Unshakeable Generosity
Pray to open your time together.
Pray as a group in gratitude for what God has done and is doing through our all-church Commitment Weekend for Unshakeable. Pray for anyone who has yet to make their commitment and pray for God to strengthen us as a church and as individuals over these next two years.
Play this video.
Today’s Scripture
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again….
- Acts 2:17-25
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
- Acts 32-35
Discussion and Personal Application
Read the scripture passage and discuss the following questions as a group. Journaling your insights will help you deepen and personalize your learning.
Paul gives his final discourse to the Ephesian elders in this passage. What is he reminding them of as he prepares to leave them for the last time?
Paul’s last statement is about generosity, and it is one of the more memorable statements Paul ever gave – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” What is the significance of this being the very last thing he says? What do you think he was trying to impress on them as he departed?
What are some things you have learned about generosity and your spiritual growth during this Unshakeable series? How has this experience challenged and changed you?
Many of us have already prayerfully made our Unshakeable commitments. As you think about the next two years of living out this commitment, what are some encouragements we can give to one another about staying on the course?
Prayer
Thank God for all He has done through this Unshakeable initiative and pray for perseverance and continued growth in generosity over these next two years of our Unshakeable journey together.
