How Can Prosperity Be Bad?

Introduction:

Money Won't Make You Happy:
(Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12)

1. More money brings more Problems . (Eccl 5:10-17)
   1. More money = more Dissatisfaction . (Eccl 5:10)
   2. More money = more Moochers . (Eccl 5:11a)

3. More money = more Disappointment . (Eccl 5:11b)
4. More money = more to Worry about. (Eccl 5:12)
5. More money = more Hurting . (Eccl 5:13-14)
6. More money = more to Leave behind . (Eccl 5:15-17)

2. Unless God gives you Power to enjoy it. (Eccl 5:18-6:9)
3. Because God Said so . (Eccl 6:10-12)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12

1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?
   

2. Why do you think people look to money for happiness, despite the fact that the Bible and history both say that this has never happened?
   

3. Have you ever seen someone hurt themselves in the pursuit of more, or when they got more (no names!)? Do you have a personal experience in this?

Breakout
Pray for one another to go after healthy relationships.

Both God and Money

With over a decade of Real Estate experience, Alex began as an investor and at the market's peak in 2006 owned 11 properties including his personal residence. The bubble burst and hit his family hard, but they regrouped and carried on with a No Debt Philosophy thanks to discovering the teachings of Dave Ramsey. Alex and his wife, Stacie, began teaching Dave's course, Financial Peace University and to date have helped hundreds of people to pay off over a million dollars in debt. Alex and Stacie are members of Harvest Bible Chapel with their two college-age boys, Christian and Samuel.

Guest Speaker - Alex Giannetti
alexgiannetti.com

Introduction:

Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

1. God wants you to be a Giver .

   See: Proverbs 11:23-24

   Malachi 3:8-10 - "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

2. Be Content . (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

   Live the life that God is calling you to live and be grateful for that which he has given you.

   See: Proverbs 12:9

3. There is no such thing as Good Debt.

   Proverbs 22:7 - "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender."

   See: James 4:3-4 | Proverbs 21:20

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 6:24

1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?
   

2. Have‌ ‌you‌ ‌ever‌ ‌experienced‌ ‌first‌ ‌hand‌ ‌that‌ ‌the‌ ‌borrower‌ ‌is‌ ‌slave‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌lender?‌ ‌(Proverbs‌ ‌22:7)‌
   

3. When‌ ‌was‌ ‌the‌ ‌last‌ ‌time‌ ‌that‌ ‌you‌ ‌wanted‌ ‌to‌ ‌give‌ ‌but‌ ‌didn’t?‌ ‌How‌ ‌did‌ ‌that‌ ‌make‌ ‌you‌ ‌feel?
   

4. Do‌ ‌you‌ ‌feel‌ ‌pressure‌ ‌to‌ ‌”keep‌ ‌up‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌Jones’?”‌ ‌Do‌ ‌you‌ ‌cave‌ ‌in?‌ ‌If‌ ‌not,‌ ‌how‌ ‌do‌ ‌you‌ ‌fight‌ ‌the‌ ‌urge?‌
   

5. Is‌ ‌it‌ ‌ok‌ ‌for‌ ‌a‌ ‌follower‌ ‌of‌ ‌Christ‌ ‌to‌ ‌have‌ ‌abundant‌ ‌wealth?‌
   

6. Tell‌ ‌us‌ ‌about‌ ‌a‌ ‌time‌ ‌when‌ ‌you‌ ‌received‌ ‌a‌ ‌perfectly‌ ‌timed‌ ‌blessing‌ ‌that‌ ‌could‌ ‌only‌ ‌have‌ ‌come‌ ‌from‌ ‌God.‌

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Money: Lessons from Folly (Guest Speaker)

Introduction:

1 Kings 3:5,9 - At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you."...9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

Lessons from Folly (Prov 6:1):

1. Always be a Giver .

Proverbs 11:24-25 - One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Malachi 3:8-10 - "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."

2. Live the life that God is calling you to live.

   Proverbs 12:9 - Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food

   Proverbs 11:28 - Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

3. Debt is Dumb .

   Proverbs 17:18 - One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor.

   Proverbs 22:7 - The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.

   Ephesians 6:6 - Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

   Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money

   Proverbs 21:30 - In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Proverbs 6:1
(If you like, review any other Proverbs on money we covered on Sunday!)

1. Have you ever known of a relationship strained or destroyed due to unpaid financial or emotional debt? If so what happened and how could it have been prevented?

2. Have you ever found yourself trying to keep up with the Jones'? What were you doing and how did you stop?

3. 1 in 3 Americans cannot cover a $2,000 emergency in cash. When you read that, how does that make you feel?

4. Read Proverbs 21:30 then respond with how that Scripture speaks to you.

5. The world says that there is 'good' debt and bad debt. the Bible says all debt is to be avoided. Who is right? Why do we continually try to justify the world's view?

BREAKOUT
Pray for one another. Are you struggling with money? Get an accountability partner - now - from your group on your spending. Pray about and dedicate to joining the upcoming Financial Peace University class.

When You Give...

Intro:

The Secret to Giving is Giving in Secret.

1. When You Make Giving KNOWN, People Reward You. (Matt 6:2)

   ACTION

   AMOUNT

   ATTITUDE

2. When You Make Giving SECRET, God Rewards You. (Matt 6:3-4)

   SPIRITUAL

   MATERIAL

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Matthew 6:1-4

GROUP

1. Be an armchair psychologist: Why do you think people naturally want others’ attention when they give? Be honest - have you ever given, hoping that someone would know?

2. Do you think “giving to get a reward” (Matt 6:4) is a wrong motivation? Defend your answer.

3. What are the rewards God gives “secret” givers? Be specific.

BREAKOUT

Pray for one another to give as Christ commanded - secretly.

Worth Repeating

Alex Giannetti - alexgiannetti.com

With over a decade of Real Estate experience, Alex began as an investor and at the market's peak in 2006 owned 11 properties including his personal residence. The bubble burst and hit his family hard, but they regrouped and carried on with a No Debt Philosophy thanks to discovering the teachings of Dave Ramsey. Alex and his wife, Stacie, began teaching Dave's course, Financial Peace University and to date have helped hundreds of people to pay off over a million dollars in debt. Alex and Stacie are members of Harvest Bible Chapel with their two teen boys, Christian and Samuel

Intro:

Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

• There is no such thing as Good Debt. (Prov 22:7)


• Protect your Four Walls. (Prov 21:20, 13:22, 22:6)


• Align your finances with True North. (Romans 12:2, Phil 4:6)


• Keep it Real. (Prov 6:1-5)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Proverbs 6:1-5

1. Money and sex are probably the two areas of our lives that separate us most from God.
   Why do churches then avoid these topics?

2. Proverbs 22:7 reads, "The rich rules over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender."
   Have you ever borrowed or lent money to or from a friend or family member? How did that work out? Is your relationship the same today?

3. US consumer debt is at an all time high. What would you do if you were completely debt free?
   - For your family
   - For your church
   - Would your giving look different? How

4. Who is teaching your children about money and do you know what they are learning

5. Money problems and money fights are the #1 cause of divorce.
   How would you rate your communication about money?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for each individual and their relationship with money as God has design us to.