Look around you right now and try to name as many things that you see that God gave you. Unless you’re sitting in a dark empty room that list is probably pretty long. God has been so radically generous with us and if we stop and really recognize that, we can’t help but overflow with gratitude. When we see the overwhelming generosity of our God it should spark a desire in our hearts to share that generosity with others.
GENEROSITY: Joyfully Sharing What God Has Given You!
MEMORY VERSE: “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” PROVERBS 11:25 NLT
This Week’s Finish Line: God Gave Generously So We Can Too
After his resurrection but before he returned to heaven, Jesus told them to be witnesses to all the nations about what they had seen and heard. What had they seen? They saw Jesus heal the sick, provide food for the multitude and even raise the dead to live. Most amazingly, they saw him give his own life on the cross to pay the debt for their sins and then come back to life again! In Acts 2:42-47 we see all the believers doing just what he said. They had been given the best gift of all and because of God’s generosity, they joyfully shared everything he gave them with others. They didn’t have much but they knew all they had was a gift from God so they gave freely out of love for the Lord.
Family Questions:
- What commands did Jesus give the believers in Luke 24:44-53? What truth did he remind them of one more time?
- Talk about how the believers were living in Acts 2. Parents, talk with your kids about how your own community group lives like the believers in the early church.
- Why do you think the early believers were so willing to give so much to each other?
- What are some things you and your family can joyfully share with others? If someone asks why you are generous, what would you say to them?
Bring it Home Conversations & Activities:
* Check out our vision for parents and how to use these activities each week.
Teacher: Generosity in the Early Church
At dinner read Acts 2:42-47 and discuss how the early church lived generously. Why were they so generous? Why did they give joyfully? Talk about the importance of this and how as a family you can model that in your personal lives.
Friend: Practical Ways to Be Generous
During the week help your kids to write down four ways that they can be generous. Think through ways they can give generously that aren’t necessarily physical items. For example, giving time, kind words or lending a helping hand when it's not asked of them.
Counselor: Living It Out!
Lead out this week by including your kids in a time where you can show generosity to someone outside of your family. Like bringing a gift to a teacher, raking the leaves for neighbors, or helping out at Brother Bills.
Coach: God's Generosity in Your Life
Remind your kids how generous God has been to you and them! Tell them the incredible implications of God being so generous! i.e. salvation from sin, a house to live in, and family to be a part of.
Prayer
Thank God for paying a debt that you owe but could never repay. Thank Him for revealing the truth of the Gospel to you when you were dead in your sins.
Looking Ahead
Next week we will continue looking at the character trait of GENEROSITY for the month of November. We will learn about when God asks the Israelites to build Him a tabernacle, but see how God provided all the things to build it!
Image via Flickr Creative Commons