Small Group Studies

100% Week 3 Study

BIG IDEA

Not much gives us insight into what we value the most and what is important to us than our wallets. A look into one’s bank account can quickly tell us about them. Money is not always an easy topic for us to discuss, but it is important to discuss if we want to handle our finances excellently. You see, God has provided for us all in different ways through our finances, and we have to decide how we steward them. Today, we will talk about finances and how to honor God with our money.

BREAK THE ICE

What is the most ridiculous thing you have bought from an ad on social media or a commercial?

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Bible Study Questions

1. Why do you think the way we spend our money is important to God?

WATCH SERMON RECAP

2. Read Malachi 3:8-10. Why was God disappointed with the Israelites?

Malachi 3:8-10

8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!

“But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’

“You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

 3. What does God’s response in these verses show about the importance of tithing?

4. Read 2 Corinthians 9:7-9. According to these verses, what is to be our attitude behind our giving? 

2 Corinthians 9:7-9

7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

Application

1. How have you seen God provide for you during a time you practiced tithing or another form of financial generosity?

2. In what areas is giving and generosity easy for you to show? In what areas is it more difficult? Why?

3. Is there anything holding you back from generosity towards God today? If so, what is it?

MOVING FORWARD

Our challenge today is to live with extraordinary generosity. Take a few minutes to think about how you will take an extra measure of generosity towards God. Maybe for you, it is to begin tithing if you have not made this a practice in your life. Maybe it means tithing more next week than 10%. Whatever it is for you, share it with your group and commit to living with extraordinary generosity next week. If you or someone else in your group is struggling with giving, remind them of our 90-day tithe challenge. This is their way of having a safety net for trusting God with their resources. You can find information about this at www.sagebrush.church/give.

Going Deeper

Scripture has much to say about giving, and one thing that becomes very clear about honoring God with our money is that it involves sacrifice. You see, while we look at dollar amounts and prestigious gifts given, God looks deeper. He looks at our heart and motivation behind what we have given, and he looks at the sacrifice behind what was given. In order to help us understand this truth about God, we are going to look at two different people in Scripture who gave very differently, but understood that God cares deeply about the motives and sacrifice behind what we give.

 David:

Read 2 Samuel 24:18-25.

• What kind of sacrifice did David want to make in this passage of Scripture?
• Look back at verse 24. What was important to David about the sacrifices he made, based on what this verse tells us?
• What does David’s attitude about sacrifices teach you in your own life?

 

Woman in Mark 12:41-44:

Read Mark 12:41-44

• What made the widow in this story’s offering different than the other offerings mentioned in this verse?
• What does Jesus' reaction to this widow’s gift show you about what he values in the gifts and sacrifices that we give?
• How does Jesus' teaching in this passage of Scripture resonate with you personally as you think about the gifts and offerings you give Him?

After reading these passages of Scripture, take a few minutes to reflect with your group? What do these verses teach about giving back to God and sacrifice? How does this teaching impact your giving personally? As a group, commit to praying over the next week about how He might be leading you to give back to Him sacrificially and talk about it with your group next week.

MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31