YOUTH RETREAT SLIDE– 59 IN THIS PICTURE 

• WELCOME- GLAD YOU ARE HERE TODAY 

• LAST WEEKEND WE HAD AT LEAST 62 PEOPLE 

• WENT TO WATERMARK CAMP 

• FRIDAY- SUNDAY  

• GREAT WEEKEND OF WORSHIP/WORD/FOOD/FUN  

CHRISTMAS INVITE 

• WEEK ONE TAKE IT – PRAY ABOUT A PERSON 

• WEEK 2-WRITE THEIR NAME ON IT- PLACE MANGER 

• WEEK 3- THE INVITE 

• TOM RAINEER- STUDIES CHURCHES PODCAST 

• 15% OF ALL PEOPLE COME IF INVITED 

• 80% PEOPLE COME WHEN IF SOMETHNG ATTACHED 

GO GET COFFE BEFORE OR AFTER 

BREAKFAST BEFORE- GRAB LUNCH AFTER                 

GENEROSITY 

• 3^RD WEEK IN SERIES ON GENEROSITY 

• PRAYING SPIRITUAL- FASTING IS SPRITUAL  

• READING AND TEACHING SCRIPTURE IS SPIRITUAL 

• GOING ON A MISSIONS TRIP- SPIRITUAL 

• SERVING IN KIDS AND YOUTH MINISTRY- SPIRITUAL 

• FRANCIS CHAN- LEFT IT ALL IN CALIFORNIA  

• STARTED UNDERGROUND CHURCH HONG KONG 

• DO WE GIVE TO PEOPLE SACRIFICALLY  

• YOU GAVE THAT AWAY JOYFULLY 

   JUST OVER A YEAR AGO- RUTH AND I INTERVIEW HERE 

• LEADERS FROM CHURCH HAD QUESTIONS 

• SAT UP FRONT LEADER OF CHURCHES (DR FULLER)  

• ELECTED LEADERS ASKED QUESTIONS 

• 1^ST QUESTION- WHATS A WORD/PHRASE 

GENEROSITY DEFINITION                               

•  A READINESS TO GIVE MORE THAN NECESSARY OR EXPECTED.  

GENEROSITY STATEMENTS 

   GENEROSITY IS NOT SO THAT JESUS LOVES ME MORE 

   GENEROSITY IS BECAUSE HE LOVED ME FIRST.  

GENEROSITY STATEMENT 

   GENEROSITY IS NOT RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS 

    IT IS A LIFESTYLE OF THANKSGIVING-AND LIVING 

PRAY – PLAN- PARTICIPATE 

GENEROSITY STATEMENTS 

   GENEROSITY MOVES YOU TO ACTION. IT MOVES FROM YOUR HEAD, TO YOUR HEART, TO YOUR HANDS.  

STATEMENT ON GENEROSITY 

   AS WE GIVE, GOD INCREASES OUR ABILITY AND DESIRE TO GIVE.  

SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 8:1 

1. “AND NOW, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THE GRACE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THE MACEDONIAN CHURCHES.  

SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 8:2 

2. IN THE MIDST OF A VERY SEVERE TRIAL, THEIR OVERFLOWING JOY AND THEIR EXTREME POVERTY WELLED UP IN RICH GENEROSITY.  

SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 8:3 

3. FOR I TESTIFY THAT THEY GAVE AS MUCH AS THEY WERE ABLE, AND EVEN BEYOND THEIR ABILITY. ENTIRELY ON THEIR OWN,  

SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 8:4 

4. THEY URGENTLY PLEADED WITH US FOR THE PRIVALEGE OF SHARING IN THIS SERVICE TO THE LORDS PEOPLE.  

SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 8:5 

5. AND THEY EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS; THEY GAVE THEMSELVES FIRST OF ALL TO THE LORD, AND THEN BY THE WILL OF GOD ALSO TO US.  

SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 8:6 

   SO WE URGED TITUS, JUST AS HE HAD EARLIER MADE A BEGINNING, TO BRING ALSO TO COMPLETION THIS ACT OF GRACE ON YOUR PART.  

SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 8:7 

6. BUT SINCE YOU EXCEL IN EVERYTHING-IN FAITH, IN SPEECH, IN KNOWLEDGE, IN COMPLETE EARNESTNESS AND IN LOVE WE HAVE KINDLED IN YOU 

SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 8:7 

   SEE THAT YOU ALSO EXCEL IN THIS GRACE OF GIVING.  

PICTURE OF CHRISTMAS                                  

• DO YOU REMEMBER BEING A KID A CHRISTMAS 

• EXCITEMENT- COULDN’T WAIT-SEE WHAT YOU GOT 

• THEN SOMEWHERE IT CHANGED- NOT SURE WHEN 

• YOU MOVED TO OVERJOYED-GIVING A GIFT/ GIFTS 

CORRIE TEN BOOM QUOTE  

   “THE MEASURE OF A LIFE, AFTER ALL, IS NOT ITS DURATION BUT ITS DONATION” 

• THIS IS HOW MOST PEOPLE OPERATE THEIR LIVES  

• THEIR FINANCES 

LIVE SAVE GIVE 

• WHAT DO I WANT AND NEED- OR VICE VERSA 

• WHAT SHOULD I SAVE 

• IF THERE IS ANY LEFT OVER- WE MIGHT GIVE 

STATE OF THE PLATE- 12% 

BARNA- 18-20% 

GIVE. SAVE. LIVE                                               

• WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS GIVE FIRST (OT OR NOT) 

• SAVE SECOND 

• LIVE ON THE REST 

WHAT IS SO INTERESTING IS- 2/3 ARE STILL FOR ME 

• NOTHING WRONG WITH ANY OF THEM 

• JUST NEED TO RIGHT PRIORITY 

MORE 

   DEFINITION OF GENEROSITY: A READINESS TO GIVE MORE THAN EXPECTED OR NECESSARY 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 5:46  

  46. “IF YOU LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE YOU, WHAT REWARD WILL YOU GET? ARE NOT EVEN TAX COLLECTORS DOING THAT?  

    (WHY INCLUDE TAX COLLECTORS IN THIS VERSE- WHATS THE MESSAGE) 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 5:47 

  47. AND IF YOU GREET ONLY YOUR OWN PEOPLE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING MORE THAN OTHERS? 

JOAN KROC                                       

• WIFE OF THE FOUNDER OF MCDONALDS RAY KROC 

• VERY POOR IN ST PAUL MINNESOTA 

• J0AN SIGNIFIGANT CONTRIBUTION SAL  ARMY 

• 1.8 BILLION DOLLARS 2003- BECAME 2.2 

• CAPTIN IN THE SALV ARMY 

• SALVATION ARMY DOESN’T DELIVER 

• NO NAME MAN- EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT DELIVERED 

STREET BUSYNESS 

• LARGEST OPEN AIR DRUG MARKET IN WORLD 

• ROUGH- HARD TO SEE-OBVIOUSLY HARD TO POLICE 

KENSIGNTON BARBOR 

   TIME- TALENT- TREASURE- TOUCH 

QUOTE “YOUR BIBLE DOESN’T SAY 

   YOUR BIBLE DOESN’T SAY GOD LOVES A GIVER- IT SAYS IN THE VERY NEXT CHAPTER OF 2 CORINTHIANS 

GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.  

GENEROUS 

• HOW WE DOING WITH US BEING GENEROUS 

• FRANCIS CHAN STARTED THE MESSAGE WITH 

• WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE CHURCH WERE… 

• YOU ARE THE CHURCH- YOU HAVE A RICH LEAGACY OF GENEROSITY 

• ARE WE WILLING TO PRAY ABOUT LORD WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME TO DO?  

PRAY  

PLAN 

PARTICIPATE    

RETURN- BROUGHT 

DAD AT RESTAURANTS 

HOW CAN WE LEARN TO BE GENEROUS UNLESS WE PRACTICE IT 

PAUL IS WRITING TO CORINTH- THEY HAD GOOD INTENTIONS AND THEY DON’T FOLLOW THROUGH 

WHAT CAN YOU GIVE THIS WEEK? JUST PICK ONE THING AND GIVE AND LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS. 

The church is being generous right away  

Rides to medical appointments -Terry  

WHAT DO YOU DO MORE THAN OTHERS? 

WHAT DOES CHEERFUL GIVING LOOK AT SOUND MAKE? 

Do we every stop and pray about how to be generous?  

• Thinking that the church must be generous but not necessarily those who make up the church. 

https://www.bible.com/events/49522098

Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus 

Generosity Part 3 

God’s generous church 

Today we are continuing our teaching series “Generosity”. 

We are exploring our generous God’s will for his people. This teachign series is not just about giving of our money. It’s about a lifestyle of generosity, where we give of ourselves in all areas of our lives. 

Today we are going to understand that Generosity is a key ingredient in making a church what God desires and designed it to be. 

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬‬ 

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 

Here in Acts chapter 4 we are reading about the earliest days of the Church. This came immediately after the coming of the holy spirit at Pentecost. 

And so what we see here are new believers responding to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. There was no building, no denominations, no board meetings, not even a 4-week teaching series on how to be the church. They were simply living out of what God had done in them. 

On of the first ingredients we see is that “All believers were one in heart and mind.” 

This was a diverse group of people- some Roman, some Jewish, some city dwellers, some from the rural country sides. All different nations, races, they were all together- all people were together in one heart and mind. 

As followers of Jesus, we have more in common in Christ Jesus than a whole world of difference. 

“No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” 

They had their own homes, and their own things, but they didn’t live like it was off limits to everyone else. They saw themselves as a part of something greater, and they lived open-handed towards other people in the church, and into the community. 

One definition of generosity is “open handed living”, not grasping tightly to what is yours, but living with an open hand towards your neighbor. 

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭33‬‬ 

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 

Another key ingredient was the preaching and teaching about Jesus. If we lose this focus, if we get off center of preaching the saving and transforming power of Jesus Christ, the message of the gospel, the light of hope for our dark world. 

If we loose that, we become something less than what we are called to be. 

Believers in one heart and one mind, living open handed towards each other, proclaiming the name of Jesus- God’s grace is going to be at work. 

The proof of God’s abundant grace was at work, was that generosity had taken care of everyone’s needs. 

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭34‬-‭35‬‬ 

that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 

People were so moved by the Spirit of God and the immediate need around them, that they made big sacrifices to see the move of God continue. There is no sign of manipulation, no pleading from the church, nobody twisted their arm to give. 

People were simply responding to the work of God within them, to meet needs around them. That’s generosity. 

This is the church. Made up of believers in the saving, life giving person of Jesus Christ. United in heart and mind, focused on the call of God in our lives. Generous in giving to meet the needs of the people all around. People completely surrendered God and his abundant grace at work all around them. 

Will that be true of us? 

““No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬

‭“For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬-‭20‬

Let us pray:   

“Dear God, You are Worthy of it all. God, please help us be people whose cup is filled and overflowing, and we are drinking from the saucer.  

Jesus, we welcome You to speak in a powerful way this day. Change our minds, hearts, and souls so that we will be people who are overflowing with Your love to our family, community, and the world. Father, You are a loving Father. We want to be like You. 

Please help us give Your kindness and love so we may refresh the hearts of all people. We are transformed by You to bring Hope to the people.  We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.” 

Generosity:  First and foremost, God is a generous God. To follow the model of the Father is to be exceedingly generous.  Generosity is essential to the heart of Christ and the mission of the Church is generosity.  

Today we are continuing in our teaching series on Generosity, with the truth of God and the Cheerful Giver.   

Friends, I know what some of you may be thinking:  On no, another message on giving.   

But before any eyes start rolling, remember, generosity is not about God needing something from you, it’s about him wanting something for you.  

Our goal in this series is to see God’s generous heart lived through us.   

Giving, like many aspects of the Christian life, is a journey.  We begin at a particular point and progress over time.  Some individuals may advance faster, while others require more time.   

This sermon is not as much about our wallet; it is about our will. It is about the character of a Christlike disciple. To withhold generosity is to forget who we are as follower of Jesus.  

Scripture: Please turn with me to 2 Corinthians 9: 6-8. The scripture will be on the screen. 

We Give Because God Sows Bountifully – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 

Verse 6: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 

Verse 7: Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

Verse 8:  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 

In short, this passage teaches that generosity is an act of faith where we trust God to provide for us so that we can, in turn, be agents of His grace and provision for others.   

It provides the essential theology for Christian generosity, moving from the principle of sowing to the promise of provision.  The Word of God speaks it all.   

Let us pray: 

Heavenly Father, we come before you now, at this moment, asking you to meet us here. We invite the presence of your Holy Spirit to fill this place and to fill every heart gathered for this service. 

May our minds be attentive to the divine truth you long to embed within us. 

We confess that our hearts often grow closed, fearful, and hesitant, especially when it comes to giving. We worry about sufficiency and hold tightly to what is temporary.  

We ask specifically that you would transform us into people of generosity in all areas of life: 

• God, please help me/help us to be generous with our Faith: That we might boldly share the hope we have in Christ. 

• Father, please help me/help us be generous with our Time and Talents: That we might willingly give our energy and skills to serve the church. 

• Jesus, please help me/us be generous with our Treasures: That we might give freely and cheerfully.  

• Lord, please help me/us give our touch.  Help us to become friends to the friendless. Please help us in our relationships to others to convey the love of Christ to those to whom He assigned us. All people are important to the Lord.  

Lord, start this transformation with me, the one offering this prayer. Give me a vision for the generous life that reflects your own boundless giving. Remove all reluctance and replace it with the joy of a cheerful giver. 

Father, please open our hearts to receive the truth that will lead us to this freedom. We commit this time to you, asking for your presence and power, for your glory, Amen. 

No really, this is an awesome opportunity for me to unpack this passage for you and for me.  

God isn’t focused on the amount of our generosity (see the widow’s mite) but on the quality of our generosity – He loves a cheerful giver. 

Our Generosity is a Response to God’s generosity. 

The Law of the Harvest (Verse 6): The first principle of generosity is that it is a response to God’s immense giving, not an act of self-sufficiency.  

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6 

The Law of the Harvest: The Apostle Paul uses a simple farming analogy: If you plant more seeds, you have more crops.  It’s that simple. 

God is the Ultimate Sower, who provided His one and only Son. Our salvation is proof of God’s limitless, bountiful generosity. We are simply mirroring His nature. 

A little bit later in Verse 8 it says: “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 

God promises to make all that is needed for every good work.  God provides not so we can hoard, but so we can keep sowing. 

Generosity is the Fruit of a Sanctified Heart. 

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 

This verse describes the character of a Cheerful Giver. True generosity transforms the giver’s character. It is a fruit of holiness, connecting directly to the Nazarene emphasis on entire sanctification. 

The Greek word for “cheerful” is hilaros—we get the word hilarious from it!  

God loves an excited, joyful giver. Reluctance proves the heart is still grasping its possessions; cheerfulness proves the heart trusts God completely. 

The picture on the screen is of Opal Rush, a dear friend, who lived generosity.  Taken in 1998 shortly before I moved back home to Elkton, this photo features Earl, my mom, and Opal (right), who is remembered for famously paying off the Tampa Church of God building, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020. 

Generosity. That’s the kind of heart my friend Opal Rush had.  

Opal Rush is now in heaven, but her favorite saying still echoes with me 27 years later: “You can’t out-give God.”  

Opal’s Legacy is that of Generosity.  She lived a life of generosity, all the way to her final days.   

Opal, a beloved hairstylist by trade, loved to share how God had blessed her life, often linking those blessings directly to her commitment to giving. 

Opal had a deep heart for the lost, especially the inner-city children near 22nd Street between Busch Boulevard and Fowler in Tampa, Florida.  

Shortly after her husband, Brother Rush (a barber), passed away, Opal made a monumental decision. She told me she was going to pay off the church mortgage entirely because she wanted the monthly payment to go directly toward missions. 

I confess, I was young and totally ignorant of the concept of such radical generosity. I asked Opal, “Why would you want to spend your money to pay the mortgage off? Where are you going to get that kind of money from?”  

Opal was a dear soul who didn’t have a lot and didn’t live above her means. I truly couldn’t believe she had enough to clear the entire debt. 

Yet, Opal withdrew her life savings and paid every dime to settle the church mortgage. She was ecstatic, knowing the burden was lifted and the funds would now flow straight into sharing the Gospel. 

Generosity Brings Glory to God. 

The Promise of Abundance (Verse 8): Paul assures believers that their generosity will not leave them in need. God promises to make “all grace abound” to them.  

The purpose of this abundant blessing is twofold: 

• Personal Sufficiency: To ensure they always have “all that they need.” 

• Missional Abundance: To enable them to “abound in every good work.” 

This point establishes the foundational truth that generosity is not an obligation, but a privileged response to the abundance of God. 

God is the Ultimate Sower: The very first, greatest act of generosity was God sowing His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16).  

He didn’t sow “sparingly”; He gave His only Son for you and me, and the whole world. Our salvation is proof of God’s limitless, bountiful generosity. 

The Principle of Reciprocity (Not Reward): This concept of sowing and reaping is often misinterpreted as a financial guarantee: Give $100, get $1,000 back. Paul is teaching a spiritual principle of increase and sufficiency.  

C.S. Lewis said: “The only safe rule is to give more than you can spare.” 

When you sow with a generous spirit, that spirit is multiplied back to you. When you trust God with your resources, He promises to make “all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). 

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, in late September 2024, our community sprang into action. 

Volunteers from the East Rock Campus and Harrisonburg Campus joined forces with Compassion Church of the Nazarene in Lynchburg and traveled to Asheville to deliver vital aid. 

The work on the ground was immediate and practical: 

• Property Clearing: Clearing massive fallen trees from damaged properties. 

• Essential Aid: Cash was donated for a food pantry to purchase necessities, and a large quantity of food was delivered directly to people in need. 

• Repairs: Assisting with necessary electrical wiring repairs. 

I encourage you to speak with some of the East Rock Team members, such as Frank and Vickie Waldrop, Tim and Valerie Link, Lee Shifflett, Kenny Herring, and Bill Kingrea—about their powerful experiences.  

They went to bless and help and came back feeling deeply blessed to be serving on the ground and making a difference for God’s glory.  

This ministry often works closely with state and local recovery efforts, focusing on the essential human and spiritual element of the crisis. 

The response to these disasters demonstrates the regional aspect of our church’s generosity, ensuring that our Nazarene neighbors and communities near and far receive practical aid and the hope of Christ in their greatest moments of need. 

In short, the 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 teaches that generosity is an act of faith where we trust God to provide for us so that we can, in turn, be agents of His grace and provision for others. 

The rapid response efforts of the Church of the Nazarene are a key part of its larger Global Compassion Ministry, which is officially called Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM). 

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) is the relief and development arm of the Church of the Nazarene. Its work includes: 

• Emergency Relief/Disaster Response: This covers the “rapid response” aspect, addressing needs after natural or man-made disasters (sometimes referred to as Nazarene Disaster Response – NDR in the USA/Canada region). 

• Holistic Child Development (including the Child Sponsorship program). 

• Community Development and Social Transformation (addressing issues like poverty, hunger, health, and clean water). 

The rapid response initiatives are how the Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and local Nazarene churches provide immediate and long-term care in the face of crisis around the world. 

Our engagement with human suffering is holistic. Most recently, our four campuses united for a powerful act of compassion by assembling Crisis Care Kits.  

These kits are a practical, an immediate way our Nazarene District Rapid Relief Team assists communities when crisis hits, showcasing the generosity of the church.  

Video. Let’s watch a short Nazarene Missions Promo:   

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wjt5vvad0ljeevrcmsqg5/AIsF-6XGUG-xLfIWpAQ5d-A/Nazarene%20Missions%201_54.mp4?rlkey=8kv28j4mfkkr6dl6ou93gnrie&dl=0

The Response for me today and for everyone here is to live a life of generosity.   

Friends, the call to generosity is a call to discipleship. It is an opportunity to prove the depth of our trust in the Bountiful Sower, Jesus Christ. We are not called to give out of compulsion, but out of cheerful conviction. 

The true barrier to being a cheerful giver is not a lack of funds; it is a lack of faith—a place in our heart we still hold back from God. 

“What does it mean to truly sow abundantly? I saw it lived out in the generous heart of Opal Rush…” 

As I leaned close and told Opal the story of the service, how the debt was finally gone and her gift realized—a miracle happened. Though physically paralyzed, she began to cry, then weep. The gift was done. The debt was gone. 

That, my friends, is the harvest of sowing generously. Opal Rush, who gave more than she could spare, received a profound reward not in wealth or health, but in the deepest form of blessing: the realization of her heart’s desire. 

In a moment where she had nothing left to give, she was given the grace to know that her seed—her life-changing gift to God—had accomplished its purpose. 

The life of Opal Rush is a powerful testimony that proves the truth of the Scripture: You truly can’t out-give God. Her generous sowing resulted in an emotional, spiritual reaping that no earthly compensation could ever touch. 

Our Call to Action:  Sow Generously.   

Will you answer the Call?  

Will you sow with the same generosity as Opal, confident that you will have all that is needed because God promises to make “all grace abound” to you? 

Opal Rush’s life was a testament to the fact that when you invest in God’s kingdom, you always receive the greatest return. She gave all she had, and in doing so, she secured a legacy that is still blessing the church and funding missions today. 

Her final, selfless act reminds us of two things:  Generosity is not about abundance; it’s about availability.  

Opal didn’t have excess wealth, but she gave her life savings to advance the Kingdom. 

Every single gift has eternal impact. Her desire was simple: to turn a debt payment into a mission offering. That vision lives on. 

I challenge you today:  Look past the immediate. What small sacrifice can you make today that will result in an eternal impact? 

Embrace the truth of Opal’s famous saying: Do you truly believe that you can’t out-give God? Put that faith to the test this week. 

I want to be clear this morning, God is not calling you to give yourself into bankruptcy, but to blessing. He promises to pour back to you a “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”  

Trust Him today with the deepest, most guarded part of your life. He will provide the seed for the sower, and a harvest that brings glory to His name! 

Paul’s words are a holy challenge: Is your giving a joyful response, or a reluctant duty? 

Two ways you can respond today: 

1. Call to Surrender (Sanctification): If your giving is hesitant and reluctant, I invite you to ask the Holy Spirit to sanctify your finances. Ask God to free you from the worry, the fear, and the grasping that makes you a “sparing sower.”  

2. Call to Commitment (Partnership): If you’ve never committed to a purposeful, bountiful pattern of generosity—if you’ve been “sparing” where God calls you to be “bountiful”— today commit to being a faithful partner in the harvest, a true cheerful giver.  

Closing Prayer: 

Dear Lord, we invite You now to work a miracle of sanctification in our finances. Please free us from the bondage of “not enough.”   

Lord, we thank You for the opportunity to be faithful partners in the great harvest.  We dedicate ourselves to establishing a habit of intentional generosity that honors You. 

Father, great is Your faithfulness always.  We love You Lord.  In Jesus Name, Amen. 

• TODAY WE BEGIN A NEW SERIES ON GENEROSITY.  

• A WILLINGNESS TO HELP SOMEONE 

• MORE THAN WHAT IS TYPICALLY EXPECTED. 

• ¹⁶And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. HEB13 

THANKSGIVING 

• FIRST WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 

• LAUNCH TOWARDS THANKSGIVING 

• THANKSGIVING IS 2 WORDS-FOCUS ON 2^ND WORD 

• WE WILL LOOK AT WHAT IT MEANS  

• MORE IMPORTNANTLY WHAT GENEROSITY MEANS 

GIVING/GENEROSITY IS SPIRITUAL 

READING YOUR BIBLE- SPIRITUAL 

TEACHING ABOUT PRAYER- SPIRITUAL 

SERVING KIDS CITY/MOVEMENT-THAT’S DEF SPIRITUAL 

 WANNA START WITH PHOTO OF THE DOMROES FAMILY 

DOMROES FAMILY PICTURE                               

MID SEPTEMBER MISSIONARIES DOMROES VISITED US 

• CHURCH LEADERSHIP DECIDED 5K FOR THEM 

• BOARD MEMBER SAID MINIMUM- WILL SEE  

• WE GAVE THEM CHECK FOR 5, THEY WERE EXCITED 

• LAST WEEK SENT CHECK FOR ANOTHER 6500    

SCRIPTURE PROVERBS 11:25                        

  25. “A GENEROUS PERSON WILL PROSPER; WHOEVER REFRESHES OTHERS WILL BE REFRESHED.” 

JOESPH WHIDNEY (LATE 1800’S) 

• JOSEPH WHIDNEY- FORMER DOCTOR 

• FORMER PRESIDENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 

• HEART OF GENEROSITY (ESPECIALLY THE POOR) 

PICTURE PHINEAS BRESEE 

• LATE 1800’S 

• SOUTH CENTRAL LOSA ANGELES 

• THESE TWO MEN MEET AND TEAM UP 

PENIEL MISSION (NON DENOMINATIONAL) 

• THEY SERVE AND HELP HERE 

• THEY HAD SIMILAR METHODIST ROOTS 

• LOOKED-ASKED WHO HELPING PEOPLE MARGIN? 

A driving purpose of our church is to elevate those in need. 

QUOTE AMY CARMICHAEL 

   MISSIONARY SAID “YOU CAN GIVE WITHOUT LOVING, YOU CANNOT LOVE WITHOUT GIVING” 

• The whole idea of generosity – of giving – starts with God. 

 WHAT IS IT YOU TREASURE?                                

SCRIPTURE MATTEW 6:19 

   “DO NOT STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES ON EARTH, WHERE MOTHS AND VERMIN DESTROY, AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK IN AND STEAL.” 

SCRPITURE MATTHEW 6:20 

  20. BUT STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE MOTHS AND VERMIN DO NOT DESTROY, AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK IN AND STEAL.  

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:21 

  21. FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO.  

• YOU COULD ARGUE IF YOU WANT ABOUT TITHING 

• CANNOT ARGUE THAT JESUS DIDN’T CARE  

NUMBERS 

   16/38 PARABLES- MONEY OR POSSESSIONS 

2300 VERSES 

• THERE ARE MORE THAN 2300 VERSES ON THIS.  

WORD BELIEVE APPEARS 272 TIMES 

WORD PRAY APPEARS 371 TIMES 

WORD LOVE APPEARS 714 TIMES 

WORD GIVE APPEARS 2152 TIMES 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:24 

  24. “NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS. EITHER YOU WILL HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR YOU WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE ONE 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:24                         

   AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND MONEY.  

• DOESN’T SAY YOU WILL LOVE 1 AND LIKE THE OTHER- DOESN’T SAY LOVE AND TOLERATE  

DOESN’T SAY CANNOT SERVE BOTH GOD AND FAME 

DOESN’T SAY CANNOT SERVE GOD AND COUNTRY 

DOESN’T SAY CANNOT SERVE GOD AND SEX 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:25 

  25. THEREFORE, I TELL YOU, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU WILL EAT OR DRINK; OR ABOUT YOUR BODY, WHAT YOU WILL WEAR.  

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:25 

  25. IS NOT LIFE MORE THAN FOOD, AND THE BODY MORE THAN CLOTHES. (MOTHS DESTROY) 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:26 

  26. LOOK AT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR; THEY DO NOT SOW OR REAP OR STORE AWAY IN BARNS, AND YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDS THEM.  

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:27 

  27. CAN ANY ONE OF YOU BY WORRYING ADD A SINGLE HOUR TO YOUR LIFE.  

BIRDS- BRIAN CHARETTE 

MATTHEW A TAX COLLECTOR WRITES THESE WORDS 

PICTURE JOHN WESLEY                              

• [Wesley] had just finished buying some pictures for his room when one of the chambermaids came to his door. It was a winter day and he noticed that she had only a thin linen gown to wear for protection against the cold. He reached into his pocket to give her some money for a coat, and found he had little left. It struck him that the Lord was not pleased with how he had spent his money.  

• Perhaps as a result of this incident, in 1731 Wesley began to limit his expenses so he would have more money to give to the poor. He records that one year his income was £30, and his living expenses £28, so he had £2 to give away. The next year, his income doubled, but he still lived on £28 and gave £32 away. In the third year, his income jumped to £90; again he lived on £28, giving £62 away. The fourth year, he made £120, lived again on £28, and gave £92 to the poor. 

• HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED STINGY JOYFUL PEOPLE? 

• HAVE YOU MET GENEROUS MISERABLE PEOPLE? 

• SOCIALOGIST HAVE SO MANY STATS ON GENEROSITY CONNECTED TO A PERSONS JOY 

• BILL MAGNUSSON PIANO TUNER  

• HEART STRANGLEY WARMED BY GENEROSITY 

SCRIPTURE MATHEW 6:31 

  SO DO NOT WORRY, SAYING, “WHAT SHALL WE EAT? OR WHAT SHALL WE DRINK? OR WHAT SHALL WE WEAR? 

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:32 

  32. FOR THE PAGANS RUN AFTER ALL THESE THINGS, AND YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THEM.  

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:33 

  33. BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTOUESNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.  

SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 6:34 

  34. THEREFORE DO NOT WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, FOR TOMORROW WILL WORRY ABOUT ITSELF. EACH DAY HAS ENOUGH TROUBLE OF ITS OWN.” 

THANKS LIVING 

GOD DOESN’T WANT SOMETHING FROM US 

HE WANTS SOMETHING FOR US  

LUKE 22 

“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 

¹⁹And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 

²⁰In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.^[a] 2