October 14th, 2021
by Denee Bowers
by Denee Bowers
On Sunday, October 17 we are beginning a new sermon series called Open. We will be talking about being open to what God wants to do in our lives through giving and generosity. This is an important series for our church and Pastor Matt Miofsky will be sharing the vision for the next few years of our church.
Each week's sermon will talk about being open to God, but also about growing in generosity. Some of us, or members of our groups, have baggage around how churches talk about money. That's ok! Our hope is that throughout this series you will engage with the topic in an open and honest way.
It can be tricky to navigate conversations around money and giving in groups. So we wanted to answer some frequently asked questions and offer some tips for leading your group throughout this sermon series.
My group doesn’t want to talk about money for 5 weeks. Can we do something else instead? Or my group doesn’t talk about the sermons - we are using a different curriculum, so we won’t be doing the Open discussion questions.
There are a couple of individuals in my group that are really resistant to talking about money. How do I handle their negativity?
I have someone in my group that is new to The Gathering. I don’t want them to get turned off by our group talking about giving.
Someone in my group is experiencing financial difficulties and it seems uncomfortable to talk about giving …
We don't expect you to have all the answers. You don't have to explain or justify the vision set forward by the church. Your role is to simply create space for conversation. If you need further support feel free to reach out to Executive Director of Ministries Sabra Engelbrecht or your site pastor.
Each week's sermon will talk about being open to God, but also about growing in generosity. Some of us, or members of our groups, have baggage around how churches talk about money. That's ok! Our hope is that throughout this series you will engage with the topic in an open and honest way.
It can be tricky to navigate conversations around money and giving in groups. So we wanted to answer some frequently asked questions and offer some tips for leading your group throughout this sermon series.
My group doesn’t want to talk about money for 5 weeks. Can we do something else instead? Or my group doesn’t talk about the sermons - we are using a different curriculum, so we won’t be doing the Open discussion questions.
- This is not just a series about money, it is also about the vision for our church going forward.
- Every time we do a series like this many people share how it is a turning point in their commitment to the church and their personal discipleship. The same could be true for members of your group.
- We think there is power in having the entire church engage in this conversation about our future. The invitation is for all of us to consider where we are headed together, and our individual roles in building that future.
- You are contagious. Your positivity and openness to the conversation can go a long way in encouraging hesitant members of your group.
There are a couple of individuals in my group that are really resistant to talking about money. How do I handle their negativity?
- We talk about generosity because Jesus talked about money and possessions more than any other topic. Giving is part of what it means to follow Jesus.
- It can be life changing to consider our finances through the lens of our faith. Creating space for people to wrestle and be uncomfortable can lead to transformation for your group members.
I have someone in my group that is new to The Gathering. I don’t want them to get turned off by our group talking about giving.
- When a new person attends The Gathering for the first time, we don’t say, “If you’re new, don’t feel like you have to pray with us.”! Whether you’ve been attending for years, or have only been at The Gathering for a week, we welcome you into the full life of the church and encourage them to participate in our Five Shared Practices: Worship, Prayer, Learning in CoreGroup, Serving and Giving.
Someone in my group is experiencing financial difficulties and it seems uncomfortable to talk about giving …
- Encourage them to reach out to a pastor to discuss their situation. The Gathering offers programs and resources designed to help people overcome financial difficulties.
- Note: We will no longer offer Financial Peace University due to accusations of discriminatory practices within their organization.
We don't expect you to have all the answers. You don't have to explain or justify the vision set forward by the church. Your role is to simply create space for conversation. If you need further support feel free to reach out to Executive Director of Ministries Sabra Engelbrecht or your site pastor.
Posted in CoreGroup Leader Hub
Recent
Archive
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
October
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way // M-Note 10.5.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Love Thy Political Neighbor // M-Note 10.11.2024Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Fear is a Powerful Motivator // M-Note 10.19.24Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Why Do Bad Things Happen? // M-Note 10.26.24Why? Discussion Guide - Week 1
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 4Explore - Week 3God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideSENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23Lent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
Categories
Tags
1 Kings 3
1 Kings
1 Timothy
2 Corinthians 9:5-7
2 Timothy
Belden Lane
Beyond Simple
Celebrate
Change
Christ
Commit
Confidence
Denee Bowers
Devotional
Discussion Guides
Distractions
Divine Love
Doubt
Easter
Ephesians
Equity
Evangelism
Explore
Five Shared Practices
Focus
Frederick Buechner
Fresh Take
Friends
Generosity
God
Gratitude
Hebrews
Holy Ambiguity
Holy Spirit
Hope
Humanity
Identity
Inside Voice
Isaiah
Jesus
John 21
John
Joy
Kids
King Solomon
Lectio Divina
Lent
Life
Limitations
Longing
M-Note
Matt Miofsky
Matthew
Nadia Bolz-Weber
No Filter
Open
Parables
Parenting
Patience
Paula D'Arcy
Paula D\'Arcy
Paula D\\\'Arcy
Paula D\\\\\\\'Arcy
Paul
Privilege
Proverbs 1
Proverbs
Psalms
Purpose
Questions
Redeem
Rejoice
Righteousness
Sabra Engelbrecht
Second Chance
Self-Love
Struggle
Success
The Bible
The Church
The Gathering
Timothy
Uncertainty
Untethered
Vision
Weird
acts
adulting
advice
challenge
commitment
creation
deconstruction
deconstruct
faith
finances
fitness
forgiveness
forgiving
foundation
freedom
give
growth
kelley weber
love
meister eckhart
money
mystery
new life
opportunity
reconstruction
reconstruct
redemption
relationships
responsibility
simplify
sin
social
thomas merton
transition
truth
willingness
willpower
will
young adult
No Comments