Cross Bridge Church - A Church of the Nazarene
Return to Sender-Part 1
Our mission is helping people move from where they are to where God wants them to be.
Locations & Times
Cross Bridge Church
651 Barnes Blvd, Rockledge, FL 32955, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
New Here? Start Here!
Thanks for joining us for worship this morning. We are looking forward to meeting you! Go to crossbridgenaz.org/thisweek to submit prayer requests, give, and complete the New Here-Start Here card.
SERMON NOTES
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART
Core Value: We value being GENEROUS people who are wise managers of God's resources entrusted to us.
“God Owns. I Manage!”
FOUR THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO BECOME GENEROUS
1. Deal with a _________ heart.
2. Deal with a _________ heart.
3. Develop a __________ heart.
4. Develop a ___________heart.
“Having Money” is NOT Bad... it's Bad when Money “Has You.”
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HEART
Core Value: We value being GENEROUS people who are wise managers of God's resources entrusted to us.
“God Owns. I Manage!”
FOUR THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO BECOME GENEROUS
1. Deal with a _________ heart.
2. Deal with a _________ heart.
3. Develop a __________ heart.
4. Develop a ___________heart.
“Having Money” is NOT Bad... it's Bad when Money “Has You.”
GROUP QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
It’s All About the Heart Recap:
Giving is all about the heart. Joy-filled giving is what God desires from us. Jesus said, “Give and it will be given back to you.” This principle of giving applies to all areas of our life. Genuine gratitude is powerful, and a heart of gratitude is vital for creating a lifestyle of generosity.
Key Scriptures: Luke 6:30–38; Deuteronomy 15:7–10, 14–15
• Deal with a selfish heart.
The Lord is concerned with our hearts. God does not bless giving, rather, He blesses giving from a right-heart attitude. It is true that when we give, we receive; however, that should not be our motivation for giving. We must deal with any selfishness in our
hearts.
• Deal with a grieving heart.
We shouldn’t give and then grieve over that decision. Selfishness attacks us before we give, and grief attacks us after we give. If we realize that we are simply stewards, and everything belongs to the Lord anyway, we will have a correct perspective.
• Develop a generous heart.
God said He wants us to not just give but to be generous. The first time we are born in the natural, we are born selfish. When we are born again, we are born generous. God wants us to be generous like He is generous.
• Develop a grateful heart.
If we allow God to remind us every now and then that we were once slaves (Deuteronomy 15:15) and that everything we have is by His grace, it will help us to be grateful. All we have is the Lord’s, and we can be more generous when we are grateful.
GROUP DISCUSSION
1. What does having a heart of gratitude mean to you?
2. What have you been taught in the past about giving? Did these teachings have a positive or negative affect on you? Explain.
3. Why do you think we sometimes struggle with selfishness before we give and grief after we give? Can you think of a time you struggled with either selfishness or grief, when giving? What are some practical ways we can work through those initial heart struggles and choose generosity with a grateful heart?
4. Why does God want us to give from a heart of gratitude? What is an example of giving from a right heart attitude versus a wrong heart attitude? What are the results of both?
6. How does the way we spend our treasure show where our heart is? In which of these areas are you the most generous?
PERSONAL APPLICATION
This week, take time to really think about and honestly reflect upon having a heart of gratitude in the area of your treasure. As you think seriously about that, journal your response to this question:
• Treasure
When you have extra money, where does it usually go? If you were to look at all the places your money goes, what would it say about where your heart is?
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help us to cultivate a heart attitude of gratitude. Thank You for all that You have done in our lives. Help us to be more like You and to give from a lifestyle of gratitude. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
It’s All About the Heart Recap:
Giving is all about the heart. Joy-filled giving is what God desires from us. Jesus said, “Give and it will be given back to you.” This principle of giving applies to all areas of our life. Genuine gratitude is powerful, and a heart of gratitude is vital for creating a lifestyle of generosity.
Key Scriptures: Luke 6:30–38; Deuteronomy 15:7–10, 14–15
• Deal with a selfish heart.
The Lord is concerned with our hearts. God does not bless giving, rather, He blesses giving from a right-heart attitude. It is true that when we give, we receive; however, that should not be our motivation for giving. We must deal with any selfishness in our
hearts.
• Deal with a grieving heart.
We shouldn’t give and then grieve over that decision. Selfishness attacks us before we give, and grief attacks us after we give. If we realize that we are simply stewards, and everything belongs to the Lord anyway, we will have a correct perspective.
• Develop a generous heart.
God said He wants us to not just give but to be generous. The first time we are born in the natural, we are born selfish. When we are born again, we are born generous. God wants us to be generous like He is generous.
• Develop a grateful heart.
If we allow God to remind us every now and then that we were once slaves (Deuteronomy 15:15) and that everything we have is by His grace, it will help us to be grateful. All we have is the Lord’s, and we can be more generous when we are grateful.
GROUP DISCUSSION
1. What does having a heart of gratitude mean to you?
2. What have you been taught in the past about giving? Did these teachings have a positive or negative affect on you? Explain.
3. Why do you think we sometimes struggle with selfishness before we give and grief after we give? Can you think of a time you struggled with either selfishness or grief, when giving? What are some practical ways we can work through those initial heart struggles and choose generosity with a grateful heart?
4. Why does God want us to give from a heart of gratitude? What is an example of giving from a right heart attitude versus a wrong heart attitude? What are the results of both?
6. How does the way we spend our treasure show where our heart is? In which of these areas are you the most generous?
PERSONAL APPLICATION
This week, take time to really think about and honestly reflect upon having a heart of gratitude in the area of your treasure. As you think seriously about that, journal your response to this question:
• Treasure
When you have extra money, where does it usually go? If you were to look at all the places your money goes, what would it say about where your heart is?
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help us to cultivate a heart attitude of gratitude. Thank You for all that You have done in our lives. Help us to be more like You and to give from a lifestyle of gratitude. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Give
Each week we take time to worship through the giving of God's tithe and our offerings.Thank you for your faithfulness! "We value generosity, and being good managers of all God has entrusted to us."
https://crossbridgenaz.org/thisweek
Outreach Ministries
Cross Bridge Church Team Jersey
Tuesday Fellowship Lunch
More information here
Text your prayer requests
Text the word "PRAY" and how we can pray with you to (833) 224-1404 to submit your prayer request to our Staff.