Live Big, Give Big & Pray Like a Camel!
Sermon Resources
Sermon Summary
Title: "Live Big, Give Big & Pray Like a Camel"
Sermon Summary: This sermon explores James 5's teaching on wealth, poverty, and spiritual priorities, emphasizing that God desires our whole lives, not just our money. The message addresses both the wealthy (warning against hoarding and false security in riches) and the oppressed (encouraging patience and perseverance). Using Jesus's encounter with the rich young ruler and the metaphor of a camel going through the eye of a needle, the pastor illustrates how impossible it is to enter God's kingdom through human effort alone. The central call is to "live large and give large" while maintaining complete dependence on God through prayer, symbolized by a baby camel being led through a narrow gate—representing our need for God's guidance in surrendering our resources and lives to Him. The sermon emphasizes John Wesley's principle: "Earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can," while maintaining that possessions should never possess us.
Key Points:
- James addresses two groups: the oppressive rich and the oppressed poor, with different commands for each.
- The wealthy must wake up, change their life's purpose, and stop trusting in riches for peace and happiness.
- It's acceptable to have possessions as long as those possessions don't control you.
- John Wesley's three-fold principle: earn all you can (without harming body, soul, or neighbor), save all you can (avoiding unnecessary luxuries), and give all you can (using wealth for good).
- The poor and oppressed should work hard, be patient, remember judgment day, and not grumble against each other.
. - Wealth without generosity is hoarding, which God opposes.
- The greatest deception is believing that wealth and riches will bring true fulfillment and happiness.
- God wants our entire lives, not just our money—money is wrapped up in total surrender.
- Salvation requires believing in Christ's work on the cross, receiving the Holy Spirit, and daily surrendering (conceding) to God's will.
- We cannot save ourselves or control our spiritual transformation—it's impossible without God, like a camel going through the eye of a needle.
- We must pray like a baby camel—dependent, needing to be led and guided by our loving Father through the narrow way.
- Loving God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength necessarily includes how we handle money.
5-Day Personal Devotional
Day 1: The Hoax of Wealth
Reading: Matthew 19:16-26 (The Rich Young Ruler)
Devotional: The rich young ruler had everything—wealth, status, religious observance—yet felt an aching emptiness. His question, "What do I still lack?" reveals a universal truth: possessions cannot fill the God-shaped void in our hearts. Jesus didn't condemn his wealth but exposed where his treasure truly lay. When we cling to anything more tightly than we cling to God, we become prisoners of our own possessions. Like Leonardo da Vinci observed, our greatest deception comes from our own opinions about what will satisfy us. Today, ask yourself: What am I holding onto that might be holding onto me? God doesn't want just your money; He wants all of you—your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Reflection Question: What possession, relationship, or pursuit competes with God for first place in your life?
Day 2: The Impossible Made Possible
Reading: Luke 18:18-30
Devotional: "Who then can be saved?" the disciples asked in astonishment. Jesus' answer liberates us: "What is impossible with man is possible with God." We cannot save ourselves, purify our own hearts, or manufacture genuine transformation. Like a camel trying to squeeze through a needle's eye—or a baby camel being led through a narrow gate—we need divine intervention. This is why we believe what Christ did for us on the cross, receive His Spirit to change us from within, and daily concede control to His leading. We are all baby camels—wild, resistant, needing our loving Shepherd to guide, pull, and lead us through the narrow way. Salvation isn't about what we accomplish but about surrendering to what God accomplishes in us.
Reflection Question: Where in your life do you need to stop striving and start surrendering to God's leading?
Day 3: Earn, Save, Give
Reading: 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Devotional: John Wesley's timeless wisdom—"Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can"—provides a biblical framework for stewarding resources. Earn honestly without harming body, soul, or neighbor. Save wisely by avoiding unnecessary luxuries. Give generously, using wealth for the good of others and God's kingdom. James warns the rich not to hoard, reminding us that wealth without generosity opposes God's design. It's perfectly acceptable to have nice things as long as those things don't have you. The principle isn't about arbitrary limits on house size or car value, but about freedom—freedom to live large under God's reign and give large from His abundance. When God is first, generosity flows naturally.
Reflection Question: How can you apply Wesley's three principles to your current financial situation this week?
Day 4: Rich in Good Deeds
Reading: James 5:1-6; 1 Timothy 6:6-10
Devotional: James issues a sobering warning to those who hoard wealth: their riches will testify against them. But his message isn't merely condemnation—it's redirection. Be "rich in good deeds," he urges. The love of money, not money itself, is the root of evil. When we trust in riches for peace and happiness, we risk our souls' destiny. God designed us to depend on Him, not on our resources, influence, or self-sufficiency. The wealthy face a unique temptation to self-reliance, believing their accomplishments make them independent. Yet true wealth comes from generosity, from lives poured out in service to others. Whatever your income level, you can live big by making God your treasure and give big by sharing freely from what He's entrusted to you.
Reflection Question: In what specific ways can you be "rich in good deeds" this week, regardless of your financial situation?
Day 5: Praying Like a Baby Camel
Reading: John 6:37-44; Philippians 2:12-13
Devotional: "No one comes to the Father unless the Father draws them," Jesus declared. We are baby camels—unruly, resistant, needing to be led through the narrow gate. This isn't discouraging; it's liberating! We don't have to manufacture spiritual transformation through willpower alone. God Himself pulls us, guides us, and works in us "to will and to act according to His good purpose." Praying like a baby camel means acknowledging our dependence: "I need You, Lord. I'm not sure I want to go through this narrow way, but lead me." Whether it's stewarding money, surrendering control, or loving sacrificially, we cannot do it alone. But with God, all things are possible. Live big. Give big. Pray big—with the humility and dependence of a baby camel trusting its Shepherd.
Reflection Question: What area of your life needs you to pray with greater dependence, like a baby camel needing its shepherd?
Closing Prayer: Lord, we cannot do this on our own. Like baby camels, we need You to lead us through the narrow gate. Free us from the prison of possessions, pride, and self-reliance. Teach us to love You with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength—including our finances. Help us live large under Your kingdom, give large from Your abundance, and pray large with childlike dependence. May Your Spirit transform what is impossible for us into reality through Your amazing grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Small Group Guide: Live Large, Give Large, Pray Like a Camel
Opening Prayer
Begin your time together by praying for open hearts and minds to receive what God wants to teach you about generosity, trust, and dependence on Him.
Ice Breaker
Share one possession or resource you're most grateful for and why. How has it blessed your life or the lives of others?
Sermon Summary
This message from James 5 addresses both the wealthy and the poor, warning against putting trust in riches while encouraging believers to live generously, give freely, and pray with humble dependence on God—like a baby camel being led through a narrow gate by its shepherd.
Key Takeaways
1. Wealth is not evil, but loving it more than God is dangerous - Money can control us if we're not careful
2. John Wesley's three principles: Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can
3. It's okay to have things, as long as things don't have you - Freedom comes from proper priorities
4. The rich young ruler's story - He had everything but lacked the one thing: total surrender to God
5. We are like baby camels - We need God to lead us through the narrow way of stewardship and surrender
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Discussion Questions
Understanding the Text
1. Read James 5:1-6. Why do you think James uses such strong language ("weep and wail") when addressing the rich? What is the real danger he's warning against?
2. The sermon mentioned that Jesus gave different instructions to different people about wealth. Why do you think Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything, but didn't give that command to everyone?
3. What does it mean that "it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God"? How does understanding the "eye of the needle" as a small gate help us understand this passage?
Personal Reflection
4. Self-Assessment: On a scale of 1-10, how much do you think about money, possessions, or financial security? What does your answer reveal about where your trust really lies?
5. The sermon said, "The greatest deception men and women suffer are from their own opinions." Where might you be deceiving yourself about your relationship with money or possessions?
6. The Rich Young Ruler's Longing: He had everything but still felt something was missing. Have you ever experienced this? What was lacking, and how did you respond?
7. Think about John Wesley's three principles (earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can). Which of these three comes most naturally to you? Which is most challenging?
Going Deeper
8. What does it mean practically to "live large and give large"? How is this different from the world's definition of living large?
9. The sermon emphasized that God wants "all of us," not just our money. What areas of your life (besides finances) might God be asking you to surrender more fully to Him?
10. Praying like a baby camel: What does this image mean to you? How does it feel to acknowledge that we can't navigate stewardship (or life) without God leading us?
11. Read John 6:44 - "No one comes to the Father unless the Father drags them." How does this truth both humble us and give us hope when it comes to surrendering our finances to God?
The Poor and Oppressed
12. James also speaks to the poor and oppressed (James 5:7-11). What is his message to them? How does this balance the overall teaching on wealth?
13. Why do you think James warns the poor not to "grumble against each other"? What does this teach us about community, regardless of economic status?
Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge (Choose 1-2)
Option 1: Financial Inventory
- Take an honest look at your spending over the past month
- Identify areas where "things might have you" rather than you having them
- Ask God to reveal one area where you need to loosen your grip
Option 2: Generosity Experiment
- Identify one specific way you can "give large" this week (doesn't have to be money—could be time, resources, or talent)
- Do it without telling anyone except your accountability partner
- Journal about how it felt and what God revealed to you
Option 3: Prayer Like a Baby Camel
- Each day this week, pray specifically: "God, I can't do this on my own. Lead me through the narrow way of stewardship."
- Keep a list of specific areas where you need God's leading with your resources
- Share with the group next week what God showed you
Option 4: Wesley's Principles Assessment
- Evaluate your life against John Wesley's three principles:
- Earn all you can: Am I making a living without harming my body, soul, or neighbor?
- Save all you can: Am I avoiding unnecessary expenses and luxuries to have more to give?
- Give all you can: Am I ready to give, using my wealth for the good of others and the church?
- Write down one concrete action step for each principle
Option 5: Believe, Receive, Concede
- Reflect daily on the three-part framework from the sermon:
- Believe: What Christ did for you on the cross
- Receive: The Holy Spirit's work in you
- Concede/Surrender: Daily submission to God's will
- How does this apply to your relationship with money and possessions?
Group Activity
The Hoarding vs. Generosity Exercise
1. Have each person write down (privately) three things they find hardest to be generous with (could be money, time, possessions, talents, etc.)
2. Discuss as a group (without sharing specifics if uncomfortable): What makes these things hard to release? What fears come up?
3. Read together Matthew 6:19-21: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
4. Have each person share one small step they can take this week to move from hoarding to generosity in one area
Small Group Guide: Live Large, Give Large, Pray Like a Camel
Opening Prayer
Begin your time together by praying for open hearts and minds to receive what God wants to teach you about generosity, trust, and dependence on Him.
Ice Breaker
Share one possession or resource you're most grateful for and why. How has it blessed your life or the lives of others?
Sermon Summary
This message from James 5 addresses both the wealthy and the poor, warning against putting trust in riches while encouraging believers to live generously, give freely, and pray with humble dependence on God—like a baby camel being led through a narrow gate by its shepherd.
Key Takeaways
1. Wealth is not evil, but loving it more than God is dangerous - Money can control us if we're not careful
2. John Wesley's three principles: Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can
3. It's okay to have things, as long as things don't have you - Freedom comes from proper priorities
4. The rich young ruler's story - He had everything but lacked the one thing: total surrender to God
5. We are like baby camels - We need God to lead us through the narrow way of stewardship and surrender
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Text
1. Read James 5:1-6. Why do you think James uses such strong language ("weep and wail") when addressing the rich? What is the real danger he's warning against?
2. The sermon mentioned that Jesus gave different instructions to different people about wealth. Why do you think Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything, but didn't give that command to everyone?
3. What does it mean that "it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God"? How does understanding the "eye of the needle" as a small gate help us understand this passage?
Personal Reflection
4. Self-Assessment: On a scale of 1-10, how much do you think about money, possessions, or financial security? What does your answer reveal about where your trust really lies?
5. The sermon said, "The greatest deception men and women suffer are from their own opinions." Where might you be deceiving yourself about your relationship with money or possessions?
6. The Rich Young Ruler's Longing: He had everything but still felt something was missing. Have you ever experienced this? What was lacking, and how did you respond?
7. Think about John Wesley's three principles (earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can). Which of these three comes most naturally to you? Which is most challenging?
Going Deeper
8. What does it mean practically to "live large and give large"? How is this different from the world's definition of living large?
9. The sermon emphasized that God wants "all of us," not just our money. What areas of your life (besides finances) might God be asking you to surrender more fully to Him?
10. Praying like a baby camel: What does this image mean to you? How does it feel to acknowledge that we can't navigate stewardship (or life) without God leading us?
11. Read John 6:44 - "No one comes to the Father unless the Father drags them." How does this truth both humble us and give us hope when it comes to surrendering our finances to God?
The Poor and Oppressed
12. James also speaks to the poor and oppressed (James 5:7-11). What is his message to them? How does this balance the overall teaching on wealth?
13. Why do you think James warns the poor not to "grumble against each other"? What does this teach us about community regardless of economic status?
Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge (Choose 1-2)
Option 1: Financial Inventory
- Take an honest look at your spending over the past month
- Identify areas where "things might have you" rather than you having them
- Ask God to reveal one area where you need to loosen your grip
Option 2: Generosity Experiment
- Identify one specific way you can "give large" this week (doesn't have to be money—could be time, resources, or talent)
- Do it without telling anyone except your accountability partner
- Journal about how it felt and what God revealed to you
Option 3: Prayer Like a Baby Camel
- Each day this week, pray specifically: "God, I can't do this on my own. Lead me through the narrow way of stewardship."
- Keep a list of specific areas where you need God's leading with your resources
- Share with the group next week what God showed you
Option 4: Wesley's Principles Assessment
- Evaluate your life against John Wesley's three principles:
- Earn all you can: Am I making a living without harming my body, soul, or neighbor?
- Save all you can: Am I avoiding unnecessary expenses and luxuries to have more to give?
- Give all you can: Am I ready to give, using my wealth for the good of others and the church?
- Write down one concrete action step for each principle
Option 5: Believe, Receive, Concede
- Reflect daily on the three-part framework from the sermon:
- Believe: What Christ did for you on the cross
- Receive: The Holy Spirit's work in you
- Concede/Surrender: Daily submission to God's will
- How does this apply to your relationship with money and possessions?
Group Activity
The Hoarding vs. Generosity Exercise
1. Have each person write down (privately) three things they find hardest to be generous with (could be money, time, possessions, talents, etc.)
2. Discuss as a group (without sharing specifics if uncomfortable): What makes these things hard to release? What fears come up?
3. Read together Matthew 6:19-21: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
4. Have each person share one small step they can take this week to move from hoarding to generosity in one area
Memory Verse
James 5:3 - "Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days."
or
Matthew 19:26 - "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"
Closing Reflection Questions
- What is one thing God spoke to you about today?
- What is one thing you will do differently this week because of this discussion?
- How can we pray for each other regarding our relationship with money and possessions?
Closing Prayer
Pray the Lord's Prayer together, as encouraged in the sermon, asking God to supernaturally charge it so it becomes reality in your lives. Then have one person close by praying specifically for the group's journey toward living large, giving large, and praying with humble dependence like a baby camel being led by the Good Shepherd.
For Next Week
Come prepared to share:
- One way you practiced generosity this week
- One area where you experienced God's leading like a "baby camel"
- Any struggles or victories in putting God first over possessions
Leader Notes
- Be sensitive to the fact that group members may be in very different financial situations
- Emphasize that this isn't about comparing amounts, but about heart posture and surrender
- Create a safe space where people can be honest about their struggles with money
- Remind the group that "with God all things are possible"—this isn't about guilt but about freedom
- Consider sharing your own struggles in this area to model vulnerability
James 5:3 - "Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days."
or
Matthew 19:26 - "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"\
Closing Reflection Questions
- What is one thing God spoke to you about today?
- What is one thing you will do differently this week because of this discussion?
- How can we pray for each other regarding our relationship with money and possessions?
Closing Prayer
Pray the Lord's Prayer together, as encouraged in the sermon, asking God to supernaturally charge it so it becomes reality in your lives. Then have one person close by praying specifically for the group's journey toward living large, giving large, and praying with humble dependence like a baby camel being led by the Good Shepherd.
---
For Next Week
Come prepared to share:
- One way you practiced generosity this week
- One area where you experienced God's leading like a "baby camel"
- Any struggles or victories in putting God first over possessions
Leader Notes
- Be sensitive to the fact that group members may be in very different financial situations
- Emphasize that this isn't about comparing amounts, but about heart posture and surrender
- Create a safe space where people can be honest about their struggles with money
- Remind the group that "with God all things are possible"—this isn't about guilt but about freedom
- Consider sharing your own struggles in this area to model vulnerability
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