feel like your life is strategic for the purposes of God? In what ways? Managing God s Money 7 / 11
WEEK 8 / Chapters 16-17 1. Be very cautious about assuming debt 2. Learn to think wisely and soberly about purchases 3. Learn to carefully budget 4. Recognize your own personal tendencies regarding spending and borrowing, realizing debt is a symptom of a more fundamental problem (e.g. greed, impulsiveness, lack of discipline, etc.) 5. Consider practical steps for getting out of debt 1. Have you experienced challenging circumstances and emotional pressure due to debt? How so? 2. Have you learned to budget well and effectively? What practical techniques have been helpful? 3. Are you easily tempted by good deals? Has that ever gotten you into trouble? 4. We must know ourselves when considering the use of credit cards or other types of borrowing and spending. Are there personal tendencies you have that could lead you to unwise choices (e.g. rationalizing purchases, taking good deals, etc.)? What are they and what are some ways to provide protection for yourself in those areas? 5. Did any of the practical rules or steps in these two chapters seem especially helpful to you? Managing God s Money 8 / 11
WEEK 9 / Chapters 18-19 1. There is a difficult balance between saving wisely and foolishly hoarding 2. We can be wrongly motivated to save by greed or fear 3. We are to be channels of resources, not storehouses 4. Although our jobs may come to an end, we should never stop contributing 5. Gambling can be dangerous and destructive 6. We should be cautious and discerning when considering investments 1. In your own words, explain what you think are the differences between wisely saving and foolishly hoarding? What would be indications in your own life that you were doing one or the other? 2. Do you intentionally save money? Why or why not? If so, what are your typical motivations for saving? 3. When you think of your life in the future, what are some legitimate reasons for saving? 4. Alcorn says that were are to be channels of money and possessions, not storehouses. In what ways are you, or do you think you should be, a channel of resources? 5. Alcorn encouraged us to guard against making it our goal to live only for recreation in our later years, but instead to see ourselves as consistent contributors as long as we are living. In what ways might you continue to contribute to the world and God s purposes, even after your official job comes to an end? Managing God s Money 9 / 11
WEEK 10 / Chapters 20-22 1. Parents should be wise in the type and size of inheritance they leave for their children 2. We must model through example good money-management principles for future generations 3. We should be very intentional in teaching children to give, steward and save 4. God has strategically entrusted you with assets for this time and place 5. The spiritual gift of giving is neglected in the church 1. Wise parents can leave enough to their children and grandchildren to be helpful without leaving them so much as to hurt them. In what ways can an inheritance hurt those who receive it? In what ways can it help? What kinds of guiding principles would you like to have when considering what to leave and to whom? 2. How would you describe the principles that your parents taught you regarding money? What made the biggest impact? What do you wish you had been taught more thoroughly? 3. Alcorn discusses the question of whether or not we should require our children to give. Some say that giving should always come from the heart and should not be required. Alcorn believes it is an essential practice that we should be required of our children. Where do you stand on the issue? 4. Are there any specific practices that Alcorn described for teaching children that you would like to adopt, either now or in the future? 5. Alcorn talked about weaning our children from financial dependence. What do you think this looks like specifically? Why might this be difficult for a parent? 6. Alcorn talked about openly sharing stories of financial obedience or generosity in the church. How do feel about this? What are both the advantages and the potential challenges of regularly sharing such testimonies? 7. Alcorn says that financial teaching is needed most by those least prone to take the initiative to be trained in it. Can you think of practical ways the church should teach these kinds of principles? What kinds of channels do you think will best spread these kinds of teachings? Managing God s Money 10 / 11
WEEK 11 / Conclusion and Review Nothing is more fleeting than the moment of conviction. If we turn our backs on that moment, the next moment may not come until we stand before our Lord. We dare not procrastinate. May what will be most important to us five minutes after we die become most important to us now. Randy Alcorn Review & Putting it into Practice My Attitude Towards Money 1. Do I consider my money to be my own, or have I recognized that all of it is God s? 2. Do I tend to see money as evil, and have I therefore avoided managing it well? 3. In what ways am I materialistic? How has my materialism distanced me from God? What do I need to change? 4. Do I see my money as useful for eternity, or mainly for my life now? 5. In my mind, do I obligate God to bless my financially if I obey him? Money as a Tool 6. Have I settled on a pattern of tithing that I feel at peace about? 7. Do I look for and plan opportunities to give above and beyond what I think is required of me? 8. Has my abundance helped to bless those that do not have as much? How so? Is it feasible to try to help the poor more financially? 9. Have I used my money to help fund the advancement of the gospel and to meet people s spiritual needs? How so? Is there some way that I could do so more? 10. In what ways have I spent money in order to set up my life more strategically to be used by God? How could my life be structured to be more available for God? 11. Have I ever considered that I may have the gift of giving? What could be indications of that? If so, in what ways could I grow that gift? Discernment in Money Management 12. Do I have debt that I need to prioritize getting rid of? Are there new steps that God has shown me to rid myself of debt more quickly? 13. Have I mismanaged God s money through poor choices like gambling or bad investments? If so, are there specific steps I can take to repair or to guard myself from not making similar decisions again? 14. Is my money currently being invested in such a way that long-term (even eternal) fruit will be realized? 15. Have I developed thoughts about leaving an inheritance? Do I need to consider how my money should be used when I m gone? Passing on a Legacy 16. If I have children, have I been intentional in how I ve instructed them about money? Are there any practical methods I could use to help them learn more about managing God s money well? 17. Have I helped others to embrace God s principles for handling their money? What is difficult about teaching others? Are there any practical ways I can help people to learn these ideas? Key Bible Passages Matthew 6:19-24 Luke 12:13-21 Luke 14:12-24 2Corinthians 8-9 Philippians 4:10-20 1Timothy 6:6-8, 17-19 Managing God s Money 11 / 11