Introduction & Contents





Introduction

This is a five week set of Bible readings for your personal devotions. The theme is ‘generous God, generous people’, or more simply, our calling as stewards of all that God has given us. Details of the materials and a full PDF download are linked below.

 Each week tackles one aspect of the overall theme. Each day follows the same simple format of a reading, the main verse, a brief reflection followed by a response to consider, a passage for further study and a simple prayer. You might want to have a notebook with you to record your own reflections and responses to the questions and actions.

 The fives themes are:
  1. Generous God 
  2. Generous people
  3. Generous giving
  4. Generosity towards others
  5. Principles for generous people to live by
At the end of each week you might want to spend a little time reflecting on what you have learned.
  • Which themes or issues made a special impact on you?
  • What challenged you and perhaps made you uncomfortable? 
  • What excited you?• What will you do as a result of this?
  • How does this affect your attitude to your faith, the church, those around you?
This is a brief introduction to get us thinking about how we can be responsible and faithful disciples in a challenging world.

 The daily readings will be posted on this site daily (except Sundays) from the day after Ash Wednesday (6th March). If you subscribe by email they will also be forwarded to you.

 Enjoy your reading and prayer and may
God richly bless you.

Contents

Week 1: Generous God
1 John 3:11-21 Amazing love
2 Romans 8:31-39 Nothing can separate us from the love of God
3 Deuteronomy 8:5-20 Obedient children
4 Matthew 6:25-34 God the provider
5 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 All things come from God
6 Psalm 34:1-22 Nothing shall I lack
7 Isaiah 55:6-11 A right way up world

Week 2: Generous people
8 Romans 11:33-12:8 Offer yourselves to God
9 Haggai 1:1-11 The purse with holes
10 Proverbs 11:24-28 God’s economics
11 Matthew 6:19-24 What are you saving for?
12 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 God loves a cheerful giver
13 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 The love of money
14 Mark 12:41-44 One person’s small gift is everything they have

Week 3: Generous giving
15 Proverbs 3:5-12 Trust God
16 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Regular and proportional giving
17 Deuteronomy 14:22-29 Set apart for God
18 Matthew 23:1-23 What is important?
19 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 Rich generosity
20 Malachi 3:8-10 Robbing God
21 Psalm 24:1-10 Stewards of the environment

Week 4: Generosity towards others
22 Deuteronomy 24:10-22 Rights and responsibilities
23 1 John 3:11-23 Love one another
24 James 1:19-27 Pure and undefiled religion
25 Deuteronomy 15:7-11 Do not be hard-hearted
26 Amos 5:6-15 The results of injustice
27 Matthew 25:14-30 Invest wisely
28 Matthew 25:31-46 Caring for all

Week 5: Principles for generous people to live by
29 Luke 16:1-14 How shall I earn my money?
30 Luke 12:16-21 Spending priorities
31 Matthew 22:15-22 Citizens of heaven and earth
32 Acts 4:32-37 Generous giving
33 Proverbs 21:1-8 Saving for the future
34 Hebrews 13:5-6, 15-16 A godly life
35 1 Peter 4:7-11 Good stewards
A PDF of the series, with all the reflections is available here.

Acknowledgements

Scripture, unless otherwise indicated, taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™.  Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.™.  All rights reserved worldwide. 
“NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.
Material copyright St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Board of Finance 2017.

 The original material provided by Diocese St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.
http://www.cofesuffolk.org//stewardship/generous-god-generous-people




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Introduction

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This is a five week set of Bible readings for your personal devotions. The theme is ‘generous God, generous people’, or more simply, our calling as stewards of all that God has given us. Each week tackles one aspect of the overall theme. Each day follows the same simple format of a reading, the main verse, a brief reflection followed by a response to consider, a passage for further study and a simple prayer.  You might want to have a notebook with you to record your own reflections and responses to the questions and actions.  The fives themes are:  Generous God  Generous people  Generous giving  Generosity towards others  Principles for generous people to live by . At the end of each week you might want to spend a little time reflecting on what you have learned.  Which themes or issues made a special impact on you?  What challenged you and perhaps made you uncomfortable?  What excited you?  What will you do as a result of this?  How does this affect your attitude t
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