Initial Giver | May 21 – May 27, 2017

Series Big Idea

Here is a place of financial stress and anxiety. There is a place of financial peace and freedom. If we hope to get from here to there, we will take the next step in our generosity journey.

Message Big Idea

If we hope to get from here to there, we will take the first step and become an initial giver.

Scripture

1 Timothy 6:17-19, Proverbs 3:9-10

Ice Breaker

If you won a million dollars, what’s one thing you’d pay off, one thing you’d buy, and one place you’d visit?

Bible Discussion

1. Read 1 Timothy 6:17-19, what stood out to you? What struck you?

2. What could Paul mean in v. 19 by “take hold of the life that is truly life?” What could that look like in your life?

3. Read Proverbs 3:9-10, how would you put this in modern terms?

Life Application

4. What are some ways we think money can bring security?

5. What desire inside of us do we hope more money will fill? Has it ever worked? If so, how or if not, how not?

6. Has money brought significance to someone in your life? What kind of significance does it bring?

7. In this week’s teaching, they talked about taking one of three steps in your generosity journey this week:
• Give first- the idea that we should give before anything else in our budget,
• Give first consistently- commit to giving before everything else, and/or
• Give in a trackable way- by setting up recurring gifts.
Giving can bring its own anxieties, which of these steps was/is the hardest to think about implementing?

8. Does the idea of growing in generosity sound scary? Why or why not?

Challenge

If giving consistently sounds challenging, then a next step could be to look into whether your location is hosting Financial Peace University soon! It’s a great way to get a hold of your finances and find space to be generous in your current income. If you’re already tithing or have gone above and beyond with the ONE initiative, then spend some time finding ways to increase your generosity in other ways, whether by volunteering with your time, opening your home up more, or contributing at church for example on the Arts or Kid’s City teams.