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.

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
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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.

Getting Back to Faithful Giving

Introduction:

Review: Luke 3:10-14 | Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Faithful Giving

1. How should I give? (Mal 3:6-9)



2 Corinthians 8:3 - For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means,of their own accord...



2. Why should I give?

1. Because giving to God is good for your Wallet. (Mal 3:10-12)


2. Because giving to God is good for your Soul. (Mal 3:13-15)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Supporting Series on Biblical Giving from God's Word:
I Love to Give
(4 part series with audio sermon and notes)

Covering 2 Corinthians 8 - 9

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Malachi 3:6-15

1. Why is "getting on track" with giving so important towards "getting back on track" with God? What does this say about our attitude towards money?

2. What does the New Testament say about "how to give" (see 2 Corinthians 8:3)? How would you respond to someone who says, "You don't have to tithe, that's Old Testament Law."

3. Why do you think God wants tested in the area of giving? How can YOU test Him (specifically) as He called you to?

4. The more you give to God, the more God gives to you. Why is this so? How would you respond to someone who doesn’t believe that?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another. Ask, "How have you been doing getting 'Back on Track'?" What area that Malachi addresses (so far in our series) has impacted you the most? (worship, marriage, holiness, giving)

Because Giving Glorifies God

Review:

1 Corinthians 10:31 - ...whatever you do, do all to the GLORY of God.

How Does Giving Glorify God?

1. Giving results in THANKFULNESS . (2 Cor 9:11-12)


2. Giving proves AUTHENTICITY . (2 Cor 9:13)
   
   
3. Giving grows RELATIONSHIPS . (2 Cor 9:14)

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read 2 Corinthians 9:11-15

1. How would you define what it means to "glorify God"? How does financial giving glorify God?
    
2. In 2 Corinthians 9:13, Paul says that giving is a proof of genuine salvation. How is giving an evidence that someone is truly born again?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another to grow as givers: rightly motivated, generous, and trusting God!

Because God Gives to Me

God's Economics 101:

1. The PRINCIPLE. (2 Cor 9:6)



2. The PRACTICE. (2 Cor 9:7)



3. The PROMISE. (2 Cor 9:8)



4. The PRECEDENT. (2 Cor 9:9)



5. The PROVISION. (2 Cor 9:10)

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-10

1. How do people misapply this teaching? (think of the TV preachers!) What does the Bible actually teach about sowing and reaping when it comes to giving?
    
2. Why does Paul quote Psalm 112:9 in 2 Corinthians 9:9?
    
3. Explain "God loves a cheerful giver". What does that mean? Why does God give more to cheerful givers (hint: verses 8 and 10)?

Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another! Specifically to grow in generosity that trusts God to keep His Word about giving.