Financial Hope Workshop

Schedule

Week 1 -- Introduction -- September 6 Week 2 -- Developing a Budget -- September 13 Week 3 -- Dealing with Debt -- September 20 Week 4 -- Lifestyle Choices -- September 27 Week 5 -- Refining the Budget -- October 4 Week 6 -- Saving -- October 11 Week 7 -- Improving Financial Decisions -- October 18 Week 8 -- Looking Forward -- November 1

Week 1 Introduction What you can expect from this class

Learn what God says about financial management Surrender ownership and control of your finances Receive the tools to become financially free Achieve peace in your finances

The Current Reality

Financial problems severely stressing marriages Debt is destroying lives & increasing depression More things - less happiness Financial stress building dangerously Low self-worth fueled by financial problems

How would your life be different if you were debt free and able to save money?
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What is keeping you from living a stress free financial life?

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Four Steps to Financial Freedom 1. Commit to a lifestyle below your income 2. Construct and live by a balanced budget 3. Add no new debt shrink current debt 4. Save money The Culture wants you to believe Things bring happiness Debt is expected and normal Your self-worth is defined by your possessions You deserve to have more The Rules of the Culture drive us to Buy now pay later I deserve it! My neighbor has it, I need it Live for today ignore tomorrow Ill have more money in the future What we believe Im not good with money I dont have time Im just not disciplined I dont need a budget I know what I spend I have no discretionary money just for bills I dont make enough money to have a budget

Thoughts: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

Which Master controls your life?

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two master. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both
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God and Money.

Dont be greedy
Luke 12:15 Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.

Live today with eternity in mind

Matthew 6:19-20 "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves.

Be honest and trustworthy

Luke 16:10-11 Unless you are faithful in small matters, you wont be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you wont be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?

Know that God loves you

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds. They dont need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.

The First Big Step Toward Financial Freedom Tracking Expenses

Single best thing you can do to control spending
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Accept this as a normal daily activity Keep forms in a convenient place Capture expenses as incurred and record every day Keep it simple o Combine small categories o Use cash

Table Activity

Using the Transaction Register Forms enter the following amounts in their respective categories

Romans 12:2
Think - Dont copy the behavior and the customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Actions Then you will know what God wants you to do Results you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

Group Interaction Three Circles concept

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Financial Hope Workshop Participant Guidelines

The entire Generous Life Team is working hard to make this workshop experience as beneficial and helpful to you as possible. We are committing to pray for you, to point you toward the biblical, godly way of handling money, to come along beside you as you learn and to cheer you on! To do that, however, we need your help in ensuring that you have every possible advantage in moving toward financial freedom. We believe your support for and embracing of some basic workshop and table guidelines will help you get the most from this experience. These are the elements we have found that create the most positive and successful table experience for participants and we encourage you to give it your best shot as we commit to give it ours! Keep you leaders information handy and allow them to help you toward the goal of financial freedom. Leader name ____________________ Phone ___________ Email ____________________ Leader name ____________________ Phone ___________ Email ____________________ Participant Guidelines for Success There will be a direct relationship between the amount of time and effort you put into this workshop and the degree of success you achieve! Work to do your best to move your budget forward each week and take your homework seriously. Please do everything you can to arrive a few minutes early so we can start on time. Let your leader know in advance if you will have to miss a session. Table confidentiality for all participants is a must! What is discussed at the table stays at the table. You will not be forced to share any of your financial information if you do not want to. The degree you disclose your situation is entirely up to you, however, the more you allow your leaders to come along side you the better the learning

experience. Anything you share with your leaders will remain strictly confidential. Dont leave God out of the process. Pray often that He will help you on your journey to financial freedom. God does not want us to live in financial bondage and distress! Be as involved as possible in the table discussion. Learning is enhanced with participation. Be aware of the need to allow everyone a chance to talk and contribute. Avoid the situation where one person dominates the table discussion and causes the group to become out of balance. Maintain a positive, hopeful and constructive attitude. This will accelerate your financial growth and improvement. Be respectful of others at your table in the way you would want to be respected. Expect a call from your table leader each week to keep the lines of communication open. Let your leaders know the best times to call and what number you want them to use. Be open to allowing your leaders to monitor your progress each week in developing your budget, tracking your expenses and creating a debt reduction plan. If you have specific questions during the week, you can email your leaders for a response. If your leader is unavailable, feel free to email the ministry team at stewardship@gatewaypeople.com. Understand that your table leaders will not give you specific financial advice regarding investments, insurance, mortgages, credit card companies, etc. These areas are best left to financial professionals. It is a policy of the Generous Life ministry and Gateway Church that leaders will not engage a ministry participant in a business relationship as a result of a contact made in this workshop. Prepare to spend the first part of each session reviewing what has been accomplished and updating the things you are working on. Make sure you have your budget materials with you to update and modify during each session. Support your leaders in their desire to help you. Have some fun in the process! Remember, the single best thing you can do to improve your financial situation is to write down accurately what you spend on a daily basis. Make a commitment to create that habit and watch how it begins to change your financial life! It is important to leave here recognizing that this workshop is only the start of a life long financial adventure. There are no quick fixes, but many people in your situation have found success by being committed, remaining consistent 10

with the budget and being faithful in using the tools and principles learned in this workshop!

We are so glad you are here! Participant signature _______________________________________ Participant spouse signature ________________________________

Homework 1. Write down everything you spend each day 2. Record expenses to the Expense Tracking Worksheet 3. Gather your monthly bills for the last few months 4. Next week bring your check register and pay stubs 5. Spend time in prayer asking God to guide you 6. Memorize the verse of the week and be ready to recite it next week

I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip

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Psalm 121:1-3

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