TAKE A STEP

INTRO

MONEY MATTERS

GOD OWNS IT ALL.

WE ARE STEWARDS, NOT OWNERS.

GOD’S PEOPLE ARE GENEROUS PEOPLE — BECAUSE WE SERVE A GENEROUS GOD!

TODAY’S MESSAGE IS CALLED “TAKE A STEP”.

BEFORE YOU RUN A MARATHON, YOU START WITH A JOG. BEFORE YOU JOG, YOU WALK. BEFORE YOU WALK — YOU TAKE ONE STEP.

BEFORE SAVING A MILLION DOLLARS, START WITH SAVING $1,000.

BEFORE BUILDING A NEIGHBORHOOD, BUILD ONE HOUSE.

BEFORE DOING SOMETHING INCREDIBLE, TAKE A SINGLE STEP.

“THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP.”

“DON’T FOCUS ON THE WHOLE STAIRCASE; JUST TAKE THE FIRST STEP.” - MLK

Psalm 37:23 NLT

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Psalm 119:105 NLT

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

BIG IDEA

GOD LIGHTS THE NEXT STEP — NOT THE WHOLE JOURNEY.

YOUR NEXT STEP HAS AN EFFECT ON OTHERS.

John 12:1–8 NLT

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

1. HER GIFT WAS PRECIOUS TO HER.

THE PERFUME COST NEARLY A YEAR’S WAGES. 300 Dennarii

WHAT WAS MOST VALUABLE TO HER BECAME HER GIFT TO JESUS.

TRUE GENEROSITY ALWAYS COSTS SOMETHING.

WHEN WE GIVE WHAT’S PRECIOUS, IT BECOMES POWERFUL WORSHIP.

GENEROSITY IS NOT MEASURED BY THE AMOUNT, BUT BY THE SACRIFICE.

GOD ISN’T LOOKING AT THE GIFTS’S SIZE; HE’S LOOKING AT THE GIVER’S HEART.

WHEN JESUS HAS YOUR HEART, HE’LL HAVE YOUR WALLET.

2. HER GIFT WAS PLEASANT TO OTHERS.

John 12:3 NLT

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

EVERYONE IN THE ROOM EXPERIENCED THE EFFECT OF HER GENEROSITY.

HER ACT OF WORSHIP CHANGED THE ATMOSPHERE.

GENEROSITY CHANGES THE AIR IN YOUR HOME, WORKPLACE, AND RELATIONSHIPS.

YOUR GIVING IMPACTS YOUR CHILDREN, FRIENDS, AND COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU GIVE THROUGH YOUR CHURCH, HUNDREDS ARE TOUCHED BY YOUR FAITH.

A LIFE OF GENEROSITY BECOMES A FRAGRANCE PLEASING TO GOD AND PEOPLE.

“DON’T SMELL LIKE MONEY, SMELL LIKE GENEROSITY.”

3. HER GIFT WAS PERPLEXING TO SOME

John 12:4–5 NLT

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”

HER GENEROSITY WAS CRITICIZED.

SOME PEOPLE WILL QUESTION YOUR GENEROSITY, YOUR TITHING, OR YOUR BUDGETING.

CRITICS OFTEN COMMENT FROM A PLACE OF FEAR OR CONTROL, NOT FAITH.

OBEDIENCE TO GOD ALWAYS CONFUSES THE FLESH.

THE LOUDEST CRITICS OFTEN GIVE THE LEAST.

DON’T LET SOMEONE’S MISUNDERSTANDING ROB YOUR OBEDIENCE.

YOU ANSWER TO JESUS, NOT JUDAS.

4. HER GIFT WAS PLEASING TO JESUS.

John 12:7–8 NLT

Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

JESUS DEFENDED MARY AND SAID HER STORY WOULD BE TOLD FOR GENERATIONS.

HER GIVING MOVED THE HEART OF GOD.

SHE CAPTURED HEAVEN’S ATTENTION THROUGH HER ACT OF WORSHIP.

JESUS NOTICES WHEN YOU GIVE WITH LOVE.

HEAVEN CELEBRATES GENEROSITY THAT COSTS SOMETHING.

YOUR GIVING CAN INSPIRE GENERATIONS TO COME.

WHEN YOU PLEASE JESUS, THAT’S ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS.

YOUR GENEROSITY AFFECTS OTHERS.

THE GIVING LADDER

2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Exodus 25:2 NLT

“Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.

LET GOD MOVE YOUR HEART.

ON-RAMP: THE POTENTIAL GIVER

YOU HAVE INCOME, BUT YOU’VE NOT YET BEGUN GIVING.

EVERYTHING BEGINS WITH MOVEMENT.

START WHERE YOU ARE, NOT WHERE YOU WISH YOU WERE.

DON’T WAIT TO FEEL READY, OBEDIENCE BRINGS BLESSING.

YOU CAN’T GROW IF YOU DON’T BEGIN.

STEP 1: THE EMERGING GIVER

GIVING FOR THE FIRST TIME —STEPPING OUT IN FAITH AND TRUST.

IT’S A HUGE SPIRITUAL MOMENT.

FAITH GROWS WITH EACH ACT OF OBEDIENCE.

YOUR FIRST GIFT IS YOUR FIRST DECLARATION THAT GOD IS YOUR PROVIDER.

THE FIRST STEP IS OFTEN THE HARDEST, BUT IT OPENS THE DOOR TO MORE.

STEP 2: THE REGULAR GIVER

YOU’VE MADE GIVING PART OF YOUR RHYTHM AND BUDGET.

YOU’RE LEARNING TO PLAN GENEROSITY.

CONSISTENCY CREATES MATURITY.

REGULAR GIVING ALIGNS YOUR HEART WITH YOUR HABITS.

GIVING ON PURPOSE TURNS GENEROSITY INTO LIFESTYLE.

FAITHFUL PATTERNS PREPARE YOU FOR DEEPER TRUST.

STEP 3 : THE TITHER

GIVING IS THE FIRST 10% OF YOUR INCOME TO GOD THROUGH HIS CHURCH.

TITHING IS BIBLICAL, CONSISTENT, AND FAITH-BUILDING.

TITHING REMINDS US THAT GOD COMES FIRST.

IT’S NOT JUST GENEROSITY, IT’S OBEDIENCE.

WHEN WE TITHE, WE OPEN HEAVEN’S BLESSING.

THE TITHE IS THE TRAINING WHEELS FOR GENEROSITY.

STEP 4: THE EXTRAVAGANT GIVER

GIVING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE TITHE.

LIVING OPEN-HANDEDLY TOWARD GOD AND PEOPLE.

EXTRAVAGANT GIVERS SEE GIVING AS JOY, NOT DUTY.

THEY LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BLESS OTHERS.

GOD TRUSTS GENEROUS PEOPLE WITH MORE TO GIVE.

TRUE JOY COMES WHEN YOUR GIVING OUTPACES YOUR GETTING.

CONCLUSION/CLOSE

WE MAKE STRONGER IMPACT WHEN WE MAKE STRONGER COMMITMENT.

OUR PRAYER IS THAT YOU’LL HEAR GOD’S VOICE, TRUST HIS WORD, AND TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP.

PRAY.