1. Renew: Week 4
Serve with Extravagant Generosity
Acts 20:35& 2 Corinthians 8:1-9
There are many things about our American culture that are noble and can be used by God to build His
kingdom. We are known for our entrepreneurial spirit, are willingness to take risks, our passion for freedom
and our work ethic. But there is one area in our culture that runs contrary to scripture: we are nation of
consumers. In fact, we are by far the best and most skilled consumers in the world. While that seems to be a
good thing from a human perspective, God’s economy works very differently. In human economy,
consumption equals power, wealth and pleasure. In God’s economy, generous service and extravagant giving
lead to joy, peace, and the blessed life. Let’s unpack more about how can experience God’s blessed life by
living as a server instead of a consumer.
1. What was one truth that stood out to you as you listened to this week’s message? Why was it
significant to you?
2. What is the difference between a person who lives life as a consumer and one who lives life as a
server?
3. Read Acts 20:35. Who is someone you know that has decided to live their life according to this
principle of serving? Why do you think they live this way?
4. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-9. What does this passage teach us about serving with extravagant generosity?
5. When someone asks why we are serving, what is to be our response and attitude?
6. If a consumer’s life never satisfies, and a server’s life is really the blessed life, why is it so hard to live
life as a servant?
7. The framework for this passage comes in Verse 5: “…they gave themselves first to the Lord…” Why is
this essential if we are going to live a life of a serving?
8. If Verse 5 is the context for how we serve, Verse 9 provides our motivation for why we serve: “You
know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich." People who have not received grace cannot
serve generously. What can you do on a daily basis to let Christ’s grace and love become alive in your
life? Discuss specific ways you can live a life of serving with extravagant generosity.
Accountability
1. Who are you praying for of late? What/whohas God burdened your heart for?
2. Last week we share what our ‘Jordan River’ was; the area in our life that God was leading us to take a
step of faith in, to risk. Did you have the chance to take that step this week?
3. When God blesses you with more, are you more likely to raise your level of consuming or raise your
level of serving with extravagant generosity.
4. Life is fullest when we are not focused on ourselves. Who in your life can you bless and serve? Who
can you bring “relief”(2 Corinthians 8:4) to this week?