Fields of Gold

Fields of Gold

fields of gold (Fall 2018)

Peace Home Churches will run in “Season 1 of 3” from October 2018 up to Thanksgiving. We will be studying “Fields of Gold” written by Pastor Andy Stanley. Order your book through Peace Education at $6.00 a copy using the sign-up sheet in the Narthex. The paperback book is also available at the time of this posting from Internet retailer Amazon for approx. $6.32. Reserve time in October for fellowship and interesting discussions within your Home Church.

The book is described as a practical and inspirational book based on the principle of sowing and reaping. If we sow fear, what will be our harvest? And conversely, if we sow faith, what will we grow? This book moves the reader beyond fear and guilt about giving and into confidence, security, and excitement. Andy Stanley unpacks our irrational fears about money, helping us to discover that generous giving is actually an invitation for our heavenly Father to get involved in our finances and resupply us with enough seed to sow generously throughout our lifetime.

October 7, 2018:

Dust in the Wind (Planting Seeds) Matthew 6.33

Objective: Moving Away from Fearful to Cheerful Giving

Scripture: Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. –  Jesus Matt 6.33, The Message

A Growing Ambition (Surrendering Finances) 2 Cor 9.7

Objective: Overcome self-preservation with generosity

Scripture: Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. -NIV

Additional Scriptural References

  1. 1 Timothy 4.6-10
  2. 1 Kings 3.8-14
  3. Mark 10.28-31
  4. Ps 37.1-4
  5. Proverbs 11.24-25

Small Group Questions

  1. How is greed like a farmer hoarding seeds? How and what are we tempted to hoard besides money? What is the inevitable result?
  2. How do we get frozen in our financial tracks by anxiety? How do we become “afraid to sow”?
  3. Mr Milton did not elevate his lifestyle with a growing income. Do you, can you say of your lifestlye, “This is enough.”?
  4. Does God call us to give up to our comfort giving level, or beyond? Of what are you most afriad when working toward being more generous?
  5. Discuss this quote, “By nature, the concept of generosity is in direct conflict with the concept of self-preservation.”

October 14, 2018

 Trading Places (3 Insights ) 2Cor 9.6-11

Objective: To Be Counted as a Trusted Steward to Distribute God’s Wealth

Scripture: Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. -NIV

The New Deal (God’s Kingdom as 1st Priority) Matthew 6.25, 31-33)

Objective: To Receive the Power and Peace to Put God First.

Scripture: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Additional Scriptural References

  1. Hosea 10.12
  2. 1 Chronicles 29.17
  3. Proverbs 11.18
  4. Malachi 3.10
  5. Hebrews 13.15-16

 Small Group Questions

  1. What Stanley called, “the law of the harvest” I would call, “the Good News of the harvest.” The essence of the Gospel is to gain your life by losing it. Why then, don’t we lose it more freely?
  2. Reflecting on the freightened farmer, the Bible says, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” Notice it isn’t all about money – but about “the harvest of righteousness.” What might such a harvest look like?
  3. “You will be made rich in every way that you can be generous on every ocassion.” How have you been made “rich in every way?” What ocassions do you have to be generous?
  4. Do you trust God with your personal finances? How does it show – or not?
  5. How do your worries in life stack up Matthew 6.25,31-33

October 21, 2018

Sowing Lessons (Cheerful Generosity) 2 Cor 9.7; Romans 12.8

Objective: To Incorporate God’s Plans for Generosity Into Our Finances

Scripture: We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Fear This (Not Enough or All Alone?) Matthew 25.14f; John 12.25

Objective: Abandoning Irrational Fears

Scripture: Those who love their lives will lose them, and those who hate their lives in this world will keep them forever. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me. Wherever I am, there my servant will also be. My Father will honor whoever serves me. John 12.25-26

Additional Scriptural References

  1. Ephesians 3.20
  2. Romans 12.9-13
  3. Matthew 6.1-3
  4. John 15.2
  5. Luke 12.41-48

 Small Group Questions

  1. Here’s how God answers, “How much to give?” “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or ounder complusion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9.7)
  2. What are some classic lines people (preachers?) use to try to get people to give reactively or out of guilt? What is the typical effect on people?
  3. Giving generously without a plan makes one susceptible to emotional giving? What’s you plan for giving? For being generous?
  4. How do you prioritize your generous responses? Is it what remains? Is it what is “spent/invested” first? Where is the first place you money goes?
  5. Percentage giving, the tithe (10%) is where the Bible recommends giving of a percentage. Too much too soon; too scarey, can you beging at an acceptable percentage somewhere? 1%. 3%. 5%. 7% 9%

October 28, 2018:

Reformation CelebrationThe Joy of Giving (Watching God Work)                Ecclesiastes         11.1-2; John 3.16

Objective: To Discover the Joy of Living in Financial Partnership with God

Scripture: Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns. Don’t hoard your goods; spread them around. Be a blessing to others. This could be your last night. – The Message

Additional Scriptural References

  1. 1Timothy 6.18
  2. Deut 15.10,11
  3. Romans 15.4
  4. Ephesians 2.8
  5. Matthew 25.24-25

 Small Group Questions

  1. Are you open to acts of charity? (I.e., giving to a particualar person/circumstance or do you typically say, ‘no’?)
  2. For God so loved that he gave… share your thoughts about the connection between loving sharing generously…
  3. Reflecting on the historic Reformation, how does Luther’s life reflect a generous spirit?
  4. Stanley says we humans are notorius for fearing the wrong things. He uses Matthew 25.24-25 and the frightened-to-frozen servant to illustrate fearing the wrong thing. How do you know, how can you tell if you’re frightened by the “wrong things?”
  5. Jesus said, “the man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12.25) How might you live that out for the rest of your days here? What is there to fear!?