TEACHING NOTES

Jesus was right: happiness is found in the opposite place than where we are often told. There is more happiness in living simply and generously than in acquiring money and possessions.

A key task of our apprenticeship to Jesus is discovering the joy of living a generous life.

There are two ways of looking at the world:
- An abundance mindset
- A scarcity mindset

Generosity is a practice by which we index our heart from a scarcity mentality to the abundance mentality of Jesus.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1) How were money and generosity handled in your family growing up?

2) What is your primary feeling abut money? Fear? Desire? Shame? Ambivalence?

3) How do you see generosity as a part of your apprenticeship to Jesus?

4) Read Matthew 6:19-24
- What stands out to you in this passage?

5) Whether you were the giver or recipient, share about a time when you experienced the joy of generosity.

6) What fears or desires keep you from being generous? (It could be a scarcity mindset, a need for “security,” greed, or something else.)

7) How would your life be different if you were free of the fear of not having enough?

8) What is one act of generosity you can do this week that would counter the fear you may carry?