Giving Back [Teaching Plan] — Bible Study Express

10: Giving Back - Teaching Plan
Posted on March 7, 2023 by Michael Frackeravatar

Key Thought:

This week we want to review God’s counsel for our later years. What should we do, avoid doing, and what principles are involved.

March 11, 2023

Have a volunteer read Luke 12:16-21

KJV ¹⁶ And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: ¹⁷ And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? ¹⁸ And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. ²⁰ But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? ²¹ So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

CEV ¹⁶ So Jesus told them this story: A rich man's farm produced a big crop, ¹⁷ and he said to himself, “What can I do? I don't have a place large enough to store everything.” ¹⁸ Later, he said, “Now I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods. ¹⁹ Then I'll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ ” ²⁰ But God said to him, “You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?” ²¹ “This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God.”

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.

What is the relevant message to us here?

Personal Application: What does the message to the foolish man say to us regarding our attitude toward what we own? Share your thoughts.

Case Study: One of your relatives states, “I’ve worked hard all my life and saved up for retirement so I can kick back and travel and enjoy life in ease and luxury. That’s my reward for working hard.” How would you respond to your relative?

Have a volunteer read:

Proverbs 27:23-27

KJV ²³ Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. ²⁴ For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? ²⁵ The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. ²⁶ The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. ²⁷ And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens. CEV ²³ You should take good care of your sheep and goats, ²⁴ because wealth and honor don't last forever. ²⁵ After the hay is cut and the new growth appears and the harvest is over, ²⁶ you can sell lambs and goats to buy clothes and land. ²⁷ From the milk of the goats, you can make enough cheese to feed your family and all your servants.

Proverbs 30:8

KJV ⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: CEV ⁸ Make me absolutely honest and don't let me be too poor or too rich. Give me just what I need.

1 Timothy 6:17

KJV ¹⁷ Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; CEV ¹⁷ Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life.

Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in these texts is.

Why must we be very careful how we justify our use of our material goods?

Personal Application: Though we can lay up treasure in heaven, why is that not the same as buying or earning salvation? Share your thoughts.

Case Study: One of your friends states, “What plans have you made for God and family if you died suddenly? What would happen to your property? Would it go where you wanted it to?” How would you respond to your friend?

Have a volunteer read:

Psalm 24:1

KJV ¹ The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. CEV (A psalm by David.) ¹ The earth and everything on it, including its people, belong to the Lord. The world and its people belong to him.

Hebrews 3:4

KJV ⁴ For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. CEV ⁴ Of course, every house is built by someone, and God is really the one who built everything.

Psalm 50:10

KJV ¹⁰ For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. CEV ¹⁰ Every animal in the forest belongs to me, and so do the cattle on a thousand hills.

Colossians 1:15-17

KJV ¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. CEV ¹⁵ Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation. ¹⁶ Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God's Son, and everything was made for him. ¹⁷ God's Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together.

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in these passages.

What is the central point of the texts and how it impacts what we do with the material goods God has given us??

Personal Application: How do you balance what you spend your money on that shows you are faithful in managing God’s money? In what ways could your spending be better? Share your thoughts.

Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “Why does money have such a strong hold on people, rich and poor, who do many terrible things for money and because of money?” How would you respond to your relative?

Have a volunteer read:

Psalm 34:11

KJV ¹¹ Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. CEV ¹¹ Come, my children, listen as I teach you to respect the Lord.

Psalm 49:17

KJV ¹⁷ For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. CEV ¹⁷ Soon they will die and all their wealth will be left behind.

James 4:14

KJV ¹⁴ Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. CEV ¹⁴ What do you know about tomorrow? How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears.

1 Timothy 6:6-7

KJV ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. CEV ⁶ And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have. ⁷ We didn't bring anything into this world, and we won't take anything with us when we leave.

Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.

How are good works and generous offerings related to faith?

Personal Application: Why is it important and a duty to draw up a will to designate where your goods go? Share your thoughts?

Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).