Mission Hills Church
In a season where fear and uncertainty push us to hold tightly to what we have – because who knows what tomorrow will bring – God offers a surprising path to peace: generosity.
We are crazy generous: we mirror God’s outrageous grace with outrageous giving.
Being generous is good for us.
The more we use our resources to serve others, the less we serve our resources.
You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24)
God blesses generosity.
Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)
Luke 7:1-2 NIV
Luke 7:3 NIV
The elders wanted to do this for him.
When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him... (Luke 7:4a)
Luke 7:4-5 NIV
The centurion was probably a God-fearer.
The centurion was definitely generous.
Generosity is the practice of blessing others with no expectation of benefiting ourselves.
The practice of generosity is an expression of worship.
His act of worship led to more worship.
2 Corinthians 9:11-13 NIV
When we give to the work of God, we multiply the worship of God.
Luke 7:6 NIV
Generosity breaks down barriers and opens doors.
Luke 7:7 NIV
Generosity without humility is self-serving.
Luke 7:8 NIV
All of our resources are on loan to us for a purpose.
What’s the more for?
// More than $500,000 in assets? Top 1%. *
// Earn more than $50,000 annually? Top 1-2%. **
// Any money saved, a hobby that requires some equipment or supplies, a variety of clothes in your closet, two cars (in any condition), and live in your own home? Top 5%. **
// Earn $25,000 or more annually? Top 10% ***
// Sufficient food, decent clothes, live in a house or apartment, and have a reasonably reliable means of transportation? Top 15%. **
// Earned more than $1,500 last year? Top 20%. **
Sources:
* MSN Money
** Money, Possessions and Eternity (Randy Alcorn)
*** The Hole in our Gospel (Richard Stearns)
What's the more for?
Luke 7:9-10 NIV
Jesus gets excited about true generosity.
Becoming more generous means that we’re becoming more like Jesus and joining him on mission!
How will I respond to God's generosity?