Out of Their Abundance

Fellowship – Snacks or a meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “Share a time when you witnessed or experienced someone giving generously out of their abundance or scarcity. How did it impact you or others around you?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Mark 12:38-44.

• What do the scribes like to do according to Mark 12:38-40?

I grew up as a Buddhist in Japan, where less than one percent of the population is Christian. When I was around five years old, I saw a TV cartoon where a boy and girl went into a book and spent time with a special person. Later, I discovered that the book was the Bible, and the special person was Jesus. I remember one episode was on today’s scripture, and I recall vividly that the story was confusing to me as a small child. I was upset, “Of course, getting more than less is better. What this guy (Jesus) is saying does not make sense!” After my baptism as a young adult, I finally understood what Jesus was trying to explain to his disciples.”

• Why do you think Jesus emphasizes the widow’s offering as more significant than the larger sums the wealthy gave? What does this reveal about Jesus' values?

Reflect on how "giving out of abundance" instead of "giving out of scarcity" applies to you. How might this principle influence how you approach your giving, whether of time, resources, or talents?

“Christ calls us to dig deep. To go beyond the surface, deeper than easy answers, beneath the comfort and confidence that all is right with the world. This truth invites us to dig deep into our attitude for giving and to realize that sometimes, like the widow, all we have is not enough, but more than enough. And by giving up what we think we can’t live without; we find a freedom to truly live. God will bless that response.” (Nov. 10 Preaching Notes)

• How can we, as a small group or church community, create opportunities to practice and encourage the kind of selfless giving exemplified by the widow? What steps could we take to foster an environment of true generosity?
• What steps will you take daily to live out what you learned from this scripture? How can you give in a way that genuinely reflects your faith and trust in God?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). Pray the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

Gracious God, we thank You for the example of the widow who gave all she had out of her deep faith in You. Help us follow her example, giving not just from our abundance but from our whole hearts. May our actions reflect Your love and generosity, and may we be ever mindful of ways we can serve others with sincerity and humility. Amen.

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Discipleship Ministries staff created this small-group resource with assistance from AI tools.