Building Up: With Our Resources

Weekly Reading

Monday: Exodus 35, Mark 13
Tuesday: Exodus 36
Wednesday: Mark 14
Thursday: Exodus 37
Friday: Exodus 38:1-20, Mark 15
Saturday: Psalm 33-34, Proverbs 7
Sunday: 2 Samuel 15-22

Sermon Notes

Key Passage: 1 Peter 4:10-11
1 Peter 2:5
Romans 5:15
Romans 6:23
James 4:13-16
Psalm 90:12
Ephesians 5:15-16
2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Romans 12:3-8
Exodus 35:4-36:7

1. Time
2. Treasure
3. Talent (words and service)

"His parables, strikingly, reinforce the picture of God as an irrepressible giver, even when they are not mainly about God. Once there was a farmer who scattered seed so liberally that most of it didn’t take root. Once there was a king who gave remittance for a debt of ten thousand talents. Once there was a vineyard-owner who gave people far more than their work was worth. Once there was a father who gave away half his estate to his rebellious son (and then gave him a feast when he came crawling back, having wasted it all). Once there was a nobleman who gave three months’ watches to all his employees and then went on a foreign trip. Once there was a landowner who gave his vineyard over to tenants. Once there was a king who gave wedding invitations to every undesirable in the country.  n fact, it is hard to think of a parable which a God-figure features and he is not characterized by giving away far more than he should. There is also a certain extravagance, verging on wastefulness, to his miracles. How many weddings have you been to where they need one hundred and fifty gallons of fine wine? Why can’t a person who can miraculously multiply bread and fish also count, so as to not end up over catering by twelve baskets?" - Andrew Wilson, Spirit and Sacrament

Discussion Questions

3DQ - 3 discipleship questions to ask each other: What is God saying to you? What are you going to do about it? How can I help?

1. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in the passage or the sermon?
2. Russ spoke about two shifts every follower of Jesus needs to continually pursue: 1) A shift from ownership to stewardship, and a 2) shift from being guarded to generous.
a. How does the biblical concept of stewardship (vs ownership) challenge you personally?
b. List all the most important and valuable possessions in your life (all that God has given you) - which of these things is most challenging for you to shift from an ownership mindset to a stewardship mindset?
c. Share a time in your life when you were on the receiving end of someone's generosity.
d. Consider your time, treasure and talents - how is God calling you to give?
3. Consider the Gospel narrative - how does God’s abundance and generosity towards you (displayed most clearly in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus) encourage you to give?

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