The Heart of Generosity

As we kick off our new series titled “The Heart of Generosity,” we are challenged by Jesus' words to do some difficult examination of our hearts. What does it mean to be generous? Why do we struggle to be generous with our money (and stuff)? And how can we overcome the dangers of wealth and riches? May God’s grace be upon all of us as we potentially feel the Holy Spirit’s conviction, but also Christ’s comforting good news.  

Matthew 6:19–24

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 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.

For Adult Homes, Groups, & Families with Kids

1. When you hear the words generosity or giving, what thoughts or feelings come to mind? Why do you think Jesus spoke so often about money and our relationship to it?

2. Read Matthew 6:19-24 and Jeremiah 17:9. Why can it be difficult for us to recognize greed, materialism, or an unhealthy attachment to possessions in our own lives?

3. Jesus describes the eye as the lamp of the body and warns about spiritual darkness. How can money or possessions blind us to what matters most?

4. Jesus says we cannot serve both God and money. What are some signs that money has begun to exercise too much control over someone’s life?

5. Read Ezekiel 36:25-27 and 1 Peter 2:9. In Ezekiel, God promises to replace a heart of stone with a heart of flesh. What might a hard heart look like? What might a softened heart look like?

6. One of the message’s central ideas is that Jesus gave up His treasures to make us His treasure. How does understanding Christ’s sacrificial love change the way we think about our possessions?

7. How does knowing that our worth and security are found in Christ - not in our wealth, possessions, or status - free us to live differently? Where can we look for opportunities to show generosity in our families, church, schools, neighborhoods, and community?