As God comes to Abram while he's wrestling with fear and doubt, we are given a lesson on God's character and how believers are to approach wrestling with these powerful enemies.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

- Read Genesis 15:1-6. Have you ever experienced fear or doubt shortly after stepping out in faith, and how did God meet you in that moment?

- How does the secular world (culture, medicine, psychiatry, pop psychology, etc.) approach dealing with fear and anxiety? What approaches are compatible with Scripture, and what approaches are contrary to Scripture?

- Read Philippians 4:6-7. If/When you have followed Paul’s instructions while wrestling with fear and/or anxiety, how did these practices affect you?

- Read 1 Peter 5:6-7. What does it look like practically to cast all your cares on God while still acknowledging the genuine pain and difficulty of your circumstances?

- In what ways might fear and anxiety become an identity or a form of self-absorption that prevents us from serving others and obeying God's commands?

As we continue our study of what giving looks like for the Christian under the New Covenant, we'll answer the questions, "Is tithing a perpetual command that predates the Law?" and "Can I give time and service instead of money?" We'll also look at Paul's instructions to the Corinthians regarding giving, which offer many insights still helpful to us today.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

- What is the best and worst investment you’ve ever made?

- Why does it matter that we serve God with our time and energy and our money? How does each expression affect our hearts?

- Read Mark 12:41-44. What do you think Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that would require a change in their previous thinking about giving?

- Is it any easier or harder for a rich person to store up treasure in Heaven than for a poor person? Why or why not?

- Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-5. How does the Macedonian churches' response of begging for the privilege to give during their own extreme poverty challenge your understanding of what it means to give sacrificially?

- How should a Christian balance sacrificial generosity in the present with responsible planning for the future?

Tithing first appears in Scripture in Genesis 14. But is it still something that's relevant to Christians today? How are believers in the Church to approach the subject of giving?

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

- How does viewing yourself as a steward of God's resources rather than an owner change your daily financial decisions and priorities?

- Should giving to God make you more or less worried about money? Why?

- Have you ever experienced God’s faithfulness to provide for material needs in miraculous ways? If so, share a story with the group.

- What does it mean practically for your giving to be 'felt' or sacrificial, and how might that look different for people in various financial situations?

- Why do you think Jesus spent about a third of His teaching time on money and material wealth?

- How do you navigate the tension between wanting clear rules and being called to a Spirit-led relationship with God in areas like giving?