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Set Free

Breaking the Stronghold of Materialism: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Matthew 6:19-34

Stronghold: A prisoner trapped by DECEPTION

Materialism: An excessive desire for MONEY or THINGS

*TENSION requires attention—Who am I serving?

1. How materialism becomes a stronghold

· Materialism LIES

Promises SECURITY, significance and happiness

· Materialism BLINDS

Darkens your DECISIONS, character and relationship with God

2. Why materialism becomes a stronghold

· Materialism is an IDOL that competes with God

*Idol: Anything that promises life, security and joy apart from God.

o Connects to our deepest EMOTIONS

o Demands protection and SACRIFICE

1. How to be set free from the stronghold of materialism

· DEVOTE yourself to God—Make Jesus your treasure
Ask: What is my “precious” right now?

· IDENTIFY your material mindset
Spender (wildflowers)—Saver (birds)—Steward

Spender—Saver—Steward Quiz
1. Which of these excites you more?
A. A four-star vacation across Europe.
B. Maxing out all retirement accounts for the year.
C. Dinner with your pastor, who expresses heartfelt thanks for your sacrificial support of a successfully launched, new ministry.
*Adapted from God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School by Gregory Baumer and John Cortines

· GUARD against attachments to things or substances

· SETTLE the ownership issue by giving generously

*HOLD loosely…LIVE sufficiently…GIVE extravagantly
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” –Jim Elliot

Life Group Ice Breaker:

1. How much money, savings and possessions do you think you need to be secure both now and in the future?

Discussion Questions:

2. Regarding this sermon, is there any truth that stands out as being particularly helpful, insightful or difficult to grasp?

3. When it comes to looking at materialism (money and possessions), what’s the tension you feel? 40% of Jesus’ teachings (every 3rd sermon) were on money and possessions. Why do you think He talked so much about it?

4. How has materialism—the excessive desire for money or things impacted you, your family and your friends?

5. Read Luke 12:15-21. When it comes to ownership, storing up and possessions, what message is Jesus trying to communicate in this parable?
Why do you think materialism can be so blinding?

Application Questions & Prayer

6. Take the Spender, Saver, Steward Quiz posted on the home page of our website www.gatewaybible.org? Which one most describes you? What can you do in a practical way to move towards becoming more of a Steward?

7. Sacrificial giving is one way to loosen the grip of materialism. What is God asking that you (your family) do during this season of need in our world? What does it look like to “hold loosely, live sufficiently and give extravagantly”?

8. Pray as a family or group that we would be a people who would live for eternal things, steward the temporal things and store up treasures.