Allow time to gather and for people to have conversations among themselves before your small group
begins.

 

1. Draw people in and ask where they have seen God at work in their lives. Specifically “glory
sightings.” Have one in mind for an example. After people who want to have shared, pray
together.

 

Today we are discussing “what God desires from us” and how that impacts the world around us. In
order to begin this discussion I want you to think of a mentor, coach, teacher, parent, etc. that really
worked to get the best he or she could out of you.

 

2. Can you share a story about this person, what they demanded and how that influenced your life
in that moment and down the road?

 

3. Lets talk about what God desires/requires from us…have different people read Micah 6:8, James
I:29, Isaiah 1:15-17, Romans 12:1-2 looking for similarities or questions in the passage that jump
out to them about what God desires from followers of Christ.

 

Sunday we talked about how the things of God don’t make a lot of sense. For example, Jesus asked
Peter to walk on water. Jesus used mud to heal a blind man. A kid offered a gift of fish and loaves. A
prostitute lead the people of God into Jericho as they entered the promise land. And the we come to
the Widow in Luke 21.

 

4. Lets read Luke 21:1-4 and Matthew 6:1-4 together. How do you feel about these passages?
Was it a good thing that the widow gave all that she had?

 

5. What are some of the things that God ask us to do today that we or “the world” might find
confusing or not making much sense? (some examples could include tithing, celibacy before
marriage, going to church on Sunday morning, sharing our faith with our friends, fasting, etc.)
What else?

 

6. The coin was all the widow had, but it was still a very small amount. One of the messages is that
God can take a small gift and do amazing stuff with it (kind of like the fish and loaves). When is
a time that you have done something “small for God” that paid off in a bigger way?

 

7. The things that we are passionate about motivate us to make sacrifices like the widow made.
What is a story of something you or someone you know is passionate about and they were
willing to make a “large” sacrifice like the widow. How did that pay off?

 

8. Reread Matthew 6:1-4 and Luke 21:1-4. What are the characteristics of the hypocrites? What
are the characteristics of the widow? What modern day scenarios or groups does it bring to
mind? Which example do you connect more with?

 

9. The widow’s offering had three characteristics. Total abandonment, dependence and faith.

a. Total abandonment—she gave everything she had. She made herself vulnerable
i. Does God ask us to sacrifice in a way that makes us vulnerable? How do we

distinguish between wise and unwise sacrifice.

b. Dependence—she did something that put her total reliance upon God. Only God was

going to get her through based off what she risked.

i. Do you have an example of a time in life where you or a friend tried something
that the only way it would work is if God showed up?
ii. If you have time read Joshua 2– -the story of Rahab. In what ways did Rahab
place herself into the hands of God and hands of the people of God?
iii. What motivates us to try these things?
c. Faith—by doing this she ensured that she would have to walk by faith in the future as
well.
i. Is there something in your life that God has done that has helped you walk by

faith long into the future?

 

10. Take prayer requests…specifically around areas where God is leading you to

Abandon…Dependence…Faith.