OVERVIEW 👀 In this message, Pastor Paul Durbin walks us through 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 and uncovers six surprisingly practical standards for giving. Drawing from Paul's words to a self-absorbed Corinthian church, he shows how generosity pulls us out of ourselves and into God's mission. With honesty, humor, and stories from his own life, Paul invites Belay'ers to see giving not as a burden, but as a beautiful habit that breaks money's grip and shapes us into people who live "on belay."View Media TIPS 📌 For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this study guide with you. You don't need to do every section and question—use what fits your group or season. Let the Spirit highlight where to slow down and engage. ICEBREAKER(S) 🧊 If someone handed you a "silver dollar," would you actually check to see if it was real silver, or just toss it in a drawer and forget about it? BIBLE PASSAGE(S) 📖 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, Now about the collection for the Lord's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. OBSERVATION 🔎 Who is the offering in 1 Corinthians 16 intended for, and what does that tell us about Paul's vision for the Corinthian believers? Paul instructs giving to happen "on the first day of every week." What specific details does he give about how and when this should be done? In 2 Corinthians 9, what kind of giver does God love, and what promise follows that kind of giving? APPLICATION 👋 Paul redirected the Corinthians from their own problems to a need 1,000 miles away. Where in your own life have you been so self-focused that you've lost sight of the needs of others? It's easy for our prayers, our energy, and our money to circle around our own world. Pastor Paul shared the story of giving away his guitar money so his friend could buy a bass. When was the last time giving cost you something you actually wanted? Sometimes the most formative giving moments aren't the easy ones. If giving is a normal practice for followers of Jesus, why do you think it's the one church practice people push back on most? Jesus warned that we can't serve both God and money—so our resistance often reveals something deeper about who has our heart. Paul says to give on the first day of the week, before we know what's coming. How does your current giving rhythm compare to that? Many of us wait until the end of the month to see what's "left over," which often means little or nothing is left. Have you ever sat down and made an actual plan for your generosity—a budget for giving? Without a plan, giving tends to be reactive instead of intentional, and we miss the joy of being ready when needs arise. Pastor Paul described how he and Patty consider 20% of their income as "not theirs"—designated for God, for others, and for blessing kids. What percentage feels honest for where you are right now, and what would it look like to grow from there? This isn't about hitting a number—it's about training your heart. What would it look like for you to have "margin" in your finances so you could give freely when the Spirit prompts you? Margin is what turns generosity from a struggle into a joy. LIVE ON BELAY 🏔️ Set up a zero-based budget this week (using an app or just a notebook) and give every dollar a job—including a line item for generosity. Identify one missional need outside your immediate circle—a missionary, a ministry, a neighbor in another country—and give toward it this month. Make giving the first line in your budget instead of the last. Try it for 30 days and see what shifts in your heart. Surprise someone with a gift this week—a meal, a tank of gas, a coffee, an unexpected check—and don't tell anyone you did it. Talk with your spouse, a roommate, or a trusted Belay'er about your giving plan. Generosity grows best in community. PRAYER 🙏 Ask God to show you any way money has become your master instead of your servant. Pray for a missional vision—eyes that see needs beyond your own household and scope. Ask the Spirit to help you trust Him with the first of your income, not just the leftovers. Pray for joy in giving, that it would become a habit you look forward to instead of one you avoid. Pray that Belay would continue to be a church marked by generosity, margin, and missional giving. WORSHIP 🙌 OUTLINE 📝 Main Idea: God's Word gives followers of Jesus a clear standard for generosity—six simple practices found in just two verses. Text: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 1) Giving is missional a. A vision for needs beyond our own scope b. Paul points Corinth toward Jerusalem, a thousand miles away 2) Giving is normal a. It's simply what the church does, like prayer and worship b. Resistance to giving reveals who our true master is (Luke 16) 3) Giving happens first a. Give before you know what the week holds b. Abel's firstborn vs. Cain's "in the course of time" 4) Giving is habitual a. Not when we feel like it, but a regular rhythm b. Like exercise, food, and sleep—built into our lives 5) Giving is proportionate a. "In keeping with your income"—no set price tag b. Examples from Jacob (a tenth) to the early church (everything) 6) Giving creates margin a. A plan creates freedom to give when needs arise b. True for individuals and for Belay as a church Takeaway: Build a plan for generosity, and let God shape you into a cheerful, missional giver.
