Generosity: Week 9 (Dec 12-18)

Generosity Practice: Week 9| Week of Dec. 12 -18

Communities @ Grace

Overview of the Night:

15 Minutes : Before Start Time

15 Minutes : Arrive + Set Out Food

45 Minutes : Welcome, Pray, Eat, + Mingle

15 Minutes : Review Last Week’s Practice

45 Minutes : Introduction of Practice + Discussion 

5 Minutes :  Practice for Week Ahead

10 Minutes : Pray for One Another + Close

Goal for Week: As we practice Generosity in Community, we will be talking about the giving of our time. 

15 Minutes Before Start Time : Arrive + Set Out Food

45 Minutes : Welcome, Pray, Eat, + Mingle

• How do you like to spend time with others outside of the family?

• Do you have a specific tradition or way of intentionally celebrating the Christmas season?

• Is there a part about the holiday season that means the most to you personally, that you look forward to every year?

15 Minutes : Review of last week’s practice experience (practicing gratitude upon waking, end of day, and during hardship) 

45 Minutes : Introduction of Practice + Discussion

Recently we have discussed gratitude as our response to God’s incredible generosity towards us.  God expects us to be generous and it comes with a promise.  Let’s look at: Proverbs 11:24–25  “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, And the one who waters will be watered”

Jesus practiced generosity wherever he went and with everyone around him.  Throughout his ministry we saw Jesus using his time and talents to help and connect with others.  He never seemed to tire of taking every opportunity to show generosity.  Likewise each of us are called to be generous with others. It is our response to the needs of others and also out of  obedience to God’s prompting.  

God’s generosity is extravagant. We get to partner in that kind of generosity as well. It’s responding to needs (with your heart, soul, mind, and body) that you give by using your time or resources. It’s when you give more than what’s expected – you respond to a need before being asked and you give without need for recognition or return. (Matthew 6:2-4) 

Using your time generously could include:

1. Supporting someone’s aspirations. (offering your expertise to help them attain their goal.)

2. Help others have a healthy and happy home.  (help with childcare, spend time together, listen for how you can pray with and for them)

3. Alleviate/lessen someone’s suffering by sending a card, do a chore, take a meal, help them do a project, visit someone who needs your presence and listening ear, send an encouraging text, 

4. Help right wrongs by volunteering at an organization, writing letters, getting involved to shift the imbalance of justice you see in your community, defending the oppressed by stepping in or speaking up, 

Discussion Questions: 

1. What trait makes you think of someone as a generous person?

2. How do you know when God is directing you to be generous with your time?  Has there ever been a time where you felt prompted by God to give of your time or resources or energy? How did the Holy Spirit get your attention to give? 

3. What is challenging about giving up your free time for others?  (it’s someone I don’t know, it could turn out to take too much time, I don’t know how to make the offer to help.

4. How can we use our time to do justice and mercy?  Isaiah 1:17, Micah 6:8 Are there specific organizations that you regularly give to?
   
   *Leader Note: Depending on what organizations are mentioned, consider what it might look like for the whole community to get involved with on a month to month basis, or even quarterly. If there is a passion or a huge heart behind a specific organization that aligns with the community, it’s important to steward this and cultivate opportunities to give.

5. Do you wait for opportunities or are you actively looking for opportunities to support others?  How could you make that shift?  (work with a friend, make it a goal to practice generosity every day/week, invite people to call on you for help)

6. Have you felt richer for having been generous as God encouraged you to help in some way?

5 Minutes : Looking ahead at the practices for Week Ahead 

• What excites you about giving of your time? 

• How would you like to grow in generosity towards others? 

During the week ahead, try one or more of these ideas to strengthen your practice of being generous with your time.

• Read the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-36). Notice the many ways he spent his time to show generosity toward someone.

• Put margins in your day.  Don’t overschedule yourself so that as the Holy Spirit directs you to use your time, you will have energy and availability to give for the benefit of others instead.  

• Do an audit of your free time during this week by jotting down what you choose to do outside of obligations ie.: work, school cooking, cleaning.  Examine the patterns and note the top 3 ways you spend your discretionary time. What need do those activities fulfill for you (helps you unwind, get you away from others, helping others, too tired to do anything else, helps you learn)?  Do you see a need for it to change?

• Consider each other in the community that may have a financial or practical need that the Community could help meet.  If someone shares, create space for people to offer contributions to meet that need. 

10 Minutes : Pray for One Another + Close 

• Consider praying as a whole group or in triads for personal prayer requests. Please end on time, in order to honor the community’s time.