Life On Mission -Part 3: Give Generously
Mark 12:41-44
Series Memory Verse: “‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.’” Matthew 16:24 (p.747)
Biblical Authority: We live under and surrender to the authority of God’s Word by:
Gathering Purposefully: We embrace a consistent rhythm of worship, inspiration, and motivation while emphasizing life transformation by growing to be more like Jesus.
Serving Selflessly: We use our God-given gifts, talents, and passions to serve the ministry and mission of the Church, the body of Christ.
Giving Generously: We live a lifestyle of generosity where Biblical financial stewardship is embraced as an act of worship.
- Giving Generously Is An Act Of Worship.
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse… If you do, 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!” Malachi 3:10 (p.729)
- Seek God’s heart.
“Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts.” Mark 12:41 (p.774)
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19 (p.737)
- Clarify values and beliefs about generosity.
“Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.” Mark 12:42 (p.743)
“Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:20 (p.737)
- Get God’s perspective on money.
“Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” Mark 12:43-44 (p.743)
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:21 (p.737)
My Next Step This Week:
___ I will take my next step on the generosity continuum, understanding that “Giving generously is an act of worship.”
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION
One Thing: Giving Generously is an Act of Worship.
Memory Verse: Matthew 16:24 (p.747)
Bible Background: The Poor Widow, Mark 12:41-44 (p.773)
CONVERSATION STARTER
// Think of a recent situation where you felt hesitant to give generously due to fear of scarcity. What was holding you back from being generous?
WEEKEND REVIEW
Giving Generously is an Act of Worship.
How you can live that out:
// Was there anything that stood out to you, challenged you, or maybe even confused you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
// Read Mark 12:41-44 (p.744).
- What does Jesus observe about the different ways people contribute to the temple treasury, and what does He highlight about the widow’s contribution?
- Considering the widow’s act of giving everything she had, what might this suggest about the relationship between one’s faith and their approach to giving?
// Read Malachi 3:10 (p.729).
- What is the promise associated with bringing tithes into the storehouse, and what challenge does it present to the people?
- How could the principle of testing God’s provision through tithing influence your perspective on generosity and trust in God’s abundance?
// Read Matthew 16:24 (p.747).
- What does it mean to give up one’s own way and take up the cross?
- How might taking up one’s cross, relate to the concept of sacrificial giving and the pursuit of following Christ?
// Read 2 Corinthians 9:7 (p 886).
- What stands out about how we should give?
- Is there a specific area where you feel called to increase your giving? What is one actionable change you can make to your budget to reflect this?
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
This story is sometimes called the Widows Mite. The mite, also known as a lepton, was a Jewish coin and the smallest used in the New Testament. At the time of Mark’s writing, it was worth 1/64 of a denarius. A denarius was a day’s wage for a common worker. In today’s terms, it would be worth about 1/8 of a cent/penny. So, the Widow gave very little compared to the people giving bags of money. Yet, her small offering was worth more than anything the others were giving. She came humbly to give and her heart was full of generosity and faith in God.
My Next Step This Week:
_____ I will take my next step on the generosity continuum, understanding that “Giving generously is an act of worship.”
DIGGING DEEPER
Jesus addresses the stumbling blocks of being focused on wealth a few times in the New Testament. Read the following passages, which are from Matthew’s Gospel. Identify the common threads in each verse. Are there possible obstacles that would prevent you from giving generously?
Matthew 5:42 (p.737) Matthew 6:2-4 (p.737) Matthew 6:24 (p.737) Matthew 19:16-30 (p.750)
At the end make a list of ways you can serve your family, your church, and your community. Write down where you can serve and then write down some things that have been holding you back from living this out.