Included in this Guide
1. Introduction to the Series
2. Connect
3. Pray
4. Explore and Discuss
5. The One Thing
6. Scripture Memory

Introduction to the Series
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them.
Matthew 5:1-2 (NIV).

What follows this verse in Matthew chapters 5-7 has become what is probably the most well-known teaching of Jesus, often referred to as The Sermon on the Mount. We studied Matthew 5 last summer. We’ll continue with Matthew 6 this summer, and plan to finish the series with Matthew 7 next summer.

Connect
Feel free to respond to any or all of these questions to help get the conversation rolling:
◾ What did your parents do, if anything, to help teach you to manage your finances?
◾ What’s something you bought on impulse that later you realized you didn’t really need or want?
◾ Are you more of a saver or spender?

Pray
A simple centering prayer: Lord, the noise of this world is deafening. I often find it difficult to hear Your voice. I pray You’d break through the chaos and help me experience stillness as I seek to be fully present with You. Teach me. Lead me. Change me. May I experience more of You today than I did yesterday.

You might…
◾ Spend a couple minutes in silence. Even 30 seconds can be a huge help for people to dial in and be present with each other.
◾ Thank God for the opportunity to study, learn and grow together.
◾ Ask God to guide your discussion in a way that helps each person in the group.

Explore and Discuss
Don’t rush through this. It’s OK if you don’t get to all the questions. Sometimes it’ll make sense to go on to the next question. Other times, you might slow down and process a bit longer. Allow God to guide the pace of your discussion.

1. Allow a few minutes for group members to jot down some notes, then discuss together.
a. In the end, these things won’t really matter:

b. In the end, these things will matter most:

2. What have you treasured most this past week?

3. How do our choices reveal our treasures? Give some examples.

4. How are physical and spiritual sight (or blindness) similar (vs. 22-23)?

5. What do the following passages teach you about giving?

6. What would you say to a person who doesn’t give to their church but gives to missionaries or other ministries? Do you think this is OK? Why or why not?

7. What’s your philosophy of giving?

8. What’s your philosophy of saving?

9. What are your biggest fears or hesitations when it comes to giving?

10. How does your view of giving impact your relationship with God?

11. Describe a time you chose sacrifice over comfort.

12. Is your giving (time, money or helping others) usually driven by guilt and obligation or more from a place of love and freedom? How can you tell?

13. What was the most painful or difficult financial experience you ever recall going through? How did that impact your giving?

14. It’s fairly obvious what it means for God to be our Master, but what does it mean for money to become a master?

15. What’s God saying to you about wealth and generosity?

No one has ever become poor by giving.
Anne Frank

The One Thing
What’s one thing you’ll take away from this week’s lesson? Pause quietly for a few minutes and ask God what He wants you to know. Allow time for Him to put thoughts in your mind and stir your heart. Share briefly what you sense God is saying to you, then pray for each other.

Scripture Memory
Memorizing Scripture will help you carry the life-shaping words of God in you at all times and in all places. These words anchor our lives in truth, deepen our intimacy with God, and guide us on the path that leads to life. May we be like the Psalmist who …hid the words of God in his heart (from Psalm 119:11).

Here’s a passage to memorize based on this week’s teaching. Consider writing this on a note card and carrying it with you this week.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

App and the Daily Devotional
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

Why Jesus?
If you’ve never experienced God’s forgiveness and grace, we’d love the opportunity to talk with you about a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200

Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.