Discussion Questions
John D. Martin frames the Jubilee commands (Leviticus 25) as God’s built-in “check” on human accumulation because “the land belonged to him and… everything belonged to him”; what does this reveal about God’s intentions for how his people relate to property, security, and “equal opportunities”? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If God says the land and everything on it belongs to him, what does that say about how his people should think about owning things, feeling secure, and giving others a fair chance?
The speaker connects Sabbath rest to “withdrawing from the material to think about the reality of God”; what practices in your life (or church culture) actually function as that kind of material “backing away,” and what practices pretend to but don’t? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What do you do (personally or as a church) that really helps you step back from stuff and focus on God, like Sabbath rest? What things look spiritual but don’t actually do that?
Jesus’ command “Don’t lay up treasures on earth” is presented as uniquely explained because wealth is “the one great rival against Jesus”; where do you see mammon functioning as a rival “god” in your own thinking, and what evidence would expose that rivalry? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Where do you see money acting like a “rival god” to Jesus in your own mind? What signs would prove it’s competing for your trust and love?
The speaker rejects the move, “I have all this stuff, but my heart’s not there,” saying instead, “Show me your pile of stuff, and that’s where your heart is going to be”; if your group audited one another’s “pile” (housing, vehicles, hobbies, vacations, savings), what uncomfortable conclusions might you be forced to draw about your hearts? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If your group looked at each other’s “pile of stuff” (home, car, hobbies, trips, savings), what might it reveal about what you really love most?
He argues that Christianity is often defined by morals (don’t lie, cheat, fornicate) but God is deeply concerned with values (what is important), and he points to Hebrews 11 as a chapter about values more than morals; how would your discipleship priorities change if you treated “values formation” as central to faith rather than an optional add-on? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If following Jesus was more about shaping what you value (not just avoiding big sins), how would that change what you focus on in discipleship?
In the possessions context, Jesus’ words “The light of the body is the eye” are taken to mean wealth distorts vision so people “will not see afar off”; what decisions (personal or congregational) have you seen shaped by short-term, material “near-sightedness,” and what would “seeing afar off” require instead? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Where have you seen people (or a church) make choices based on short-term comfort or money? What would it take to think farther ahead instead?
The speaker ties “You cannot serve God and mammon” to worship as “worthship,” claiming passion reveals what you truly value; if someone assessed your worship by your strongest passions (money, vacations, pleasures, comfort), what would they conclude you actually “worship,” and how do you know? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If someone judged your worship by what you get most excited about (money, travel, fun, comfort), what would they say you truly worship? What makes you think that’s true?
He says the early-church vision should produce a community where “there should be no poor in the church… no rich… fluid assets,” citing 2 Corinthians 8:15; what would have to change structurally in your congregation for resources to become truly “fluid” rather than privately controlled? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What would your church need to change so money and resources can move quickly to help people, instead of staying mostly in private control?
Responding to “the poor you will always have” and “if anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat,” he shifts the focus from solving global need to “what are we doing with our resources”; how does that reframe challenge common Christian defenses for staying affluent while feeling compassionate? JumpstartAnother way to ask: How does focusing on “what am I doing with my resources” challenge the usual reasons Christians give for staying wealthy while still feeling caring?
The speaker criticizes “theological gymnastics” that limit Jesus’ economic commands (e.g., “sell your stuff was only for the rich man,” or flipping “where your treasure is…”), and he points to Luke 12:33 (“Sell that you have and give alms”) as spoken to the disciples; what specific rationalizations do you personally use to avoid Jesus’ plain words, and what concrete act of obedience would dismantle those rationalizations this month? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What excuses do you use to explain away Jesus’ clear commands about money and giving? What specific step of obedience could you take this month that would break those excuses?