5 GOD S BASIC CYCLE OF SUFFICIENCY And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. PHILIPPIANS 4:19 76 77
As we began this study, we learned that everything belongs to God. As Psalm 50 says, every animal in the forest is God s, as is the cattle on a thousand hills. Today we come full circle with the reminder that because God owns everything, He is more than able to meet all of our needs. Not only that, He is also a generous and loving God, so He wants to bless us and provide for us. God is good and God is generous what a great combination! How will you respond? What s the most impactful thing you ve learned during the last few weeks? Looking back at your life, how do you see God s faithfulness? What does this say about your ability to trust Him with your future? GROWING TOGETHER WATCH THE DVD for this session now. Use the Notes space provided on page 80 to record key thoughts, questions, and insights you want to remember. After watching the DVD, have someone read the discussion questions on the next page and direct the discussion among the group. As you go through each of the subsequent sections, ask someone else to read the questions and direct the discussion. something The grace of God is not something mere, it is more. 78 79
Why does God sometimes test our faith in Him? Why did He test Abraham? Why does God give more to those who are generous? Second II Corinthians 9:7-8 promises that God will give back in five ways: all grace, always, all sufficiency, in all things, for every good work. Which of these is especially meaningful to you? Have you experienced any of these in the past? How does the abundance of God s grace give us an abundant ability to do His work? 80 81
LEARN TOGETHER AFTER watching the DVD teaching and discussing the previous questions, spend a few minutes studying this scripture passage that provides more insight into today s topic. Read John 6:1-14 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little. 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter s brother, said to Him, 9 There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many? 10 Then Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world. 82 83
Why did Jesus test Philip? How did Jesus give abundantly to the people? (verse 11) Why do you think Jesus gave so much more than the people could eat? SHARING TOGETHER What are three things you learn about God as a provider from this passage? Have you ever had to step up in faith at a time when God seemed far away? Are you convinced that God has the power to provide for you? God never does anything halfway. Dr. Jeremiah says that God will give us as much as we will use for His glory and His purposes. Have you found this to be true in your own life? Why does God choose to use us as channels of blessing for others? 84 85
FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY If you feel God is nudging you to go deeper, take some time to dig into His Word. Explore the Bible passages related to this session s theme on your own, jotting your reflections in a journal or in this study guide. Want to go deeper? Select a few verses and try writing them in your own words. If you like, share them with the group the next time you meet. Read Ephesians 3:14-21 God gives us not only material goods, but spiritual benefits. What are some of the ways he blesses us through his glorious riches? PERSONAL REFLECTION The opposite of faith is fear. Often, when we are unwilling to trust God with our finances, to give, or to try tithing, it is because in our hearts we are afraid that God will not keep His promises and provide for our needs. Other times, we are not concerned about basic needs but we are consumed by a variety of wants for more and better, and we fear that giving to God will mean not owning or experiencing everything we hope for. Take a few minutes and review the lessons we ve studied together. Which stories or passages have especially spoken to you during these five weeks? What have they taught you? Taken together, consider what the Bible has to tell us about God s character and His power to provide. What s holding you back from giving back to God? Are you ready to let go of that fear? Where does our power and ability to understand God s love come from? (verse 17) How can we know a love that surpasses knowledge? What does it tell you about God that His love is so great that it s beyond our comprehension? God isn t able just to do more than we can ask or imagine, but immeasurably more. What a generous, lavish, and powerful God we serve! PRAYING TOGETHER Sometimes God acts directly to help meet our needs, but other times He uses His people to be His body and to help each other. Are there people in your group who have specific needs that you could meet? What about in our larger church family? How could your group or you as an individual meet the need of a brother or sister in Christ? Share your thoughts as a group and pray about some potential next steps. Invite group members to share other prayer requests, as well, and write them on your Prayer and Praise report on page 100. 86 87
Day 1 Read 2 Peter 1:3 Day 3 Read Matthew 19:26 Day 5 Read Matthew 6:26 DAILY DEVOTIONS Complete the Daily Devotions section. Each day, you ll read just one portion of a passage of Scripture. Give prayerful consideration to what you learn about God, His Spirit, and His place in your life. Take your time! Listen to what God is telling you. Ponder and reflect. Then record your thoughts, insights, or prayer in the Reflect section below the verses you read. On the sixth day record a summary of what you have learned through this study. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. We get part of what we need to live a godly life by growing in our knowledge of God. How will you continue to grow in your faith after this study is over? Day 2 Read 2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Our knowledge of who God is and what He does can give us security to trust him with everything, even our finances. Ask God for greater faith to know Him and believe in Him. But Jesus looked at them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. It may seem impossible that you ll ever get out of debt, or be able to tithe, or develop a generous spirit. Yet these are small matters for the great God of the universe. Ask for His help! Day 4 Read Philippians 2:5-7 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Jesus became poor so that we could be spiritually rich. If He has done all of this, can we doubt that He will take care of us? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? If God takes care of the smallest birds, He will certainly care for you. Close this week by telling Him what you need, and thanking Him for His promises to be your provider. Day 6 Use the following space to write any thoughts God has put in your mind and heart during your devotions this week. Summary: Taking Action: What is one thing you will do as a result of what you ve heard from God? 88 89
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. - John 10:10 90 91