Advent Conspiracy: Week 2 Spend Less (Nov 6-12)
Advent Conspiracy, Week 2, Spend Less Nov. 6-12
Communities @ Grace
Goal for Week: Discuss together, what is wise, meaningful spending?
45 minutes: Welcome, Pray, Eat + Mingle
What is a meaningful gift you have received? Why was it meaningful?
What do you want for Christmas?
15 Minutes : Review of last week’s practice experience
Review:
Practice example 1
Take time to consider where you focus your attention during the Advent season. Look at your activities and schedules, and consider how you can make room to worship fully. Jot down a thing or two you’d like to change and how you’ll do it.
Practice example 2
Focus your time with God this week on praising him and talking with him about what would please Him this season. Listen too.
Practice example 3
Take time to read Matthew 1:18 - 2:12. Consider reading through the passage several times.
The first time, ask the Holy Spirit to focus your mind and heart, and speak to you through the scripture.
The second time you read, ponder the meaning of the passage, focusing on specific words that jump out to you. How is God speaking to you through this passage?
Before you read it a third time, take time to slow down and connect with God through prayer.
Read the passage a fourth time, and ask God how you can take this passage into practice this week.
How did this practice go for you? What is the Holy Spirit doing in your heart as a result of practicing this last week?
If nobody in your group has completed the practice from the previous week talk through these questions:
What is hindering you from practicing during the week?
How can we support each other?
How was your connection with Jesus this week?
45 Minutes : Introduction of Practice + Discussion Questions
(Read) Christmas is a season of excess. More parties, more food, more music, more shopping and the desire for more stuff. This is the cultural norm. It is difficult to walk against the crowd. Spending less or simplifying, can be more work. It requires us to take time to prayerfully consider how we spend our time, energy and resources. Spending less requires us to plan, research and cultivate relationships- pursuits that are more taxing than flipping through a catalog or binge shopping online.
Spending less does not mean spending nothing. Rather, we strive to thoughtfully evaluate what we support with our spending, striving to allow our spending to support products, people and causes that reflect our values and relationship with God and others.
*In what ways do you get caught up in the distraction of needing more?
*Consider all the holiday advertisements you’re exposed to. How can you become more aware and less susceptible to messages that say our lives are lacking something?
Read Matthew 6:19-24
*What does it mean to “store treasures in heaven?”
*How can we allow our spending during the Christmas season to be a reflection of our heart?
Read Proverbs 3:9-10, 1 Chronicles 29:10-14, Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 16:10-13
Discuss
*What principles around possessions and spending can we learn from these passages?
*What do these passages teach about where our money comes from?
*Does God care about how we spend our money?
* In light of, all we have is a gift from God and truly belongs to God, how does that change the way you think about spending?
*How are justice and spending connected?
See next page for Practices next week, consider giving a copy to each member.
10 minutes :Group Practice: Break up into groups of 2-3, Talk about how your spending reflects your core values or not.
10 Minutes : Pray for One Another + Close
Consider praying as a whole group or in triads for personal prayer requests.
End on time in order to honor everyone’s time.
5 Minutes : Practices for Week Ahead
Make a budget for holiday spending.
Begin prayerfully considering who you would like to give gifts to, consider your relationship and what would truly bless them.
Begin a conversation with your family about the value of being intentional with your spending.