Module 6: Generosity — Meeting 2
Meeting 2
DISCUSS the disciple’s experience with the Addiction Inventory. It will be helpful to have the resource available for reference. This is a great opportunity to practice confession with your disciple and discipler. Be sure to trust them, listen intently, and don’t be quick to fix things. Be open, honest, and loving.
1. What was most revealing about this exercise?
2. What issues, addictions, destructive habits, baggage, or sin cycles did the inventory reveal?
3. The disciple should be able to answer these questions with the discipler’s help:
What “has” you?
Why does it have you? (How did this addiction come about)
How does this rob you from living a generous life of freedom?
Can you imagine life without it? What would be the positive changes in your life if you were to be free from it?
4. Is the disciple willing and ready to take a step to cut ties with the behavior or sin cycle and take an action step toward freedom this week?
Discussion
Questions
Decide on the step and make a plan on how to tackle it. If you’re in need of some resources for particular struggles or addictions that surfaced during your conversation, check out this list below to get started:
Extra Resources
1. Chemical & Substance Abuse (Drugs & Alcohol)
• Local Recovery Groups (Ransom Recovery, Celebrate
• Recovery, local church ministries, AA, etc)
2. Finances
• Financial Peace University ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/financial-peace
• Ron Blue Institute http://www.ronblueinstitute.com
3. Eating habits & issues
• glowapproach.com
4. Co-dependency (Overly relying on others)
• Local recovery groups (Ransom Recovery, Celebrate
• Recovery, local church ministries)
5. Grief & loss
• Grief Share https://www.griefshare.org
• Divorce Care https://www.divorcecare.org
6. Emotional Baggage (Depression, Anger, Self-Image)
• To Write Love On Her Arms twloha.com
7. Sexual Addiction (porn, relationships, etc)
8. Media (Social Media, Cell Phones, TV)
• Screen Time features on iPhones & Android devices
ASSIGNMENT: Watch the video, Giving to Your Local Church, below. Return to your next meeting ready to discuss it with your discipler.
Giving to Your Local Church by Phil Wiseman. Videography by Jake Thurston.
Why Freedom Comes Before Generosity
It may seem odd that a module on generosity spends so much time on addictions and destructive habits. But Jesus taught that "no one can serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). Whatever "has" us — a substance, a screen, spending, approval, food, work — quietly competes for the time, money and attention we could give to God and others. When something holds our hearts, generosity becomes almost impossible. Freedom opens our hands.
The Addiction Inventory is not meant to shame anyone. Almost everyone discovers something that has more influence over them than they would like. The goal of this meeting is to name it honestly, understand it and take one practical step toward freedom.
How to Talk About the Inventory Well
For the disciple
Share what you are ready to share. You do not need to have every answer about why a habit formed or how to break it. Simply naming the struggle out loud to a trusted friend is a significant step. James 5:16 reminds us that confession and prayer bring healing.
For the discipler
Listen more than you speak. Resist the urge to fix things quickly or to minimise the struggle. Thank your disciple for their honesty, pray with them and help them choose one realistic next step. Share, if appropriate, how God has helped you with a stubborn habit of your own.
Choosing One Step Toward Freedom
Big change usually begins with small, concrete steps. Here are examples disciples often choose:
Tell one more trusted person about the struggle.
Attend a local recovery group such as Celebrate Recovery or a church ministry for a month.
Set app limits or use the Screen Time features on your phone.
Remove easy access to a trigger: unsubscribe, delete, cancel or avoid.
Create a simple budget and track spending for 30 days.
Replace a habit with a healthy alternative, such as a walk, a call to a friend or a short prayer.
Book an appointment with a counsellor or doctor.
Write the step down, decide when you will take it and agree on how your discipler will check in.
Where to Find More Help
The resource list in this meeting names organisations for different struggles. Some links may change over time, so when in doubt, search for the organisation’s name or ask your pastor for local recommendations. For substance abuse, serious depression, eating disorders or thoughts of self-harm, please reach out to a medical professional or a local crisis line right away. Discipleship is a powerful support, but it is not a substitute for professional care.
Looking Ahead
Freedom makes room for generosity. In Meeting 3, you will discuss giving to your local church and what it means to be a cheerful giver.
Continue the Pathway — You are in Module 6: Generosity, Meeting 2 of 4. Previous: Meeting 1 — Addiction Inventory. Next: Meeting 3 — Giving to Your Church. Every essay, worksheet and video for this module is collected on the Module 6 resources page.