Luke 21: Becoming Generous Like Jesus

252 – Luke
21: Becoming
Generous Like Jesus

Then, with the crowds
listening, he turned to his disciples and said, “Beware of these teachers of religious law!
For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful
greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of
honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their
property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because
of this, they will be severely punished.” LUKE 20:45-47 NLT

While Jesus was in the
Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection
box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two
small coins. “I tell you the
truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their
surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” LUKE 21:1-4 NLT

Barriers to Becoming Generous Like Jesus:

Comparing what I have what others have

Don’t
love money; be satisfied with
what you have. For God has said,  “I will
never fail you.  I will never abandon
you.” HEBREWS 13:5 NLT

But
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens
to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay
his head.” LUKE 9:58 NLT

Desiring the approval of others

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If
pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. GALATIANS 1:10 NLT

Work
hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. 2 TIMOTHY 2:15 NLT

Trusting in money over God

Teach
those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their
trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell
them to use their money to do
good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always
being ready to share with others.  1 TIMOTHY 6:17-18 NLT

How to Become a More Generous Person:

Ask God to change your heart

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to
do what pleases him. PHILIPPIANS 2:13
NLT 

You must each decide in your heart how much
to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves
a person who gives cheerfully.” 2
CORINTHIANS 9:7 NLT

“Giving
starts with desire not ability”

Start giving something

On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the
money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it
all at once. 1 CORINTHIANS 16:2 NLT

Set a giving goal

You
should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” ACTS 20:35 NLT

  1. To give 10% of my income to my local church
  2. To support the building of God’s church through offerings
  3. To support missionaries
  4. To give to needy children and families in the name of Jesus
  5. To constantly be in a financial position to give generously to whatever I feel God is leading me to support.


Community Group Discussion Questions

  1. Have someone in your group retell the story/passage in their own words as if they were telling it to a friend.
  2. What does this teach me about God?
  3. What does this teach me about people? How does this passage change the way I treat people?
  4. How will I respond this week? How does this passage change how we live?
  5. What other questions do you have about this passage?
  6. Who will I share this with? Do you know anyone who needs help? How can this group help them?

My Notes