Offerings of Gratitude – Teaching Plan
Key Thought: Giving of offerings; whether from means, time, or talent; is a way of living our faith and revealing God’s character in our lives.
1. Have a volunteer read Matthew 6:19-21.
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a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. What’s the difference between earthly treasures and heavenly treasures?
c. Personal Application : How do we spend your money? What does this indicate about your priorities, focus, and direction of your heart? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “Is Jesus telling us not to plan for the future and retirement by having a savings plan? Aren’t we supposed to have good things in our homes? What does this have to do with our practical living?” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Luke 7:41-43.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. What are some conditions that may stimulate us to give our best in offerings?
c. Personal Application: What is our proper motivation in giving offerings to God? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “I pay my tithes, but I don’t have a lot of money to give offerings on top of that. That’s just way too much. Let the rich people cover the offerings for church expenses.” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read 2 Corinthians 8:12-15.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why does selfishness cause so many people to be miserable?
c. Personal Application: What has Christ given you in your life? Is there any way we could repay all that He has given us? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Think of someone in your church who is in some kind of need. What can you do right now to minister to them?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read 2 Corinthians 9:6,7.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What does this statement about sowing and reaping have to do with our spiritual life??
c. Personal Application: How can we cultivate the gratitude that gives rise to the cheerful-giver experience? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
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