WEEK 8 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

The Future Church: Generosity

Introduction:

The Future Church series explores how the church can adapt and thrive in a changing world, often drawing inspiration from the Bible and the early Christian community. We will focus on topics such as cultivating intimacy with God, understanding how to follow Jesus, connecting with the church community, serving others, and giving in response to God’s grace.

Bottom Line: Generosity is a posture of the mind, heart, and hands.

Something To Talk About:

Jesus regularly made bold claims that turn our vision of the good life on its head. One of the most counterintuitive statements is that there is more joy in giving than in receiving, and that freedom is found as we embody God’s generous heart. We’re made in the image of a happy, gracious, loving, and generous God. When we practice generosity, we live according to our design and tap into God’s joy.

Jesus is teaching His followers about how to see God and our life in God’s world: When Jesus says, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), He is teaching His followers about how to view God and their lives within God’s world by cultivating Christlike generosity, which shifts focus from self to others, reflects God’s own sacrificial giving, and cultivates virtues like selflessness, compassion, and contentment. This principle fosters a deep connection with God and a fulfilling, purposeful life by opening individuals to the needs of others and becoming channels of God’s grace. One of the most fundamental teachings in the Bible is that God is a generous God. As Christians, we are called to reflect God’s character in our lives. This includes imitating His generosity. When we practice generosity, we mirror the very nature of God, showing His love, compassion, and grace to the world.
Jesus is teaching His followers about the architecture of our hearts: Jesus’s teachings are often on the heart, and generosity is no exception. The “architecture of our hearts” means that how we give and manage our material possessions reveals the actual state, priorities, and foundation of our inner lives. Instead of merely prescribing rules for giving, Jesus focuses on the spiritual structure from which giving flows. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus provides a key principle: “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:21). Your financial decisions and where you invest your resources don’t just reflect what you value—they actively shape and direct your heart’s desires and allegiances. Jesus’s story of the poor widow highlights this point. While she gave only two small copper coins, Jesus said she gave more than all the rich people. The rich gave from their abundance, which allowed their hearts to remain focused on the wealth they kept. The widow, however, gave out of her poverty, leaving her with no worldly security to depend on. Her sacrificial gift was a greater measure of her heart’s devotion to God than the larger gifts of those who had much left over.
Jesus teaches His followers about the practice of generosity, emphasizing that it is rooted in love for God and one’s neighbor. He instructs them to give freely, joyfully, and with a selfless heart, rather than out of obligation or a desire for recognition. He highlighted that true generosity involves sacrificing for others, giving abundantly, and caring for the “least of these”—the poor, the hungry, and the vulnerable—because in doing so, one serves Christ Himself. Jesus commanded His disciples, “…Give as freely as you have received!” (Matthew 10:8), implying that what is received from God should be freely given to others. When you stop and think about it, just for a moment, and look at creation and redemption and just so much of ordinary life, you come to the conclusion that all of life is a gift. It’s all grace. None of us caused ourselves to come into existence or into being. We are here, and it is a gift. When you begin to understand that all of life is a gift and all grace, then you understand the new script that Jesus wants us to know: Generosity is meant to be an expression of gratitude.

Discussion Questions:

What does generosity mean to you, and is it different from just being rich or giving money?
How do you see generosity as a part of your apprenticeship to Jesus?
What fears or desires keep you from being generous? How would your life be different if you were free of the fear of not having enough?
What does generosity mean to you, and is it different from just being rich or giving money?
Who has been an example of true generosity in your life, and what can you learn from their example?
Do you ever act like an “owner” rather than a “manager” of the resources God has given you, and what are the consequences?
How does the truth that “everything belongs to God” impact your view of your own resources and generosity?
In what ways does Jesus’s own example of generosity motivate and shape how you give?
How is being generous tied to walking in faith and trusting God to provide for your needs?
How does the concept of an “eternal perspective” influence your approach to giving and stewardship?
What are some practical, tangible ways you can grow in generosity this week, whether with your money, time, or skills?
Do you have a regular plan for practicing generosity, and if so, what does that look like?

Take one thing home with you:

Many questions asked by believers today about money concern the tithe, an Old Testament principle of giving the first 10 percent of one’s income back to God. But just as important is the destination of the giving. In other words, should I be giving to my local church or other ministries? The local church is God’s “Plan A.” It’s the vehicle through which we care for the poor, feed the hungry, equip people to minister in the community, and send people out to the nations. When we give to the local church, we offer our support to the central institution for God’s mission.

There is undoubtedly a place for personal giving to other ministries and projects that you have a burden for, as well as needy individuals, but in so doing, do not neglect the local church. It is God’s plan A.