Bethany Community Church - Andrew Mills

This week, we are going to start by looking at our finances.

Talking about money can be hard and difficult.

Spring cleaning, in terms of finances, looks like cultivating a spirit of generosity and sweeping away a spirit of stinginess, hoarding, or greed.

We should be open, generous, and giving people

Why does generosity matter? Because God at his core is generous, so we need to be as well.

Being generous is not just a part of God's activity, it describes the nature of His character.

Part of the personhood, character, or nature of God is to be generous, giving, and open-handed.

Who God is, is who we are called to be.

Generosity makes room for more.

Our God is generous, and we need to be as well.

God loves a cheerful giver because it demonstrates that we are learning and choosing to participate in His rhythm, In his way of living.

Teaching Point:
Giving is an act of trusting in God

“cheerful” in Greek is hilaros = cheerful, happy, joy-filled, expressive

There is not a promise of “giving to get”,
but there is a principle that generosity creates space for receiving.

Giving opens you up to connecting and receiving from God

1) Giving is an act of trust
2) God loves cheerful givers
3) Being generous opens us up to connect and receive from God.

Main Point
We are called to be people of generosity

If you aren’t giving regularly, try it out!
If you are giving regularly, try giving deeper for 90 days.

Our time is becoming and idol that we don't want to give up

We can be generous in 3 ways:
Finances
Time
Skills

You cannot be a generous person, without it involving your finances.

If we are going to live a lifestyle and habit of generosity, it has to affect what we give of our time too.

I want to challenge you test out giving and living generously by giving for the next 90 days

Our gifts, skills, and abilities – shouldn’t just be used for ourselves but for the flourishing of others.

What gifts, skills, or abilities do you have, and how are you using them to help others?

That we are called to be people of generosity by giving of our finances, time, skills, and abilities.So what is my challenge this weekIts simple:To give of your finances, time, skills, and abilities

CHALLENGE
Give of your finances, time, skills, and abilities