Part 5 - The Good & Beautiful Community - The Generous Community Study by: Ivan Cooper Sermons can be viewed on the Hope Valley Church YouTube Channel. GATHERING / WORSHIP / PRAYER Take a few minutes to catch up with each other and build community. If you have new people present, give time to getting to know each other. Possibly listen to the song ‘The Blessing’ by Elevation Worship Pray that God would use us to show His generous love to the world. FOCUS Our series ‘The Good and the Beautiful’ is based on three books by James Bryan Smith. Our focus throughout August is on the third book 'The Good and Beautiful Community’, helping us to know how to live in relationship with others as apprentices of Jesus. SETTING THE SCENE The Pharisees were once thought closest to heaven, for their dedication to the law, fasting, prayer and giving. John Wesley records that the stricter Pharisees were not content in giving only one tenth, but gave a second tenth to the poor as well. Yet Jesus said, “...unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees…you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). Rather than just outward conformity to a series of rules, Jesus wanted to transform their hearts and give them the freedom to choose to walk in love and generosity. Jesus said in Luke 6:35, “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.” The knowledge of God’s generous love, that didn’t even spare His own Son but freely gave Him up for us (Romans 8:32), fills us with confidence to trust that He will give us all that we need; freeing us from the fear there isn’t enough to share. It encourages us to live generously with our time, money, love, relationships, and service as a response to the fact that He first generously loved us (1 John 4:19). OPENING GOD’s WORD Warm Up Question: When have you received a gift that has changed or impacted your life? Read: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Take turns reading several verses each or from a couple translations. What first caught your interest or stuck out to you as you read this passage? What principles does Paul teach about giving and generosity? What do Christians discover about the purpose and results of generosity? Read: Philippians 4:10-20 Take turns reading several verses each or from a couple translations. What first caught your interest or stuck out to you as you read this passage? What did Paul discover to be the secret of being content? What could this look like in everyday life? The giving of the Philippians church blessed Paul when he was in need on his missionary journeys. Where can we show God’s generous love to those in need and to further God’s Kingdom mission? LIVING OUT GOD’s WORD How can our hearts grow in faith and trust of our heavenly Father to meet all our needs? When and with whom can we generously share with as a practical response to God’s generous love? PRAYER Pray for financial provision for our church and monthly mission focus to have the resources needed to carry out God’s work and minister to those in need. Pray that we could grow in our understanding of God’s generous love and reflect this to others. Contacts If you would like more information or further help, please contact: scott.button@hopevalleychurch.com.au