A Generous People
Notes
Transcript
Intro - Homeless man on the side of the road, no cash. I wanted to be generous and my kids expected me to be generous. God calls us to be a generous people in many ways and one of those ways is toward His Church and its mission.
One place in Scripture that this is shown is in,
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
A People of Content (vs. 42-43)
Apostles Teaching - Expositional Preaching
The Fellowship - Doctrinal Unity
Lord’s Supper - Intentional Remembrance
The Prayer - Prayer Focus as a Body
Miracles - Supernatural Work
A People of Community (vs. 44-47)
All things in Common - Heart of Generosity
Selling their items and sharing as needs arise - People over Possessions
Regular Worshipping Together - Gather and Scatter
Glad and Generous Hearts - Gospel Love
Church Growth - Supernatural Work
When Content expressed in Community it should result in a Generous Heart.
One of the ways we recognize that statement here at GV is in the second paragraph of our Church Covenant where it says,
We engage therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, fully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
When we see the truth of who we are in our content, it is committed to in our community, and expressed in our generosity.
Generous in Love
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Do not be a love miser - Tell and Show
Generous in Commitment
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Come to Church for God and others before self
Generous in Giving
1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Proof is in the Pudding - 1400’s “The proof of the pudding is in the eating” - trust in God’s provision and promises, desire to be obedient, believe in the mission of God’s Church.
When we are generous in these ways, (love, commitment, and giving)
the mission is advanced
the community is strengthened
and our belief or content is validated.
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