We loved seeing everyone online this weekend! Feel free to message us during the week if you have any questions. If you missed this week’s message, or want to hear it again, be sure to check out our SERMONS Page. Messages are generally posted each week by Tuesday afternoon.
Every week, it’s our goal to provide you with some questions to process the message deeper, either personally, or with a small group. Here are some questions for you to consider from this week’s message, “Ending the Scarcity Cycle”, part 6 of the POSITIVE message series, with Pastor Shawn M. Shoup.
KEY SCRIPTURES
A certain woman, the widow of one of the guild prophets, cried out to Elisha: “My husband, your servant, is dead. You know that he revered the Lord, yet now his creditor has come to take my two children into servitude.” Elisha answered her, “What am I to do for you? Tell me what you have in the house.” She replied, “This servant of yours has nothing in the house but a jug of oil.” He said, “Go out, borrow vessels from all your neighbors—as many empty vessels as you can. Then come back and close the door on yourself and your children; pour the oil into all the vessels, and as each is filled, set it aside.” So she went out. She closed the door on herself and her children and, as they handed her the vessels, she would pour in oil. When all the vessels were filled, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” He answered, “There is none left.” And then the oil stopped. She went and told the man of God, who said, “Go sell the oil to pay off your creditor; with what remains, you and your children can live.” – 2 Kings 4:1-7 NABRE
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us … Ephesians 3:20NASB
More Key Scriptures
Haggai 1:6 NKJV, John 10:10 NASB, 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11 NIV, Malachi 3:10 NIV
TALK IT OUT
Discuss these questions with someone—maybe a family member, friend, or member of your Connect Group. Use a communication method that works best for your situation.
Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.
- When stay-at-home recommendations were/are in place, did/do you have concerns that you would run out of something?
- When word of the pandemic first came out, did you buy more of something than you needed? If so, what?
Start thinking. Ask a question to get your group thinking.
- Do you think you have more of a scarcity mindset or an abundance mindset? How do you see that mindset affecting your life?
- Have you ever diminished what you have? What might happen if you recognize the value of what God has given you?
- Has your understanding of the tithe changed over time? Where did it start, and where is it now?
Start sharing. Choose a question to create openness.
- How have you seen God work through someone’s irrational generosity?
- How can you fight against the scarcity mindset?
Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.
Father, thank You for Your extravagance and generosity. Please give us the faith to trust that You will care for our needs in every circumstance. Allow that faith to lead us in following Your extravagant example as we show generosity to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
- Look for ways you can show generosity to others this week.
- Interested in tithing for the first time? Try it for three months. “Test God in this”, as it says in Malachi, chapter 3. You can give start giving now.
- Start one of the Positive Bible Plans with friends: www.go2.lc/staypositive
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