In the Workshop--Lesson 10--A Generous Use of Money--Matthew 14:13-21 + Various Passages

Discussion Questions:

1.  How would you define generosity?  What kinds of things draw you to be generous with your time and money and other resources? 

2.  If required giving is an oxymoron, why would God require giving in the OT?  In what way does following Jesus require us to give?

3.  How is generosity tied to worship?  Is it possible to be generous with wrong motives?  How does remembering generosity is a form of worship help me maintain right motives?

4.  How does receiving generosity make you want to worship?  How does being generous make you want to worship?  In what ways is it more blessed to give than to receive?

5.  What kinds of things make you feel like you live in a world of scarcity instead of abundance?  What things help you to be more intentional and regular about seeing beyond the scarcity of this world to the incredible riches and blessings of the LORD?

6.  Tell of a time you had to trust in the generosity of the LORD (or of a person the LORD used) to take care of your needs.  Why is it difficult for us to accept the generosity of others?

7.  What, in your view, made Zacchaeus become so generous?  Why did he go so far beyond what the Law required of him in restitution and providing for the poor?  Why is it important that Jesus referred to Zacchaeus as “a son of Abraham”?

8.  Why do you suppose Jesus does miracles of miraculous feedings twice?  What is the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees that Jesus tells them to be on guard against?  How does understanding God’s abundance vs. feelings of scarcity tie into this?

9.  How is generosity not about the size of the gift?  The different stories used throughout the sermon (Boy has head shaved; Dad takes care of homeless; husband washes windows) were examples of how people can be generous even if they don’t have much.  What ideas do you have for this type of generosity?