LESSON SIX: Discussion Guide and Opening Prayer for Group & Individual Use (click more)
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time you have provided for us to come together to hear from you and have fellowship in your Word and to learn and apply your Word to our hearts. We need you, Lord. We need your grace all the time. We praise you for your goodness and your love and mercy. Please open our hearts to you and to one another and lead our discussion. Help us not to fear, but to put all of our hope in Christ. Help us to remember there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. May you be glorified in all our thoughts and words and deeds. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I. LECTURE
Will someone share how the Lord used the lecture to speak to your heart? Did anyone have any questions or concerns about the lecture? If you ever have a question or something is unclear, please let us know. We want to serve you in any way we can!
II. PLEASE READ THE MAIN POINT FROM THIS WEEK’S HOMEWORK
God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10) and every dollar in every bank account. Therefore, our funds would best be spent for the furtherance of the kingdom. It can be so hard to remember that everything we have is His and that we need to spend it the way He wants us to. We are to use what God has given us, or rather entrusted to us, to build bridges, develop relationships, display generosity, extend a helping hand, and provide cups of cold water to drink. As much as we may say we are giving our all for Jesus, our checkbook may say otherwise. Materialism has stormed our nation, taken us by surprise, and taken its toll. We can listen to all the voices around us proclaiming their truth and their way, or we can know His truth and His way. Following His way leads to true life, not only for ourselves and our children but also for those around us whom we might impact, both near and far. The Lord is able to take our measly mammon and multiply it by His magnificent might and amazing grace to bring many, many, many into His heavenly mansion!
III. QUESTIONS FROM THE HOMEWORK
1. Go through the homework, occasionally calling on women. Read scriptures aloud. After asking a question, remember to allow a brief period of quiet “wait-time” to give women a chance to think before answering. After pausing, if no one shares, go ahead with your answer, rephrase question, and/or move on.
DAY ONE Devotion: God, Mammon, and Mocha
2. Would someone please share what spoke to your heart from Day One?
DAY TWO
3. Quiet Moment - What does money mean to you? What place does it have in your life? How do you make the decisions about the use of your money? Whom would you say you serve, God or mammon?
4. Going Deeper Question #1 - What is Jesus communicating through the parable of the dishonest manager? How can you apply what He is teaching?
DAY THREE
5. Quiet Moment - Do you know what is in your heart? Do you sense your sin or the temptation to sin in this area? Would someone please read the prayer they wrote in response to this question?
6. Going Deeper Question #2 - What do you sense the Lord has given or entrusted to you (financially and otherwise)?
7. Question #3 - What would the master’s comments be to you? What are you doing with what He has given to you? Have you invested what you have been given for His purposes or for your own?
8. Question #4 - Do you think Jesus is speaking only (or even primarily) of money? What things besides money has the Lord given you that you need to use for His kingdom?
DAY FOUR
9. Quiet Moment – When you are asked to give for the progress of the gospel, for the support of a ministry, or a missionary couple, how do you give? Do you think it would be irresponsible to give not knowing how you will pay your next grocery bill? Why or why not?
10. Quiet Moment - Is it difficult to think about giving up something you enjoy to provide a need for someone else? Why or why not?
11. Going Deeper Question #1 - What can you learn from John 12:1-8 and Acts 4:32-37?
12. Question #4 - In reading Mark 6:7-13, what crosses your mind when you hear Jesus tell the apostles to take no money in their belts? What is Jesus saying in between the lines about trusting God to provide? How might this passage be applied to your daily call to the great commission and how you see money and resources?
DAY FIVE
13. Quiet Moment - What do you learn from the verses in 1 Timothy 6:17-19?
14. Going Deeper Question #2 - According to 1 Timothy 6:11-16, what are we to flee? What are we to pursue? What does Paul charge the rich to do? What is the Lord saying to you?
IV. PLEASE RECITE YOUR SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSES TOGETHER
V. TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART TIME
We will now focus on taking God’s truth to our hearts and bringing it to life. James 5:16a states; “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” And 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
Please turn to your Taking the Truth to Heart and Bringing It to Life page. We will each have 3 minutes so that every woman will have a chance to share. Please record one another’s confessions on the Taking the Truth to Heart Guide on the following page so you can pray for one another throughout the week. Leaders, please set the example by always going first.
VI. PLEASE CLOSE IN PRAYER