Rich Toward God | Luke 12:13 - 21

Sermon Discussion | Luke 12:13-21

1. Matt opened his sermon talking about the American dream of retirement. Discuss your personal thoughts on what retirement means to you. Is there a difference between a "Christian" view of retirement and a "worldly" view? 

2. Read Luke 12:13-21, then read it again in the Message translation. Discuss any observations you make. How would you summarize this parable? How does this passage shape how we ought to view money? How we should view our relationship to money with the future in mind?

3. Verses 19-21 read,  19 "And I’ll say to myself, 'You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ Why is he called a fool? If you were that man with the abundant harvest and full barns, how would you hope to respond? 

4. Matt made the point that God is more interested in us having a life giving relationship with him; one full of conversation, joy, laughter, enjoyment not our money. God desires to be generous towards us and through us. In what ways has God been generous to you? Do you often ask God to use you as a tool of generosity? Do you consider yourself as generous?

*Weekly Practice*

We believe that it is good to not only know the word of God but also let it shape the way we behave in the world. This week, take time to pray and ask God for someone specific to be generous toward. Then in secrecy bless that person. The idea is that you would practice generosity towards others without recognition. Then come back and share your experience with the group...as best you can with keeping details a secret ;)