Bible Study Guide — The Spirit of Giving
Bible reading
Read Matthew 2:1–12 (ESV) together aloud
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,
2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Observation questions (read Matthew 2 first)
- What sequence of actions do the Magi take when they find the child (notice their attitude and what they do after they see the star)?
- What three gifts do the Magi open from their treasure chest, and how does the passage describe their response when they see the child?
- The teaching defined the Spirit of giving as “God’s love initiates; we respond.” Where is that truth pictured in the Christmas story—who moves first and how do the others respond? [46:07]
- The statement “The world of the generous gets larger and larger” was used to describe results of generous living. What concrete outcomes were named that show this enlargement? [53:02]
Interpretation questions (third-person, specific)
- If “gold” represents a fully surrendered heart, how would a surrendered heart change the way a person organizes daily priorities and long-term plans? [01:03:51]
- If “frankincense” stands for costly, Spirit-lit worship rather than merely singing, what differences would that make to a person’s regular spiritual practices (prayer, attendance, service, speech)? [01:07:02]
- If “myrrh” is the gift of bringing pain and loss to Jesus, what does it imply about God’s willingness and ability to enter into our suffering? Why is offering the myrrh necessary for healing? [01:12:00]
- The claim “you can’t give what you haven’t received” describes a pattern (receive → overflow → give). How does that change the motivation and sustainability of generosity compared with giving from duty or obligation? [46:07]
Application questions (personal and concrete)
- Identify one recent way God has given to you (grace, joy, provision, time, a gift). How could that specific gift become the source of generosity toward someone else this week? [46:07]
- Make a list of what you think is in the “treasure chest” of your life (time, money, relationships, talents). Which single item is hardest for you to surrender, and what is one concrete step you will take this week to offer that to Jesus? [01:03:51]
- Name one practical, costly act of worship you could offer in the next seven days (an extra hour of prayer, fasting, serving someone, a written note of thanks, a sacrificial gift). When will you do it and how will you report back to the group? [01:07:02]
- What specific pain, loss, or disappointment have you been carrying that you can bring to Jesus this week? How will you physically lay it down (a time of focused prayer, sharing with a trusted friend, asking for prayer ministry)? [01:12:00]
- Consider the idea that generosity enlarges your world. What is one concrete way you can participate in expanding kingdom reach (local campus project, prison ministry, community outreach, serving children or youth)? Commit to one action and set a date. [53:02]
- Reflect honestly on your pattern of giving: do you regularly return a tithe, give above it, or seldom give? What is the smallest, realistic next step you could take toward faithful giving by the end of this month? [55:52]
Use this guide to help the group read the passage, notice the actions and gifts of the Magi, interpret what gold/frankincense/myrrh mean for the heart, worship and pain, and then choose one concrete step toward fuller surrender and generosity this week.
