CORE VALUES: LAVISHLY LIVING . . .

IMPERATIVES: #1 Determine Your Goal;#2 Pick A Point (It’s important to have a one point message. That way you only have one thing to remember.);#3 Create A Map (Me-We-God-You-We);#4 Internalize The Message (Tell a story that takes them on a journey) (Whether it’s a journey to your childhood home or a journey to a life-changing truth, it’s a story that will take you there.) (People make it difficult when they try to communicate points instead of telling a story.) (When you stand up and speak without notes and without having to read your sermon, you’re saying, “This is so important that it’s a part of me — and I think you should make it a part of you, too!”);#5 Engage The Audience;#6 Find Your Voice;#7 Find Some TractionPrayer, Checklist Questions: What do they need to know?Why do they need to know it?What do they need to do?Why do they need to do it?MAP:ME - Explain who you are and what you’re all about. Pastor in his church uses as introduction of idea or topic.WE - It takes me from what I’m thinking or feeling to what WE are thinking and feeling. I have to find an emotional common ground with them around the topic or idea of the message. My goal is to raise a felt need with as many people in the audience as I canGOD - where I take this emotional common ground I’ve established and introduce biblical truth into the discussion. Now I’m providing a solution to the need I just raised. Remember, we are not teaching the Bible to people; we’re teaching people the Bible. First, we connect with the people; then we move to the Bible.YOU - Once I’ve introduced God’s view on the subject as the answer to the need, it makes it easy for me to then ask, ‘What are you going to do about it? This becomes the application segment, and if I’ve followed my map well, instead of having to stir up interest in making the application, the application comes as a relief or it’s always the answer to a question they’re already asking. Communicate the challenge at a personal level because life-change is going to come when people apply the truth to their lives. You just go back, and everywhere you raised a need, now you make an application and make sure you don’t raise a felt need that you aren’t going to cover from God’s Word and answer with an application. The worst thing a communicator can do is overpromise and under-deliver. You’re building trust with your listeners. Not just trust in the information, but trust in the relationship.WE - the place to cast a common vision. A vision of what our lives, our church, and even our world would look like if only we would apply the truth of God’s Word. It’s the inspirational part of the message. My goal at this point is to inspire people to make a change. Sometimes being faced with God’s Word can leave the listener feeling defeated, if all they think about is how far they have to go. But, if I can give them a picture of what life will be like once they apply the truth, then they have a little hope.

GOAL: To help New Life to understand the Core Value of “Lavishly Living . . . 1) to Sow Life into lives; 2) As Contributors and not Consumers; and 3) As we Invest in the next generation.

POINT: Lavishly Living to Sow, to Contribute, and to Invest is of utmost importance.

INTRODUCTION

When I originally thought about the word “LAVISH” or “LAVISHLY” I thought in negative terms almost like it would be a sin to live LAVISHLY! But, as I began to study the word I realized that we are to LIVE LAVISHLY! I would go as far to say God wants us to Live Lavishly! So, what do I mean by LAVISHLY LIVING as a Core Value! Well, I’m glad you asked!

The word lavish is a late Middle English word that meant “profuse” . . . meaning “spending or giving freely and in large amount, often to excess; extravagant, or made or done freely and abundantly in great amount”, and in today’s vernacular, not much difference in meaning . . . “to expend or give in great amounts or without limit: such as lavish gifts on a person.” Now, when you think about living like that from a Christian perspective it becomes very noble and not sinful; very doable, and really it calls on us to run to it with great expedience!

You might say, “Pastor, I’m not that kind of person! I’ve never lived like that!” And I would ask you . . . “what about when you found that special one . . . your girlfriend, or your boyfriend . . . you know, the one sitting next to you right now . . . or the one your thinking about right now . . . and not paying attention to a word I’m saying because you are Lavishly thinking about him/her! You mean to tell me guys that buying all of the flowers and gifts, flaunting your attention all over her is not Living Lavishly? Or gals, what about all of that time you spent dolling yourself up so that your guy would stumble all over himself and his words just trying to be with you!” I remember those early days well with my wife Kaylene! I couldn’t wait to get home to see her and spend time with her . . . and I spent my fair share of money and more doting over her trying to win her heart! Ah, yes! I was Living Lavishly over her too! And the truth be known . . . I’m still Lavishly Living to keep her heart!

(ME)

Think about it . . . I love it when my wife Lives Lavishly towards me and spends or gives freely and in large amounts on my account . . . excessively and extravagantly without limit!

(WE)

Don’t You? Wouldn’t we all! Wouldn’t we love it if someone came up to us and gave in a manner such as this without limit . . . without any strings attached . . . and all that it was . . . was a benefit towards us! I know someone who did that . . . and I think you do too! It was Jesus! He spent His life freely and in large amounts . . . excessively and extravagantly, and freely as a gift to us . . . . YOU & ME!

So, as we look at this Core Value of Lavishly Living I want you to think of the example that Jesus gave to us and what He left us with!

As we look at Lavishly Living . . . it pertains to three (3) things in our Core Values:

Lavishly Living . . . to Sow Life into lives

2. Lavishly Living . . . as Contributors and not just Consumers

&

3. Lavishly Living . . . to Invest in the Next Generation

So, what is the basis for all of this in God’s Word? Well, again . . . I’m glad you asked: Let’s look at our first thought here . . .

MESSAGE

(GOD)

Lavishly Living to . . .

SOW LIFE INTO LIVES: (; , ; ; )

There are four (4) passages that speak directly to this in God’s Word:

Isaiah 55:10–11 NIV84

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Let me ask you this question: What do expect from the Words that you roll out of your mouth? For every word that rolls out of our mouths there will be an impact and a return. The return may not be an audible return, and it may not be a non-verbal return . . . but there will definitely be a return in one manner of another, either sooner or later! Just like God’s Word going out of His mouth . . . our words will not return empty! What we sow into someone else’s life will bring a return either good or bad, sooner or later! So, what is it that you expect to accomplish and achieve with what you are sowing? Is it LIFE? Is it DEATH? Is it ENCOURAGING or is it DISCOURAGING! We are all sowers . . . and we will all reap what we sow!

Isaiah 55:10 NIV84

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

In . . .

2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV84

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

When we LIVE LAVISHLY we speak of giving FREELY and in LARGE AMOUNTS! Paul is telling us that when we sow into someone else’s life sparingly we will also reap sparingly . . . and when we sow into someone’s life generously we will also reap generously! This goes far beyond money and finances brother’s and sister’s! We are talking about LIFE! We are talking about ENCOURAGEMENT! We are talking about so much more than finances here!

Let me ask you men . . . and be honest! If you were to walk into the house at night when you get home from work and you were to gasp (in a positive manner) at your wife like this! And you were to say to her . . . (not just once, but on a pretty consistent basis) I cannot believe how blessed I am to be married to you! You are gorgeous, you are beautiful, you are amazing, and I love you more every day and every time I see you! Now you laugh! But, seriously, if you do that with every serious bone in your body, and you mean it with all your heart . . . what do you think your wife would begin to think?

And ladies, let me ask you! If you were to be waiting for your husband to walk through that door at night and you met him with a gasp (also in positive manner) . . . and you were to say to him . . . (again not just once, but on a pretty consistent basis) I cannot believe how blessed I am to be married to you! You are so handsome, and sexy, and you work so hard to provide and take care of me and our family, I respect you so much, and I love you more every day! And now you laugh! But, seriously, if you do that with every serious bone in your body, and you mean it with all your heart . . . what do you think your husband would begin to think? And to both of you . . . what do you think that would do to your marriage!

Beyond the marriage . . . what do you think it would do to someone’s life if you honored them with your words and your actions every day that you see them? What could those types of words and actions do for someone?

You may think and say . . . where do I come up with these types of things? How do I know what to say to sow life into someone? You may say . . . “I could never come up or think of what to say!” but,

says . . .

2 Corinthians 9:10 NIV84

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

The words we speak are like this seed! God will provide the seed to us “the sowers” that will be bread for food that we can give abundantly to those around us! This bread will be life to those who hear it and eat of it! But, I must warn you it must be done with a sincere and true heart or it will come back and bite you because it is fake! We must not exaggerate our words and speak untruth! But, we must dig deep into the well and speak from the heart what God would want us to impact people with that is sincere and true! This will bring about a harvest of righteousness!

:6

John 4:36–37 NIV84

Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.

This verse speaks of the farmer that had sowed the grain and was then waiting for it to ripen. Jesus was pointing out that the spiritual harvest is always ready and must be reaped before it spoils. Even in the context of these verses . . . the Samaritans were leaving the town and coming across the fields toward him (v. 30). the eagerness of the people the Jews regarded as alien and rejected showed that they were like grain ready for harvesting. the disciples would not have to wait indefinitely for the result of their mission; the sowing and reaping could go on together. Jesus implied that they had already received a commission to reap for him and that they could benefit from the preparation he and the prophets had made.

In like manner, we are going to connect in fellowship with people as we sow life into their lives; and some of those lives that we are sowing into have been sown into before even we knew them! Just like these people that Jesus was talking about here . . . we are possibly going to see a harvest out of people that we have never sown into before . . . and we are going to reap something that someone else sowed into! But, no matter, the lives of people are for the granary of God! It is not the task of any one group or one person; but each reaps the benefit of its forerunners, and succeeding generations in turn gain from the accomplishments of their predecessors. Think about where Paul said “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but god made it grow.” And, again here in v.38 is the alluding to the preaching of John the Baptist, whose message of repentance had prepared the way for the disciples’ preaching about Jesus!

And now, . . .

Galatians 6:7–9 NIV84

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Gal

What a man sows he reaps. This is an immutable (unchangeable, changeless) law of God, which the phrase “God cannot be mocked” emphasizes. Consequently, though a man may fool himself (by sowing little but expecting much), he cannot fool God and the results of his poor sowing will be manifest.

This is true especially in Christian living. If a man spends his money, his words, his time, the use of his mind, and other matters . . . on what gratifies his fleshly nature, he will reap a fleshly harvest. And since the flesh is mortal and will one day pass away, the harvest will pass away also.

On the other hand, if a man uses his money, his words, his time, the use of his mind, and other matters to promote spiritual causes and to feed his spiritual nature, the resulting harvest will remain.

So, to LAVISHLY LIVE to Sow Life into Lives! That’s the first of LAVISHLY LIVING!

The second is to LAVISHLY LIVE . . .

AS CONTRIBUTORS AND NOT CONSUMERS: ; )

We have all heard it said . . . to be saved all you have to do is believe! This is true in principal and theory but it goes further! What do I mean? FAITH is the foundational principal of the Christian Life . . . but that same faith . . . if true will produce deeds!

says . . .

James 2:14–17 NIV84

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James is reminding his readers (and us) that faith not accompanied by good deeds is of no saving value whatsoever. These questions set up the hypothetical case of a person who “claims to have” genuine saving faith. If you notice, James does not say that the person actually has faith. The question “Can such faith save him?” is so structured in the Greek text that it expects a negative answer. James is really asking, “This faith can’t save him, can it?” Faith without works cannot save; it takes faith that proves itself in the deeds it produces. Therefore, we are not just to be consumers . . . taking in but not pouring out, not investing! We are to be Lavishly Living as contributors in every way that we can! So, our faith that lives within us is poured out into the lives of people around us as we contribute into their lives with our words, our actions, and our lives in every way possible!

further tells us . . .

1 Timothy 6:17–19 NIV84

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Again, we are to live as contributors, pouring into others lives with what we have been given! Just because we may have a lot does not mean that is to be all spent on ourselves! God gives to us richly so that it can be shared richly with others . . . and that is also for our enjoyment! I don’t know if you have ever had the chance to bless someone without them knowing it . . .and you get to stand on the sidelines and watch their reactions, their joy! There is almost nothing greater! You see, God gives to us so that we can do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and willing to share! The Scripture reminds us that when we do this that we “will lay up treasure for [ourselves] as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that [we] may take hold of the life that is truly life!

God wants us to LAVISHLY LIVE as contributors and not just as consumers!

Last, but not least . . . we are to LAVISHLY LIVE . . .

AS WE INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION:

We see through the Bible, the Word of God that we are to disciple and raise up, and pour into the generations that follow us! We are to share the things that we have learned, the wisdom that we have gained . . . and experience the building of the Kingdom of God together! We are to invest in the generations that follow us with our time, our money, our efforts, everything that we can sow into their lives that will assist and help them in their journey in the Kingdom of God . .. . we are to do . . . we are to invest!

Why? Because, when we sow . . . we reap! The Kingdom reaps! All of heaven reaps! All of eternity reaps! For every one (1) life that is touched and changed . . . 100’s & 1,000’s will follow! Multiplication happens!

DISCIPLE, RAISE UP, POUR INT

So, for every missions check we write . . . we are LAVISHLY sowing, we are LAVISHLY contributing, we are LAVISHLY investing!

For every prayer that we pray, far and wide, we are LAVISHLY sowing, we are LAVISHLY contributing, we are LAVISHLY investing!

For every moment we spend with another person . . . we are LAVISHLY sowing, we are LAVISHLY contributing, we are LAVISHLY investing!

For every penny we give towards Church camps, we are LAVISHLY sowing, we are LAVISHLY contributing, we are LAVISHLY investing!

For every time we serve in ministry, we are LAVISHLY sowing, we are LAVISHLY contributing, we are LAVISHLY investing!

I’M SURE YOU GET MY DRIFT!

(YOU)

So, what are you going to do about it? Are you making a decision even as I speak that you are going to LAVISHLY LIVE to so, to contribute, to invest!

IT’S A DECISION THAT ONLY YOU CAN MAKE FOR YOURSELF!

Will you LIVE “to expend or give in great amounts or without limit” as you sow life, as you contribute, and as you invest?

CONCLUSION

(WE)

I can see with great clarity what a life, what a town/city (and not just any city . . . but Valley City) can look like if we LAVISHLY LIVE our lives sowing into it! CONTRIBUTING into it! INVESTING into it!

What happened when Jesus LAVISHLY LIVED and He poured himself into a small group of men? Their lives were turned upside down and they were forever changed! I believe that as we LAVISHLY LIVE that many lives can be changed and transformed by the Power of God! As people see the living faith that is inside of us that not only talks of good things . . . but follows up with action . . . I SEE LIVES BEING CHANGED AND TRANSFORMED!

I see lives being changed! I see marriages being changed! I see families being changed! I see a street and a block being changed! I see a whole side of this city being changed! I see a whole city being changed! I see it spreading to a county being changed! You see, nothing is impossible for God! Nothing is too difficult for God! NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!

Where will your faith take you? Will it move you to action and will you LAVISHLY LIVE . . . for Jesus!