This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - 12:30pm Sunday Service | Live from Rossview” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Small Group Discussion Guide
"Windows of Heaven" — A Message on Stewardship, Generosity & Missions
Life Point Church | November Series: Sent
A Note to Facilitators: Welcome! Whether this is your first time leading a small group or your hundredth, this guide is designed to help you. You don't need to have all the answers — your job is simply to create a safe, open space where people can share honestly and grow together. Read through the guide before your meeting, choose the questions that feel right for your group, and trust God to do the rest. You've got this.
OVERVIEW
This week's message, delivered by guest speaker Pastor Willie George, explored what the Bible teaches about money, generosity, and God's desire to bless his people through specific "channels" or "windows." Drawing from Malachi 3:10, Proverbs, and the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, Pastor Willie challenged us to rethink our relationship with money — not as something shameful or evil, but as a God-given tool for building his kingdom. The message was delivered in the context of Life Point's November missions series, Sent, which calls us to pray, go, and give generously in support of spreading the gospel locally and around the world.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Recommended Total Time: 60–90 minutes (Adjust based on your group's size and energy. Sections marked with ⏱ include suggested time allocations.)
Materials Needed:
- This discussion guide
- Bibles or Bible app
- Optional: The Windows of Heaven workbook by Pastor Willie George (QR code available from the church)
SECTION 1 — ICEBREAKER
⏱ 5–10 Minutes
Start here to warm up the group and get everyone talking before diving into deeper content.
Opening Question:
"Think back to one of your earliest memories involving money — earning it, spending it, saving it, or even losing it. What was that experience, and what did it teach you about money?"
[Leader Tip] This question is intentionally light and nostalgic to help people relax and laugh together before getting into more personal territory. Don't rush it — let a few people share and enjoy the stories. If your group is quiet, share your own memory first to model vulnerability.
SECTION 2 — SCRIPTURE READING
⏱ 5 Minutes
Have someone read each passage aloud. Encourage the group to listen for a word or phrase that stands out to them.
Passage 1 — The "Windows" of Heaven
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." — Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)
Context: God is speaking to the nation of Israel, who had been withholding their tithes. He invites them — remarkably — to test him in this area and see if he will not respond with overwhelming blessing.
Passage 2 — Wisdom and Wealth
"Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver." — Proverbs 8:18–19 (NKJV)
Context: This passage is wisdom speaking — personified as a voice calling out to all who will listen. The message is that true, lasting wealth is connected to wisdom, not just hard work alone.
Passage 3 — The Parable of the Talents
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey... After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'" — Matthew 25:14–15, 19–21 (NKJV)
Context: Jesus tells this parable to illustrate how God entrusts his people with resources and expects them to be actively faithful — not passive — with what they've been given.
SECTION 3 — DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
⏱ 30–45 Minutes
Work through as many questions as time allows. Questions are organized from lighter and observational to deeper and more personal. Feel free to skip or swap questions based on your group.
THEME A: Rethinking Money
Getting honest about what we really believe.
Question 1 — Observational
"Pastor Willie said, 'If you think money is evil, you ought to drain your bank accounts right now.' What point was he making, and how does that challenge the way many people — even Christians — tend to think about money?"
[Leader Tip] This is a great opener because it's about the sermon content, not yet about personal experience. It lets people engage intellectually before emotionally. Follow up by asking: "Where do you think the idea that 'money is evil' comes from?" (Note: the actual verse is "the love of money is the root of all evil" — 1 Timothy 6:10 — not money itself.)
Question 2 — Interpretive
"Pastor Willie described money as a 'tool' and compared it to electricity — neutral in itself, but powerful depending on how it flows and what it's used for. How does that image change the way you think about earning, spending, or giving money?"
Question 3 — Personal
"Honestly, what messages about money did you grow up with — from your family, your culture, or even your church? How have those messages shaped the way you handle money today?"
[Leader Tip] This question can surface some tender memories or family wounds around money. Create a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere. If someone shares something painful (like Pastor Willie's story about poverty), acknowledge it with empathy before moving on. You might say: "Thank you for sharing that — it takes courage to be that honest."
THEME B: Windows and Channels
How God moves blessing toward his people.
Question 4 — Interpretive
"Pastor Willie taught that 'money flows through a channel' — that God uses specific 'windows' to bring financial blessing rather than just dropping it out of the sky. Looking at Malachi 3:10, what do you think God is promising, and what is he asking of us in return?"
Question 5 — Personal
"Pastor Willie identified four channels through which all money flows: work, wisdom, products, and capital (investment). Which of these have you experienced most in your own life? Are there any of the four you've never really thought about before?"
[Leader Tip] Some group members may feel discouraged if they're in a financially difficult season. Remind the group that Pastor Willie himself started with almost nothing — and that his point is about learning and growing, not about comparing where we are right now. Affirm that work is where everyone starts, and that's completely valid.
Question 6 — Application
"Pastor Willie said, 'There has to be a better way' — the thought that comes after hard work — is actually the voice of the Holy Spirit leading us toward wisdom. When have you experienced that kind of moment? What happened when you listened to it... or ignored it?"
THEME C: Generosity and Kingdom Building
Connecting our resources to God's bigger story.
Question 7 — Observational
"Pastor Mike introduced this month's series called 'Sent' and challenged the church to pray, go, and give as part of our mission. Which of those three — praying, going, or giving — feels most natural to you? Which one feels most challenging, and why?"
Question 8 — Interpretive
"In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25), the master praises the servants who multiplied what they were given, but rebukes the one who buried his out of fear. What does this tell us about how God views the resources he's placed in our hands — including money, time, and abilities?"
[Leader Tip] This is a great place to broaden the conversation beyond just money. The word "talents" in this parable referred to a large sum of money, but the principle applies to all of our resources. If the discussion slows, ask: "What 'talent' do you think God has placed in your hands that you might be tempted to bury?"
Question 9 — Community
"Life Point is launching a 'Miracle Offering' on November 15th — giving 100% of a special offering to missions partners around the world. What does it look like for a church community to be generous together, not just as individuals? Why does that matter?"
Question 10 — Personal & Reflective
"Pastor Willie shared that he prayed a dangerous prayer: 'God, everything I have is yours. What do you want me to do with your money?' What would it look like for you to pray that prayer this week — and actually mean it?"
[Leader Tip] This is the deepest question in the guide. Don't rush it. Give people a moment of quiet before inviting responses. Some may feel convicted; others may feel excited. Both are valid. Affirm that God meets people where they are.
SECTION 4 — PERSONAL APPLICATION
⏱ 10–15 Minutes
These questions are for personal reflection. You can invite people to share their answers, journal them privately, or take them home to sit with during the week.
1. When you think about your finances right now, what is one area where you sense God might be calling you to trust him more — whether that's tithing, giving generously, managing money more wisely, or exploring a new "window" of income?
2. Pastor Willie described a moment when he chose not to be bitter about his circumstances and said, "God has to have a better way." Is there an area of your financial life — or your life in general — where bitterness or fear might be holding you back from trusting God? What would it look like to release that?
3. The sermon mentioned three ways to get involved in missions: pray, go, and give. Based on what you heard this week, what is one specific, concrete step you could take in at least one of those three areas before the end of the month?
4. Baptism Sunday was also celebrated this week — described as "an outward declaration of an inward confession." Whether or not you've been baptized, how are you currently declaring your faith outwardly in the way you live, spend, and give?
✅ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
Choose one (or more) of the following before your group meets again:
- 🙏 Pray the "dangerous prayer" Pastor Mike mentioned every day this week: "God, everything I have is yours. What do you want me to do with your money?" Write down anything that comes to mind.
- 💡 Reflect on Pastor Willie's four channels (work, wisdom, products, capital). Ask God: "Is there a 'window' you're trying to open in my life that I haven't noticed yet?"
- 📖 Read Malachi 3:6–12 and Matthew 25:14–30 in full and note what stands out to you.
- 🌍 Explore the missions partners booklet (available via QR code at church) and choose one partner to pray for specifically this week.
- 💛 Give — If you're not currently tithing, consider taking one step toward it. If you are, begin prayerfully asking God what he'd have you give to the Miracle Offering on November 15th.
- 👋 Invite — Pastor Mike challenged every person to invite someone to church before the end of the year. Who is one person you could invite this week?
SECTION 5 — PRAYER FOCUS
⏱ 5–10 Minutes
Close your time together in prayer. You can pray as a group, in pairs, or have one person lead. Use the following as a guide:
Suggested Prayer Topics:
Gratitude — Thank God for the specific "windows" of blessing already in your life, even ones you may have taken for granted.
Surrender — Ask God to help your group trust him with your finances — releasing fear, comparison, and the love of money.
Wisdom — Pray for the Holy Spirit to give creative ideas, open doors, and practical wisdom to each person in the group regarding their work and resources.
Missions — Pray for the people your church partners with locally and globally. Ask God to use Life Point's generosity to change lives.
Openness — Pray that each person in the group would have a willing, generous heart — and that God would meet that willingness with his faithfulness.
Optional Prayer Prompt: Invite anyone who wants to share a specific financial need or prayer request to do so. Pray over those needs together as a group.
SECTION 6 — OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
For groups with extra time or who want to go further
Bonus Question A — Historical Context
"Pastor Willie walked through how Abraham made money in the ancient world — digging wells along trade routes, feeding caravans, converting the land's resources. What does it say about God's character that he designed a world where human creativity, hard work, and wisdom are part of how blessing flows? How does that change how you see your own daily work?"
Bonus Question B — Theology of Wealth
"The Bible contains both warnings about the dangers of wealth (Matthew 19:24, 1 Timothy 6:9–10) and promises of blessing for the generous and faithful (Proverbs 11:24–25, Luke 6:38). How do you hold those two things in tension? What does a healthy, biblical relationship with money actually look like in everyday life?"
Bonus Question C — Personal Vision
"Pastor Willie spent decades learning how to fund a mission God gave him — through TV shows, puppets, curriculum, conferences, and more. If money were no object, what mission or kingdom purpose do you believe God might have placed in your heart? What would it look like to take one small step toward that, starting now?"
SUPPLEMENTAL SCRIPTURES
For further study throughout the week
| Topic | Passage |
|---|---|
| The tithe and God's blessing | Malachi 3:6–12 |
| Wisdom and wealth | Proverbs 8:10–21 |
| The danger of loving money | 1 Timothy 6:6–10, 17–19 |
| Faithful stewardship | Matthew 25:14–30 |
| Cheerful, generous giving | 2 Corinthians 9:6–8 |
| Abraham's faith and blessing | Genesis 12:1–3; 13:1–2 |
| The "converting" principle | Genesis 2:10–12 |
| Inviting others to know Jesus | Matthew 28:18–20 |
LEADER CHECKLIST
Quick reference before your group meets
- Read through the full guide
- Pray for each member of your group by name
- Choose which questions fit your group best (you won't get to all of them)
- Gather Bibles, printed guides, or share the digital version
- Prepare your own honest answer to at least two questions
- Have the QR code for the Windows of Heaven workbook ready to share
- Note the Miracle Offering date: November 15th
- Note Serve Day date: November 7th
"My whole life for your glory, my whole world for you only — everything for the honor of your name." — From worship at Life Point Church
© Life Point Church | November Series: Sent This guide may be freely reproduced for small group use within Life Point Church.