SERIES: “FOLLOW ME”
Topic: “Learning to Trust in His Provision.”
Texts: Matthew 6:19-34; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11.
Aim: to encourage Christians to have less worry and more trust in God’s provision.
ICEBREAKER QUESTION: We have all watched other people compete on television game shows and win money and prizes, so it’s time we got in on the action! If you could be a participant on any game show you wished, which of the following would you select, and why?
a. Jeopardy b. Wheel of Fortune c. The Price is Right d. Family Feud or e. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
I’ll begin: my name is __________________, and the game show I would choose is __________ because _______________.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. As you think about the game show you selected, would you do anything in particular to prepare for your appearance on that show? If so, what? 2. Suppose you are selected to be a contestant on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” (which is now hosted by Cedric the Entertainer on daytime television). The current version of the show no longer allows a “Phone-A-Friend Life Line,” but if it did, who would you choose?
DISCUSSION QUESTION: Now imagine that you are on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” and you have made it to the final round. You are facing the very last question. You have already won $500,000 and the next question is worth $1 million dollars. When Cedric the Entertainer asks the question, you THINK you know the answer, but you’re not 100% sure, and you have used all your lifelines. If you’re wrong, you’ll lose all but $32,000 of the money you’ve already won, but if you’re right, you’ll double your money. What would you do?
That situation has to be one of the toughest dilemmas a contestant could face, because you would be torn between two powerful emotions: GREED and FEAR! Those are the very same emotions Jesus addressed in our text today, because when you add GREED and FEAR together, you get…..WORRY!
TURN TO the gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6. READ Verse 25 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What is your definition of “worry”? And, in your opinion, how is being WORRIED different from being RESPONSIBLE or CONCERNED? 2. What do you think are some of the most common things people worry about? What would you say is one of the “Top Ten” things that people worry about most?
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One of the most important keys to this passage is found in the very first word in verse 25: “therefore”. So, to understand what Jesus is talking about, we need to back up and see what he has said just before this verse. READ Verses 19-24 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. One of the things people might worry about is losing their possessions, since the things of this world can deteriorate or be stolen. What do you think Jesus means, however, when he tells us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven”? What does that mean to you? 2. Most people would agree with Jesus’ warning that if we become obsessed or preoccupied with our money it will exert an unhealthy “pull” on our emotions, but: how would I KNOW that money is becoming too important in my life? What would be some signs that would indicate my earthly possessions are distorting or destroying my relationship with God?
NOW READ Verses 25-27 DISCUSSION QUESTION: Many of us have found ourselves in situations in which we had to remind ourselves of our priorities, to recall what is REALLY IMPORTANT in our life, in order to maintain the proper perspective or balance. Can you remember an example of a time when you had to tell yourself that some things aren’t really important enough to worry about? And if so, could you share it with the group?
READ Verses 28-30 DISCUSSION QUESTION: In what ways could we say that WORRY is the opposite of FAITH? And, what are some ways that FAITH is the remedy for WORRY?
READ Verses 31-34 DISCUSSION QUESTION: This is actually the second time in this chapter that Jesus teaches his followers to focus on today, not tomorrow. In verse 11 he teaches us to pray, “Give us THIS DAY our daily bread.” Why do you suppose Jesus warns us repeatedly against focusing on TOMORROW? Is he telling us not to plan for the future?
When Jesus says to “seek first his kingdom” and to “store up treasures in heaven” one of the things he is telling us is that we should use our money for God’s work. For some practical guidance on our giving, now let’s TURN to the book of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 16. READ Verses 1-2
DISCUSSION QUESTION: If you were developing a Bible class lesson on “Guidelines for Giving” and you were using this passage, what are some of the points that you would make? What are some principles that you can identify from these verses? Possible Answers: We give as part of our worship on Sunday (“On the first day”); Our giving should be regular (“Every week”); Everyone should give (“Each one of you”); It should be proportionate (“in keeping with his income”); We give weekly so that we are putting God’s work FIRST, and so that we don’t GET BEHIND on our offerings.
Let’s finish our conversation by reviewing the connections between our GIVING and our ATTITUDE. TURN to the next book, the book of 2 Corinthians, Chapter 9. READ Verses 6-11 DISCUSSION QUESTION: Under the Old Testament law, the people of God were commanded to give a fixed amount (10%, or a “tithe”). In the New Testament the followers of Jesus are not prescribed a set amount. Based on these passages from 1 & 2 Corinthians, what are some guidelines we should use when deciding HOW MUCH to give? Possible Answers: It should be “in keeping with our income” (16:2), so we should think about how much God has already blessed us; We should consider how much we want God to bless us in the future (Note the “sowing/reaping” analogy in 9:6, 10-11); We should give “generously” (9:6); We should give “cheerfully” (9:7).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Paul says in verse 8 that God loves a “cheerful giver.” A miserly or stingy individual would think it strange that people could actually be “cheerful” while giving some of their money away! What are some of the ways that offering our gifts to God can improve our attitude? How could giving our money away actually make us happier people? 2. Now consider the opposite situation: what about a person who never gave to any good work: how do you think a total lack of generosity might affect a person’s attitude towards money; towards others; or, towards life?
SUMMARY STATEMENT: When we give generously it helps to break our emotional dependence on money AND it reinforces our trust in God. Giving is an act of gratitude, because we think about our past blessings AND it is an act of faith, because we expect God to continue to provide for us.
–Dan Williams