10.14.07
Small Group Plan - October 14, 2007
“When Riches Are Worth More Than Money”
Ancient Future Faith
Small Group Plan
October 14, 2007
Dear Group Leader…
Poverty Facts:
· 43% of the world does not have access to a telephone
· 2.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water
· 700 million people live in shantytowns or slums
· 120 million children live on the streets
· 2 billion people live in poverty, surviving on less than $2 a day
· 30 million people die annually from hunger
· 18 million of them are children under the age of 5
– World Christian Encyclopedia
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· What is wealth worth to a young person?
· What is wealth worth to a middle-aged working person?
· What is wealth worth to an elderly person?
· What is wealth worth to a dying person
· How have your views on wealth changed?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
God And The Poor
Luke 4:17-19
17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
· What is the common theme in Jesus’ announcement?
· What does it mean to “preach good news to the poor”? How do you do this?
· Why does Luke tell us that Jesus “found the place” (vs. 17)?
· We receive God’s Spirit at our baptism (Acts 2:38). What happens in our lives when we fully accept the Spirit’s presence?
· The “year of the Lord’s favor” was the year of Jubilee when all debts were canceled and property returned to its ancestral owners (Lev. 25:8-55). With this in mind, what does it really mean to give the poor good news?
God And The Rich
Luke 18:18-24
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good — except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” 21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
· Why does Jesus omit four commandments as he answers the man?
· Describe what Jesus means when he says there is “one thing you lack.”
· Why couldn’t this man give up his wealth?
· Why is it so difficult for the comfortable and self-satisfied to “enter the kingdom of God” (cf. Mark 4:18-19)?
· Jesus didn’t ask everyone to “sell everything” – why does he ask it of this man?
· Imagine that the man responded to Jesus in a positive way. Describe how his future life might have unfolded?
God And The Church
Acts 2:44-45
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
Acts 4:32
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
Acts 20:35
35 We must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
· How does this early church look when compared to most American churches today?
· How would you describe the relationships of the first Christians?
· What attitudes must be present for true “sharing” to occur?
· How could someone have “possessions” but not claim to “own” them?
· What is the blessing in giving? What happens to the giver and the receiver?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· How does wealth create a false sense of security?
· How do people really feel about benevolence and forgiveness of debt today?
· What is it about money that tempts us to love it (1 Timothy 6:10)?
· What riches have you found that are worth more than money?
· How would you describe the joy of generosity?
Thank God in prayer for the blessing of wealth, and ask Him for protection from it.