Like a Boss Week 4 – Discussion Guide
Getting Started
Main Idea:
If God is first in your life, then everything else can come into order.
Discussion Starter:
What was your favorite part of guest Pastor Morris’s message?
Introduction:
This week guest Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church preached on the Principle of First. He taught that the firstborn must be sacrificed or redeemed, the first fruits must be offered, and the tithe must be first. Are you putting God first in your finances?
Encounter God
Primary Scripture: Exodus 13:1-16, Exodus 23:19
Discussion Questions:
1. Read verses 1-2 Exodus 13. Discuss what it means to sanctify or consecrate. What are some things that you consider sacred or “set apart” in your life? What items in your schedule or your bank account are “untouchable”?
2. What do you think about the phrase “it belongs to Me”? Do you consider what you have to be yours or God’s?
3. Keeping Exodus 13:2 in mind, read Exodus 23:19. Pastor Morris spoke about the difference in “giving” vs. “bringing” to the Lord. What is the difference? Discuss how our ideas of who is the owner and who is in control affect whether we think we are “giving” or “bringing” our offering to God.
4. Read Exodus 13:3-16. Have you ever asked, “Why should we tithe?” or “Why should we give?” If you have children, have they asked you that question? Looking at verses 14-15, how should we respond to those questions?
Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Exodus 13:1-16 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.
Embrace Others
Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into dyads or triads for this section.
Take question 4 a step further. Have each person answer the question “Why do we give?” as if he/she is explaining it to a child. Include details of what God has given you and how He rescued you.
Engage the World Around Us
Engaging at Faith Promise: Get in on generosity! You can give at https://faithpromise.org/give. If you are interested in how your financial gifts are used to serve our community and the world, you can view the Faith Promise financial statement.
Engaging in Community: As the weather gets warmer there are more outside chores to do. Do you have a neighbor who needs help with yard work? What about your local school–could they use help spreading mulch?
Engaging the World: Choose a missionary family from our Faith Promise Missions Magazine and pray for them this week.
Expand God’s Kingdom
Do you know someone who could benefit from hearing these messages about how to manage finances? Share link to the sermons online: https://faithpromise.org/series/like-a-boss, or search for “Faith Promise” in your favorite podcast app.
Leader’s Notes
1. Sanctify means to “set apart.” Draw attention to the fact that we all have time, money, relationships, or things in our lives that we “set apart” and consider non-negotiable. For some people it may be watching a specific TV show, for others it may be a bank account they put money into setting it apart for a specific purpose. Guide the discussion to the who or the why things are set apart. Are we setting things apart for God? For ourselves? For other people or things in our lives?
3. We “bring” what belongs to God and offer it back to Him. “Giving” indicates that we believe we are the owners. As Pastor Morris put it, “You can’t give what doesn’t belong to you.”
ALL groups at Faith Promise should follow Jesus Christ and lead others to do the same. Below are the marks of a growing follower and disciple of Jesus.
– A follower of Jesus desires to encounter God through the deeper study and application of God’s Word.
– A follower of Jesus embraces people and values relationships on a deeper level so everyone can grow together.
– A follower of Jesus engages and serves the world around them and in their community, through local partners or God-directed opportunities.
– A follower of Jesus expands God’s Kingdom through development and multiplication of disciple-makers, possibly to lead more groups at Faith Promise.
