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Planet Shakers Part 1
“Generosity”
How do I discover if I have planet-shaking generosity?
Let’s turn in our Bibles and read Matthew 6:19-24:
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not
destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the
body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of
light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of
darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that
darkness! No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one
and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve both God and money.
1. Go on a treasure hunt and find out where my treasure is.
Matthew 6:19-20 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…But
store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…
a. What does heavenly treasure look like?
b. Let’s take an inventory of our budgets to see if what we value
is eternally lasting.
Do you have a Budget? How has this process been for you? If you don’t
have a budget, have you ever tried one and felt that it didn’t work for you
or your lifestyle?
Does my budget prove that I’m building up the Kingdom of God?
Who gets paid first?
Read Proverbs 3:9-10:
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your
crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will
brim over with new wine.
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Worldwide, Christ followers give 1.8% of their income to the ministry.
American Christ followers give 1.7% of their income to the ministry.
What percent do you think Newbreak Christ followers give?
c. Where I invest, my heart will follow.
Read Matthew 6:21:
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Make a list of your top 4 “treasures”:
1.
3.
2.
4.
How do your time, money, and resources reflect the truth of this list?
2. Trust in God, not money.
Mammon = the love of money
Read 1 Timothy 6:10:
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…
“Dallas Willard, in his book The Spirit of the Disciplines, says to use riches
is to cause them to be consumed, to trust in riches is to count upon them
for things they cannot provide, but to possess riches is to have the right to
say how they will or will not be used.”
-Dave Ramsey, The Total Money Makeover
Even our money says don’t trust me.
Read Matthew 6:24:
No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love
the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
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Money tells me…
...I don't have enough.
…to buy and sell.
…to cheat and steal.
God tells me…
...I own it all.
…to sow and reap.
…to give and receive.
“Jesus doesn’t tell us to hate money, he tells us to hate the greedy spirit of
mammon (Riches).”
a. Riches look like a clenched fist; generosity looks like an
open hand.
Matthew 6:24 says…You cannot serve both God and Money.
“If I’m building the kingdom of God, then I won’t let poverty or pride rob me
of God’s blessings.”
Write down one story of how God has blessed you in any way and share it
with the group:
When I think about my situation in life…
•
•
•
Pride says, “I deserve more!”
Poverty says, “I should feel guilty.”
Gratitude says, “Thank you!”
“Gratitude is an attitude of thankfulness that always acknowledges God’s
provision.”
Which is your default answer? Pride? Poverty? Gratitude?
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What are practical ways we can change our attitude toward our situations
in life?
What will I find in my treasure hunt this week?
Read Proverbs 11:24-25:
One man gives freely, yet he gains even more. Another witholds unduely,
he comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper. He who refreshes others
will be refreshed.
Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-8:
Remember this, whoever sows sparingly, will also reap sparingly. Whoever
sows generously, will also reap generously. For God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all
times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Digging Deeper
Begin a journal or jar in your home where you can write down the ways
God has blessed you and your family. There is power in being able to
revisit the way God has provided for us, when we are feeling discouraged.
Check out the at budget template below if you need a
quickie budget start.
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The Basic Quickie Budget (Instructions)
This form will help you get your feet wet in the area of budgeting. It is only one page and should
not be intimidating as you get started. The purpose of this form is to show you exactly how much
money you need every month in order to survive. We won’t get into the details of your credit card
bills, student loans, and other consumer debts here. This is just to give you a starting point as you
begin to take control of your money. You will learn how to create a full monthly cash flow plan in
the third class session.
There are four columns on this form:
1. Monthly Total
• This column shows you how much you are spending on necessities each month.
• If you do not know the amount, write down your best estimate.
• If an estimate is grossly inaccurate, then you may have never even noticed how
much you were spending in that area before now. Don’t beat yourself up about this!
2. Payoff Total
• Write down how much money is required to completely pay off that item.
• This line only appears in the relevant categories (mortgage, car debt, etc.)
3. How Far Behind?
• If your account is past due in any category, write down how many days you are behind.
• If you are up-to-date, simply write a zero or “N/A” (not applicable) here.
4. Type of Account
• Write in how this area is paid—by check, automatic bank draft, cash, etc.
• Early in the FPU course, you will see the benefits of using cash for certain items.
Challenge yourself by identifying categories for which you can use cash only.
• The asterisks ( * ) on the form indicate areas in which a cash-based approach
could be helpful.
Extra copies of this form can be found online: www.daveramsey.com/fpumember.
The Basic Quickie Budget
Item
Monthly
Payoff
How Far
Type of
Total
Total
Behind
Account
GIVING
_______
_______
___________
SAVING
_______
_______
___________
First Mortgage
_______
_______
_______
___________
Second Mortgage
_______
_______
_______
___________
Repairs/Mn. Fee
_______
_______
___________
Electricity
_______
_______
___________
Water
_______
_______
___________
Gas
_______
_______
___________
Phone
_______
_______
___________
Trash
_______
_______
___________
Cable
_______
_______
___________
*Food
_______
_______
___________
Car Payment
_______
_______
_______
___________
Car Payment
_______
_______
_______
___________
*Gas & Oil
_______
_______
___________
*Repairs & Tires
_______
_______
___________
Car Insurance
_______
_______
___________
*CLOTHING
_______
_______
___________
Disability Ins.
_______
_______
___________
Health Insurance
_______
_______
___________
Life Insurance
_______
_______
___________
Child Care
_______
_______
___________
*Entertainment
_______
_______
___________
OTHER MISC.
_______
_______
___________
HOUSING
UTILITIES
TRANSPORTATION
PERSONAL
TOTAL MONTHLY NECESSITIES _______
Extra copies of this form can be found online: www.daveramsey.com/fpumember.