Built to Last – Week 7 – Joy in the Generosity Journey
ICEBREAKER: “The Chocolate Chip Cookie Test”
If you were stranded on a deserted island and already had food, water, shelter, and an iPhone — what would you value the most? Follow-up: What’s one time someone’s generosity surprised or blessed you unexpectedly?
BIG IDEA:
“Life is so much about generosity — because what you keep is all you’ll ever have, but what you give, God can multiply.”
Generosity isn’t just about money. It’s a mindset and a journey of joy. Each of us is moving somewhere on the generosity journey — from “It’s all mine,” to “The first belongs to God,” to “I’m a living sacrifice.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Three Mindsets of Generosity
Read Luke 12:15 and Proverbs 3:9–10.
1. What are the three mindsets described in Scripture and the message?
◦ It’s all from me and for me.
◦ The first belongs to God.
◦ I’m a living sacrifice.
2. Which mindset do you most identify with right now — and what might help you take the next step?
3. How does the principle of “firstfruits” (honoring God with your first and best) change your view of generosity?
2. The Decision to Give
Read 2 Corinthians 9:7.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
1. What stands out to you about the word decided?
2. Why do you think God cares about the attitude behind our giving?
3. How can giving become an act of joy rather than obligation?
4. What’s the difference between giving to get something in return versus giving from your heart?
3. God’s Promise to Provide
Read 2 Corinthians 9:8–10.
1. What does this passage teach us about God’s ability to provide?
2. How does “God supplying seed to the sower” connect to the idea that money is a seed, not just a tool?
3. Where do you see God calling you to trust Him more deeply with your finances, time, or talents?
4. In what ways have you experienced God’s multiplication when you chose to give?
4. The Joy of Generosity
Luke 6:38 says,
“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over…”
1. What does this verse reveal about God’s heart toward givers?
2. How have you seen joy increase in your life or someone else’s through generosity?
3. Why do you think God “loves a cheerful giver”?
4. What’s one way you could bring joy to someone through generosity this week?
CLOSING PRAYER:
“God, thank You that You are generous and that You invite us to be like You. Help us move from holding tightly to what’s ours, to freely giving what’s Yours. Teach us to trust You with our first and best. Fill our hearts with joy as we give, knowing You can do more with what we sow than with what we keep. Make us cheerful givers who reflect Your heart to the world. Amen.”
Built to Last - Week 6 - Love Builds (2 of 3)
ICEBREAKER: “Bag or Barn?”
If someone handed you $100 and said you had to give it away this week — who or what would you bless, and why?
BIG IDEA:
“Many of us don’t have a money problem — we have a mindset problem.”
We either live with a Bag Mindset (we don’t have enough) or a Barn Mindset (God has given us more than enough).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. The Macedonian Example
Read 2 Corinthians 8:1–2 “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”
What stands out to you about the Macedonian churches’ generosity?
How could they be “very poor, yet irrationally generous”?
2. The Bag Mindset
Read Haggai 1:6. …You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.
What does the “bag with holes” represent in modern life?
How can this “consume → lack → fear” cycle show up in your finances or habits?
What might help you begin breaking that cycle this week?
3. The Barn Mindset
Proverbs 3:9–10. “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.”
What is the difference between the “bag” and “barn” mindset?
What does it mean to “bring your first and best”?
How does trusting God with the first 10% (tithe) change your perspective on money?
Have you ever experienced God’s blessing after putting Him first?
4. Breaking the Cycle
Look at the two cycles below and discuss:
Bag (Scarcity)
God supplies
We consume
We lack
We fear
Barn (Abundance)
God supplies
We give
God multiplies
Faith builds
Which cycle are you more familiar with — and what would it take to move to the other side?
What is one small step of generosity that would stretch your faith?
CLOSING PRAYER:
“God, thank You that You are love — and that love gives.
Help us move from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset.
Teach us to give our first and best and trust You to bless the rest.
Make us irrationally generous like the Macedonians — and use our giving to build Your kingdom.
Amen.”
Built to Last - Week 5 - Love Builds (1 of 3)
Icebreaker:
When was a time you wanted to give or help someone but didn’t follow through? What held you back?
Scripture Focus:
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave…”
2 Corinthians 8:6–7 – “So we have urged Titus… to encourage you to finish this ministry of giving... Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your speech, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love for us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.”
Isaiah 32:8 – “But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.”
Mark 12:41–44 – The Widow’s Offering
1. Giving Is Spiritual
Paul called giving a “ministry.” How does that change the way you view generosity?
What does it mean to “excel in the grace of giving” in your own life?
2. Love Gives
If “love gives,” what does that tell us about God’s nature—and about how we’re supposed to live?
How does your giving reflect your love for God and others?
3. Generous People Give Willingly
Why does Paul emphasize finishing what you start?
What’s the difference between giving out of guilt and giving out of willingness?
4. Generous People Give Proportionately
How can we give “in proportion to what we have”?
Why do you think God looks at our hearts more than the amount we give?
5. Generous People Give Sacrificially
What stands out most to you about the widow’s gift?
When was the last time you gave your time, heart, or resources in a way that truly cost you something?
Application
What’s one step you can take this week to plan to be generous (Isaiah 32:8)?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for showing us what love looks like through Your generosity. Help us to give willingly, proportionately, and sacrificially.
Make us people who plan to do what is generous and stand firm in our generosity. Amen.
Built to Last – Week 4: “Growing People Change”
Icebreaker
Share about a time you tried to improve yourself (a new diet, workout, skill, or habit). How did it go? What did you learn about change from that experience?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Understanding God’s Love & Trust
Read 1 John 4:16-19. How does trusting God’s love change the way we see ourselves?
Why is trust so essential for a healthy relationship with God?
Have you ever treated your relationship with God like a “gym membership” — showing up but not letting it transform you? How did that feel?
2. Growing People Change
“Healthy things grow.” Why is growth (and therefore change) necessary in the Christian life?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. In what ways have you already seen God’s new life at work in you?
What fears or obstacles make it hard for you to embrace change?
3. Embracing Discomfort
Why do you think God allows tension, trials, and discomfort in our lives?
Read 1 Peter 4:12-13, 16. How can suffering actually strengthen your faith?
Our tolerance for tension determines our potential for growth. Where do you see tension in your life now, and how could God use it to grow you?
4. Listening to God’s Whisper
Read I Kings 19:12-13. How do you usually “hear” from God?
What practices help you slow down, be still, and listen to His voice (Scripture, prayer, worship, silence)?
Job said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” How can you trust God even when you don’t understand His plan?
5. Living Out God’s Love
Read 1 John 3:18. Why is it important that our love for God and others is visible in action?
Serving others affirms their value and activates our growth. How have you seen that happen in your life or others’ lives?
What is one practical way you can serve someone this week?
Application / Challenge:
Which of the four steps (Trust God’s Love, Embrace Discomfort, Listen & Trust, Live Out God’s Love) do you need to focus on most right now?
What’s one small change you can commit to this week to grow spiritually?
Prayer Prompt:
Invite group members to share one area where they need God’s help to grow and change. Then pray using Philippians 1:6, thanking God for finishing the good work He has started in each person.
Week 3: Saved People Serve People
Icebreaker
Share about a time someone served you in a small, unexpected way. How did it impact you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Saved People Serve People
In the message we heard, “When you serve more, you take less.” What does that phrase mean to you personally?
Why do you think Jesus links greatness with serving (Matthew 23:11)?
2. Bring a Lunch – The Example of David (1 Samuel 17:17-18)
David rose to prominence when he killed Goliath, but his story starts with him bringing lunch to his brothers. How does this challenge the way we view “small” acts of service?
Can you share an example of a time God used something “behind the scenes” in your life to bless others?
What small, unnoticed way could you serve this week?
3. Carry a Cross – The Example of Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15:16-22)
Simon was compelled to carry Jesus’ cross. He didn’t plan on it; it interrupted his day. How do you respond when God interrupts your plans with an opportunity to serve?
Serving can sometimes be costly. What’s a “cross” you’ve carried to help someone else?
4. Use a Towel – The Example of Jesus (John 13:4-5)
In the Upper Room, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet—something usually done by a servant. What stands out most to you about this act?
Where in your life do you see “proud hearts and dirty feet” —places where humble service is needed?
What does it look like to “wash feet” in today’s world?
5. Sheep and Goats – Serving Jesus by Serving Others (Matthew 25:34-46)
Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these … you did for me.” How does this change the way you view serving in your church or community?
Look at the examples given (feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, welcoming strangers). Which one do you feel most drawn to right now?
CHANGING YOUR MIND
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…” – Hebrews 10:24
Week 2: What Now? – Found People Find People
INTRODUCTION
We belong with God and, until He found us, we were lost. Now that you have been “found in Christ,” consider our most pivotal core value: FOUND PEOPLE FIND PEOPLE.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Sunday’s message helped us to understand that FOUND PEOPLE FIND PEOPLE. Take a few moments to talk about some key takeaways from the message.
Read John 3:16. God lovingly and selflessly gave up His own Son Jesus to make sure you and I were found. God now finds us in His grace rather than His judgment. How does it make you feel to know that God’s own Son Jesus was not too much to give up to find you?
When did Jesus find you? Share with the group how Jesus found you and how your life is different today. Also share what it is about your own story that makes sharing your faith with others easier.
Who do you know that needs to be found?
How do you plan to show Jesus to your friends with greater excitement and clarity this week? For this question, “Just showing them through my actions” is a good answer, but try to be more specific.
NEXT STEP
As you think about your “next step” in sharing your faith, what do you know you need to do? Do you need to invest in someone’s life? Do you need to invite someone to church? Or do you need to share your own story of what Jesus has done for you? Tell the group which of these steps you plan to take this week and, if possible, with whom.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John 1:46
Week 1: Built To Last–You Can’t Do Life Alone
Week 5 - Faith When Life is Murky
Starting Point
Jesus communicated the importance of other people in Matthew 22.
Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Pastor Don said, “We love an invisible God by loving a visible neighbor.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Having read Matthew 22:37-39, do you believe it is possible to love God without loving other people well? Why or why not? What does loving other people look like?
One of our Core Values is “You Can’t Do Life Alone.” Do you agree with this? Why or why not?
The message Sunday said that we are created FROM community, FOR community. What does this mean? (See Genesis 1:26 as a reference) Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…
In what ways does Sin shatter Community? What are some ways to go about restoring community where sin has shattered it?
Read Matthew 12:46-50. How does Jesus redefine family? Have you “bought in” to this new family? How do you think this impacts your earthly and biological family? Do you love them more or less?
NEXT STEP
Read Hebrews 10:24-25. Consider the words, “Spur one another on” and “encouraging one another.” I have two challenges for you this week: the first is to state one specific way you plan to “spur on” your LifeGroup family to follow Jesus this week. The second is to write down on a piece of paper or in your phone at least one name of a person you could invite to be a part of your LifeGroup this next week. You don’t have to pressure them, just share how LifeGroup has impacted you!
CHANGING YOUR MIND
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds… Hebrews 10:24
The Chosen Series - Is That In The Bible?
Week 5 - Faith When Life is Murky
Starting Point
· What stood out to you most from the message or the Triumphal Entry scene in The Chosen?
· Have you ever felt like you were obeying God without fully understanding why? What did that feel like?
· What does “murky obedience” mean to you in your current season?
Going Deeper
1. Muscle Confusion. Just like physical training, God uses discomfort and unpredictability to grow our faith. Where in your life has God allowed “instability” to stretch your trust in Him?
2. Untraditional Methods. Jesus often moved in unusual ways.
What’s one time God answered a prayer—or led you—in a way that surprised you or didn’t make sense at first? How can we stay open to God’s unexpected strategies?
3. Readiness. The donkey was tied and ready when the Lord needed it. What does it look like to live with spiritual availability?
What part of your life (time, money, margin, gifting) might be your “donkey” that God is preparing to use?
4. Kingdom Focus. When we lose sight of God’s Kingdom, we tend to build our own. Where are you tempted to make life about your own success or recognition? How does Jesus’ entrance on a donkey reshape your understanding of what greatness looks like?
5. You’ll Know More Later. John 12:16 says the disciples didn’t understand until after.
John 12:16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
What’s something you understand more clearly now than you did in a past season of obedience? How can you hold on to trust when clarity hasn’t come yet?
Living It Out
· Jesus said Mary had “chosen the good part.” What could choosing the good part look like for you this week?
· What’s one healthy rhythm you want to rebuild or recommit to?
· Where do you sense Jesus inviting you not to do more, but to draw nearer?