SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

This Is Us: Week 4 - Radical Generosity

Based on Matthew 25:14-30

OPENING PRAYER

Lord, as we gather today to discuss your heart for generosity, open our hearts to hear your voice. Help us to see you as you truly are—a generous Master who entrusts us with your resources. Give us the courage to examine our own hearts and the wisdom to apply what we learn. May our conversation today lead us to trust you more deeply and live more open-handedly. In Jesus' name, Amen.

ICEBREAKER

Trust Exercise: Share about a time when someone trusted you with something valuable (an object, responsibility, secret, etc.). How did being trusted make you feel? What was your response to that trust?

SCRIPTURE FOCUS

Read Matthew 25:14-30 together as a group

Initial Reflection Questions:

1. What stands out to you most in this parable?
2. Which of the three servants do you most relate to, and why?

MAIN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Seeing God's Character In the sermon, we heard that "our view of God shapes our generosity." The third servant saw the master as "a hard man," which affected how he handled what was entrusted to him.

• How would you honestly describe your view of God when it comes to resources and giving?
• Where do you think your perspective of God's character comes from? (Family background, past church experiences, personal circumstances, etc.)
• How might seeing God as truly generous change your approach to what He's entrusted to you?

2. Trust vs. Fear The pastor said, "Faith sees opportunity. Fear sees risk."

• In what areas of your life do you find yourself most tempted to "bury" what God has given you rather than investing it?
• What specific fears hold you back from being more generous with your time, talents, or resources?
• When have you taken a step of generosity despite feeling afraid? What happened?

3. Beyond Money While the parable uses money (talents) as its example, generosity extends to many areas of life.

• Besides finances, what has God entrusted to you that you could be more generous with? (Consider time, skills, spiritual gifts, relationships, influence, etc.)
• Which of these non-financial resources is hardest for you to share generously? Why do you think that is?

4. Joy as the Goal The sermon highlighted that the master's invitation was to "enter into the joy of your master"—not just to receive a reward.

• When have you experienced joy through giving or serving others?
• How is this different from the world's perspective on generosity, which often focuses on tax benefits, recognition, or other rewards?
• What might it look like practically to approach generosity as participation in God's work rather than as a transaction?

5. Generosity as a Core Value The sermon was part of the "This Is Us" series about our church's core values.

• How would our church community look different if radical generosity truly defined us?
• What barriers might prevent us from becoming known for radical generosity?
• How could our small group specifically demonstrate this value in tangible ways?

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Take 2-3 minutes of quiet time for each person to reflect on these questions individually:

1. What has God entrusted to me that I might be "burying" out of fear?
2. What does my approach to generosity reveal about my view of God?
3. What is one specific step toward greater generosity that God might be inviting me to take?

GROUP ACTIVITY: Trust & Investment Exercise

Materials needed: Paper, pens, and a timer

Instructions:

1. Give each person a piece of paper and a pen.
2. Have each person write down 3-5 resources God has entrusted to them (could be talents, spiritual gifts, material resources, relationships, etc.).
3. Next to each resource, write how they're currently using it (or not using it).
4. Then, have them write how they could "invest" each resource more generously for God's kingdom.
5. Set a timer for 10 minutes and have everyone break into pairs to share one item from their list they feel comfortable discussing.
6. Each partner should offer encouragement and ideas for how the other might take a step toward greater generosity with that resource.
7. Come back together as a group and invite a few volunteers to share insights from their conversations.

CLOSING PRAYER

Invite group members to pray short, one-sentence prayers based on this format:

"God, help me to trust you with _______." "Lord, free me from fear about _______." "Father, show me how to be generous with _______."

Close with: "Lord, we want to be people defined by radical generosity—not because we have to, but because we trust You. Help us to see You as You truly are and to live open-handed lives that reflect Your generosity. May we enter into Your joy as we faithfully steward all You've entrusted to us. In Jesus' name, Amen."

TAKE-HOME CHALLENGE: The Generosity Experiment

This Week's Challenge: Choose one area where you can practice "radical generosity" this week. It could be with your time, a talent, a financial resource, or an opportunity to serve. Intentionally choose something that stretches you a bit beyond your comfort zone—something that requires trust rather than fear.

Throughout the week, journal about:

1. What you chose to do
2. Any fears or hesitations you experienced
3. How the recipient responded
4. What you learned about God's character through the experience
5. Any joy you experienced in the process

Come prepared next week to share briefly about your generosity experiment (as you feel comfortable).

"Remember: Radical generosity isn't about giving more—it's about trusting deeper."