Consider inviting your group members to reflect on their own spirit of generosity. Have they increased or decreased in generosity over the past two years?
God holds spiritual leaders responsible for guiding people into healthy relationships with personal wealth and proper worship. This means there are people in your life who you are called to equip. Following Jesus involves viewing wealth the way God views wealth. God does not need our wealth since He owns it, but He discerns our trust as we offer it back.
God does not demand joy before generosity; instead, He’s wired generosity to reap greater joy. This is a challenge for us because we typically want to wait to feel something before we sow something. However that hinders the miracle of multiplication. God uses our giving tenacity to multiply our spiritual capacity. God’s abundant blessing flows through our abundant sowing. And God’s multiplication of seeds calls us to increase sowing not increase holding. On every occasion, God is trying to produce a default to generosity.
1. What life event has most shifted your viewpoint on generosity?
2. What most hinders you from being generous?
2 Corinthians 9: 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Invite your group members to share how God has been moving their hearts and lives during this series. Is God calling them to increased generosity or stewardship? What next steps will they be taking? If people do not know, pause and ask God to speak to them and give them direction. Encourage everyone to take next steps and follow up with each other.
Take time to pray over each person in your group, being attentive to how God is moving in their lives.