A2 Going Deeper
Solid Rock
Week 1
GRACE
Pray to open your time together.
Then play the week one video, and each share something that stood out to you.
Play this video.
Today’s Scripture
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:14-20
Discussion and Personal Application
Applying the scripture passage above, discuss the following questions as a group. Journaling can help make your learnings stick.
In our weekend message, we learned that the impoverished churches in Macedonia were extremely generous towards Paul and the believers in Jerusalem. In today’s scripture, Paul is thanking the church at Philippi for their generosity.
What is the best gift you ever received? Best gift you ever gave? Why were they so good?
What does Paul desire even more than their financial gifts? What kind of heart attitude is Paul celebrating? Why is living generously so challenging?
Why is their gift “pleasing to God”? When you give personally, what attitude do you have? In what ways would you like to grow?
What do you think of the idea that God will meet your needs? Your needs are met according to what? How does this truth change the way you live?
What is this passage saying to you personally? What is challenging to you? What do we learn from the Philippians that translates to our Unshakeable initiative? What might happen if we all leaned into these ideas?
Prayer
As we refresh our Unshakeable vision, pray that God will reveal where we can grow—individually and as a church family. Pray for open hearts to learn and follow. Pray for provision for every Westside family and for an outpouring of fresh blessings from God to emerge from this season.
Daily Readings | Monday-Sunday
Week 2
DESIRE
Pray to open your time together.
Then play the week one video, and each share something that stood out to you.
Play this video.
Today’s Scripture
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,…
Philippians 1:9
...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4
We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:17-18
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight...he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure...to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us…
Ephesians 1:3-8
Discussion and Personal Application
Applying the scripture passages above, discuss the following questions as a group. Journaling can help make your learnings stick.
In last week’s discussion, we discovered how the church in Philippi so generously supported Paul’s work and the Christians in Jerusalem. This week, we are talking about desire. What motivates us to be generous?
What motivates you to want to give someone a gift? Is it something about them or something about you that makes that easier?
Was there a time when you felt like God really worked through you to bless someone financially or otherwise? What was that like? What was your motivation?
In the two verses from Philippians, what does Paul say is the foundation of generosity?
From Psalm 37, what is the connection between delight in God and the fulfillment of our desires? Do you think this verse means that a) God gives us what we desire, or b) that He gives us better, Godly desires?
In the passages from 1 John and Ephesians, what is the relationship between gratitude and generosity? In what ways could you use your gratitude as a motivator for your generosity?
Prayer
Ask God to continue growing you in your discipleship journey in the area of generosity. Ask God to continue to draw Westside together as a loving community that is following Him on a mission in the world.
Daily Readings | Monday-Sunday
Week 3
INTEGRITY
Pray to open your time together.
Then play the week one video, and each share something that stood out to you.
Play this video.
Today’s Scripture
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
1 Peter 3:15-16
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1 Timothy 1:5
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
Psalm 139:1-2
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24
Discussion and Personal Application
Applying the scripture passages above, discuss the following questions as a group. Journaling can help make your learnings stick.
Who is someone in your life that you admire for their integrity? How would you describe that integrity? How did they impact you?
How would you define integrity? This week’s teaching discussed how we can compartmentalize parts of our lives—how is your life compartmentalized? What are ways you could better integrate these parts?
From the verses above, what are the benefits of integrity in our lives? What happens if we don’t act with integrity?
Review pages 16-17 of your Unshakeable Guide: "The Generosity Climb." Where would you ideally like to be on your generosity climb? In what ways could you grow in integrating your faith in God with your giving?
At this point on your journey, what does growing in generosity look like for you personally? How is God calling you to contribute?
Prayer
As we refresh our Unshakeable vision, pray that the Spirit of God will reveal the gaps between our beliefs and behavior. Pray that God will grow us to be pleasing to Him on the inside and outside. And pray that our church will be a place that exhibits the love of Jesus to the world around us in undeniable ways.
Daily Readings | Monday-Sunday
Week 4
JOY
Pray to open your time together.
Then play the week one video, and each share something that stood out to you.
Play this video.
Today’s Scripture
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
John 15:5-12
Discussion and Personal Application
Applying the scripture passages above, discuss the following questions as a group. Journaling can help make your learnings stick.
From the weekend message, we learned about joy and generosity. We learned of how God loves a cheerful giver. Today, we will explore how Jesus brings joy to us that overflows in a fruitful life.
Joy is not pleasure, a mere sensation, but a pervasive and constant sense of well-being. Hope in the goodness of God is joy’s indispensable support.”
Dallas Willard
What is Jesus teaching about the source of fruitfulness and joy? What does he say we must do to experience joy? What specifically does this mean to how we relate to God?
What stands in the way of your fruitfulness and joy? From this week’s teaching, have you struggled with any of the following mindsets: Scarcity – Skepticism – Entitlement? What effect do these have on your joy?
This is key: How does Jesus connect obedience, love, and joy? What does Jesus teach about what is necessary for a fruitful life? How can dependence on God, desire for God, and declaration of God’s blessings make us more joyful?
What do you think is the relationship between your joy and your generosity? What change would be needed to make you a more “cheerful giver”?
Prayer
As we refresh our Unshakeable vision, pray that God will exponentially expand our joy with a pervasive sense of His love, goodness, and provision. Pray for a deeper oneness with Christ that makes us more fruitful and joyful. May God give us a greater vision of His loving generosity pouring out of us in cheerful hearts as we serve our community. And pray that we grow in spiritual maturity, trusting Jesus with the entirety of our lives.
Daily Readings | Monday-Sunday
Week 5
GENEROSITY
Pray to open your time together.
Then play the week one video, and each share something that stood out to you.
Play this video.
Today’s Scripture
The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
Isaiah 55:10 NLT
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights
James 1:17
But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…
Deuteronomy 8:18
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
Psalm 139:13-14 NLT
…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13
Discussion and Personal Application
Applying the scripture passage above, discuss the following questions as a group. Journaling can help make your learnings stick.
What are some abilities or talents that God has given you? Encourage and acknowledge those abilities in one another.
What thoughts surface for you from the verses in today’s reading? Specifically how do these verses describe God's character?
What is the relationship between gratitude and generosity? Is that a connection you naturally make? Why or why not?
What would you need to do in order to live more generously?
Be specific.As a group or family, are you willing to be accountable to one another in living more generously? What would that look like? How can you encourage one another to embrace the generous heart of God and live it out as a community?
Prayer
As we refresh our Unshakeable vision, ask God to expand your heart so you may recognize all He has done in and for you. Pray that you would grow in maturity and gratitude. Pray that God would lead us as a church family “to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.
Daily Readings | Monday-Sunday
Week 6
GOSPEL
Pray to open your time together.
Then play the week one video, and each share something that stood out to you.
Play this video.
Today’s Scripture
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’“
Matthew 25:37-40
Discussion and Personal Application
Applying the scripture passage above, discuss the following questions as a group. Journaling can help make your learnings stick.
In this weekend’s message, we learned how we bring the gospel to reality when we care for both physical and spiritual needs.
Which is easier for you, meeting someone’s practical/financial need or sharing your faith with them? Why?
How did you become a believer? Who influenced you the most? Was it over a prolonged period or something that happened more suddenly?
First Thessalonians describes Paul’s ministry to that church.
What is his posture toward them? How does this verse instruct us?In the Matthew parable of the sheep and goats, how does Jesus tie our relationship with Him to the way we treat those in need?
Why does Jesus make this connection? Why is that important? How is this both a physical and spiritual interaction?Our heart, as a church, is to share the love of Jesus with our community. What are some specific ways you believe God has equipped you to share His love? Through this series, what has He refreshed or ignited in you? How can you continue to take steps to build your faith to become more Unshakeable?
Prayer
As we refresh our Unshakeable vision, ask God to open our eyes to the practical and spiritual poverty all around us. Pray for the courage to step into the needs of others with good news. Ask God to continue growing us in love and character.
If you haven’t yet made your Unshakeable generosity commitment, learn more.
Daily Readings | Monday-Sunday