In light of this week’s message, we encourage you to consider these questions and dig in a little deeper with your personal study, with your family, or with your small group.

*If in a group: The study of finances and the church can be very personal.  Please be gracious and considerate as you navigate different opinions and preferences on this topic. 

Dig-In Questions:

1. Get to know you/icebreaker question: what from your childhood has most impacted your perspective on money?  (ex. Did you grow up poor?  “Pinching pennies?” was your Mom or Dad the spender?)
2. If an investigator could only investigate your bank account, savings, and spending, what would they say are the most important things in your life?  Would they say you love God first and foremost?  Why or why not?
3. To answer today’s question, “Why does the Church talk about money?”  We have to realize the goal of the body of believers is to make fully devoted followers of God.  Read Matt. 6:19-24). Discuss why Jesus spoke about money.
4. The Bible speaks a lot about money. Let’s look at three reasons why this topic is worthy of serious discussion.
   1. God has always wanted first and best – Read: Gen. 4:1-4, Ex. 13:1-2, Deut. 14:23, Matt. 6:24, 33
   2. God asks for all of the first – Read: Malachi 3:8-10, Matt. 23:23
   3. Give because God gave first – Read: John 3:16, 1 John 4:19
5. Given these three reasons why the topic of giving is so foundational in scripture, it’s essential to remember 2 Cor. 9:6-7.  Read and discuss this, given the other passages.
6. Billy Graham once said on tithe, “We have found in our own home, as have thousands of others, that God’s blessing upon the nine-tenths when we tithe, helps it to go farther than ten-tenths without His blessing.”  Would you say that was true for you?  Take time to pray and consider your next step in giving to God.