Mission is People – Luke 21:1-9

Posted by Dave Stone

This week we have a guest speaker, Moses Pulei.

Luke 21:1-9

What principles from this text should guide our financial giving? How does your giving measure up to these principles?
The main principle is that giving is a matter of the heart, not the amount. Another principle is that our giving patterns reflect our heart.

For each Scripture below, identify a principle(s) of financial giving. How do you measure up against them and what changes should you make to live these principles?
Proverbs 3:9 – giving off the top of our paychecks, as our first act with our finances, honors God
Haggai 2:8, 1 Corinthians 4:2 – everything belongs to God, we are stewards who need to manage money according to God’s values
Malachi 3:8-10 – we can rob God by not giving our tithes (10%) and offerings (above 10%)
Luke 12:34 - where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 - by giving to God we are store up a strong foundation in Heaven

Read Luke 20:45-21:4. What comparison is Jesus making between the scribes (teachers of the law) and the widow? How do you think we should apply this to our lives?
Jesus publicly rebukes the Scribes and praises the widow. Remember last week’s lesson about the danger of looking only at the outside. In this passage, the danger is looking only at the amount given and not the heart behind it.

Jesus makes the point in verses 5 and 6 that the temple was not the important thing because it was destined for destruction. Our guest speaker, Moses, makes the point that people are our mission. Are there any “temples” (anything taking away from the importance of people) in your life?
Be sure to pray for each other.

What are you doing to build into or invest in others? (see point IIIc and IIId)

Remembering last week’s dramatic presentation and the Brian Welch video, share about any opportunities you had to speak an “honest observation” recently.