Admittedly, the sermon this week will be a bit of an outlier for me. I don’t often preach about money, mostly because the generosity of our Grace community has propelled us into God’s purposes in so many ways. This Sunday, however, our members will vote to approve our 2019 budget, and so the subject is on my heart.

Each year, we hold this vote, and each year it only takes a few minutes to pass out the ballots and check the appropriate box. But even though the vote for the budget is brief, the impact of the budget stretches toward eternity. The funds we give and receive at Grace will go in the name of Jesus toward needs and lives and empowerment across our neighborhoods, the nations, and the next generation.

So as I’ve worked with our staff and elders to prepare a budget that will fund the vision, I’ve been reading and re-reading the Apostle Paul’s words about giving in 2 Corinthians 8-9. And in these last few weeks, I’ve come across some truths familiar and some new that I’m excited to share.

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

Title: Choosing to Give // Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8-9

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
This morning the membership of Grace-Snellville voted on the 2019 budget that will fund the vision God has given us. On the topic of giving, Jon shared some thoughts about generosity, based in 2 Corinthians 8, 9. Generosity is not a requirement but a response to God’s grace (8:1-10). Each must determine what he/she can afford to give (8:11-15). Proverbs 3:9 (CEB) Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first of all your crops. Proven relational trust is crucial (8:16-24). We will reap what we sow (9:1-11, cf. Job 4:8; Proverbs 11:24–26, 22:8–9; Hosea 10:12–13; Luke 6:38).

THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
Generosity is a response to grace received.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): What was the story of the Macedonian church at the time Paul wrote these words? What was their commitment to giving?

Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Are the guidelines given to the early church ones that still apply to us today? More importantly, what can we learn from the guidelines given? Has your mindset changed from a percent mindset to a perspective mindset (giving that reflects your passions + where you have relational trust)?

Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): How does this generosity mindset affect our interactions with those around us? With friends? With strangers?

BE IT – Practice 10-15 minutes
Change UP // Exercise 5 minutes
After reading II Corinthians 8:1-10 together, pray together, asking God where He wants you to personally press in on this subject of generosity.

Change IN // Group Activity 15 minutes
Grace is about exceeding expectations (guilt is about falling short of expectations). Talk about how often “grace” is repeated in the passage and about how generosity is a response to grace received (not a response to guilt).

Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 10 minutes
After looking at your goals, consider what you need to spend, then as you decide what you can afford to give, look at where you have relational trust and give to those opportunities that are around you. Where will you choose to give?

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.