Neighborhood Friends Church
RHYTHMS OF GRACE: GENEROSITY
Generosity Series Week 3: All We Have Belongs to God This week, we explore the radical biblical truth that everything we have belongs to God. Through Jesus’ teaching in Luke 12:35-48, we’ll discover the call to live as faithful stewards, not owners, of the resources entrusted to us. Jesus’ parable of the faithful servant reminds us that God is a generous Master who blesses us to be a blessing. Stewardship is about actively managing God’s creation for His purposes—providing for our needs, sharing with the poor, and investing in His Kingdom. Join us as we uncover how living with this mindset brings freedom, joy, and purpose to our lives.
Locations & Times
Neighborhood Friends Church
9889 W 66th Ave, Arvada, CO 80004, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
Generosity Series Week 3: All We Have Belongs to God
This week, we explore the radical biblical truth that everything we have belongs to God. Through Jesus’ teaching in Luke 12:35-48, we’ll discover the call to live as faithful stewards, not owners, of the resources entrusted to us.
Jesus’ parable of the faithful servant reminds us that God is a generous Master who blesses us to be a blessing. Stewardship is about actively managing God’s creation for His purposes—providing for our needs, sharing with the poor, and investing in His Kingdom.
Join us as we uncover how living with this mindset brings freedom, joy, and purpose to our lives.
This week, we explore the radical biblical truth that everything we have belongs to God. Through Jesus’ teaching in Luke 12:35-48, we’ll discover the call to live as faithful stewards, not owners, of the resources entrusted to us.
Jesus’ parable of the faithful servant reminds us that God is a generous Master who blesses us to be a blessing. Stewardship is about actively managing God’s creation for His purposes—providing for our needs, sharing with the poor, and investing in His Kingdom.
Join us as we uncover how living with this mindset brings freedom, joy, and purpose to our lives.
Generosity Teaching 03:
All We Have Belongs To God
Week 01: There’s more joy in giving than receiving.
Week 02: Watch out for greed!
Week 03: All we have belongs to God.
Week 04: Be generous to the poor.
Teaching 03:
“All We Have Belongs to God.”
33Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:33–34 (ESV)
35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
Luke 12:35–37 (ESV)
37b Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
Luke 12:37 (ESV)
42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
Luke 12:42–44 (ESV)
45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
Luke 12:45 (ESV)
46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
Luke 12:46-47 (ESV)
48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Luke 12:48 (ESV)
“The active and responsible management of God’s creation for God’s purposes.”
—Gregory Baumer: God and Money; How I Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School
There are three basic components to the biblical theology of stewardship.
1. God owns it all.
In Jesus’ day, there were two basic views of wealth:
NON-OWNERSHIP and STEWARDSHIP
TAKE NOTE
God is the owner and we are the caretaker.
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Genesis 2:15 (ESV)
23 “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.
Leviticus 25:23 (ESV)
14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.
Deuteronomy 10:14 (ESV)
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. 12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.
Psalm 50:10–12 (ESV)
2. We are entrusted by God with resources to do good.
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:17 (ESV)
3. God blesses us to give more, not just to have more.
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful (joyful) giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every wayto be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:8–11 (ESV)
. .
11You will be enriched in every wayto be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:8–11 (ESV)
“God blesses us to raise our standard of giving, not our
standard of living.”
—James Merritt; Character Still Counts
God owns it all.
We are entrusted with his resources to do good.
God blesses us to give more, not to have more.
QUESTION:
“How much should I give?”
“How much should I keep?”
1. Regular, not sporadic:
2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside . . .
1 Corinthians 16:2a (ESV)
2. Proportional:
2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
1 Corinthians 16:2a (ESV)
3. Sacrificial:
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
2 Corinthians 8:3 (ESV)
Tithing will challenge.
Generosity will hurt.
No rewards in life come without sacrifice.
Everything we achieve with some level of greatness requires sacrifice.
4. Voluntary:
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion . . .
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
5. Joyful!
7 . . .for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
God doesn’t want grumpy money!
6. Be motivated to give by following Jesus: (not religious duty or even philanthropy)
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)
Listening:
Do you do this?
Do you listen to God?
If you were to answer a survey question with three options, which would best describe you today?
1. I do not listen to God.
2. I listen to God, but not about money and generosity. “I don’t ask him about that!”
3. I listen to God about money and generosity. “Is this for me? Or for me to give away?”
Which is why Jesus says in the same passage we read in Luke:
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:32 (ESV)
God is not a stingy investor out to maximize his profit margins. He’s a loving Father who wants to bless you and form you into a son or daughter who is like himself, generous and joyful.
It is our honor to steward whatever resources we have.
All We Have Belongs To God
Week 01: There’s more joy in giving than receiving.
Week 02: Watch out for greed!
Week 03: All we have belongs to God.
Week 04: Be generous to the poor.
Teaching 03:
“All We Have Belongs to God.”
33Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:33–34 (ESV)
35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
Luke 12:35–37 (ESV)
37b Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
Luke 12:37 (ESV)
42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.
Luke 12:42–44 (ESV)
45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,
Luke 12:45 (ESV)
46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
Luke 12:46-47 (ESV)
48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Luke 12:48 (ESV)
“The active and responsible management of God’s creation for God’s purposes.”
—Gregory Baumer: God and Money; How I Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School
There are three basic components to the biblical theology of stewardship.
1. God owns it all.
In Jesus’ day, there were two basic views of wealth:
NON-OWNERSHIP and STEWARDSHIP
TAKE NOTE
God is the owner and we are the caretaker.
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Genesis 2:15 (ESV)
23 “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.
Leviticus 25:23 (ESV)
14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.
Deuteronomy 10:14 (ESV)
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. 12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.
Psalm 50:10–12 (ESV)
2. We are entrusted by God with resources to do good.
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:17 (ESV)
3. God blesses us to give more, not just to have more.
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful (joyful) giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every wayto be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:8–11 (ESV)
. .
11You will be enriched in every wayto be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:8–11 (ESV)
“God blesses us to raise our standard of giving, not our
standard of living.”
—James Merritt; Character Still Counts
God owns it all.
We are entrusted with his resources to do good.
God blesses us to give more, not to have more.
QUESTION:
“How much should I give?”
“How much should I keep?”
1. Regular, not sporadic:
2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside . . .
1 Corinthians 16:2a (ESV)
2. Proportional:
2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
1 Corinthians 16:2a (ESV)
3. Sacrificial:
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
2 Corinthians 8:3 (ESV)
Tithing will challenge.
Generosity will hurt.
No rewards in life come without sacrifice.
Everything we achieve with some level of greatness requires sacrifice.
4. Voluntary:
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion . . .
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
5. Joyful!
7 . . .for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
God doesn’t want grumpy money!
6. Be motivated to give by following Jesus: (not religious duty or even philanthropy)
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)
Listening:
Do you do this?
Do you listen to God?
If you were to answer a survey question with three options, which would best describe you today?
1. I do not listen to God.
2. I listen to God, but not about money and generosity. “I don’t ask him about that!”
3. I listen to God about money and generosity. “Is this for me? Or for me to give away?”
Which is why Jesus says in the same passage we read in Luke:
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:32 (ESV)
God is not a stingy investor out to maximize his profit margins. He’s a loving Father who wants to bless you and form you into a son or daughter who is like himself, generous and joyful.
It is our honor to steward whatever resources we have.
Generosity Teaching 01:
The Joy of Giving Over Receiving
1.12.2025
Sermon Summary: "The Rhythm of Generosity"
This week's message explores the transformative power of generosity in our lives and faith. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to embrace a rhythm of giving that reflects the heart of God. Drawing from Scripture, we’ll discover how generosity shapes our character, blesses others, and deepens our trust in God's provision. Whether through our time, talents, or resources, we are called to live open-handedly, participating in God's work in the world. Join us as we learn how to cultivate a lifestyle of generosity that brings joy, freedom, and purpose.
35In all things I have shown you that by workinghard in this way we must helptheweak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Acts 20:35 (ESV)
“blessed” is μακάριος (makarios)
in Greek, and it means “happy, fortunate, well-off, or lucky.”
“People rightly say that money cannot buy happiness. But money and happiness are still related in a curious way. Happiness can be the result, not of spending more money on oneself, but rather of giving money away to others … the data examined here shows this to be not simply a nice idea, but a social-scientific fact.”
—Hilary Davidson and Christian Smith;
“The unreasoned boast abounds that the good life is found in accumulation, that “more is better.” Indeed, we often accept this notion without question, with the result that the lust for affluence in contemporary society has become psychotic: it has completely lost touch with reality.”
—Richard Foster;
John the Apostle, one of Jesus' twelve disciples. He is often referred to as "the disciple whom Jesus loved” . . . said this about Jesus . . .
14 The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generousinside and out, true from start to finish. 15 John pointed him out and called, “This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word.”
John 1:14–15 (MSG)
Scripture Focus
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Matthew 6:19–24 (ESV)
21 For where your treasureis, there your heartwillbe also.
Matthew 6:21 (ESV)
For Jesus,
Money is ultimately about our hearts.
BOTTOM LINE
Our Heart Follows Our Money.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Matthew 6:22–23 (ESV)
ABUNDANCE MINDSET VS. SCARCITY MINDSET
How do you see the world?
If you had absolute assurance that God would provide enough for you, how would that change your relationship to money and generosity?
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannotserve God and money.
Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
I. Jesus is teaching his apprentices about how to see God and our life in God’s world.
A biblical theology of generosity does not start with tithing or even with Jesus command to “be generous to the poor.”
It starts, before time and space, with
(#1) Who God is. God is “our Father.”
(#2) Generosity is woven through the library of Scripture.
(#3) Generosity is at the heart of the Gospel itself!
The Father gave the Son:
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (ESV)
The Son gave his life:
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)
The Father and Son gave the Holy Spirit:
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:13 (ESV)
II. Jesus is teaching his apprentices about the architecture of our hearts.
“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will
help straighten out almost every other area in his life.”
—Billy Graham
III. Jesus is teaching his apprentices about the practice of generosity.
Bottom Line:
Generosity is a practice by which we transform our hearts from a scarcity mentality to the abundance mentality of Jesus.
The Joy of Giving Over Receiving
1.12.2025
Sermon Summary: "The Rhythm of Generosity"
This week's message explores the transformative power of generosity in our lives and faith. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to embrace a rhythm of giving that reflects the heart of God. Drawing from Scripture, we’ll discover how generosity shapes our character, blesses others, and deepens our trust in God's provision. Whether through our time, talents, or resources, we are called to live open-handedly, participating in God's work in the world. Join us as we learn how to cultivate a lifestyle of generosity that brings joy, freedom, and purpose.
35In all things I have shown you that by workinghard in this way we must helptheweak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Acts 20:35 (ESV)
“blessed” is μακάριος (makarios)
in Greek, and it means “happy, fortunate, well-off, or lucky.”
“People rightly say that money cannot buy happiness. But money and happiness are still related in a curious way. Happiness can be the result, not of spending more money on oneself, but rather of giving money away to others … the data examined here shows this to be not simply a nice idea, but a social-scientific fact.”
—Hilary Davidson and Christian Smith;
“The unreasoned boast abounds that the good life is found in accumulation, that “more is better.” Indeed, we often accept this notion without question, with the result that the lust for affluence in contemporary society has become psychotic: it has completely lost touch with reality.”
—Richard Foster;
John the Apostle, one of Jesus' twelve disciples. He is often referred to as "the disciple whom Jesus loved” . . . said this about Jesus . . .
14 The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generousinside and out, true from start to finish. 15 John pointed him out and called, “This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word.”
John 1:14–15 (MSG)
Scripture Focus
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Matthew 6:19–24 (ESV)
21 For where your treasureis, there your heartwillbe also.
Matthew 6:21 (ESV)
For Jesus,
Money is ultimately about our hearts.
BOTTOM LINE
Our Heart Follows Our Money.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Matthew 6:22–23 (ESV)
ABUNDANCE MINDSET VS. SCARCITY MINDSET
How do you see the world?
If you had absolute assurance that God would provide enough for you, how would that change your relationship to money and generosity?
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannotserve God and money.
Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
I. Jesus is teaching his apprentices about how to see God and our life in God’s world.
A biblical theology of generosity does not start with tithing or even with Jesus command to “be generous to the poor.”
It starts, before time and space, with
(#1) Who God is. God is “our Father.”
(#2) Generosity is woven through the library of Scripture.
(#3) Generosity is at the heart of the Gospel itself!
The Father gave the Son:
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (ESV)
The Son gave his life:
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV)
The Father and Son gave the Holy Spirit:
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:13 (ESV)
II. Jesus is teaching his apprentices about the architecture of our hearts.
“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will
help straighten out almost every other area in his life.”
—Billy Graham
III. Jesus is teaching his apprentices about the practice of generosity.
Bottom Line:
Generosity is a practice by which we transform our hearts from a scarcity mentality to the abundance mentality of Jesus.