Study Guide: “Giving as an Antidote to Financial Anxiety”

Passage: Matthew 6:19-24

Introduction

This week, we will explore how Jesus teaches on money and generosity in the Sermon on the Mount. Our focus is on understanding the connection between giving and financial anxiety and how we can experience true freedom by trusting God with our resources.

Opening Questions

• What are some things you find yourself “storing up” in life? (e.g., money, possessions, reputation, etc.)
• Why do you think Jesus links treasure to the heart in Matthew 6:21?
• How do you feel about the idea that giving is an antidote to financial anxiety? Have you ever experienced this in your life?

Read Matthew 6:19-24

Main Points of Discussion

1. Treasures on Earth vs. Treasures in Heaven (vv. 19-21)

• What do you treasure?
  • Jesus tells us not to store up treasures on earth, but what are examples of treasures we store up today?
  • Discuss how material things can feel like security, but they are temporary.
• Heavenly treasures
  • What are “treasures in heaven”? How might we store them up? (Examples could include acts of generosity, love, and kindness).
• Discussion Question: How can we practically “store up” treasures in heaven in our daily lives?

2. Healthy vs. Unhealthy Eyes (vv. 22-23)

• Healthy vs. Unhealthy Eyes
  • Jesus uses the metaphor of the eye as the “lamp” of the body. In Greek, the word for healthy means “generous” and unhealthy means “stingy.”
  • Generosity brings light into our lives, while stinginess brings darkness.
• Discussion Question: How does being generous fill us with “light”? Have you noticed a connection between generosity and a sense of inner peace or fulfillment?

3. Serving Two Masters (v. 24)

• Divided Loyalty
  • Jesus says that we cannot serve both God and money. It’s impossible to be fully devoted to both.
• Discussion Question: In what ways can money become a master over our lives? How can we shift our focus to serve God more wholeheartedly?

Application Questions

• Financial Anxiety: How does focusing on storing up earthly treasures contribute to financial anxiety? How does giving help alleviate that anxiety?
• Generosity: Where do you feel called to be more generous? Are there specific areas of your life where God is asking you to let go and trust Him more?
• Challenge: How can you practice intentional generosity this week, even in small ways? What might it look like for you to give without expecting anything in return?

Prayer Prompts

• For Heart Transformation: Ask God to help shift your heart’s focus from earthly things to heavenly treasures.
• For Generosity: Pray for a spirit of generosity, trusting that God will provide for all your needs.
• For Freedom from Anxiety: Ask God to help you surrender any financial anxiety and to rest in His provision.

Group Activity or Reflection (Optional)

Invite group members to write down something they are holding on to (e.g., money worries, material possessions) and offer it to God in prayer. Alternatively, as a group, consider organizing a small act of generosity this week, such as supporting a charity or helping someone in need.

Study Guide: “Our Father in Heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10)

This study guide is based on the opening lines of the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-10. It is designed for use in group settings or individual reflection, encouraging deeper understanding and practical application of Jesus’ teaching on prayer.

Bible Passage: Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV)

“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.’”

Main Themes:

• God’s Holiness:
  “Hallowed be your name” points to the holiness and greatness of God. We are called to recognize His purity, perfection, and absolute difference from us.
• God’s Fatherhood:
  Jesus invites us to address God as “Father,” signifying a close, intimate relationship and our dependence on Him.
• God’s Kingdom and Will:
  Praying “your kingdom come, your will be done” aligns our desires with God’s purpose for the world. We are seeking His rule and reign to invade our lives and the world around us.

Discussion Points:

1. Understanding “Hallowed Be Your Name”
   What does “hallowed” mean to you?
   How do we practically “hallow” God’s name in our daily lives?
   Reflect on the holiness of God. How does understanding God’s holiness affect how we approach Him?
2. God as Our Father
   What does it mean for you to call God “Father”?
   How does seeing God as both holy and personal change the way we relate to Him in prayer?
3. Seeking God’s Kingdom and Will
   What does the phrase “your kingdom come” mean in the context of your life? How do you see God’s kingdom breaking into the world?
   In what areas of your life do you struggle to submit to God’s will? How can we better align our desires with God’s plan?

Application Questions:

1. Praise and Worship as a Response to Anxiety
   Reflecting on the sermon, how can praising God help us combat feelings of stress or anxiety? Have you experienced peace when focusing on God’s holiness and greatness?
2. Releasing Control
   What are the things in your life that make you feel like everything revolves around you? How can surrendering control to God bring relief and freedom?
3. Praying for God’s Kingdom
   In your family, community, or workplace, what specific areas can you pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done?

Prayer Prompts:

• Adoration
  Begin by praising God for His holiness and greatness. Thank Him for being set apart, yet intimately involved as your Father.
• Surrender
  Ask God to help you release control of your worries and align your heart with His will.
• Kingdom Focus
  Pray for God’s kingdom to be established in the specific areas of your life, your church, and the world around you. Ask for His justice, love, and truth to be made evident.

Reflection and Worship

As you reflect on the sermon and the Lord’s Prayer, take time to engage in worship. Lift your hands, praise God’s holy name, and declare His goodness over your life. Even if you don’t feel like it, know that God is worthy of your worship in every season of life.

Study Guide for Sermon: “Matthew 6 and Anxiety”

Bible Passage: Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18

Overview

This study guide is designed to be used individually or in a group setting, either during the sermon or in a mid-week group. It is based on a message about anxiety and finding our identity in Christ, with an emphasis on living authentically and not being controlled by fear.

Icebreaker Questions

• What’s a common fear or anxiety that people deal with in everyday life?
• Have you ever had to “fake it” to appear more confident or capable than you really were? How did it feel?

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18

Sermon Summary

The sermon focuses on the gap between our ideal selves and our actual selves. Many people struggle with fear, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy because they feel they don’t measure up to societal, personal, or religious expectations. Jesus, in Matthew 6, addresses the issue of authenticity by calling out hypocritical practices. He encourages genuine spirituality, prayer, fasting, and giving—not to impress others, but to connect more deeply with God. Our true identity lies not in who we are now or who we think we should be, but in our “eschatological real self”—our future self in Christ, perfected in Him.

Discussion Points

Understanding the Passage

• Read Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18. What does Jesus teach about prayer, fasting, and giving? Why is He concerned with the motives behind these actions?
• How does Jesus’ teaching challenge cultural or religious expectations of outward appearance versus inward sincerity?

Exploring Identity

• The sermon contrasts the “ideal self,” “actual self,” and “eschatological real self.” What are some examples of “shoulds” that you feel have been imposed on you by society, family, or religious environments?
• How does knowing that our true identity is found in Christ’s future promise help to alleviate anxiety about who we are now?

Living Authentically

• Jesus condemns hypocrisy in religious acts. What are ways that we can be tempted to be “hypocritical” in our faith today (e.g., through social media, church, work)?
• What does it look like to live out an authentic faith? How can we align our actual selves with our identity in Christ without faking it or striving for applause from others?

Application Questions

Personal Reflection

• In what areas of your life are you tempted to present an idealized version of yourself to others? Why do you feel the need to do this?
• What fears or anxieties do you experience because of the gap between your ideal self and actual self?

Practicing Prayer and Fasting

• Reflect on Jesus’ teachings on prayer and fasting. How can you practice these disciplines in a way that draws you closer to God rather than seeking approval from others?
• What might God be asking you to do in secret—whether in prayer, giving, or fasting—that will help you grow in your relationship with Him?

Pressing Toward Your Eschatological Real Self

• What does it mean to you that your “real self” is found in Christ’s future promise? How does this knowledge impact your daily life?
• Consider Philippians 3:12-14: What does it mean to “press on” toward what God has called you to be? How can this passage encourage you to live boldly, without fear of judgment or failure?

Prayer Prompts

• Pray for Understanding: Ask God to reveal areas in your life where you’ve been striving to meet unrealistic expectations or ideals. Ask for the grace to accept who you are in Christ.
• Pray for Boldness: Pray for the courage to let go of fear and step into the life God has called you to, remembering that your identity is secure in Christ’s promise.
• Pray for Authenticity: Ask God to help you live authentically in your faith, not for the applause of others but for His glory.