Isaiah 58 describes the kind of fasting God desires. What stands out to you from this passage? Does this text challenge your current understanding of fasting?

 How have practices like prayer, worship, Sabbath keeping or fasting affected your relationship with God? How can these practices help you grow in authenticity?

How do you see God calling you to "loose the chains of injustice" or "share your food with the hungry"? What are practical steps you can take to live this out?

 Reflect on Dorothy Day’s quote about giving up unnecessary things so that we can afford to help others. Is God inviting you to make some changes in your lifestyle?

How can we ensure that our efforts to serve others come from a place of humility rather than superiority?  Have you ever noticed a type of ‘helping’ that may actually hurt people? 

 In what ways can your home church or church community support one another in living out true fasting and caring for those in need?

Isaiah 58 describes flourishing in the lives of people who live an authentic lifestyle as God’s children.  Have you experienced any of this flourishing in your own life as you care for others in need?

What comes to mind when you think of things in the world or your life that aren’t as they should be?

How does the image of a refining fire resonate with your understanding of God’s work in our lives?

The sermon discusses sin as a “parasitic fungus” (like in The Last of Us). How does this metaphor help you understand the nature of sin in your life?

What kind of church do you think we need to be to prepare for a potential revival or crisis in the future?

How can we as a community support one another in the practice of fasting and seeking God’s holiness?

Is fasting a new practice for you in your discipleship? What experience do you have with it so far? 

How does your current relationship with food—whether through feasting or fasting—reflect your spiritual life?

What fears for questions do you have as you begin practicing fasting? 

What would you love to see God do in your life or your community through this Practice?

What do you expect your greatest challenge will be as you practice fasting?

https://launch.practicingtheway.org/resources/fasting (requires login)
Arthur Wallis, God’s Chosen Fast,  CLC Publications, 2022

Share a time when you witnessed or experienced radical generosity. How did it impact your faith and understanding of God's provision?

Reflect on Luke 12:13-34: How does the parable of the rich fool challenge modern views of success and wealth accumulation?

What are some subtle forms of greed that we might overlook in our own lives, and how can we guard against them?

  How can Jesus' teaching on not worrying about our life influence the way we handle financial stress and uncertainty?

Discuss practical steps we can take to "sell our possessions and give to the poor" in a modern context.

How does our use of wealth affect our community, and how can we use our resources to foster communal flourishing?

What does pursuing God's kingdom look like in your personal life and with Pilgrim Church?

BibleProject Podcast, “God and Money (Re-Release),” July 15, 2024, https://bibleproject.com/podcast/god-and-money-re-release/. 

David A. Croteau et al., Perspectives on Tithing: Four Views, B&H Publishing Group, 2011.

What is the connection between gratitude and generosity?’

Why is generosity so significant in our relationship with God?

How does giving back to God relate to our faith and relationship with wealth?

How does giving from a place of love for God impact our attitude towards generosity?

What does the story of the poor Widow in Mark chapter 12 teach us about the essence of generosity?

If you were to measure your level of contentment on a scale of 1 to 10 – where 1 is feeling the anxiety of greed and a desire for more, and 10 is feeling non-anxious and satisfied with what you have – where would you plot yourself right now?

Where are you experiencing a lack of margin in your life in your relationships, schedule, or finances?

What is one area in your life that you could possibly simplify (schedule, possessions, finances, etc.)?

Name some of the best things in your life right now. What are you most grateful for?

Basic: Identify something you own that you do not need, and give it away or sell it and give the money to someone in need.

Do a budget session on excel/google sheets:

Calculate your income per month.  Also calculate any expected bonuses, tips, side gigs, or tax refunds per year.

Calculate expenses. You can look up “budget template” from Google or ChatGPT for an example.

Categorize your expenses, fitting each line into one of four categories: need, enjoy, save, give. 

Prayerfully go through each item and consider: How am I meant to properly steward this resource? 

Reach: Pick a room or area of your life, go through it thoughtfully and peacefully, and simplify it down to the essentials. This could be your closet, bedroom, living room, kitchen, garage, etc.

 As you quietly observe each item in the room, consider holding it up before God.

Ask yourself questions: Do I really need this? Could I live without this? Would my life possibly be better without this unnecessary item? Rather than asking ourselves how we can get more, we’re pondering how we could live with less.

 Make four piles for the unnecessary items: 01. Throw away. 02. Recycle. 03. Sell. 04. Give away.

 Give your extra stuff away. You can give to the poor via the Salvation Army or a local donation drop, or give directly to someone you know. 

Go sit in the decluttered room or area, and pay attention to how you feel. Spend a few minutes in gratitude to God for the goodness of ordinary life.

Randy Alcorn, “Twelve Giving Stories,” Eternal Perspective Ministries, Feb 16, 2010, https://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Feb/16/twelve-giving-stories/ 

Randy Alcorn, Giving is the Good Life: The Unexpected Path to Purpose and Joy, Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publisher Inc., 2019. 

Carey Nieuwhof and Lee Domingue, “Why is it so hard to pastor business leaders?” podcast, Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast, episode 686, October 29, 2024, https://careynieuwhof.kit.com/posts/episode686.

John Mark Comer, Generosity, Practicing The Way Resources, https://launch.practicingtheway.org/resources (requires login).  

“Generosity 02: Watch Out for Greed!”, Rule of Life Podcast, Sept 3 2024.

Climate Refugees and Church: https://chatgpt.com/share/672c1a55-8000-8012-aab3-c56d84b63d75 

Church Fathers on 1 Tim: https://chatgpt.com/share/672d3aa8-8e6c-8012-a2c4-431e88142454 

Rich Christians Giving Generously: https://chatgpt.com/share/672d3ab4-5278-8012-8aa0-b9035d10891f 

Feedback on Sermon: https://chatgpt.com/share/672d3a32-cd54-8012-a90c-290ffd2f6d8c