SERVE: Love People

Say what?!  Scripture Reading Luke 10:25-29

1. help!
2. Love extravagantly in your heart so you’ll be ready
   to help person(s)
3. EARN & SAVE all you can so you can be ready to all you can to help your person(s).

1. Sylvia Bloom was a who saved and invested her whole life and was able to give millions of dollars away to organizations she believed truly helped people.
2. John was a popular Christian leader and author who gave away the equivalent to millions of dollars throughout his life, with the goal of keeping for himself only what he truly needed…and died technically ‘poor’ in money but rich in God’s sight!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Who has helped YOU to be who you are now? It’s going to be a long list…so literally write out as many such people as you can. We’re seeking to grow in our gratitude. Who conceived, birthed, fed, sheltered, comforted, taught, protected you…who built your home, brought clean water and electricity to it, insures it, provided education, provided food… WHOA … keep listing them… There are many people to thank out of our thankful-love!
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• Who have you HELPED throughout your life up to this point? It’s probably going to be a long list…so literally write out as many such people as you can. We’re seeking to grow in gratitude to God for using us to love people. Who did you bring into the world and raise, who did you befriend, who did you help in school, who did you say nice things to, who did you encourage, how have you been a care-giver or provider or protector…what has your job done for people – and which specific people? How have you expressed love to them?
• Think of some people you truly do not like or who are legitimate enemies of you. What have they been through in life? What has possibly negatively contributed to the way they think and behave? Is there any way you might grow in compassion for them?
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• Jesus is going to judge us and place us in a place of blessing or punishment for eternity. Think of the people immediately around the church as an example. Think of their eternal judgment. Ask, “Do I care what happens to them at that point in time? What will happen to them?”
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• In what ways has God grown your compassion and love for people in the past?
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• In what ways is God growing your love for people now?
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• How is your use of money showing that you love people?  How can you take steps towards being an extravagantly loving “percentage giver” who sets aside money intentionally and gives generously?
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• What parts of the renovation project best connect with the idea of loving people?