Group Study Guide: "Are You Giving God the Bare Minimum?”

Icebreaker Question: When have you given your "all" to something you were passionate about? What motivated that level of commitment?

Key Scripture References
* 2 Corinthians 13:5
* Malachi 1:6-13
* Matthew 23:23
* Matthew 20:1-16 (Laborers in the Vineyard)
* Deuteronomy 6:5

Summary of Main Points
1. Biblical Self-Assessment: We are commanded to examine ourselves spiritually—self-administered, Savior-centered, and self-graded.
2. Wrong Approaches to Assessment:
* Law-keeping/merit-based perspective
* Finding and meeting the minimum requirement
3. What God Actually Wants: Our heart—not just our actions, but our desire to serve Him willingly.
4. The Bare Minimum of Christianity: Paradoxically, it's "ALL"—all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Discussion Questions
Section 1: Self-Examination
Q1: Eric mentions that spiritual assessment should be "self-administered." Why is it important that we examine ourselves rather than constantly comparing ourselves to others?
Q2: Read 2 Corinthians 13:5. What does it mean to "test yourselves to see if you are in the faith"? What are some practical ways to do this?
Q3: Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "Is it Sunday already?" or "I have to go to church"? What does that reveal about the condition of our hearts?
Section 2: The Heart Issue
Q4: The sermon emphasizes that God has always wanted our hearts, not just our compliance. How is this different from a "checklist Christianity?"
Q5: In Malachi 1, God rejected the Israelites' sacrifices even though they were technically offering something. What was the real problem? How might we fall into the same trap today?
Q6: Discuss this statement: "What we think of the Master determines what we do for the Master." How does our view of God affect our service to Him?
Section 3: The Parable of the Laborers
Q7: In Matthew 20:1-16, what stands out to you about the landowner's character? What does this reveal about God?
Q8: The sermon points out that there's no "foreman with a clipboard" in the parable. Why is this significant? How do we sometimes try to become that foreman for others?
Q9: The laborers who worked all day complained about fairness. When have you found yourself measuring your service against others? What's the danger in this?
Section 4: Christianity as Action
Q10: The sermon lists many action-oriented aspects of Christianity (soldier, athlete, farmer, body member, family member). Which metaphor resonates most with you right now? Why?
Q11: How do we balance the truth that salvation is by grace through faith with the expectation of active, abundant service?
Q12: Eric ended the sermon by saying if we're not giving Jesus our "all," we're not even meeting the bare minimum. How does this challenge your current approach to faith?

Key Takeaways
✓ Self-examination is biblical and necessary for spiritual health and growth.
✓ God wants our hearts, not just our compliance. Actions without heart devotion are unacceptable to God.
✓ Seeking the "bare minimum" is the wrong approach to a relationship with God.
✓ Christianity is inherently active—it's a life of labor motivated by love and gratitude.
✓ The true "bare minimum" of Christianity is everything—all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
✓ God already knows our hearts; self-examination helps us recognize what He already sees.

Practical Applications
This Week, I Will:
Option 1: Heart Check - Set aside 30 minutes this week for honest self-examination. Ask yourself:
* Am I serving God out of obligation or love?
* What does my schedule reveal about my priorities?
* Where am I seeking the "minimum acceptable" rather than giving my best?
Option 2: Gratitude Reset - Make a list of everything Christ has done for you. Spend time in a prayer of specific thanksgiving to God. Let gratitude reshape your motivation for service.
Option 3: All-In Assessment - Identify one area where you've been holding back from God (time, resources, talents, relationships). Take one concrete step this week to give that area fully to Him.
Option 4: Serve From Love - Choose one act of service this week (for church or community) and do it with intentional focus on doing it as service to God, not for recognition or obligation.

Reflection Questions for Personal Journaling
1. If Jesus were to examine my heart today, what would He find regarding my motivation for serving Him?
2. Where have I been trying to "fool" God or others about my level of commitment?
3. What would it look like for me to give God my "all" in this season of life?
4. What barriers (fear, pride, selfishness, busyness) keep me from wholehearted devotion?

Closing Exercise
Silent Reflection: Give each person 2-3 minutes of silence to honestly answer this question: "On a scale of 1-10, how much of my heart am I truly giving to God right now?"
Pair & Share: In groups of 2-3, share (as comfortable):
* One area where you know you need to give God more
* One way the group can pray for you this week
Group Prayer: Close by praying for one another, asking God to:
* Reveal any areas where hearts have grown cold or complacent
* Renew passion and love for Christ
* Give strength to serve Him wholeheartedly
* Help the group see Him as the good Master He is

For Next Week
Reading Assignment: Read through the book of Malachi, paying special attention to God's heart for His people and their half-hearted worship.
Memory Verse: "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." — Deuteronomy 6:5

Leader Notes
* This topic can bring conviction. Make it comfortable for your class to speak honestly without judgment.
* Be prepared to share your own struggles with half-hearted service.
* Emphasize grace—God's desire for our hearts comes from love, not legalism.
* If someone is struggling with assurance of salvation, be ready to point them to the promises of Scripture and possibly follow up individually.
* Keep the focus on heart transformation, not just behavior modification.

5-Day Devotional: Beyond the Bare Minimum

Day 1: The Heart God Seeks
Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Matthew 22:34-40

Devotional: God doesn't want a performance—He wants our hearts. Throughout Scripture, from Moses to Jesus, the message remains consistent: love the Lord with ALL your heart, soul, and might. The Pharisees brought their tithes perfectly but neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. They gave God religious activity while withholding their hearts. Today, examine your spiritual life honestly. Are you going through motions or genuinely loving God? He sees beyond our Sunday attendance and public prayers into the secret places of our hearts. The bare minimum in Christianity isn't a checklist—it's everything. When we truly love God, service becomes joy rather than obligation. Ask yourself: Does my heart belong completely to Him?

Day 2: Working in His Vineyard
Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

Devotional: The parable of the laborers reveals something profound about God's kingdom: He's looking for workers, not excuse-makers or minimalists. Notice the master never outlined production quotas or compared workers' output. He simply said, "Go work in my vineyard." Some want to know exactly how much is required so they can do just enough. But Christianity isn't about finding the lowest acceptable standard—it's about grateful service for the One who gave everything. The master was kind, just, and generous, protecting workers from comparison and competition. Your labor isn't measured against others but flows from your relationship with the Master. Stop asking "How little can I do?" and start asking "How can I serve Him today?" Work while it is day (John 9:4).

Day 3: The Pollution of Half-Hearted Worship
Reading: Malachi 1:6-14; Isaiah 1:11-17

Devotional: God confronted Israel with piercing questions: "Where is my honor? Where is my fear?" They brought offerings, attended assemblies, and performed rituals—but their hearts were far from Him. They offered blind, lame, and sick animals while keeping the best for themselves. God called it pollution and contempt. Today, we can fall into the same trap: attending worship while mentally checked out, giving leftovers instead of first fruits, serving with resentment rather than joy. God isn't fooled by external compliance when our hearts are elsewhere. He asks, "Would you offer this to your governor?" Our worship reflects what we truly think of God. Examine your offerings today: time, attention, resources, service. Are you giving God your best or your leftovers?

Day 4: Examine Yourselves
Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:5; Hebrews 4:12-13

Devotional: Paul's command to "examine yourselves" isn't about legalistic scorekeeping—it's about honest spiritual assessment. You can deceive others and even yourself, but God knows your heart completely. Everything is "open and naked" before Him. The frightening reality is that someone can attend services, participate in activities, and still fail the test because Christ isn't truly in them. This self-examination isn't to produce fear but awareness. God already knows where you stand; the question is, do you? Look in the mirror of God's Word (James 1:25) honestly. Is your faith genuine or performance? Is Christ truly living in you, transforming your desires, or are you just going through motions? Don't wait until judgment to discover the truth. Test yourself today while there's time to change.

Day 5: The "All" That God Requires
Reading: Luke 9:23-26; Romans 12:1-2

Devotional: Christianity does have a bare minimum, and it's summed up in three letters: ALL. Jesus demands all your heart, all your relationships, all of yourself. He said, "Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me." Paul urged believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices—your whole self, not percentages or portions. This isn't burdensome legalism; it's the only reasonable response to a Savior who gave everything for you. Jesus didn't calculate the bare minimum that He could suffer and still save you. He gave all—His life, His blood, His death. When we truly grasp what He's done, the question changes from "How little can I give?" to "How can I possibly give enough?" Today, surrender everything. Stop holding back areas of your life. The Christian who gives anything less than all hasn't even reached the bare minimum.