In this eight session course, Director of Giving, Jonathan de Bernhardt Wood, explores the simple, powerful moment in which Mary, a friend and follower of Jesus, displays the kind of astonishing generosity God Himself pours out on us. The wonder of the gospel is that this can be our story too as we discover the freedom of living generously.
Jonathan leads the Giving directorate, which supports parish ministry with resources, knowledge, guidance and training for financial sustainability and growth.
Before that he was Generous Giving Adviser for the Diocese of Oxford.
He holds an MA in Applied Theology and is a Lay Canon at St Edmundsbury cathedral.
Living Generously Films
Living Generously Series Trailer
In this single verse Mary demonstrates seven distinct ways of living generously. Hers is the story of how her love for God enabled her to live a generous life.
Living Generously Session 1 - Generous with time
Mary’s first generosity is with her time. There were other things she could’ve been doing. There are even things that could have been seen as more virtuous, as Martha, her sister points out.
Living Generously Session 2 - Generous with attention
Mary’s second generosity – that of her attention - is one for this day and age where we are constantly distracted by news, opinions, information and gossip.
Living Generously Session 3 - Generous with wealth
Mary had just seen her brother raised from the dead, so when she was generous with her wealth, she knew that her ‘sacrifice’ was utterly insignificant by comparison.
Living Generously Session 4 - Generous with talents
Like us all, Mary had God-given gifts and talents. This film explores her generosity with ‘whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable’.
Living Generously Session 5 - Generous with possessions
The cost of the nard Mary used is one thing, but it was also a treasured possession – what can we be generous with that’s not necessarily expensive, but precious to us?
Accompanying study guides
Each film above comes with a free downloadable group Study Guide. This includes questions to get the discussion going, things to be thinking of when watching the films, biblical exploration and suggestions for taking your learning into everyday life.
Download Study Guide 1 - Generous With Time
Download Study Guide 2 - Generous With Attention
Download Study Guide 3 - Generous With Wealth
Download Study Guide 4 - Generous With Talents
Download Study Guide 5 - Generous With Possessions
Download Study Guide 6 - Generous With How We're Perceived
Download Study Guide 7 - Generous With Comfort
Download Study Guide 8 - Generosity Webs
Right Now Media
The Living Generously films were made in partnership with Right Now Media, a streaming library of biblical content. You can sign up for free access to the Church of England section.