Emmanuel330: WEEK 16 - New Giving: Your Motive to Give (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)

Today's Reading: Matthew 6:1-4

**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.

Please click this link to Matthew 6:1-4

English(NIV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 6&version=NIV
Chinese: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 6&version=CUV

Bible Study

Today and tomorrow's passage is talking about the three things that Jews saw as standard obligations, namely giving money, praying and fasting. Our new lifestyle of Christlikeness in this matter is a new perspective.

Bishop N.T. Wright says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright):

What matters is the motive. If these religious duties are done with an eye on the audience, they become rotten at the core... What matters is learning to do them simply to and for God himself.

N.T. Wright. Matthew for Everyone, Part 1. Louisville,KY:Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.54-55.

Have you started your weekly offering, your tithing as your new lifestyle of Christlikeness? What is your motive of giving? Have you learned to give simply to and for God himself?

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

Spiritual Journal

The topic I received from Jesus today is :

New giving: Your motive to give

This world teaches us to get whatever we can get. Jesus teaches us to give whatever we can give. Who are you listening to?

If you are listening to what Jesus is going to tell you, are you willing really to give? Do you give because you want to get more? What is you motive of giving?

Dear Lord Jesus,

Lead us to be able to give unconditionally. Help us to check our motive when we give so that we can live out this new lifestyle of Christlikeness. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Questions for group discussion

Topic: New Giving: Your motive to give

新的奉獻: 奉獻的動機

Passage: Matthew 6: 1-4

Questions for group leaders

1. Read Matthew 6:1-4 again now. This world teaches us to get whatever we can get. Jesus teaches us to give whatever we can give. Who are you listening to?

2. If you are listening to what Jesus is going to tell you, are you willing really to give? What is your way of giving recently?

3. Do you give because you want to get more? What is you motive of giving?

4. Have you started your weekly offering, your tithing as your new lifestyle of Christlikeness? Have you learned to give simply to and for God himself?

5. What is the highlight for you today?