Proverbs 3 | Financial Stewardship | Modern Problems / Ancient Solutions

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Life Group Guide QUESTIONS

SERMON OUTLINE

THE PLAIN, MAIN THING:

•                       Without God being __________, our lives will never be ___________. 

4 PRINCIPLES FROM PROVERBS

1.                 When we ask __________ things to do what only the __________, can do, disorder follows.

2.                 God owns it all. __________ are not __________.

3.                 How we use our ____________________ reveals where we’ve placed our __________.

4.                 God is our creator, our provider, and worthy of our worship. 

• Therefore, trust God above __________!

TWO PRACTICAL IDEAS TO TAKE HOME

1.                 “I am God’s __________________ I don’t __________ anything.”

2.                 “I am more generous as a __________ than an __________.”

LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

1.        Have you ever found cash on the ground? How much? What did you do with it?

2.        Have you ever been the recipient of someone’s generosity? What was that like for you?

QUICK REVIEW

1.        Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

2.        This weekend, Pastor Justin noted the four most common source idols we grapple with: comfort, security, control, and acceptance. Which of these do you gravitate toward most? What would it look like this week to put God first in that specific area?

READ SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 3:9-10, Matthew 6:19-21

1.        How does this passage highlight God’s presence in our world?

2.        What does this passage say about our broken human condition?

3.        How does this passage call me to make change in my life?

DIGGING DEEPER

1.        READ Proverbs 3:9-10. How have you been taught by parents, teachers, pastors, and/or other churches about giving of our “first fruits”? What principles did you learn from them? Are there any patterns you still follow?

•       READ 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.  According to this passage, how generous should we be? What does Paul say our generosity will produce?

2.        READ Proverbs 2:4-5. Generosity and trust go hand in hand.  God invites us to see all we have, as His, given to us, for His glory. What helps you recognize that you’re making a choice to be generous out of trust, rather than fear?

•   READ Philippians 4:18-19.  Have you ever seen or personally experienced God’s faithfulness in meeting the needs of those who chose to give generously?

•   READ James 1:5-8, 1 Timothy 6:6-10.  When asked to give, our tendency can be to withhold. What words do you find in these texts that comfort and encourage you to be generous? 

3.        READ Proverbs 11:24, 13:11. Wise stewardship includes prudence, honesty, and faithfulness in the daily management of what God provides. In what ways do you see following God shape your financial decisions? Can you give an example?

•       READ HC-Q&A#110-111 (on reverse) & Philippians 4:12-13.  The essence of theft is discontentment, i.e., “I want more.”  What role then, does contentment play in stewarding godly generosity

TAKING IT HOME

READ Philippians 4:4-9, Romans 12:1-8. What is your biggest barrier to living generously? How might God be inviting you to use what He’s given, your time, talents, or treasures to show generosity? How can your Life Group or church family, support and encourage one another to live out faithful stewardship?

PERSONAL REFLECTION

READ Proverbs 14:21 & 31, 1 Kings 14:21-30. Solomon invokes the sense of caring for neighbors upon his son, who clearly didn’t heed these wise words, and “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” Are there any moments in your life that you need to reflect on, where your patterns and actions might not have lined up with biblical generosity? What patterns do you need to commit to changing?