We live in a world where greed sometimes seems to be subtly celebrated. More homes, more toys, more savings, more investments all point to what we might typically call success. At the same time very few of us would consider ourselves greedy. We donate, share, or contribute our time and treasure in ways that demonstrate it’s not all about us. However, as we learned this week, greed is not a financial issue; it’s a heart issue. Greed says “I owe me.” As long as we feel like we owe it to ourselves to save up in order to enjoy the good life, we’re actually holding ourselves back from enjoying our best life. The life of generosity. In this series we’re looking at how four different emotions can hold us back from living our best life, but to each problem there is a remedy. And the remedy for greed is generosity.

1. What image or story or person comes to mind when you think of greed?

2. How would you explain the debt that lies underneath greed? In other words, what causes greed?

3. In what ways has this series made you recognize or realize greed in your own life? If greed is a heart issue and not just a financial one, are there ways you are greedy with things beyond just money?

4. READ Luke 12:15-21. What would you say is the main idea is that Jesus is trying to teach us?

5. Are there any ways that you’ve seen yourself storing up your surplus? Ask yourself this question: Why do I have so much? How would you answer?

6. As we’ve learned, the remedy for greed is generosity. In fact Jesus teaches that generosity is not actually measured by giving out of an abundance, but instead is measured by a willingness to give whatever we have. READ Luke 21:1-4. What was Jesus’ main point? What do you feel like this story might be teaching you?

7. In what ways would you like to be released from greed in your own life? What changes might you be able to make in order to grow in generosity?

Take some to pray, to be quiet, to listen and to ask God to show you ways in which greed might be affecting your heart. Thank God for being generous towards you by sending his only son Jesus to take your place and save you from sin and death. Acknowledge and thank him for being your true provider, the source of all you have. Ask God to help you trust him more that he knows all of your needs and wants to take care of you. Talk to God about ways that you want to grow in generosity.

There is a companion book for this series Enemies of the Heart written by Andy Stanley available at the Next Steps Center. At the end of the month, our networks will be collecting supplies for our back to school drive. Consider being generous to students and families in need in our community as part of our Back To School Supply Drive.