Building a Community of Faith and Generosity
Summary
Building a community for God-seekers is at the heart of our church's vision. This vision is not just a fleeting idea but a prophetic call to create a space where people from all walks of life can come together in pursuit of God. Our church is a multi-campus, multi-ethnic, multi-generational community that seeks to make disciples, train leaders, and impact the world. This vision is not just for the church as a whole but also for each of us individually. We are called to live out this vision in our daily lives, wherever God places us.
The Bible teaches us that without vision, people cast off restraint. Vision unifies us, much like passengers on a plane headed to the same destination. It is crucial to understand that God's vision for us requires collaboration. We bring the seed, and God makes it grow. Our seed is our life, and our life is represented by our money. When we invest our money into God's vision, we are sowing a seed that will yield a harvest. This requires faith and patience, as some seeds take longer to germinate than others.
The parable of the sower illustrates the importance of preparing the soil of our hearts to receive God's word. The seed is the word of God, and the soil is our heart. We must turn our hearts to Jesus daily, making Him the Lord of our lives. This is not a one-time event but a lifestyle. The enemies of the harvest—cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, and desires for other things—can choke the word and prevent it from bearing fruit. Therefore, we must guard our hearts and focus on God's vision for our lives.
Tithing is a practical way to align our lives with God's vision. It is not an act of generosity but an act of obedience, as the tithe belongs to God. Tithing orients our lives towards faith, tells God that we trust Him, and provides for our church. It transforms our money into seed, connects it to a kingdom purpose, and reminds us that God is our source. By tithing, we prepare our hearts for a harvest and open the door for faith and generosity.
Key Takeaways:
- Vision is essential for unity and direction. Without it, people do what is right in their own eyes. Vision is like an airplane that unifies its passengers towards a common destination. It is crucial to understand and embrace the vision God has for us individually and as a church. [06:06]
- God's vision requires collaboration. We bring the seed, and God makes it grow. Our seed is our life, represented by our money. When we invest in God's vision, we sow a seed that will yield a harvest. This process requires faith and patience. [11:10]
- The parable of the sower teaches us to prepare the soil of our hearts to receive God's word. The seed is the word of God, and the soil is our heart. We must turn our hearts to Jesus daily, making Him the Lord of our lives. [17:12]
- Tithing is an act of obedience, not generosity. The tithe belongs to God and is a way to align our lives with His vision. Tithing orients us towards faith, tells God we trust Him, and provides for our church. It transforms our money into seed and connects it to a kingdom purpose. [26:14]
- Tithing prepares our hearts for a harvest and opens the door for faith and generosity. It reminds us that God is our source and that our job has eternal significance. By tithing, we break self-reliance and greed off our hearts and open the windows of heaven for God's blessing. [32:52]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:34] - Vision for the Church
[02:59] - Building a Community
[04:31] - Mission: Make Disciples
[06:06] - Importance of Vision
[07:19] - Prophetic Vision
[08:59] - God's Vision and Collaboration
[09:51] - Seed as Life
[10:14] - Patience in Growth
[11:10] - Collaboration with God
[12:30] - Money as Seed
[13:14] - Investing in Vision
[14:56] - Parable of the Sower
[17:12] - Turning Hearts to Jesus
[18:30] - Understanding Parables
[19:29] - Enemies of the Harvest
[20:37] - Good Ground and Fruitfulness
[21:47] - Preparing Hearts for Harvest
[22:59] - Seed and Money
[23:44] - Tithing and Obedience
[25:19] - Blessings and Curses
[26:14] - Tithing as a Test
[27:36] - Testing God
[28:30] - Living a Blessed Life
[29:14] - Faith and Tithing
[30:23] - Trusting God
[31:52] - Eternal Significance
[32:52] - Preparing for Harvest
[33:25] - Faith and Generosity
[34:39] - Vision Builders Event
[35:33] - Planting Seeds
[36:04] - Celebration and Future
[37:12] - Encouragement to Tithe
[38:46] - Online Giving
[39:56] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Proverbs 29:18 - "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."
2. Habakkuk 2:2-3 - "And the Lord answered me: 'Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.'"
3. Mark 4:3-20 - The Parable of the Sower
Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the significance of having a vision for both the church and individuals? [01:34]
2. How does the parable of the sower illustrate the importance of preparing our hearts to receive God's word? [14:56]
3. What are the three enemies of the harvest mentioned in the sermon, and how do they affect our spiritual growth? [19:29]
4. How is tithing described in the sermon, and what role does it play in aligning our lives with God's vision? [26:14]
Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does having a clear vision prevent people from "casting off restraint" as mentioned in Proverbs 29:18? How does this apply to the church's mission? [04:31]
2. How does the concept of collaboration with God, as discussed in the sermon, change the way we view our role in God's vision? [11:10]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between our money and our life, and how does this relate to the idea of sowing seeds? [12:30]
4. How does the sermon interpret the act of tithing as a test of faith and trust in God? What implications does this have for our spiritual journey? [27:36]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal vision. How does it align with the church's vision of building a community for God-seekers? What steps can you take to better align your personal vision with God's vision? [02:59]
2. Consider the soil of your heart. What practical steps can you take to prepare your heart daily to receive God's word and prevent it from being choked by life's distractions? [17:12]
3. Identify one area in your life where you struggle with the "cares of the world, deceitfulness of riches, or desires for other things." How can you address this to ensure it doesn't hinder your spiritual growth? [19:29]
4. How can you practice tithing as an act of obedience and faith, even when financial circumstances are challenging? What changes might you need to make in your budgeting or financial planning? [29:14]
5. Think about a recent decision or action. How did it reflect your trust in God as your source? What can you do to remind yourself that God is your source in future decisions? [31:52]
6. How can you actively participate in the church's mission to make disciples, train leaders, and impact the world? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [04:31]
7. Reflect on a time when you felt disconnected from God's vision. What steps can you take to reconnect and ensure you are part of the collaborative process with God? [08:59]
Devotional
Day 1: Vision as a Unifying Force
Vision is essential for unity and direction. Without it, people do what is right in their own eyes. Vision is like an airplane that unifies its passengers towards a common destination. It is crucial to understand and embrace the vision God has for us individually and as a church. [06:06]
"Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." (Proverbs 29:18, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel directionless? How can you seek God's vision to bring clarity and unity to that area today?
Day 2: Collaboration with God in His Vision
God's vision requires collaboration. We bring the seed, and God makes it grow. Our seed is our life, represented by our money. When we invest in God's vision, we sow a seed that will yield a harvest. This process requires faith and patience. [11:10]
"For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." (1 Corinthians 3:9, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a specific way you can collaborate with God today. What is one step you can take to invest your time, talents, or resources into His vision?
Day 3: Preparing the Heart for God's Word
The parable of the sower teaches us to prepare the soil of our hearts to receive God's word. The seed is the word of God, and the soil is our heart. We must turn our hearts to Jesus daily, making Him the Lord of our lives. [17:12]
"And these are the ones sown on good soil: the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." (Mark 4:20, ESV)
Reflection: What distractions or worries are currently choking the word of God in your life? How can you intentionally prepare your heart to be good soil today?
Day 4: Tithing as an Act of Obedience
Tithing is an act of obedience, not generosity. The tithe belongs to God and is a way to align our lives with His vision. Tithing orients us towards faith, tells God we trust Him, and provides for our church. It transforms our money into seed and connects it to a kingdom purpose. [26:14]
"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." (Malachi 3:10, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your current attitude towards tithing. How can you shift your perspective to see it as an act of obedience and trust in God?
Day 5: Opening the Door for Faith and Generosity
Tithing prepares our hearts for a harvest and opens the door for faith and generosity. It reminds us that God is our source and that our job has eternal significance. By tithing, we break self-reliance and greed off our hearts and open the windows of heaven for God's blessing. [32:52]
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you practice generosity today, beyond financial giving? How can you cultivate a heart that is open to God's blessings and ready to bless others?
Quotes
1) "And as we walk parallel and beside the church and the vision that God has given us, my hope is that we'll learn some things about our individual lives, our individual vision that God's given us for our lives. individually. But today, I really want to talk again really more about the prophetic vision that God has given us as a church. And I want to talk a little bit about how to move it from being a vision to reality, from being a vision to reality. And so, I want to begin really just by just sharing again with you, I don't think I can say it enough, really is the vision that God has given us as a church. We are building a community for God -seekers. And that's what we from the least to the greatest. We want to have an open door, an open heart, an open life to other God -seekers." [01:34] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "And so, as we do that, we open up the opportunities for more leaders. We open up the opportunities to reach different neighborhoods, more people, while still maintaining a community of believers. You know, when you walk in the back door, you see people that you know, that you do life with, but you also see people that you've never met before. And so, have a community where we have, it's multi -agency. It's multi -ethnic, multi -racial, and it's multi -generational. So, I believe that's what a healthy church looks like. And so, that's the kind of church that you're a part of. So, it's important that you understand that that's what we're working on, whether we're talking about small groups or world missions or local missions or just about any kind of subject that we bring you, it's really under the cover of the idea that we want to build a healthy community for people who are seeking God." [02:59] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "So God gives us the vision. Then we sow the seed. Then God makes the seed sprout, grow, and to mature. And then through faith and patience, we participate in the harvest. It's a pretty simple program, isn't it? I mean, it's not hard to understand the math of that. And so, but I've always wondered, you know, and thought about for years now, been very clear. You hear that buzzing? It's a fan motor? Okay. Well, good. Maybe it's, that's great. Praise the Lord. Doing his job. Great. So your seed, and here we are talking about seed, right? You sow the seed. So your seed that you sow is your life." [09:51] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "So the Bible says that the seed is the word. That is the living and prophetic vision that God gives. So we sow the seed when we invest into the vision. Make sense? We sow the seed when we invest in the vision. Our investment is the life we sow mixed with faith and patience. So into the soil of faith, the seed goes. What is the seed? It is our life. Our life. How do we represent our life? By our money. So we invest our money into the vision that God's have it, and that's like sowing a seed. Your finance become a seed. It becomes a seed. So there's life contained in the seed, and your money is your life. When you give God your money, you are investing your life because your money is the seed of your life." [13:14] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "And so it's the turning of our heart that really controls the whole thing. It's preparing our heart, the soil of our life, the soil of our heart, preparing it for God's seed, God's vision that he has for your life. And here, I want to make this really, really, really clear. God has a vision for every one of your lives. And so sometimes it's hard to find. I heard somebody say one time, it's like a blind dog in a meat house. He's close to it, but he doesn't know exactly where it is. Yeah. And so that's kind of how my vision has been sometimes. I was like a blind dog in a meat house. I smell it. I know I'm close." [22:27] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "So what you do with the seed, your money, will control what, how, and where the blessings of God are in your life. It's gotten so quiet in here. Are y 'all okay? Everybody all right so far? It's all right? It's okay for me to just share the word? Is it all right? This is the Bible, okay? It's what the Bible says. Don't shoot me. I'm just the delivery boy, okay? Don't shoot me. Malachi chapter 3. Will a man rob God? How many of you have been robbers in your life? Don't raise your hand. Robbers and thieves, right? He said, will a man rob God?" [23:44] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "So, he says here, verse 10, bring all the tithes into the storehouse. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse. Here's just some thoughts. I've got more after this, but here. We do not pay our tithes. First of all, a tithe means a tenth. That's literally what the word means, a tenth. And secondly, that tenth is to be brought into the place where you are pastored, where you're cared for, where you're discipled, where you do life, the place where you hear the word, the place where you join the vision, the place where you become a part of a family, a spiritual family. And so, we don't then pay our tithes, nor do we give our tithes. The Bible says that we bring them. We bring them. Now, you only pay for something or give something that belongs to you." [26:14] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "The tithe orients our lives towards faith. When you give of your tithes, it orients you towards faith. What do I mean by that? I mean that, you know, when you first, at least Nancy and I were like this, when we first started tithing, we had more bills than we had income. Can somebody say amen to that? Like a stack of bills was that high and the income was about that high. And so you think, well, I'm just gonna wait till the stack of bills goes down a little bit and then I will tithe. Well, the Bible says bring all the tithes into the storehouse. It doesn't say if your income is up here and you're, you know, you're gonna tithe. If your bills are down there, then bring it all. No, it doesn't. It says, no, bring all the tithes into the storehouse." [29:14] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9) "It breaks our self -reliance and greed off our hearts. Number nine, it opens the windows of heaven for God's blessing. And number 10, it reminds us that God is first in our life. That's my favorite one. These are the reasons that Nancy. And number 10 is it reminds us that God is first in our lives. That's my favorite one. He's first in our lives. So the tithe prepares our heart for a harvest. We tithe, it's like breaking up the fallow ground in our life. It's putting us in position, A, number one, to be used by God. It's building our faith. It's building our trust. It's reminding ourselves that God's first in our life. It's keeping us on an internal perspective. It's making us people of God, reminding us that we're not our source, that our job has eternal significance, that self -reliance has no place in my life." [32:52] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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