TRUE RICHES WEEK 3: FROM COVETING TO CONTENTMENT

TRUE RICHES WEEK 3: FROM COVETING TO CONTENTMENT

February 22 & 23 2020
Ron Williams

Leader Note: Remember your goal isn’t to get through every question but to have a good discussion where everyone participates. Your number one job as a small group leader is making space for the Holy Spirit to work. 

Let’s Break the Ice: 

If you had to explain the idea of contentment to a class of kindergarteners how would you describe it?

Getting Started:

  • Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged you or confused you?

  • What have you been learning in your personal study and God time?

Digging Deeper

The Apostle Paul (Saul) who is first mentioned during the stoning of Stephen in the Book of Romans is a major player and contributor to the New Testament.

  • Without using Google or your Bible’s study notes, what facts about Paul’s life can you piece together as a group? 

  • Read 2 Corinthians 11:22-28 together as a group and feel free to look at study notes in your Bible. What else did you learn about Paul’s life?

    [Leader Note: added background on Paul. He was a Roman citizen and a highly educated Pharisee. Before his conversion, Paul was committed to persecuting followers of Jesus. Paul had a direct encounter with the resurrected Jesus. After his encounter with Jesus Paul’s life was characterized by a complete 180 degree turn in direction. Paul traveled throughout the Roman world preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ strengthening believers and early churches. Paul’s letters to churches became 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament. While preaching and traveling on various missionary journeys, Paul experienced; prison, flogging, exposure, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, being hunted down, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst and nakedness (2 Corinthians 11)]

  • With this context in mind read Philippians 4:12-13 together as a group.  Paul wrote these words from prison after he had already experienced everything that he describes in 2 Corinthians 11. 

  • What lessons about circumstances, suffering and contentment can you draw from Paul’s life and words recorded in the Bible?

Taking it Home: 

  • In what specific ways do you feel that God is calling you to combat covetousness and to practice contentment?
  • What is one thing you plan to do this week to practice contentment?

Prayer: How can we pray for each other as a group this week?