W&W Generosity (Part 2): How Do We Practice?

TO START: Today, we continued our mini-series on the rhythm of generosity, exploring the role it plays in our discipleship to Jesus and how it trains our hearts to be receptive to God’s invitations. 

This week, we explored Jesus’ teachings on how we are stewards of everything God has entrusted to us and how each day offers an opportunity to invest those gifts in God’s work and the lives of others. Building on the parable Jesus tells in Luke 16, we discussed how generosity can be practiced through the stewardship and giving of our time, resources, and influence.

TO READ: Luke 16:1-14

TO DISCUSS:

(1.) When have you invested a lot of time, money, or energy into something only for it to turn out differently than you hoped?

(2.)  In the parable often called the Clever Manager, what do you think Jesus means in verse 8 when he says, “the master commended the dishonest manager because he acted cleverly. People who belong to this world are more clever in dealing with their peers than are people who belong to the light”?

(3.) What has God entrusted to you that you’ve grown to recognize as something you steward rather than own?

(4.) Of your time, resources, and influence, which area do you feel most convicted to grow in practicing generosity?

TO PRAY:

To close this week, consider this question together: “Who have you experienced the generosity of God through, whether by the giving of their time, resources, or influence, and how has it impacted your life?”

Give a minute or so to reflect silently on prayer as a group and then invite folks to share with the group, asking God to help you emulate and carry forward His generosity in your own life.