Ready to Help the Poor

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Ready to Help the Poor

• January 25

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Think about it

• Why do you think so many people in todays world
  are greedy?
• At the same time, our greedy culture is a needy
  culture.
• God expects His followers to care for those who
  are in need
• Today we look at how to set aside greed in our
  own lives to meet needs of others

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Listen for a warning for a wicked thought.

• Deuteronomy 157-9 (NIV) If there is a poor man
  among your brothers in any of the towns of the
  land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not
  be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor
  brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend
  him whatever he needs.

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Listen for a warning for a wicked thought.

• 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought
  "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts,
  is near," so that you do not show ill will toward
  your needy brother and give him nothing. He may
  then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will
  be found guilty of sin.

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Share Freely

• What attitude did God want the Israelites to have
  toward people in need?
• What are some synonyms for the words God used.
• What makes lending money a difficult thing to do?
  
• Israelite law specified cancelation of loans
  every 7 years. In that regard, what wicked
  thought was Israel told not to harbor?

Hardhearted Tightfisted Openhanded

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Share Freely

• How would that issue translate to our culture
  we dont have the 7 year forgiveness cycle. What
  kind of wicked thoughts might we need to deal
  with?
• How is generosity toward the poor both a heart
  issue and a hand issue?
• What happens when we are haphazard or random with
  our giving?

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Listen for a warning about faith.

• James 214-17 (NIV) What good is it, my
  brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has
  no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a
  brother or sister is without clothes and daily
  food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish
  you well keep warm and well fed," but does
  nothing about his physical needs, what good is
  it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it
  is not accompanied by action, is dead.

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Faith and Deeds

• What is the relationship between faith and deeds?
  
• What illustration did James use to explain how
  real faith affects a persons deeds?
• How is being a Christian supposed to change the
  way we live?
• What can a Christian do to help the people around
  him or her?

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Listen for what the therefore is there for.

• Deuteronomy 1510-11 (NIV) Give generously to
  him and do so without a grudging heart then
  because of this the LORD your God will bless you
  in all your work and in everything you put your
  hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in
  the land. Therefore I command you to be
  openhanded toward your brothers and toward the
  poor and needy in your land.

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God Will Bless

• What should be our attitude about giving?
• What would happen if Israel gave generously?
• Agree or disagree God said the poor will always
  be with us. This means we are excused from
  responding to them.
• So what did God mean by His statement about the
  permanence of the poor?

Agree Disagree

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God Will Bless

• In addition to giving money, what other ways are
  there to help the poor?
• If there will always be poor people among us and
  were obligated to give, how do we keep from
  becoming poor ourselves?

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God Will Bless

• How can we know when to give and when its okay
  not to give?
• How could Gods church make a bigger difference
  in the world if more people were givers?

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Application

• Take a drive
• As you drive around town, ask God to give you a
  heart for the poor.
• When you return home, write down at least one
  thing you could do this week to demonstrate Gods
  heart for the poor.

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Application

• Plan together
• Have a conversation this week with one or two
  Christian friends about ways your group could
  respond to the needs of the poor in your
  community

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Application

• Get involved
• Find a gospel centered ministry your church
  supports that helps the poor.
• Consider getting involved by volunteering or
  regular financial support

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Ready to Help the Poor

• January 25