Please review Craig’s sermon notes prior to discussion.
Fruitful Practice #5: Extravagant Generosity
“Extravagant Generosity describes practices of sharing and giving that exceed all expectations and extend to unexpected
measures. It describes lavish sharing, sacrifice, and giving in service to God and neighbor.” (unless noted, all quotes from Five
Practices of Fruitful Congregations)
“Vibrant, fruitful, growing congregations thrive because of their extraordinary sharing, willing sacrifice, and joyous giving of their
members out of their love for God and neighbor.”
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of
you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good
work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who
supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your
righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity
will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also
overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
(2 Corinthians 9:6-12 NIV)
Principles from “The Use of Money” (a sermon by John Wesley)
1) GAIN all you can
“Gain all you can by honest industry. Use all possible diligence in your calling. Lose no time…Put your whole strength to the work
at hand…Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do with thy might!” (John Wesley)
2) SAVE all you can
Spend wisely
“Do not waste [money] in gratifying the desires of the flesh...in gratifying the desire of the eye by needless ornaments…Lay out
nothing to gratify the pride of life, to gain the admiration or praise of men.” (John Wesley)
Save consistently
Example: save $300/month @ 8% from 25 – 65 years of age, you’ll accumulate $1 million
3) GIVE all you can
“But let not any man imagine that he has done anything, by ‘gaining and saving all he can,’ if he were to stop here…You may as
well throw your money into the sea, as bury it in the earth, in your chest, or in the Bank of England.” (John Wesley)
Ways to give: tithe, “over and above” offerings, will/estate planning
“Those who practice Extravagant Generosity have a God-given vision and faith to plant seeds for trees whose shade they will
never see [or enjoy].”
“As people grow in their relationship with Christ, they grow also in the practice of Extravagant Generosity, offering more of
themselves for the purposes of Christ and providing the resources that strengthen ministry and that help the church touch the
lives of more and more people in the same way their own lives have been transformed by God.”
Fruitful Practice #5: Extravagant Generosity Small Group/Sunday School Discussion Guide
The following questions are taken from the Extravagant Generosity survey. The purpose of discussing these questions in your group is to help
you think about your answer to the questions prior to submitting a survey. The questions marked with an asterisk do not appear on the survey,
but they serve to aid you in discussion with your group members. Each person should fill out a survey individually. All surveys can be found
online at http://mylhumc.net. Click on Fruitful Congregation sermon series. Paper copies of survey 5 are located in the Welcome Center at both
church campuses. Please return paper copies to an usher, the Welcome Center or the church office. Past surveys can be submitted at any time
during the sermon series.
*Have you ever been the recipient or experienced someone else’s extravagant generosity?
*Where or from whom did have you learned the practice of generosity?
1. Are you aware tithing means giving 10% of our income to God's work? (circle) Yes
No
2. Do you generally feel positive or negative about what our church teaches about money? About how the money is
used?
3. What could be done through publicity, education, or inspiration to encourage tithing and cheerful giving?
Describe some ways we could teach…
• Children and youth to give.
• Adults to give.
4. What are barriers to tithing and cheerful giving? What could our church do to help potential givers overcome these
barriers?
5. Lynn Haven Church currently has primary accounts – Ministry Budget, Special Causes, and Good Samaritan Fund.
Are you aware of what each is used for? What could we do to increase our congregation’s understanding of these
ways to give?
6. What is one thing our congregation could do immediately to help members in their giving?
*How does Lynn Haven UMC show generosity to the community around us? The world at large?
For this last question, consider all 5 Practices of a Fruitful Congregation: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship,
Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission & Service, and Extravagant Generosity.
7. What are some great big, audacious dreams that could be realized by our congregation if we truly embraced the 5
Fruitful Practices and we were not limited by time, resources, or money?
*What are some steps we could take to make these dreams a reality?
*What is one thing you can do to practice extravagant generosity?
*What is one thing our congregation could do immediately to help members in their giving?
Fruitful Practice #5: Extravagant Generosity Survey
Lynn Haven United Methodist Church
Directions: This is survey 5 of our Fruitful Congregation series. Return completed paper surveys to any usher, to the Welcome Stations at
either campus, or the church office. We encourage everyone to fill out a survey individually and to return it before the next Sunday.
However, surveys will be collected throughout the sermon series. If you would like to submit the survey online please go to
http://mylhumc.net and click on Fruitful Congregation. All surveys can be found here.
1. Which campus of Lynn Haven Church do you attend most regularly?
Transmitter Road
Fusion
2. For those that regularly attend the Transmitter Road Campus: What Sunday service time do you most regularly
attend? (circle one)
8:00a.m.
9:30 am/11:00 a.m. Sanctuary
11:00 a.m. Chapel
3. Are you currently a regular member of a Small Group or Sunday School Class? (circle)
4. Are you aware tithing means giving 10% of our income to God's work? (circle) Yes
Yes
No
No
5. Do you generally feel positive or negative about what our church teaches about money? About how the money is
used?
6. What could be done through publicity, education, or inspiration to encourage tithing and cheerful giving?
Describe some ways we could teach…
• Children and youth to give.
• Adults to give.
7. What are barriers to tithing and cheerful giving? What could our church do to help potential givers overcome these
barriers?
TURN OVER
8. Lynn Haven Church currently has primary accounts – Ministry Budget, Special Causes, and Good Samaritan Fund. Are
you aware of what each is used for?
What could we do to increase our congregation’s understanding of these ways to give?
9. What is one thing our congregation could do immediately to help members in their giving?
For this last question, consider all 5 Practices of a Fruitful Congregation: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship,
Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission & Service, and Extravagant Generosity.
10. What are some great big, audacious dreams that could be realized by our congregation if we truly embraced the 5
Fruitful Practices and we were not limited by time, resources, or money?