Timeless Ten: Do Not Steal

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Thou Shalt Not Steal: Don't Steal, Work Hard, Be Generous

Big Idea: Don't steal from God or others. Work hard so you can be generous.

Session Overview
Welcome and Opening Prayer (5 minutes)
Scripture Readings (10 minutes)
Discussion Topic 1: Why Do We Steal? (10 minutes)
Discussion Topic 2: Don't Steal, Be Honest (10 minutes)
Discussion Topic 3: Work Hard (8 minutes)
Discussion Topic 4: Be Generous (10 minutes)
Follow Up Exercise (4 minutes)
Closing Prayer (3 minutes)

Welcome and Opening Prayer (5 minutes)
Leader: Welcome everyone. Tonight we are looking at the eighth commandment, "You shall not steal." Most of us probably don't think of ourselves as thieves, but God's Word goes much deeper than taking what isn't ours. It speaks to our trust, our work, and our generosity. Let's open in prayer.

Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing us together tonight. Thank You that You are our Provider and that every good thing we have comes from Your hand. As we open Your Word, give us honest hearts. Show us the places where we have taken what was not ours, whether from others or from You. Help us to listen well, speak openly, and leave changed. Transform us by Your grace so that we become people who are honest, hardworking, and generous. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Scripture Readings (10 minutes)
Invite different group members to read each passage aloud.
Exodus 20:15
"You shall not steal."
Romans 13:9
"For this, 'You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Ephesians 4:28 (Key Verse)
"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."
Proverbs 10:2
"Ill-gotten gains do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death."
Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."
Malachi 3:8-10
"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed."
Proverbs 3:9-10
"Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine."
Luke 6:38
"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

Discussion Topic 1: Why Do We Steal? (10 minutes)
Leader Notes: The Hebrew word for steal is ganab. It means to thieve, to deceive, to carry away, or to get by stealth. At its core, stealing is gaining something at someone else's expense. The message gave three root reasons we steal: a lack of trust in God, selfishness and pride, and sin and greed. A key thought to remember is this: how you handle the little things is how you'll handle everything.
Questions

1. Stealing was defined as "gaining something at someone else's expense." How does that definition broaden the way you think about this commandment?
2. What are some subtle or socially acceptable ways people steal today? Think about time, credit, ideas, honesty at work, or taking advantage of mistakes in our favor.
3. Of the three root causes (lack of trust in God, selfishness and pride, sin and greed), which one do you think drives most dishonesty in our culture? Which one do you personally wrestle with most?
4. Romans 13:9 says the commandments are summed up in loving your neighbor as yourself. How is stealing ultimately a failure to love?
5. "How you handle the little thing is how you'll handle everything." Where have you seen this play out in your life or in someone else's?

Discussion Topic 2: Don't Steal, Be Honest (10 minutes)
Leader Notes: In the United States, retail theft totals about 112 billion dollars a year, with shoplifting accounting for roughly 45 billion and employee theft making up around 30 percent of total retail loss. Proverbs 10:2 reminds us that ill-gotten gains do not profit. The message gave five steps for what we do about it: we recognize the sinful nature, we repent of selfishness, we do life in true Christian community, we are transformed by Jesus, and we trust the provision of God.
Questions

1. What stands out to you about the statistics on retail and employee theft? What do they reveal about the human heart?
2. Proverbs 10:2 says ill-gotten gains do not profit. Have you ever seen something gained dishonestly end up costing more than it was worth?
3. Why is it important to first recognize our sinful nature rather than simply try harder to be good?
4. How does true Christian community help us live honestly? What would it look like for this group to help one another in this area?
5. Trusting God's provision is listed as a remedy for stealing. How does believing God will provide remove the temptation to take?

Discussion Topic 3: Work Hard (8 minutes)
Leader Notes: Ephesians 4:28 does not just tell the thief to stop stealing. It tells him to start working. God replaces a destructive habit with a productive one. One quote from the message said, "It's easier to find talent than work ethic." Colossians 3:23 reminds us that our work is ultimately for the Lord. And the purpose of our work is not just to provide for ourselves. We work so we can be generous.
Questions

1. Why do you think Paul's answer to stealing is not only "stop" but also "work"?
2. "It's easier to find talent than work ethic." Do you agree? Why do you think a strong work ethic is so rare?
3. How would your attitude toward your job, your home responsibilities, or your service at church change if you truly worked as for the Lord and not for people?
4. Is it possible to "steal" through poor work, such as wasted time, half effort, or cutting corners? How so?
5. How does knowing that we work so we can be generous change the purpose behind a paycheck?

Discussion Topic 4: Be Generous (10 minutes)
Leader Notes: The message made a bold statement: if we won't work hard and be generous, God suggests we are stealing from Him. Malachi 3:8-9 asks, "Will a man rob God?" Withholding generosity is a biblical definition of robbing God. The average Christian gives about 2.6 percent of household income, down from 3.2 percent in 2021. Yet Malachi 3:10 is the one place God says "test Me in this." A.W. Tozer said, "What we hold loosely, God multiplies eternally." Charles Spurgeon said, "You cannot outgive God." Among major philanthropists, 98 percent cite personal values as a primary driver of their giving, and 95 percent cite their faith as the driver of those values. Generosity is the overflow of a heart transformed by grace. We are Kingdom Builders, not Wealth Builders. Generosity is a joyful action, not an amount. One practical step from the message: before paying the first bill of the month, prioritize giving, honoring God with the first and not the leftovers (Proverbs 3:9-10). And remember, generosity equals souls. Our giving helps people come to know Jesus.
Questions

1. How did you react to the idea that withholding generosity is a form of robbing God? Is that a new thought for you?
2. Why do you think Christian giving has been declining? What fears or pressures keep people from giving?
3. Malachi 3:10 is a rare invitation where God says "test Me." Have you ever stepped out in faith with your giving and seen God provide? Share if you feel comfortable.
4. Tozer said, "What we hold loosely, God multiplies eternally." What are you holding too tightly right now? It may be money, time, talents, or possessions.
5. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says God loves a cheerful giver. What is the difference between giving cheerfully and giving grudgingly? How do we move from one to the other?
6. What would it look like for you to give first, before the first bill of the month, instead of giving from what's left over?
7. What does it mean to be a Kingdom Builder rather than a Wealth Builder? How does the idea that "generosity equals souls" change how you view your giving?

Follow Up Exercise (4 minutes)
Leader: This week, take what we discussed and put it into practice with three simple steps based on our key verse.

1. Be Honest: Ask God to show you any area where you have taken something that isn't yours, whether time, credit, money, or effort. If needed, make it right this week through a confession, a repayment, or an apology.
2. Work Hard: Choose one task at work, at home, or in ministry and do it with excellence as if you were doing it directly for the Lord. Notice how it changes your attitude.
3. Be Generous: Before you pay your first bill this month, decide what you will give to God first. Then look for one person in need this week and meet that need with your time, resources, or encouragement.

Optional Group Challenge: Pair up with a partner from the group and check in with each other midweek with a text or call to encourage one another in these three steps.

Closing Prayer (3 minutes)
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word tonight. Thank You that You gave everything for us, holding nothing back. Forgive us for the times we have taken what was not ours, from others and from You. Forgive us for working halfheartedly and for holding tightly to what You have placed in our hands. Transform our hearts by Your grace. Make us honest people, hardworking people, and generous people. Help us to trust You as our Provider and to give first, give cheerfully, and give with faith. Let our generosity overflow so that others may come to know You. Make us Kingdom Builders and not Wealth Builders. Go with us this week. In Jesus' name, Amen.