I. God s Creation He owns it all He is the Lord therefore we are stewards not owners

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1 I. God s Creation He owns it all He is the Lord therefore we are stewards not owners II. God s Character His Heart is a giving heart He gave us His Son and in so doing has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ III. Community of Grace - Generosity that doesn t make sense Reflecting the Love of Christ through Sacrificial Giving IV. Capital Investment - Investing in Eternity giving that has an eternal return When we yield to the Lord, giving becomes a regular and remarkable reflection of Christ s life seen through our lives. Giving is not natural it is not taught it must be caught God is Generous (John 3.16 God Gave His Son ) James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Who does He give a greater grace to? Not the proud or puffed up Rather to those who recognize they need His grace the humble, lowly

2 Generous Living involves Thankful hearts 1 Thessalonians 5:16 18 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. Grumbling and complaining are antithetical to giving thanks We are to give thanks in all circumstances, for all things o This is God s will for us o We understand that He is at work on our behalf o We understand that He is working all things for our good o We have an eternal perspective rather than a temporal as the Lord is working to conform us to His image Finances/Things Philippians 4:15 19 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.

3 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Paul s motive was not for the money in and of itself Rather for the profit eternally speaking which would be toward their account the good works which the Lord would reward them for Matthew 6:19 21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ******* Principals for Giving Liberally Romans 12:8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 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.

4 Weirsbe If we live to give, God will see to it that we receive; but if we live only to get, God will see to it that we lose. This principle applies not only to our giving of money, but also to the giving of ourselves in ministry to others. 2 Corinthians 9:7 8 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 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; Cheerful is the word hilarious but not meaning silly or overcome with laughter etc.rather with the idea of glad, happy, joyful The promise given is the Lord s abundant provision for every good deed With Love 1 Corinthians 13:2 3 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Singular Purpose Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. What are we devoted to?

5 In Secret Matthew 6:1 4 Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Out of our poverty rather than out of our surplus Luke 21:1 4 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. 3 And He said, Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; 4 for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on. The Lord desires cheerful givers we are to purpose in our own hearts what to give and then do so with joy How are we defining need vs. wants? What are we attached to? How are we trusting the Lord? Serving Him? Looking to advance the Kingdom?