03
Nov '24
Youth Truth (Pt 3)
03
Nov '24
Living & Giving Generously
The following are a few notes and some images from Kevin’s presentation. Times in the video are given in parenthesis:
(3:35)
- Believers are living stones built on the Cornerstone of Jesus Christ into a spiritual temple – 1 Peter 2:4-5
- All believers together are the Temple of God where the Holy Spirit lives – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
- We are carefully being joined together to build God’s house/temple built on the foundation of the apostles & prophets with Jesus being the Cornerstone that holds it all together – Ephesians 2:19-22
(9:00)
Living and Giving Generously
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (CSB)
6 The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.
What do we learn from this passage of scripture?
- If you sow sparingly you reap sparingly
- If you sow generously you reap generously
- Each person should do(give) how they have decided in their heart
- not out of being pressured or feeling obligated
- God loves a cheerful giver
- God is able to make sure you have everything you need
Principle: You plant seeds in the people around you. You don’t know how much will be reaped. However, the more you plant, the more that will be reaped!
1. Sparing or Generous?
2 Corinthians 9:6 (CSB)
6 The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
Slurpee Illustration
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.”
- So is God’s word saying we should give to others generously so we can get something back generously? – – No.
- Jesus says it is better to give than to receive, so giving to receive a reward should not be our motivation
- God loves being generous and blessing His creation, that is how He’s been eternally
- God pours out blessings for everyone but if you’re holding tightly on to earthly treasures, you can’t hold what God is trying to pour out in your life
- So rewards is not our motivation for giving, it’s just a natural a reality of giving – when we share what we’ve been given we make room for God…
- This is NOT the prosperity gospel
- when we hold what God has given us, our wealth, resources & possessions with open hands instead of clinging to it, we are able to receive what God wants to pour out in our lives
- So, our motivation is not giving to get rewards
- Getting back generously is just a reality of giving because God is so generous
- This is a good segway into our next topic
Principle: Give generously and you will reap generously. You have to have empty, open hands to receive God’s Blessing.
(21:02)
2. Motivation to Give
2 Corinthians 9:7
7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, 2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
- The word for cheerful in this verse is the Greek word – HILL-AH-ROSS
- It means cheerful or JOYFUL
- Our modern understanding of cheerful may not do this term justice
- When I think of cheerful I think of a calm happy, content
- But Joyous/joyful seems to carry a passion or excitement
- How does this fit with our motivation to give?
- Our motivation is to some how show God love because of the joy we feel because He has loved us
- Our motivation is to give to God and share His love with others because we are so grateful for how God has given to us
- If we have received from God, if we’ve tasted and seen that He is good, if we count our blessings, how can we not be thankful and grateful for all God has given us
- When we’re grateful then we want to respond in some way
- Realizing how much God has given us produces joy and then we give in joyful worship – this should be our motivation
- As God’s children we see Who He is and How He’s given and we do what it talks about in Ephesians 5:1-2
Kevin Michael learns to give generously.
- We can never out give God but we can give back to Him and share what we have been given by Him
- I’ll be honest I haven’t always given the way I should…
- But God has still been faithful to me and my family
- He has always provided for me
- He has never let me down
- That motivates me even more to give
- He’s given to us and loved us so well we want to share that love and those gifts with others so they can experience it too
- We give in cheerful or joyful worship – our motivation is to show God love back and share with others the way He has loved us
Our giving:
- is a reflection of what’s in our heart
- tells how much God has affected our heart
- shows how much we realize we’ve been given
Idea: Make a list of all that God has given to you. Count your blessings and see if that doesn’t stir you heart to want to give back to Him!
Song: Pass It On (Green 309):
It only takes a spark to get a fire going,And soon all those aroundcan warm up to its glowing;That’s how it is with God’s love,Once you’ve experienced it:You spread His love to everyoneYou want to pass it on.
(30:33)
Give and Take
2 Corinthians 9:8 (CSB)
8 And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.
- God appears to be telling us not to worry in this verse
- Verse 8 seems to be God reassuring us that He is going to provide and make sure we have everything we need
- SO that we can be successful at living and giving generously
- We can give generously and know we are not going to go without what we NEED
- Don’t cling on to the earthly treasures, share and give generously with your resources and time, because I will make sure you are not needy
- Giving is a reflection of our trust in God to provide for us
What does living & giving Generously look like practically?
Giving generously = trusting God with:
- Tithe / 10% – enables the local church & it’s leaders to serve & equip the body for the work of ministry
- Offerings above their 10% (tithe) – to help specific ministries & charities who are honest & do the most good
- Share – with those in need, in wise ways
Living Generously :
- Giving time to at least ONE ministry in/to the church
- Helping others bear their burdens
- Serving others with our Spiritual Gifts
- Sharing the gospel – so people have their greatest need met
What’s the App?
1. THINK about everything God has given you & GIVE THANKS
2. GIVE back to God GENEROUSLY in CHEERFUL WORSHIP
3. SHARE the TIME & RESOURCES God has given you with others
(VIDEO: Tale of Two Seas)