Foundations For Christian Living - Lesson Seven Discipler's Notes

The Lessons (continued)

Lesson Seven - You and Your Money Discipler's Notes

How to Give Cheerfully to Support God's Work

As a Christian you should have a different attitude toward wealth than you had before you were saved. You are a steward, not an owner. As you invest your money in the Lord's work, you are making a statement about your personal relationship with God, and you are acknowledging His ownership of all that you own. We must learn to properly manage what the Lord places within our care. God wants you to use things to reach other people instead of using people to acquire more things. The Bible has much to say about money and wealth. Study this lesson carefully and prayerfully, and discover rich treasures in God's Word! (Psalm 119:72,127)
Review last week's memory verse, Joshua 24:15b. Begin the session with prayer, thanking God for His grace and goodness freely given to us.

Make sure you are caught up on your giving so that you can teach this lesson with real conviction and fresh illustrations of God's provision!

Eternal Life vs Temporal Riches

1 What is the most valuable thing entrusted to you? (Matthew 16:26)
My soul is priceless.

2 What happened to the man in Christ's parable of the rich fool who pursued material wealth at the expense of his own soul? (Luke 12:16-21)
His soul was lost and his wealth was left behind.

3 How did Christ describe the difficulty rich people have in being saved? (Matthew 19:23-26) It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

4 What type of wealth is mentioned in II Corinthians 8:9?
Spiritual wealth becomes ours when we accept Christ. Remind the disciple that the souls of lost loved ones are priceless!

Discuss Luke 12:15. Christ gave the parable of The Rich Fool to illustrate this verse.

Notice how many verses in this Iesson are from the pen of Matthew the Publican. Matthew's transformed life proves that wealthy people can be saved by God's grace!

See Luke 16:11.

Is lack of faithfulness in financial matters the explanation for the disciple's spiritual bankruptcy?

Faithfulness vs. Slothfulness

5 What does God require of His stewards? (I Corinthians 4:1-2)
God requires us to be faithful.

6 From the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), list what each man did with his master's money and the master's response to each servant.

Servant ONE What he did: He invested the money and made 100% profit for his master.

His master's response: Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

Servant TWO What he did: He invested the money and made 100% profit for his master.

His master's response:Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

Servant THREE What he did: He buried the money and earned nothing for his master.

His master's response: Thou wicked and slothful servant

7 What twofold command did Christ give in answer to the deceitful question of the Pharisees? (Matthew 22:15-22)

Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's

Render unto God the things that are God's.

8 When will you answer to God for your management of what God has entrusted to you?
(Romans 14:12, 11 Corinthians 5:10)
I will give an account at the Judgement Seat of Christ.

9 How does the Bible describe the lives of those who determine to be rich? (I Timothy 6:9-10)
They are trapped, drowning in destruction, wandering from the faith, pierced with sorrow.

10 In what practical ways can you obey the commands of Matthew 6:19-20?
I can lay up treasure in heaven through answered prayer, soulwinning, suffering for Christ and giving to God's work.

11 What should be your first priority in life? (Proverbs 23:4-5; Matthew 6:33)
My top priority in life should be seeking to invest (my talents, time and treaure) in that which will count for eternity.

Giving vs. Stealing

12 Who is the real owner of all things? (Psalm 24:1, Psalm 50:7-11)
God is the creator and owner.

13 How can you rob God? (Malachi 3:8)
I can rob God when I do not give tithes and offerings.

14 What is the definition of the word tithe? (Genesis 28:22; Leviticus 27:32)
Tithe means to give the tenth.

15 On what day of the week should you give your tithes and offerings? (I Corinthians 16:1-2) I should give to the Lord's work on the Lord's Day.

16 What should be your attitude as you give? (11 Corinthians 9:7)
I should give with a cheerful attitude.

17 What promise does God give to those who are obedient in their giving.? (Philippians 4:19) He promises to supply all I need.

18 Are you being obedient to God in your giving?
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MEMORIZE
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

What will you do as a result of what you have learned from God's Word?
(James 1:22-25)

Christians, should pay taxes. Man is made in the image of God, so it is only right that we should give ourselves to Him.

'Someone said, "The worst thing about money is what it costs you to get it."

I Timothy 6:9 is one of the most graphic verses in the Bible. Note that it is "the love of money," not money itself that is "the root of all [kinds of] evil."

Our love ("heart") for God's work follows our giving to it. Discuss ways to "lay up treasures in heaven."

See also Proverbs 13:11. Lotteries and other forms of gambling violate biblical principles concerning wealth (I Tim. 6: 10).

See James 1:17. God is good. He gives good gifts, and He gives them continually. Greed or lack of contentment indicates that we doubt God's goodness.

Tithing acknowledges that God owns all our money and possessions. Tithing is practical in that it is a percentage and not a fixed amount. Tithing requires the same commitment and obedience whether we are rich or poor.

See Malachi 3:10, Luke 6:38, 11 Corinthians 9:6. Point out that God's blessing on the obedient giver is not necessarily realized financially. Also the financial prosperity of a person, church, or organization does not always indicate that God is blessing. Give examples of God's blessing in your life as you were obedient to Him.

Discuss the practical aspects of giving to a Bible-believing local church. Bills, salaries, missionary support, and other expenses must be paid in order to reach people with the gospel.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

If the disciple needs help in making a budget, etc. suggest that he counsel with someone at church who honors the Lord in his giving and has wisdom in financial planning.

Give the disciple Lesson 8. Set a definite time for your next session.

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Lesson Seven - You and Your Money	Discipler's Notes
How to Give Cheerfully to Support God's Work As a Christian you should have a different attitude toward wealth than you had before you were saved. You are a steward, not an owner. As you invest your money in the Lord's work, you are making a statement about your personal relationship with God, and you are acknowledging His ownership of all that you own. We must learn to properly manage what the Lord places within our care. God wants you to use things to reach other people instead of using people to acquire more things. The Bible has much to say about money and wealth. Study this lesson carefully and prayerfully, and discover rich treasures in God's Word! (Psalm 119:72,127)	Review last week's memory verse, Joshua 24:15b. Begin the session with prayer, thanking God for His grace and goodness freely given to us. Make sure you are caught up on your giving so that you can teach this lesson with real conviction and fresh illustrations of God's provision!
Eternal Life vs Temporal Riches 1 What is the most valuable thing entrusted to you? (Matthew 16:26) My soul is priceless. 2 What happened to the man in Christ's parable of the rich fool who pursued material wealth at the expense of his own soul? (Luke 12:16-21) His soul was lost and his wealth was left behind. 3 How did Christ describe the difficulty rich people have in being saved? (Matthew 19:23-26) It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. 4 What type of wealth is mentioned in II Corinthians 8:9? Spiritual wealth becomes ours when we accept Christ.	Remind the disciple that the souls of lost loved ones are priceless! Discuss Luke 12:15. Christ gave the parable of The Rich Fool to illustrate this verse. Notice how many verses in this Iesson are from the pen of Matthew the Publican. Matthew's transformed life proves that wealthy people can be saved by God's grace! See Luke 16:11. Is lack of faithfulness in financial matters the explanation for the disciple's spiritual bankruptcy?
Faithfulness vs. Slothfulness 5 What does God require of His stewards? (I Corinthians 4:1-2) God requires us to be faithful. 6 From the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), list what each man did with his master's money and the master's response to each servant. Servant ONE What he did: He invested the money and made 100% profit for his master. His master's response: Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Servant TWO What he did: He invested the money and made 100% profit for his master. His master's response:Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Servant THREE What he did: He buried the money and earned nothing for his master. His master's response: Thou wicked and slothful servant 7 What twofold command did Christ give in answer to the deceitful question of the Pharisees? (Matthew 22:15-22) Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's Render unto God the things that are God's. 8 When will you answer to God for your management of what God has entrusted to you? (Romans 14:12, 11 Corinthians 5:10) I will give an account at the Judgement Seat of Christ. 9 How does the Bible describe the lives of those who determine to be rich? (I Timothy 6:9-10) They are trapped, drowning in destruction, wandering from the faith, pierced with sorrow. 10 In what practical ways can you obey the commands of Matthew 6:19-20? I can lay up treasure in heaven through answered prayer, soulwinning, suffering for Christ and giving to God's work. 11 What should be your first priority in life? (Proverbs 23:4-5; Matthew 6:33) My top priority in life should be seeking to invest (my talents, time and treaure) in that which will count for eternity. Giving vs. Stealing 12 Who is the real owner of all things? (Psalm 24:1, Psalm 50:7-11) God is the creator and owner. 13 How can you rob God? (Malachi 3:8) I can rob God when I do not give tithes and offerings. 14 What is the definition of the word tithe? (Genesis 28:22; Leviticus 27:32) Tithe means to give the tenth. 15 On what day of the week should you give your tithes and offerings? (I Corinthians 16:1-2) I should give to the Lord's work on the Lord's Day. 16 What should be your attitude as you give? (11 Corinthians 9:7) I should give with a cheerful attitude. 17 What promise does God give to those who are obedient in their giving.? (Philippians 4:19) He promises to supply all I need. 18 Are you being obedient to God in your giving? _______________________________________ MEMORIZE Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also What will you do as a result of what you have learned from God's Word? (James 1:22-25)	Christians, should pay taxes. Man is made in the image of God, so it is only right that we should give ourselves to Him. 'Someone said, "The worst thing about money is what it costs you to get it." I Timothy 6:9 is one of the most graphic verses in the Bible. Note that it is "the love of money," not money itself that is "the root of all [kinds of] evil." Our love ("heart") for God's work follows our giving to it. Discuss ways to "lay up treasures in heaven." See also Proverbs 13:11. Lotteries and other forms of gambling violate biblical principles concerning wealth (I Tim. 6: 10). See James 1:17. God is good. He gives good gifts, and He gives them continually. Greed or lack of contentment indicates that we doubt God's goodness. Tithing acknowledges that God owns all our money and possessions. Tithing is practical in that it is a percentage and not a fixed amount. Tithing requires the same commitment and obedience whether we are rich or poor. See Malachi 3:10, Luke 6:38, 11 Corinthians 9:6. Point out that God's blessing on the obedient giver is not necessarily realized financially. Also the financial prosperity of a person, church, or organization does not always indicate that God is blessing. Give examples of God's blessing in your life as you were obedient to Him. Discuss the practical aspects of giving to a Bible-believing local church. Bills, salaries, missionary support, and other expenses must be paid in order to reach people with the gospel.