Navagating Finances God s Way Study Guide
Navagating Finances God s Way Study Guide
Study Guide
Scripture to Memorize:
“If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust the
true riches to you?” (Luke 16:11).
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Homework Questions
1. What was the most helpful information you learned from reading "Your Money Counts"?
2. What are two practical principles from the book you can apply now?
3. Based on this passage, do you think God’s way of handling money will differ from how
most people handle it? What do you think would be the greatest differences?
8. What are your personal goals concerning your getting out of debt?
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9. What information especially interested you and why did it interest you?
10. When you learned the Bible says so much about money, how did this challenge your
thinking?
Scripture to Memorize:
“Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore
you as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from you alone, and you are
the Ruler of all mankind; your hand controls power and might and it is at your discretion
that men are made great and given strength” (1 Chronicles 29:11-12, TLB).
1. Do you have any questions about "List Your Assets", the Deed, or keeping a record of
everything you spend?
2. What did you learn from completing them? How do you think this will influence you in
the future?
5. Evaluate your attitude toward your possessions. Do you consistently recognize the true
owner? What are two practical suggestions to help you recognize God’s ownership?
2. What do these verses tell you about the Lord’s control of people?
3. Do you normally recognize the Lord’s control of all events? If not, how can you become
more consistent?
1. Why is it important to realize that God controls and uses even difficult circumstances for
good in the life of a godly person?
3. Share a difficult circumstance you have experienced and how the Lord used it for good in
your life.
3. Give an example from the Bible of the Lord providing for someone’s needs in a
supernatural way.
1. According to this verse what is your requirement as a steward and how would you define a
steward?
2. Why did the master remove the steward from his position and how does that apply to you?
Read God’s Part & Our Part (Chapters 3 & 4 - Your Money Counts) and then answer the
following questions:
Scripture to Memorize:
“ Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7, TLB).
3. Continue 30 Day Tracking of your income and spending or log into your Mint.com
account. And Create a Draft of Your Working Spending Plan. (See Chapter 14 Your
Money Counts)
After completing the Compass MapTM and List Your Debts & Snowball ’Em! answer the
following questions.
1. Do you have any questions about the map or List Your Debts & Snowball ’Em?
2. What did you learn from completing them, and how will you use this knowledge?
Read Deuteronomy 15:4-6; Deuteronomy 28:1-2; Deuteronomy 28:12; Deuteronomy 28:15 and
Deuteronomy 28:43-45.
3. According to these passages how was debt viewed in the Old Testament, and what was the
reason a person got into debt (became a borrower) or got out of it (became a lender)?
2. How do these verses apply to you personally and to your business, if you have one?
3. If you are in debt, are you committed to get out of it? If you have a plan to eliminate it,
please describe the plan.
1. What do these verses say about debt repayment, and why do you think God gave us these
principles?
2. Is this how you repay your debt? If not, what steps will you take to begin?
1. What principles on getting out of debt can you identify from this passage?
1. What does the Bible say about cosigning (striking hands, surety) and how does this apply
to you?
Read or listen to the Debt Notes then answer the questions below.
1. What did you learn about debt that proved to be especially helpful?
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Scripture to Memorize:
“You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.” (Leviticus 19:11).
3. Continue 30 Day Tracking of your income and spending or log into your Mint.com
account.
Day One
After completing the "Let's Get Practical" applications answer the following questions.
1. Do you have any questions about the "Let's Get Practical" applications?
2. What did you learn from completing Determining Your Life Insurance Needs and setting
up your Filing System? How will these help on your journey to true financial faithfulness?
3. What do these verses communicate to you about God’s requirement for honesty?
6. According to these passages, can you practice dishonesty and still love your neighbor?
Why?
1. What are some of the benefits of honesty and how have you experienced them?
2. What are some of the curses of dishonesty and how do they motivate you to a life of
honesty?
2. If you have acquired anything dishonestly, how will you make restitution?
4. Have you ever been asked to give or take a bribe? If so, describe what happened.
2. What are some of the benefits you’ve experienced from seeking counsel? And what hinders
you from seeking it?
3. Does the Lord actively counsel His children? How do you seek the Lord’s counsel?
2. Do you consistently read and study the Bible? If not, what prevents you?
5. Is there ever a circumstance in which you should seek the input of a person who does not
know Christ? If so, when?
1. What did you learn about honesty that will be especially helpful to you? In what way?
2. What was the most important thing you learned about counsel and how will you apply it?
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Scripture to Memorize:
“ Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give
than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).
1. Continue 30 Day Tracking your income and spending or log into your Mint.com account.
2. What did you learn from completing it that will improve your giving?
3. What do these passages communicate about the importance of the proper attitude in
giving?
1. How does this principle from God’s economy differ from the way most people view
giving?
2. Identify the benefits for the giver in the following passages and describe how they might
encourage you to be more generous.
1. What was God’s view on tithing (giving 10 percent) in the Old Testament, and how has
that impacted your generosity?
2. Identify three principles from this passage that might influence how much you give.
Prayerfully (with your spouse if you are married) seek the Lord’s guidance to determine how
much you should give. You will not be asked to disclose the amount.
Read Numbers 18:8-10; Numbers 18:24; Galatians 6:6 and 1 Timothy 5:17-18.
1. What do these verses say about financially supporting your church and those who teach
the Bible? How do you plan on practicing this?
2. How does Jesus Christ identify with the needy and how does this impact your thinking?
3. What does this verse communicate to you about giving to the poor?
4. Are you currently giving to the needy? If not, what is hindering you?
2. What principle of generosity will you apply after reading the Notes?
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WORK
Homework for Week 6
Scripture to Memorize:
“ Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men . . . It is the
Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:23-24).
1. Complete the Estimated Spending Plan & begin Tracking Income & Spending
2. If you are using Mint.com continue building, tracking and tweaking your spending plan.
You do not need to complete the Estimated Spending Plan exercise.
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After completing the "Let's Get Practical" applications answer the following questions:
1. Do you have any questions about your Personality Profile or Estimated Spending Plan?
2. What did you learn from completing them that will be helpful to you?
3. Why is it important to recognize that the Lord created work before sin entered the world?
4. What was the consequence of sin on work and how have you experienced this in your
work?
5. What do these passages say to you about work and how are you applying them?
1. What do these verses tell us about the Lord’s involvement in our work, and how do these
truths differ from the way most people view work?
2. For whom do you really work? How will this understanding change your work
performance?
2. Do you work hard? If not, describe what steps you will take to improve your work habits.
4. Do you get enough rest and how do you guard against overwork?
3. How does this concept of “yoking” or “being bound together” apply to partnerships in
business and work?
4. Can you give some examples from the Bible of people who retired?
5. Do you think retirement, as it is practiced in our culture, is biblically acceptable? What are
your retirement plans?
1. What in the notes proved especially helpful or challenging? How will you apply this to
your work situation?
2. Do you usually realize you are working for the Lord? If not, what will you do to become
more conscious of this?
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Scripture to Memorize:
“The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets” (Proverbs
21:20, TLB).
“ Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty” (Proverbs 21:5, TLB).
2. Track & Tweak your Compass Spending Plan or log into your Mint.com account to
continue making any necessary adjustments to your spending plan.
Day One
After completing the "Let's Get Practical" applications answer the following questions.
2. What did you learn from completing them that was helpful, and how will you apply it?
6. According to this parable, why do you think it is scripturally permissible to save only
when you are also giving? How does this apply to you?
3. According to this verse, why is it wrong to want to get rich (refer to 1 Timothy 6:9)? Do you
have the desire to get rich?
Read Proverbs 21:5; Proverbs 24:27; Proverbs 27:23-24; Ecclesiastes 3:1 and Ecclesiastes 11:2.
1. What investment principle(s) can you learn from each of these verses, and how will you
apply them?
1. Should parents attempt to leave a material inheritance to their children? If so, how are
you going to implement this principle?
Gambling is defined as: playing games of chance for money, betting, and speculating. Some
of today’s most common forms of gambling are casino wagering, betting on sporting events,
horse races, dog races and state-run lotteries.
1. What are some of the motivations that cause people to gamble, and do these motives
please the Lord? Why?
2. According to these passages, why do you think a godly person should not gamble?
2. Describe the specific steps you intend to take to begin saving and investing.
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Scripture to Memorize:
“ For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along
with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity… I can do all things through
Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13).
Note: Think about your prayer request for the last class. It should be a “long-term” request
the others can pray when they think of you.
Day One
After completing the "Let's Get Practical" applications answer the following questions.
1. Do you have any questions about Organizing Your Estate and the Crisis Budget?
2. What did you learn from completing them that was helpful, and how will you apply what
you learned?
Read Romans 8:35 and Romans 8:37; Daniel 4:34-35 and Jeremiah 32:17.
3. Why do you think it is important to realize that God loves you and is in control of the
situation when you are facing a crisis?
1. According to this passage, what does the Lord want to accomplish in our lives when we
experience difficulties?
2. Share a crisis you’ve experienced and how God used it to help you grow closer to Christ.
3. According to these verses, what should our attitude be in the midst of a crisis?
1. What should you do to prepare financially for future challenges and crises? On a scale of 1
to 10 (with 10 being the best), how well are you prepared?
3. What do these passages say to you about financial prosperity for the believer?
Read Genesis 37:23-28; Genesis 41:12-41; 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 and Philippians 4:11-12.
4. Did these godly people experience periods of financial abundance and at other times a lack
of it?
5. Was their lack a result of sin and a lack of faith? And do you think all Christians should
always prosper financially? Why?
6. What does this passage tell you about the prosperity of the wicked, and how should this
impact your attitude toward them?
1. According to these passages, who is responsible for teaching children how to handle
money from a biblical perspective?
2. How well were you prepared to manage money when you first left home as a young
person?
7. Does the Lord require us to pay taxes to the government? Describe your attitude toward
paying taxes and does it need to change?
2. How does our culture discourage contentment, and how do you plan on practicing it?
How do the following factors influence your present spending and lifestyle?
8. Do you sense that the Lord would have you change your spending or any part of your
standard of living? If so, what?
1. What was the most helpful concept you learned from the notes, and how will you apply
it?
2. Do you sense the Lord would have you alter your lifestyle in any way? If so, in what way?
ETERNITY
Scripture to Memorize:
“ For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36).
1.Continue to Track & Tweak your Spending Plan or log into your Mint.com account to make
any necessary adjustments.
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After completing the "Let's Get Practical" applications answer the following questions.
2. What did you learn that was especially helpful, and how will you apply it?
3. What changes in your lifestyle will you make in light of your goals?
1. What do these passages say to you about the length of life on earth?
in light of eternity it's like a breath and it lasts for a season and then we are gone from this
life.
3. Estimate the number of days you have left on earth. How does this impact your thinking?
1. What do these passages say about your identity on earth and in heaven?
3. How will this impact the way you invest your time and spend your money?
2. How would you describe the works (give some examples) that will be burned at this final
judgment?
4. What are you doing that will survive this final judgment?
2. As you reflect on eternity, answer these questions thoughtfully: What three things do I
want to accomplish during the rest of my life?
3. What can I do during my lifetime that would contribute most significantly to the cause of
Christ?
1. What was the most important concept you learned from reading the notes?
3. Describe what has been the most beneficial part of the Small Group Study for you, and
why.