ICEBREAKERS
Make sure to start off with prayer. Then choose one or more questions to open up with.
- Who is the most generous person that you know?
- Was there ever a time in your life where you felt like your blessings were just overflowing?
- What is your best Christmas memory?
Message Review
Main points and scriptures from this week's message.
This weekend, Pastor Kevin focused on a common and debilitating form of anxiety. The anxiety of not having enough.
POINT 1: WHEN GOD IS PREPARING YOU FOR SOMETHING BIGGER, YOU WILL NEED TO TRUST HIM MORE.
In Genesis 17, when God was preparing Abraham for something bigger, God introduced himself as "El Shaddai," which translates as "the God of more than enough."
The only recorded sermon of Jesus is known as the sermon on the mount. In that message, he addresses the “the anxiety of not having enough”
Matthew 6:25–33 (NIV)
Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
POINT 2: THE WORRY OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH IS COMMON REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH MONEY A PERSON HAS.
POINT 3: THE WORRY OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH IS WHAT HINDERS MOST PEOPLE FROM GIVING GENEROUSLY.
POINR 4: THERE’S NO BETTER TIME THAN NOW TO STEP OUT OF YOUR WORRY AND LEAN INTO A LIFESTYLE OF TRUSTING GOD.
Worry weakens you. Worry puts you on the defense. It paralyzes your potential to live a bigger life of trust and confidence. After this weekend, we encourage you to step away from the anxiety of not having enough and lean into the God of more than enough.
TALK-IT-OUT
The following questions will help guide your discussions and give your group some opportunities to open up and share.
- In what ways do you struggle with the anxiety of not having enough?
- Why do you think that the anxiety of not having enough is so common?
- Was there ever a time when you did not think that you were going to be able to make it financially?
- Do you believe that God will bless those who are generous to others, more than those who are not generous?
- "When God is preparing you for something bigger, you will need to trust Him more." What is the bigger thing that you feel God is preparing you for?
- Finish this sentence: God knows I am generous because ________________.
WRITE-It-Out
Encourage your group to starting writing things down. In a journal or on paper, write down the following:
- Write down 5 characteristics or traits that you want others to use to describe you. (trustworthy, faithful, generous, compassionate, etc.)
- Next to each characterstic or trait that you listed above, write down the answer to this question: How will people know this about me? (What will be the evidence of your generosity or faithfulness, or compassion, etc.)
Live-It-Out
Encourage your group to start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
- Complete one random act of kindness each day. For example, buy coffee for the person in line behind you, or bless a friend with a gift.
- Honor a Police Officer in some way this week. Say thank you to them, or buy them a coffee, or write a letter to one that you know.
- Complete Growth Track. There is no Growth Track during December, but starting again January 8, we will have Growth Track every Sunday at 11:30 at all of our campuses.
- Serve together as a group. To view serving opportunities with Champions Foundation, click HERE.
Closing Thoughts
- Finish group with prayer requests and praise reports.
- More resources always available here: Group Resources