SESSION 3 THE SACRIFICE OF GIVING Quick Start Read Print Watch Take some time in advance Before class, make enough Make sure everyone can see to read and consider the Bible copies of this session s handout the screen and the audio is at a comfortable level. Study questions and come for your entire group. (The up with personal examples handouts came with your to encourage discussion. download.) Note: For Note: more For detailed more detailed information, information, please see please the How see the to Use NoteThis to Leaders Leader sdocument. Guide document.
OPEN Leader: As the group settles in this week, you may want to start by asking how they did on the Live It Out applications from the previous session. Then, start with the icebreaker question. Are you very good at waiting for something? Describe a situation (maybe a story from your childhood) where waiting for something was difficult. Was it a birthday, your driver s license, your wedding day? How did you survive the wait? In this session, we ll look at delayed gratification. The best things in life often come at the end of a long wait. For us as believers, the best things come after the resurrection. VIEW Show Session 3: The Sacrifice of Giving (16 minutes) REVIEW The third key to the treasure principle is: Heaven not earth is our true home. Despite our destiny, however, we can often find ourselves trusting in money or things to make us happy. Where do you hear the idea that money will make you happy? Where does that message filter into your life? (TV commercials, Hollywood stars, movies, shows, Facebook friends, Instagram) Have you ever seen someone become truly happy and satisfied by earning or winning more money? If so, where? If not, why weren t they happy? Heaven being our home doesn t mean we re meant for some ethereal existence sitting on clouds playing harps. The earth as it is now filled with corruption, pain, and death isn t our true home. We re destined to live for eternity on a new earth where heaven will come down to this planet. In the past, how did you picture eternity or heaven? Why? What difference does it make if you view our eternal destination as a remade earth, instead of a disembodied, ethereal heaven? Despite our future home on a renewed earth, we can t take with us the things we ve stuffed into our closets or deposited in our banks. Whether we like it or not, our stuff and our cash stays here when we die. And it ll get burned up in the renewing of the earth (1 Peter 3:10 13). In light of the temporary nature of our belongings and our money, what should our attitude be toward earthly stuff? Randy proposed a situation where you live in France for three months, and all you ll be able to bring back to the United States would have to fit into your suitcase. It wouldn t make sense, then, to accrue a ton of stuff you ll have to leave it all behind. Did Randy s illustration explain the idea of earthly things passing away for you? Why or why not? Session 3: The Sacrifice of Giving 14
Randy admitted that we re living on earth for longer than three months. But the principle is the same we re going to leave everything here when we die. Keith s story unpacked the practical implications of the third key. What did Keith and his wife feel led to do with their money? How did God respond to their step of faith? What resulted for Keith and his family from giving away their money rather than hoarding it? What are you tempted to hoard? Why? Has it satisfied you? What emotions surge to the surface when you consider giving it away? Randy recognized that, because most of us will live several decades on this earth, it can be hard to develop an outlook of temporariness. And that leads us to the fourth key of the treasure principle: I should live, not for the dot, but for the line. What did Randy describe as the dot? (Our life on this version of earth) What was the line? (Our immortal life on the remade earth) What s the difference between living for the dot or the line? What does it look like? Randy pointed out that, when we understand our lives in light of the line, we can embrace the mentality that Jim Elliot had when he said, He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Are you familiar with the story of Jim Elliot? Leader: If no one in your group is familiar with the story of Jim Elliot, it may be worthwhile to describe it briefly. Jim was an evangelical missionary to the Huaorani people in Ecuador (they were also known by the pejorative term Auca ). When attempting to reach out to the tribespeople, Jim and four of his fellow missionaries were killed. It turned out that a tribesman had falsely accused Jim and his crew of attacking him and a young girl. Jim s wife Elizabeth continued the work with the Huaorani after Jim s murder, despite the tragic loss of her husband. Jim and his fellow missionaries understood that they were living (and dying) not for the dot of this temporary earth, but for the hope of eternity. They faced the possibility of death with hope not fear. And their wives continued the work they had begun because they looked forward toward the line. What can you learn from the story of Jim Elliot? What would your life look like if you lived every moment for the line of eternity rather than the dot of this present life? Randy continued by pointing out that it s not wrong to have worldly goods. It s not even wrong to enjoy them. What s important is that we understand that all the stuff we have is temporary and cannot give us eternal satisfaction. Our money and our toys only go so far. But as redeemed humanity, we re given the gift of immortality we will live forever in renewed bodies on a renewed planet. Have you ever thought of yourself as immortal in light of your salvation? If so, how has it changed your outlook on life? If not, what does the promise of immortality mean for how you live now? In the past, how have you viewed death? How has your view of death impacted the way you view your money and possessions? Given the fact that we all will die one day, it can be very easy to settle into a fit everything in before I kick the bucket mentality. We plan for big retirements so that we can do everything we ve wanted to do. In fact, many if not most Americans fear outliving their money more than they fear death itself. But with a perspective that understands that the best is yet to come, we needn t fear death or failing to do everything. In fact, Session 3: The Sacrifice of Giving 15
Randy pointed out that the more we focus on the line giving sacrificially and investing in God s kingdom the greater reward there ll be for us in our immortal lives. How does the idea of rewards in eternity sit with you? Often we get squeamish when we think about rewards in heaven. It feels too much like we re turning the Christian life into a competition. But Randy made sure to highlight that God doesn t reward us based on some contractual obligation He has with us. No! Instead God wants to give us rewards, and calls us to participate with Him in His work on this side of eternity. The rewards come as part of His lavish grace. The rewards are His idea. If the rewards are God s idea, how do you feel about investing in them? Why? While we live on this side of the resurrection and the renewal of the world, God has entrusted us with resources to be used for His kingdom. As we look at the concept of living for eternity, we ll see that it s more than just a good idea. It s the center of faith itself. BIBLE EXPLORATION Chapters eleven and twelve of Hebrews are pretty famous. In fact, most of us know Hebrews 11 as the Faith Chapter or the Hall of Faith. We re going to dig into the text of chapter eleven and the first part of twelve. Read Hebrews 11:1 6. The author of the book of Hebrews introduces chapter eleven with a description of faith. According to Hebrews, what is faith? How does that definition of faith fit with what Randy s been teaching on eternal perspectives? Read Hebrews 11:7 19. Verses 9 10 offer commentary on Abraham s perspective about his journey to the promised land. How did verses 9 10 describe Abraham s view of his own wanderings? What was he looking forward to? (An eternal home built by God) Read Hebrews 11:20 29. Similarly, verses 24 26 paint a picture of Moses life. What was Moses looking forward to? How did impact the way that Moses lived his life? What did he give up? What did he stand to gain? The author of Hebrews is setting up an argument that s going to hammer into the minds of his audience. In Jewish culture, wealth, health, and prosperity were considered signs of God s favor. But here, the author is challenging readers to consider the heroes of old men and women who gave up wealth, health and prosperity on this side of eternity because they anticipated a future reward. Chapter eleven concludes with the following statement: And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect (Heb. 11:39 40). On this side of eternity, no one in the list of heroic faith received their reward. They realized it lay in the world to come, and invested in a hopeful eternity. The author of Hebrews explains why they had to wait: they have to wait because we hadn t finished the race. We hadn t even begun to run. What s your reaction to the idea that men and women have lived for centuries with a mind toward eternity? What does it mean to you that the way you use your money is an outward expression of heroic faith? Why? Session 3: The Sacrifice of Giving 16
We can look at the list of men and women in Hebrews 11 and quickly fall into the mindset that says, They were great people of faith I m just a regular person trying to take good care of my family. In reality, all of the people in Hebrews 11 had deep flaws, failed to live up to expectations, and often failed to carry through on the tasks God had assigned them. God doesn t expect perfection that s why He offers grace through Jesus sacrifice. But He does ask us to live with an eternal perspective and participate in His work on this side of eternity despite our failures. Leader: If you have time and interest, consider taking your group to Judges 6 8 and read the story of Gideon. Highlight Gideon s reluctance to participate in God s plan, his hesitation to trust God even when God made it clear that He was in control, and point out Gideon s success despite his weakness. Read Hebrews 12:1 2. These verses are the so what of the previous chapter. They take the history of Hebrews 11 and bring it into our lives. The reason that the heroes of old didn t receive their reward on this side of eternity was so that you and I would have a chance to store up our own treasures in heaven. Why does the writer of Hebrews use the image of a runner? Why does a runner run? Does the idea that men and women from all ages are cheering for you as you participate in God s work now encourage you? Why or why not? Hebrews 12:1 highlights the weights and sins that keep us from running well on this side of the resurrection. How does the weight that Hebrews talks about connect to Randy s idea of misplaced investments? Is it the same? Why or why not? What weight or sin might be slowing you down as you run the race of the Christian life? How do those weights or sins impede your generosity? What could you do to remove them? The final example that the author of Hebrews uses is Jesus Himself. Jesus maintained an eternal perspective as He lived out the mission of God on earth. Jesus had the power to amass wealth and comfort, but, instead, chose to forego those things for the sake of the eternal reward waiting for Him on the other side of the cross. Does knowing that Jesus, too, lived with an eternal perspective encourage you? Why or why not? What would your life look like if you chose to run the race to win the prize at the finish line? What would change? What would remain the same? Jesus looked forward to the reward (the joy set before Him ) as He faced hardship on this side of His resurrection. What kind of attitude can we have, then, about the rewards that God has allotted to each of us in eternity? Is waiting easy or hard for you? Why? If waiting is easy, does it affect your investment in eternity? Why or why not? If waiting doesn t come so easily, how do you compensate? How could the promise of eternal reward help develop your ability to wait? If Jesus counted eternal reward worth sacrificial giving, what room does that leave us to hoard our money to ourselves? The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 all looked forward to a reward in eternity. They lived in extraordinary ways because they knew it was worth it in the end. As we evaluate our own generosity and perspective, let s keep in mind that we re surrounded by a cloud of witnesses cheering us on to live for eternity. Session 3: The Sacrifice of Giving 17
LAST WORD Randy said, Eternal reward is God s idea so let God have the joy of rewarding us for our faithfulness to Him and let us experience the joy of God who gives us unconditional salvation in Christ only to believe in Him. We don t work our way to heaven but He s so kind as to offer us reward. It may make us uncomfortable to think about rewards, but the fact remains that God wants to shower treasure on His followers. Eternity seems like a long way off. Even for those of us who are in the later years of their life, it can be hard to make sacrifices now for the sake of future reward. As you consider Randy s teaching and Hebrews, remember that Jesus Himself thought the promise reward of eternity was worth waiting for. LIVE IT OUT Leader: Challenge the group to practice at least one of the suggested activities in Live It Out. You may even invite them to circle the one they want to do, and then follow up at the beginning of the next session to find out how it went. Take Action: Keep a record this week of the weights you invest your time and money into. We re not talking about the necessities gas, food, time with family but note the non-essentials. Then pick one you could work toward eliminating in favor of an eternal focus. Perspective Shift: Find or buy a long piece of rope 15 feet or more. Take a permanent marker (maybe black or red) and color the first half-inch of the rope. Leave the rope on your desk or dresser or any place you ll see it regularly. Allow the rope to remind you to live for the line and not the dot. Memorize: Commit the next two keys of the treasure principle to memory: Heaven not earth is our true home, and I should live, not for the dot, but for the line. Allow the truths of these principles to soak into your mind. Interact: Identify someone in your life (in your church, family, workplace) that makes eternity a priority in the way they live. Take the time to speak with them this week and ask how they order their life to reflect eternity. Pray: Spend time asking God this week to step in and divinely impart patience. Ask for the faith and the confidence to look toward eternity, and to live well in the present. Session 3: The Sacrifice of Giving 18