Sent to be Generous

Introduction:

Thesis: "Once we’ve encountered Jesus, we are sent to share this message of hope to the world."

Today we are talking about generosity. I believe that we need to live a sent life that is generous!

We are coming into that season where generosity soars and people are willing to give and bless others.

A study that was conducted in 2014 showed that religious people who had a frequent church attendance and a higher degree of important of beliefs were associated with increased giving. A church attender is 25% more likely to give vs someone who is non-religious.

Stats on generosity:

Some of you may be thinking…why did I come this Sunday? Oh man…this Pastors only wants my wallet. On the contrary, I want to speak to your heart this morning.

Jesus talked much about money.

Sixteen of the thirty-eight parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions.

In the Gospels, an amazing one out of ten verses (288 in all) deal directly with the subject of money.

The Bible offers

500 verses on prayer,

less than 500 verses on faith,

but more than 2,000 verses on money and possessions.

You are already an amazing generous church. Since 2020 Turning Point has given more than $350k in Kingdom difference initiatives. Today is a reminder of the scriptural principles around generosity:

Proverbs 11:24 “Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.”

When you live your life in a place of generosity, it makes your life better.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill

“A life not lived for others is not a life.” - Mother Teresa

Our missional values at Turning Point is that everyone would:

Know God

Find Freedom

Discover Purpose

Make a Difference (making a difference with their life!)

What qualities and characteristics make up a generous person?

I want to share with you four qualities of a generous person:

1. The generous are happy.

When you go to a bake goods sale (illustration)

Emotional feelings that come with helping give towards someone.

Proverbs 11:25 NLT “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

Something happens to you when you give.

The Lord created us to be a generous people.

Proverbs 21:26 NLT “Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!”

I am so impressed by the generosity of our church. I have countless stories of how your generosity has made a difference in the lives of a single mom, someone who had very little, giving a Christmas to a family or providing a job for people to get back on their feet.

2. The generous are compassionate.

Generous people are in tune with the injustices of this world. They want to figure out a way to help. Generous people “see” what is happening around them and take the time to care for those in need.

Proverbs 29:7 NLT “The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all.”

SERVE Day stories

Proverbs 21:13 NLT “Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.”

3. The generous are blessed.

I want to teach you this with good solid theology. You never give in order to get.

When you give, so you can get…that’s prosperity theology. We don’t subscribe to this thinking.

May our motivation never be to get something when we give.

May we give, because we have a heart to give. We are blessed to be a blessing.

Proverbs 22:9 NLT “Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.”

Proverbs 28:27 NLT “Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.”

4. The generous are rewarded.

Wait a sec…I thought you never give in order to get. That’s true. However, there is scriptural promise for being rewarded according to what we have done or haven’t done.

Salvation is separated as the gift.

Judgement seat of God.

Romans 14:10 NLT “So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”

I will give an account of my life. I want to hear the words, “well done good and faithful servant!”

Having a healthy “Fear of the Lord” is important when stewarding the resources that have been given to you.

Proverbs 19:17 NLT “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord— and he will repay you!”

Revelation 22:12 NLT “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.”

A Legacy life - to live a life beyond my life.

“What we do for ourselves usually dies with us. What we do for others lives beyond us.” Author Unknown

To do something that far outlives our life.

Here are some scriptures that articulate a Legacy Life

Psalm 112:9 NLT “They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.” a Legacy Life

Consider joining the Legacy Partner Team

Psalm 112:5–6 NLT “Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered.” - a Legacy Life

Having the spirit stir in your heart to give your life away.

2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT “Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.”

I want us to be known as a gracious and generous church.

I want to show you how you can be a Legacy person sent by God to make a difference:

2 Corinthians 9:11 “Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.”

Four ways to be a legacy person:

1. Generous with our time.

We have a team of people that give thousands of hours each year to serve within the church or outside the church.

Tech

Worship

Kid’s Life

Hospitality

Prayer

Care Team

Thank the dream team!

2. Generous with your talents.

Ephesians 4:11–13 NLT “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”

3. Generous with your touch.

Sending a text

Praying with someone

Taking someone to coffee

another ways of saying it…a person of encouragement

1. smile

2. sympathize

3. speak up

4. serve

5. sacrifice

4. Generous with your treasure.

This is with your money.

Luke 6:38 NLT “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Proverbs 19:17 NLT “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord— and he will repay you!”

One reason is God’s passion for justice; so often the poor are victims of injustice and oppression. Another reason is his love for those he created. Since the poor do not have access to the advantages of the world, many consider them unlovable. But they still bear the image of God. Who would look out for the poor if not God? The poor also often exhibit the values God is looking for: a spirit of brokenness, trust and complete dependence upon him.

When you give to the poor, the Lord regards this as a gift to Him! It will be given back to you. Once again, this is not our motivation. It is a promise of the Lord’s economy.

Bottom Line Point:

The value of life isn’t determined by how much I achieve or accumulate but by how much of my life I give away.