Read or listen to Study: Poor Are More Charitable Than The Wealthy. Do you agree or disagree with the conclusion of Dr. Piff? What are some lessons we can learn from this on how to be more generous?

“No one is as generous as he who has nothing to give. ~ French Proverb”

Verse 1-2: Why do you think the churches of Macedonia were so generous?

What is a cause or person you give to regularly? Why do you give?

Verse 3: What does it look like for us to give according to our means? How would we know if we’re giving according to our means? Do you think there’s any benefit to you for giving generously?

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭11:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Verse 4-5: Do you have an example of a time someone’s story was so compelling that you practically begged to give money to someone? Is the story of God’s generosity compelling to you to give in his name? Why or why not?

Verse 6-8: If the church in Corinth excelled in faith, speech, knowledge, and earnestness, why did Paul ask them to be generous with their money too?

What does giving generously of your money show that other gifts can’t?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:19-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Verse 9: What are some sacrifices that your family made to allow you to get ahead in life? What are some sacrifices you’ve made for your children to help them get ahead in life? Do your kids recognize it? How do you want your kids to respond to your generosity?

Do you think God sees you responding appropriately in light of His generosity?

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Verse 10-11: Notice in verse 10 that the church in Corinth started giving money before they desired to do it. Do you think you need to have a discipline of giving generously before you can become a cheerful giver, or do you think you need to change your heart before you give?

Verse 12: Paul makes an interesting point that we should be giving according to what we have instead of giving according to what we don’t have. Do you ever find yourself reluctant to give generously because you are more concerned about making sure you have enough for the things you don’t have yet? Do you think we would be compelled to give if we considered how many riches God has already given us and that we should give of our abundance?

Verse 13-15: Read Exodus 16:13-18. Why do you think God had the Israelites only what they could eat on a daily basis? What lesson was God trying to teach them? Do you think God wants us to have hope in our money or Him?

“In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.'” And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:13-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Verse 16-19: Why is it important to pair personal time with a gift of money? What can one on one time provide that money alone can’t? How can you help make sure your money makes the most impact?

Verse 20-21: Why does Paul care about what is honorable in the sight of man? Why does our reputation in the world matter? How could we improve our reputation as Christians?

Verse 22-24: What gift do you have that you would love to share with others but haven’t found a venue yet? How can we help encourage you in using your gifts?