Trusting God Completely

 

Foundations of Financial Peace Series

Trusting God Completely  

Study Guide 

Message for Sunday September 15, 2019

This Week Reading:  Philippians 4:10-13 

Main Themes:  Trust, Contentment, Covetousness, Giving  

Background Information:

Paul has dedicated his life to building God's kingdom and yet he has been put in jail unjustly. In jail he writes the letter that is known as the book of Philippians. He is in terrible circumstances. Yet despite his circumstances Paul has peace and joy. The people at Philippi send him some money to help meet his basic needs such as food while he is in prison.

In these verses Paul is thanking them for remembering him and sending the gift of money to him. He make clear however that while he is grateful to them he is content with whatever he has. He calls contentment a secret that he has learned. Contentment is the opposite of coveting something. Coveting is a sin (Exodus 20:17) and means the desire to have something you do not have. Contentment means to be satisfied with your present situation. The basis of contentment is trusting in God in all circumstances. Paul is a good example for us in these verses of being content not based on external circumstances but based of trust in God and His goodness.

Key Verse: 

Point of Light Group Guide: 

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone especially new persons and read out loud the purpose of your group:

Our goal is to grow as disciples of Jesus and to make disciples of other people by inviting them to our group. Each person here has the potential to start and be the leader of a new group and multiply God's kingdom. 

B. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use Broken Vessels  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

C. Opening Question: What is something that you do not have in your life right now that you desire to have in your life?

D. Read Background Information

E. Word: Read Philippians 4:10-13 aloud together. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story or verses - keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

2. Tell in your own words what Paul wrote.

3. What details can you add to what others in the group have said? .

F. Discuss the following general questions together (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. Use the general questions and the digging deeper questions however you see fit and whatever order you think best)

1. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

2. Put yourself in Paul's position. How do you think he felt? What was he thinking? Can you relate to him? Put yourself in the the people reading this letter, the Philippians's  position. How did they feel? think?

3. What did you learn about God from the story? 

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

6. What will you take away from this discussion?

7. What will you do with what you have learned? (make sure everyone answers this)  

E. Digging Deeper Questions: (You may want to divide into 2 groups men and women separate): 

1. Read aloud together Exodus 20:17. What does covet mean? (wanting something you do not have). Why would God say coveting is a sin? what effect does coveting have on our lives - emotional, financial and spiritual?

2. Read 1 Timothy 6:9. In what was is the desire for material things a trap? how have you seen that is other people? Where are you on that issue/  

3. Read 1 Timothy 6:6-8 and discuss. What does contentment mean? Do you have contentment in your life - financially? relationally? other areas?
4.  What challenges do you have in the area of contentment in your life now?  

F. Prayer Time: 

                 1. Pray for an empty chair representing new people who you want to join                                     the group. Name names of people specifically.

                 2. Pray for the needs of the members of the group. It is best to divide into 2                               groups one of male and the other female.

G. For Next time:

                 1. Assign group members to do different parts of the meeting as you prepare them)                      (Opening Question; Prayer Time; Read Background info; lead group)

                 2. Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group for next week.