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LEADER GUIDE

e11PREPIt only takes 11 minutes to prepare to lead your student eGroup!

PRAY (2 minutes)• Pray for the students in your eGroup that they would gain an understanding of the joy that comes with being generous and obedient in the spiritual discipline of tithing.

• Pray that God would use you as an avenue to speak to His students, and from it they will be eager to put God first in their finances.

RESOURCE (3 minutes) • Start off your eGroup by watching the Students Specific - Consider the Source curriculum from our Student eGroups Pastor, Chris Allen. (hyperlink)

ENTRY (3 minutes) ICEBREAKERM&M’s game. Give each student a pack of M&M’s or Skittles and have them estimate without counting what 10%-10%-80% looks like. Then have them count and see how accurate they were. Use this illustration to introduce the principle of “Give, Save, Spend”.

Jars craft. Have students bring 3 jars to eGroup. (They can be creative with this by using recycled cans.) Leaders bring glass paint, ribbon, and other craft items to have them decorate their three jars for “Give”, “Save” & “Spend”.

Spending activity. Give all your students five strips of paper, have them write down the top 5 specific things they spend their money on. Put them in a hat, then read out loud all the ways your group spends money.

PURPOSE & PRIORITY (3 minutes) This week is a critical week in the life of your eGroup. We want to encourage you to use this time wisely. Allow students to ask questions and bring up their experiences with tithing. The video curriculum we provided will be a great resource as you navigate this subject.

LEADERSHIP STUDENTS“We might impress people with our strengths, but we connect with people through our weaknesses.”- Pastor Craig Groeschel

As you lead your group of students each week remember that you aren’t there to impress them. Allow yourself to be vulnerable, share your struggles, be open about how you are growing in your walk with God and watch as group members begin to open up as well.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS As you initiate discussion start off your eGroup by sharing a story of how God has proved himself faithful in the area of your finances.

• How do you earn money currently? From your allowance, a job at Chick-Fil-A, mowing lawns or babysitting?

• How often do you tithe?

• Have students share the first thing that comes to their mind when they hear “tithing”. GOD IS THE SOURCE.“If you can begin to understand the source for everything you have is God, that changes the way that you respond and react in life.”

• How have Pastor Steven’s sermons changed your perspective on what you thought was the source of your money, your health and your possessions?

• How does knowing God is your source change how you will steward what you have?

IT’S ABOUT OBEDIENCE.“When we give it is a matter of obeying God and His commands.”

• What has kept you from tithing before?

THE FIRST FRUITS.“You give me the first 1 and the other 9 will be blessed. 90% with God’s blessing goes farther than 100% without.”

• Share an excuse that you have used to avoid tithing.

• Why do you think it matters to God that we give Him the first 10%?

ROBBING GOD.“When you don’t bring your full tithe to the storehouse, you are actually robbing God.”

• When you receive money what is the first thing you plan to do with your money?

• If you gave God the first 10% how would that affect your spending?

• What do you think a “blessed 90%” looks like?

• How can you begin to see tithing as an opportunity instead of an obligation?

TEST ME!“It would be a shame to miss out on everything [God] has for you because you are holding onto what is [God’s]... When you give, you get to open your hands to a God who will not be out given.”

• How does knowing that God is your father, your provider, and that He will not be out given, change your perspective on tithing?

• From the illustration Pastor Steven used with dimes, what happens when you are generous?

PRACTICALChris Allen gave us practical examples on how to begin to put God first in our finances. He shared about moving the decimal place once to the left to determine 10%, using three jars for “Give, Save, Spend” and also about budget forms and tithing charts being available online.

• Which of these is going to be most helpful to you in committing to put God first with your finances? Where can you start?

CHALLENGEChris challenged our students to begin tithing this year. Encourage your students to take this challenge, but take it a step further and for the next couple weeks hold them accountable during your group time.