SMALL GROUP NOTES FROM SUNDAY 9 APRIL
2017. THEME – SPIRIT LED GENEROSITY. SOLA OSINOIKI
Before
introducing Sola, Simon drew attention to the Vision Fund with Gift Days coming
up on 23 and 30 April, and a week of 24-7 prayer between those dates. Simon
also challenged us to fill up the front rows in church and be closer to the
preacher!
Sola introduced
his theme as ‘listening to God’s whispers
leads to Spirit led generosity’.
QUESTION: What might
this mean to you?
Sola’s
prayer is that we might no longer see generosity in black & white, but in
technicolour. To change our perspective.
QUESTION: Is hospitality optional?
READ: Genesis 18:1-8. Abraham shows
spirit led generosity to 3 strangers. He gave them a feast even though he was
unprepared and unready. Though Abraham didn’t actually eat with them. It was
about emptying himself on behalf of others. Those 3 strangers were angels.
Sola shared a story of needing money
for flights to Nigeria. He felt prompted to write on facebook ‘praying for a
flight, prices are crazy’. A lady responded with £1000 to cover the flight.
Soon after, she herself received £600 – and said she wouldn’t be surprised if
the rest came back to her. Another £100 came in. Then a week later, her tax
bill was a full £1000 less than she expected.
Message is that God is good. We can
give and trust in faith. We cannot outgive God.
READ: Genesis 19:1-4. Lot knew that just
inviting wasn’t enough, he urged them to come. Because of that dinner,
Lot got the information for him and his family to be safe.
Sola spoke of not giving something
cheap, the minimum, but of giving a feast.
Sola shared another story of when he
stood in response to a preachers call for people in financial need to stand up.
Shortly afterwards a young man knocked on his door with a cheque for £1000!
READ: John 4:10 from The Message Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity
of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would
give you fresh, living water.”
QUESTION: How does the generosity of
God, who gave His only son, challenge me to rethink my own generosity?
READ: Acts 16:14-5. Lydia persuaded
them to come.
Sola shared a story of visiting
Madrid, looking for a church one Sunday morning. Having arrived by taxi, as a
stranger, he felt prompted to bring some prophetic words. Then he was invited
to share fellowship and a meal at a home – he was then given money to cover the
taxi, and return train fare. Only in the kingdom of God could it happen to end
up in the home of a stranger, sharing fellowship, and helping out in the
kitchen to prepare food.
QUESTION: Do you have any stories of
giving or receiving generosity which you could share with the group?
READ: Luke 22:7-13. The ‘man’ that Jesus
told them to follow, culturally shouldn’t have been carrying a jar at all! God
provides the practical needs (a room), and God sees all things before they
happen.
QUESTION: Are people led to find
their practical needs met if they follow me?
It depends on how much I am being led by listening to God’s whispers. I may not
know the impact or consequence.
Sola shared a story of getting 100
dollars out of a cash machine. A woman behind him wasn’t able to get out any
cash, and Sola felt prompted to give her whatever she asked for. It was 50
dollars. He doesn’t know the impact, but challenged us to just obey the
prompting of the Holy Spirit.
If you want the Holy Spirit to help
your own spirit of generosity, then ask for that help. To be the one in tune
with the God’s whisper and therefore the one worth following.
QUESTION: Would you spend a few
minutes in quietness seeking the help of the Holy Spirit in being generous?
