I want my life to count for something more than what it currently counts for.

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Myrtle Stephens
5 years ago
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1 Basecamp Week 3 - Money Principles (5 P s) SERMON SERIES INTRO: Base Camp Let me tell you something I already know about you (you would say...): I want my life to count for something more than what it currently counts for. You need to go on a journey/expedition: Expedition: a journey or voyage undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose, especially that of exploration, scienti c research, or war. Base Camp : a camp from which mountaineering expeditions set out. BASECAMP SERIES GOAL: Establish a base nancially to move us past dollars & cents to destiny & calling A camp from which work sets out The basecamp serves its purpose ONLY in light of a larger one. WEEK #3: Financial Principles Fields of Gold - Andy Stanley Thanksgiving - just appreciated what we have How to be rich well - Andy Stanley Honor to serve God With Life & Finances Principled Giving

2 5 P s of Principled Giving I will give you a VERY practical challenge to go with each one. #1.) Purposed Giving Been talking about this for two weeks so won t be here long... Podcast Online free Money is for building God s purposes not our personal survival Stewards not owners Sowing not spending - investing in God s work (Eternity) ILL. Tithing - 10 Dollars in a row 10 Dollars lined up across the stage 3 dollars - I pay for a place to stay 1 dollar - I pay for a car 1 dollar - I buy popcorn at the movies 1 dollar - I change people s eternities We are invited to a di erent process, life & purpose We don t make money to eat, we make money to build the kingdom #2.) Priority Giving An opportunity for learning to trust God Matt. 6:24-25, No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? [God takes care of food, drink & clothing] So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat?

3 or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek rst his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS You can only prioritize ONE ILL. 7 Habits Highly E ective - First things First Wide mouth gallon Mason Jar First sized rocks Pebbles Sand Put them in proper order & it works, swap the order & it don t!you can only serve ONE (Big rocks go in the jar rst all others go around them) Build the rst oor - foundation FIRST ILL. SERIES JANUARY - The First 21 days of prayer & fasting to start 2017 What we believe God wants to do - no other foundation possible Jan. 4th - 7:00 MHC Lansing Morning Prayer - 7:00 am An opportunity for learning to trust God: Prioritize giving - First: Make it the very rst check you write every month it not only ensures that you ll guard it as a priority, but it s a symbolic way of reminding you where your hope lies. Andy Stanley #3.) Percentage Giving

4 Could do a theological discourse on tithing in the old testament & new covenant grace but not needed God wants us to be generous & to trust Him nancially - not money Q: How can you get a measurable on that? When God speaks on the topic He seems to use 10% as a rule of thumb Bible talks about tithing speci cally in the books of Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Chronicles, Nehemiah, Amos, Malachi, Matthew, Luke, Hebrews (Acts - they sold all their things & brought it to the church to share - di erent than socialism) Maybe He knows something we don t? Heart conditioning? I Cor. 16:2 - On the rst day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income ILL. Jesus doesn t highlight dollar gures but comparative percent [All the wealthy people put in a lot of money, then ] Mark 12: Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything all she had to live on. Jesus was not looking at total amount given but at giving based on the amount you have Percentage based giving levels the playing eld & o er a way to examine ourselves. #4.) Progressive Giving

5 ILL. Bible uses FARMING TERMS The more you sow, the more you harvest, the more you harvest the more you can sow, and so on and so on... 2 Corinthians 9: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.9 As it is written: They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever. 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. Any fear associated with giving to God's kingdom is irrational. It's on par with a farmer who, out of fear of losing his seed, refuses to plant his elds. - Andy Stanley, Fields Of Gold #5.) Prompted Giving Sometimes we give above & beyond our regular giving because God prompts us to do so!! ILL.: Nickels at Jonny Rockets. You walk in and they hand you a nickel The nickel was given to you (not yours) You pocket the nickel! It is given to you for a very speci c purpose You instantly become a steward or manager of that money. There is an amazing song in the juke box

6 Celebration for ALL You can listen Others can listen There is some dancing THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME ALONG, & WITH MONEY GIVEN TO US BY GOD WE CAN CREATE FULFILMENT & CELEBRATION FOR OURSELVES & OTHERS!! Special o ering explanation Been talking about this for a month Not going to pass buckets after normal o ering Joyful, no compulsion Key word on mogiv & giving box in back Opportunity to do good We want to bless those who serve students at MSU CRU, Navigators, Athletes in Action, His House A book, a letter & a gift card Prodigal God - Short Read, High Quality bind, Gospel!! (2 gift cards one to share w student) A Letter from a member of our team - Element Church believes in you & your work Element loves you - we believe in you Thank you for the work you do 2 Gift Cards Gospel into the hands of leaders at MSU working directly w/ Students (2 Gift Cards for co ee) A rmation of their calling & purpose as they server (often lonely) (Letter from a member of our team) Invest to Open Doors for unity in Christian ministry on campus

7 Commitment for Salvation Discussing trusting God in nances Decision to surrender a life? First time or commitment again Prayer

BECOMING A CHEERFUL GIVER. 2 Corinthians 9:5-15

BECOMING A CHEERFUL GIVER. 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 BECOMING A CHEERFUL GIVER 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 GROWING TOGETHER TOWARD MATURITY IN CHRIST Vision Statement Matthew 6:19-20; 24 Who do you serve? Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where