Generous Life
I. Framing the Conversation (Matthew 18:21-35)
A. A Generous Response to a Generous God
B. The Mark of New Covenant People – Loving God and Loving Others (Matt 22:37-39)
II. Why and How Should We Give? (1 Corinthians 9:6-15)
A. Cheerfully and Not Out of Guilt or Compulsion
B. Sowing and Reaping – (Not a formula but a principle of life)
C. With Indifference to Money
D. So That We Can Be Increasingly More Generous (You are not the point of God’s blessings but a point in what God wants to do through you and your finances)
III. Where Do We Give? (Acts 4:32-35)
A. The Church Organized
B. The Church Organic
C. The Church Local
IV. The Discipline of Giving – How to Live a Life that is Consistently Generous
A. Live Simply
B. Get Out of Debt
C. Budget for Generosity
“Make as much as you can. Save as much as you can. Give as much as you can.”—Martin Luther
V. Conclusion – Q&A
Hey Crispin,
ReplyDeleteI thought the point that we cannot possibly be more blessed than we are right now from the grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love of God through Christ is exceptional. This is so important to understand so we do not buy in to the “prosperity gospel.” We are, dare I say again, blessed to be a blessing. Indeed, understanding and acting upon that ideal works in tandem with your message today.
Another excellent point was that for those that think that giving will somehow keep you from pain and will only allow you to prosper, one only has to consider the persecutions that the Apostle Paul endured. Hellooooo?
Finally, I absolutely LOVE your term “the church organic.” I tell ya’ Bro, I think you have the title to a book or song there. The way that you explained that and referenced it to Acts is not only eye opening, it’s practically revolutionary in the sense of the traditional sermon on where one’s giving (dare I say tithe?) should go. I truly hope that many will hear your words and heart felt convictions on this and act accordingly… if not with abandon.
Awesome, Bro. Thank you.
Peace,
TA