Be Generous

#19 Mark:17-31 "Jesus vs. Money: Winner Takes All"

Gospel of Mark: Discipleship, Servanthood, and Following After Jesus

Mark 10:17-31 “Jesus vs. Money:”

Sunday, January 30th

Opening Questions for Community Groups

What was the best and worst part of your last week and how can we be praying for you?

At what age did you begin to ponder the ultimate questions of life?

What questions have you thought about the most?

Discussion/Study Questions for Mark 10:17-31

How does the context of Jesus welcoming the little child set the stage for this instruction?

Why is (1) coming to Jesus (2) with respect and (3) in humility necessary for salvation? Why are these things not sufficient for salvation?

How do churchgoing Christians sometimes make it look like our religion is based on what we do? how can we change this perception?

Is it possible for a person to keep the last six commandments? How do Matthew 5:22-28 and 22:36-40 raise the bar for perfection?

Why did Jesus make this particular demand of the rich young ruler? What demand might He make of you? (What is key to your core-identity? What is your functional savior?)

Is wealth an evidence of God's favor? How can it also be an impediment to salvation? What determines your opinion about money: your culture or the Bible?

Are there some people who have the gift of managing money for the kingdom and others who do not? What are the characteristics of this gift? Do you have this gift?

Is it wrong to seek a reward? How is the reward of discipleship better than anything the world has to offer?

How have you experienced the truth of Jesus' promises to those who would follow him?

Why did Jesus mention "persecutions" (v30) among the rewards of discipleship?

How can we pray for one another and support one another throughout the next week?

Abraham Piper: Tithing is 'Manipulative' | Doug Wilson

In this episode of Doug Reacts, Pastor Doug Wilson interacts with a video from Abraham Piper, son of John Piper, on the subject of tithing. This video is presented by Canon Press.

Church is More Than a Building | Jeff Vanderstelt

Sunday, August 2 "Compelled by Generosity" 2 Cor 8:1-24

Pastor Kyle Van Tine at Summit View Church Heritage Park Campus

Listen to this Sunday's sermon by "Compelled by Generosity"

Wisdom better than MONEY?!?

"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!" Proverbs 16:16
According to the scripture it's better to be wise than to be wealthy.... I guess you can have a lot of money but not have the common sense to use it well.

A powerful example of this occurred multiple times during my pastoral training years. I worked in a church near the largest military base on the west coast. I saw a lot of 18 year old guys who would sign up for 5 years of service with the United States Army and get $40,000 dollar signing bonus.

It was more money than they had ever had in their entire life and needless to say their wallet was far bigger than their wisdom. Instead of investing that wealth in buying real estate, long-term high yield stocks or saving for their future children, they would drop 15,000+ dollars on a brand new speaker system to install in their 2001 Honda Accord which would bust 2 years later.....That's a liability not an asset. That's foolish, selfish and stupid. They may as well have burned their money because they like the smell of the ink, that would have just about the same value 20-40 years later when their poor wife needs a house to raise the kids, who also need food, clothes and an ever-increasingly costly education.

How are you with your money? Are you growing in wisdom? Are you stewarding your wealth in such a way that you can look back as an older man or woman and be proud of how you invested, saved and spent?

Ultimately what's needed is more wisdom not necessarily more money.

Jesus and Management

“The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1)

Big Idea: Everything we have is a gift from God to manage for a short season.  

God’s Gift of Marriage (Mark 10:1-12)

God’s Gift of Kids (Mark 10:13-16)

God’s Gift of Stuff (Mark 10:17-27)

You can listen to Jesus and Management by following this link.