LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Wednesday Night, April 19, 2006 “You Can Have It All ”
5 Minutes - Welcome and Prayer
10 Minutes - OPEN
Be honest. Do you classify successful people as being the ones who have accumulated a lot of stuff? If someone were to be characterized as “rich,” what would you automatically assume?
What if Christians began to use words like “rich” and “success” to refer to Christ-like virtues (i.e., kindness, compassionate, loving, affectionate, etc.) rather than money and possessions?
How would you describe your life as a consumer?
( ) Conservative and Thrifty
( ) Bargain Shopper
( ) Disciplined and Controlled
( ) Impulse Shopper
( ) Addicted Shop-aholic
( ) Only buy when cash available
( ) Mostly buy on credit
( ) Other Description: __________________
We are so incredibly programmed to be “consumers.” This is evidenced by our belief that there is hardly any problem we have that money cannot solve. Think about it. What problem or need do you have in your life right now that you are working on? Do you believe that problem can be corrected by throwing money at it?
15-20 Minutes - DIG
In your life, how have you distinguished between what is a “need” and a “want”?
Make a simple list tonight of those items you would include in each category. Some call discretionary income the money consumers have left after they pay taxes, buy groceries, make the mortgage payment, pay car loan, tithe, and the other essentials. How has this list changed over the course of your adult life?
The way we spend our money is a barometer of our spiritual life. Our check stubs do not lie.
What does your spending say about you (check the box(es) which best apply to you)?
( ) Selfish
( ) Extravagant
( ) Out-of-control
( ) Stingy
( ) Conservative
( ) Family-Focused
( ) Disciplined and Budget-Conscious
( ) Good Steward
( ) Compassionate Giver
( ) Other: ______________________
One of the more prominent modern-day sins has to be materialism. Do you view the sin of greed as an egregious sin in the eyes of God? At what point does the pursuit of things and the acquiring of more become idolatrous?
Jesus spent a lot of time in his teaching dealing with the subject of possessions. Read and reflect deeply on the teachings found in Luke 16:1-15. Identify what are the primary points made in this section.
How can you tell which you are serving – God or Money?
When are we most likely to feel pressured for our value system to differ with God’s value system?
One of the problems with the notion, “you can have it all” is over-indulgence. Money has its own sneaky way of exposing us? When does spending money become an addictive behavior? When is it wrong to spend the extra money and drive the nicest car? Or have the most expensive clothes? Or is it wrong to spend money on our own selfish habits and hobbies?
Do you see yourself as being “God’s steward” of all the material things that have been entrusted to you? How might this view change your perspective on wealth and/or poverty? How might it impact your view of giving? Consider Paul’s thoughts on the subject in Galatians 6:7-10.
15 Minutes - REFLECT
Read and reflect on Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-34 (parallel passage in Luke 12:22-31).
What is the very practical link between “what we worry about” and “how we spend our money”?
Telling someone “do not worry about your life” is easy. Applying it in your own life can be a tougher task. What financial issues have caught your attention in the past few weeks, causing you to worry?
On a daily basis, we make “trade-offs” and value judgments that reflect our priorities. Some choices we make to acquire more come at the expense of the real important stuff (i.e., short-changing our spouse and children of time, so filling our schedule that we’re not able to volunteer our services; defrauding our church of financial support, etc.).
Where do you feel the most pressure on this front?
CLOSING PRAYER
Submit these matters to God!
Pray for specific needs that were revealed during the meeting.
facebook
twitter (@pvcclr)
google plus
rss
