The Bridge Church
Rhythms - Generosity
January 14, 2023
Locations & Times
Englewood SKY Academy
871 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Generosity is more about what God wants for you than from you.
Steps to Living Generously
1.Generosity begins with the gospel
1.Generosity begins with the gospel
How to Develop Devotional Rhythms:
1. Devote intentional time to God
1. Devote intentional time to God
2. Generosity produces greater contentment
3. Generosity is an eternal investment
Intentional: Put God first every time you get paid
Sacrificial: Spirit led, radical generosity
Generosity has a ripple effect
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
Dig Deeper:
1. At The Bridge Church, as we grow as followers of Jesus Christ, we focus on worshipping faithfully, connecting relationally, living generously, and engaging missionally. Spend some time discussing each one individually and as a whole.
2. Of the four different parts of the strategy, which one do you find yourself doing the most? Why? What about the one you need to grow in? How?
3. Describe in your own words what living generously means.
4. Generosity is more about what God want for you than from you. How can giving benefit you?
5. Read 2 Corinthians 8:9. Why does generosity begin with the gospel? Discuss how God gives us more than we deserve.
6. Read Acts 20:35. What does Jesus give to us? What can our response be to God’s unlimited generosity to us?
7. How does the world put pressure on us that we need more to be happy or that we are what we own? Does this include more than just possessions? Why?
8. Describe a person you know who may have material wealth or possessions but is not satisfied. Why is that?
9. Read 1 Timothy 6:6-8. What does contentment mean? How does contentment grow over time as we trust in God?
10. Read Luke 12:15. Is it wrong to want or need new things? If not, what problem do we face with possessions?
11. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18. How does generosity produce gratitude in addition to greater contentment?
12. Does God need our money? If not, why is tithing a relational component with God as a follower of Jesus Christ?
13. Read Matthew 6:19-21. What does it mean to store up “treasures in heaven”? What’s the difference between an earthly treasure and an eternal one?
14. Read 1 Timothy 6:18-19. Describe what it looks like to “do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share”?
15. Read Malachi 3:10. How is tithing a spiritual rhythm? What is a starting point to creating this rhythm?
16. How does cultivating a rhythm of giving deepen our dependence, and our relationship, with God?
17. Read Philippians 4:19. Describe a time when you witnessed God provide for a need that you didn’t think was going to be met.
18. Read Acts 4:34-35. How is giving an act of worship?
19. Read Acts 4:36-37. How does generosity and encouragement go together?
20. Describe a time when you have seen generosity produce a ripple effect.
Live It Out:
In 2024, and beyond, strengthen your rhythm of generosity by remembering that:
1. Generosity begins with the gospel. Christ was, and is, a giver. God loved the world so much that He gave. He took the weight of our sin and forgave us through His death and resurrection. Knowing this, respond in worship by giving your time, talents, and treasures for His glory.
2. Generosity produces greater contentment. Contentment grows over time as we trust in God. In a world that teaches us that we are what we own, or what we do, remember that Jesus teaches us that a greedy life is an empty life. Break the desire for more by living free from the love of money by choosing contentment and gratitude. For 2024, begin a gratitude journal and continuously write out all the ways in which you are content and grateful.
3. Generosity is an eternal investment. God does not need our money. When you give to the church, you give through the church. Consider what your next step is in your generosity journey. How can begin, or grow, your rhythm of generosity in 2024 and beyond?
1. At The Bridge Church, as we grow as followers of Jesus Christ, we focus on worshipping faithfully, connecting relationally, living generously, and engaging missionally. Spend some time discussing each one individually and as a whole.
2. Of the four different parts of the strategy, which one do you find yourself doing the most? Why? What about the one you need to grow in? How?
3. Describe in your own words what living generously means.
4. Generosity is more about what God want for you than from you. How can giving benefit you?
5. Read 2 Corinthians 8:9. Why does generosity begin with the gospel? Discuss how God gives us more than we deserve.
6. Read Acts 20:35. What does Jesus give to us? What can our response be to God’s unlimited generosity to us?
7. How does the world put pressure on us that we need more to be happy or that we are what we own? Does this include more than just possessions? Why?
8. Describe a person you know who may have material wealth or possessions but is not satisfied. Why is that?
9. Read 1 Timothy 6:6-8. What does contentment mean? How does contentment grow over time as we trust in God?
10. Read Luke 12:15. Is it wrong to want or need new things? If not, what problem do we face with possessions?
11. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18. How does generosity produce gratitude in addition to greater contentment?
12. Does God need our money? If not, why is tithing a relational component with God as a follower of Jesus Christ?
13. Read Matthew 6:19-21. What does it mean to store up “treasures in heaven”? What’s the difference between an earthly treasure and an eternal one?
14. Read 1 Timothy 6:18-19. Describe what it looks like to “do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share”?
15. Read Malachi 3:10. How is tithing a spiritual rhythm? What is a starting point to creating this rhythm?
16. How does cultivating a rhythm of giving deepen our dependence, and our relationship, with God?
17. Read Philippians 4:19. Describe a time when you witnessed God provide for a need that you didn’t think was going to be met.
18. Read Acts 4:34-35. How is giving an act of worship?
19. Read Acts 4:36-37. How does generosity and encouragement go together?
20. Describe a time when you have seen generosity produce a ripple effect.
Live It Out:
In 2024, and beyond, strengthen your rhythm of generosity by remembering that:
1. Generosity begins with the gospel. Christ was, and is, a giver. God loved the world so much that He gave. He took the weight of our sin and forgave us through His death and resurrection. Knowing this, respond in worship by giving your time, talents, and treasures for His glory.
2. Generosity produces greater contentment. Contentment grows over time as we trust in God. In a world that teaches us that we are what we own, or what we do, remember that Jesus teaches us that a greedy life is an empty life. Break the desire for more by living free from the love of money by choosing contentment and gratitude. For 2024, begin a gratitude journal and continuously write out all the ways in which you are content and grateful.
3. Generosity is an eternal investment. God does not need our money. When you give to the church, you give through the church. Consider what your next step is in your generosity journey. How can begin, or grow, your rhythm of generosity in 2024 and beyond?
Reading Plan:
Monday: Acts 20:35, Philippians 4:10-20
Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Wednesday: Matthew 6:19-24
Thursday: 1 Timothy 6:3-10
Friday: 1 Timothy 6:11-19
Saturday: Malachi 3:7-12
Monday: Acts 20:35, Philippians 4:10-20
Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Wednesday: Matthew 6:19-24
Thursday: 1 Timothy 6:3-10
Friday: 1 Timothy 6:11-19
Saturday: Malachi 3:7-12
Additional Resources:
Redeeming Your Time: 7 Biblical Principles for Being Purposeful, Present, and Wildly Productive, by Jordan Raynor
Habits for Our Holiness, by Philip Nation
The Money Challenge, by Art Rainer
Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family, by Ruth Chou Simons, Troy Simons
Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms, by Justin Whitmel Earley, Justin Earley
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer
Redeeming Your Time: 7 Biblical Principles for Being Purposeful, Present, and Wildly Productive, by Jordan Raynor
Habits for Our Holiness, by Philip Nation
The Money Challenge, by Art Rainer
Foundations: 12 Biblical Truths to Shape a Family, by Ruth Chou Simons, Troy Simons
Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms, by Justin Whitmel Earley, Justin Earley
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer