This Lent we are going to study the book of Philippians aka the book of joy. I will be referencing the book Because of This I Rejoice: Reading Philippians During Lent by Max O. Vincent. We will be talking about how to joyfully practice spiritual disciplines: prayer, witness, humility, hospitality, asceticism and giving.

For our last week, we are studying joyful giving. Paul does not come right out and say, "thanks for the money you gave me." Instead the whole letter to the Philippians expresses Paul's thanks for what God is doing. Joyful giving is a fruit of Christian joy. When we are filled with God's joy, we want to generously give for what God has and is doing in the world.

I want to encourage you to read the whole letter of Philippians in one sitting.

For this week, we will be focusing on Matthew 6:1-4; Philippians 4.

Plan to join us this Sunday morning at 10:30 am or go to our FB page to link to Youtube live on Sunday mornings or anytime on our website redoakpresbyterianchurch.com

Questions to Ponder:

1. Max O Vincent says, "Does giving feel like a Christian duty or a way for you to participate in God's work?"

2. How does our church support mission work around the world? How does our congregation help support God's work in places that you may not visit or among people you may never meet?

3. Who in your life exemplifies joyous giving?

4. Why does your motive in giving matter? What is the difference between giving as an attempt to earn favors from God and giving as an expression of gratitude for what God has done in your life?

5. What is Paul's secret of being content (v 12)?

6. How do you define Christian contentment? From where does it derive?

7. Has a lack of contentment made you less flexible for mission? Explain.

8. Why should you give faithfully? Do you have a disciplined plan for giving to the mission of the church?

9. How have you grown as a steward of the resources God has given you?