ANNOUNCEMENT – Women’s retreat is next Friday. Sign up online at www.ob1church.com. The cost is $70 and that includes retreat costs, lodging, food, and transportation. It will be located at Camp Cedar Glen in Julian, CA. Childcare will be available at the church Friday 17, from 3:30 – 6:30pm. So drop your kids off at church, ask your husband to pick them up after work. Carpool is available.
Life Group Questions
1. Did you bring your Sunday notes? What stood out the most in this sermon? (Encourage group to take notes Sunday – it improves retention and it is a great tool for the life group dynamic)
2. According to the world’s standards even the poor in America are considerably wealthy. Why does scripture say God has blessed us so much financially? To help answer this read 1 Timothy 6:17-19.
3. Would you say that your spending habits bring glory to God?
4. Pastor Joe spoke about two Christian cultural norms regarding our money. The first view is that my money is all “mine” and I will give God and others what I want, when I want, and how I want. The second view is that my money is all “mine” and I will give God His required 10% (kind of like the Taxes to the IRS). Do you fit into one of these two views? If so which one?
5. If the above question describes our cultural norm regarding money what is the biblical norm regarding money? How does God view your money? Read Matthew 25:14-30 & Deuteronomy 8:17-18.
6. Read 2 Corinthians 9:8-11 & Matthew 6:33 & Hebrews 13:5. Try reading this passage from a few different versions. Do you trust that if you live a biblical life of generosity that God will provide for you?
7. Read Hebrews 12:1. If we are to live a life of biblical generosity we need to be intentional. The problem is that “most” Christians are living a cultural lifestyle of slavery to materialism and the pursuit of more money so that they are unable to live a lifestyle of biblical generosity. Does your lifestyle enable you to live a biblical lifestyle of generosity where you are able to give first to God and then to others? If not, are you willing to take a radical step and intentionally change your lifestyle?
8. What if we stopped asking how much we can spare and started asking how much it will take. Then we can make it a priority to make an impact for God’s glory. What would that look like in your life?
9. Make sure you spend at least 15 minutes praying for one another. Here are some prayer ideas: 1. Start the life group with prayer because many times there is not enough time to pray at the end. 2. Break up in small groups of 2-3 to pray for one another; 3. Break up in two groups men and women, and pray for one another (Gender specific groups promote vulnerability)
