We like to imagine that our income is what brings us security – but what if the truth is just the opposite?  What if our reliance on our resources is exactly what brings us the most stress, panic, and worry?  This week, we’ll explore God’s economy and how trusting him fully can bring us the hope, peace, and engagement we’ve always wanted.

Group Discussion Guide

To view the Leader Guide for this week, click here.
To view a .docx version of this guide, click here.

Introduction 

Take a few minutes to chat as a group! How have you been doing this past week? Last week, we talked about making intentional time to spend alone with God and how that should be the basis for our external expressions of faith. How has this application from last week’s group gone for everyone? 

After your time of connecting, begin your meeting with prayer.  

Key Verse for the Week  

*Read this verse, then encourage the practice of memorization through the week. 

Isaiah 26:3 

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” 

**When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us. 

Connect   

• What is an item you grew up with that would comfort you? What was so comforting about that item?  
• What are some of the main things you rely on in your life? What do you normally find yourself having too much of? What do you not have enough of? 
• Why do you feel this way about those things? 
• How do you feel about money? Do you find this to be a stress point for you? What makes money so stressful? 

Opening Thought

Many times, when we are in stressful situations, such as the beginning of a new year, a life change, or a hardship, we can tend to hold the resources we have tight. One of the main fears we get caught up in is the aspect of money. Do we have enough to pay the bills? How am I going to afford to fix my car? Will I have enough money for taxes?? These are all valid concerns! God, however, calls us to think differently. Instead of calling us to a life of fear, Jesus calls us to trust him in every aspect of our lives, especially the more challenging things to trust him in.  

This leads us to our big idea for this week:  

Big Idea for the Week
We can trust Jesus with our finances

Unpack 

Go around your group and have someone read each of the following verses, then discuss the connected questions. 

Read 

Leviticus 27:30 
Deuteronomy 14:22 

*Throughout the Bible, one thing God continuously instructs his people to do is give the first and best part of their resources (called their “firstfruits” in the Old Testament) to God first, each according to their ability to give. God did this so his people would learn to trust him and know that God will provide and take care of his people.  

Unpack 

• How difficult is it for you to trust God to take care of you? What worries you the most about this? 
  • What part of trusting God in this area is the easiest and most difficult? 
• What do you think your life would look like if you viewed your money and/or possessions as a gift that God has given you, instead of something you made happen completely through your own effort? 

Read  

1 Timothy 6:17-19 
1 John 3:16-18 
Luke 14:12-14 

*In addition to using the tithing system to teach his people to trust him, God would ask his people to give their possessions and money away to teach them not be tied down to material things and show compassion to others. Tithes would be given to the priests (who didn’t earn money) and the poor. 

Unpack  

• What is your relationship with generosity? What kind of people/organizations do you feel good about giving to?  What people/organizations do you find yourself resistant to giving to? 
  • Why do you have resistance to certain people or organizations vs others? 
• Often there is a separation of what people are comfortable giving to (ex.: This mission trip is fine to give to but this person on the street is not okay to give to). Why do you think this is? What’s the difference? 
  • Jesus does not seem to make a differentiation in who he calls us to love through generosity. Why do you think we try to make that differentiation? 
• What do you think real love looks like when it comes to our possessions and finances? When have you experienced this real love by someone giving something to you? 

Apply 

Based on the verses we just read, there are some things that we can do in response. Take a moment to discuss these questions as a group to decide what your personal action steps for the week can be: 

• What can you do to reduce some of the possessions that you rely on too much for the benefit of others? What one possession that’s important to you, can you give up this week to reduce its hold on you? 
• How can you open yourself up to being more giving this week? How will you put this into practice? 
• What will our group commit to do this week that will help us trust God more with our possessions and finances? 

Closing 

Read this section with the group then move to the Prayer and Verses section: 

As we try to live a life that follows Jesus, one thing we need to be careful of is getting distracted by things of this world. Unfortunately, possessions and finances can become distracting if we are not careful to trust God through how we use them. As we try to lay a foundation for right side up living this year, let’s follow Jesus’ teachings in the way we spend our money and possessions: for the benefit of others and so that more people may come to live a life of following Jesus.  

Prayer and Verses 

Ask for prayer requests and conclude your time with prayer then share the Key Verse for the Week and Daily Devotional Verses with the group. 

Daily Devotional Verses  

Use the S.O.A.P. method to reflect on the verses below. 

Scripture: Read the verses several times. Reading out loud can be helpful as well. 
Observation: What can you see about the scripture you read? 
Application: What is God wanting you to believe, do, or feel, based on what you have read? 
Prayer: This is a chance to talk to God about what you have read and ask him for help in living out what you’ve learned. 

Day 1: Luke 6:38 
Day 2: Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 
Day 3: Proverbs 11:24-25 
Day 4: Luke 16:1-12 
Day 5: Proverbs 3:9 
Day 6: 2 Corinthians 4:14-18 

Key Verse for the Week  

Isaiah 26:3 

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”