For Further Study

Quick Review:  Was there one point from this week’s sermon that particularly caught your attention, challenged you or confused you more than the others?

My Story

1.  What’s your favorite theme park and what part of it do you like the best?

2.  We live in a society where most people enjoy many material possessions. What would be a non-essential material possession that would be easy for you to give up?  Name one that would be more challenging to give up besides your residence or vehicle.

3. Can you think of any ways people have positively invested in your life that they may or may not know?

Digging Deeper

1.  Paul, the writer of 1 Timothy, understands the tension we experience between balancing our pursuit of being rich in good deeds versus rich in material possessions. That’s why he writes “Fight the good fight of the faith.” (1 Timothy 6:12)  Part of the dilemma is that our pursuit of financial gain tells us the lie that its return is more rewarding than the pursuit of God and making an eternal investment.  What do the following verses tell you that you gain in the pursuit of God that no material possession will give you?

Psalm 112:1-9

Matthew 5:6

2.  Throughout our study of 1 Timothy we have talked about having personal significance and significance in the lives of those we know.  As you go back and re-read 1 Timothy 6:11, look at the definitions below and write down an example of how it might look when it’s lived out in the workplace. 

“Righteousness” means personal integrity and godly character lived out.

 “Faith” might better be translated faithfulness. It has well been said that the greatest ability is dependability.

“Love” is the agape love that sacrifices for the sake of others. It seeks to give, not to gain.

“Endurance” carries the idea of sticking with it when the going is tough. It is not a complacency that waits, but a courage that continues in hard places.

“Gentleness” in this context might be seen as “power under control.”

- Definitions adapted from the Bible Exposition Dictionary

How might living them out make an impact on others? 

Is there one that challenges you more than the others?

3.  We saw this weekend that God wants us to develop a mindset of generosity.  How do we see generosity expressed specifically by King David in 2 Samuel 9?

How is Mephibosheth’s situation and David’s treatment of him similar to God’s treatment of us?

How might this story expand our generosity?

Taking It Home
What from this week’s teaching and/or study helped you the most for developing godliness, contentment or generosity?