Celebrating Baptism and Embracing a Generous Life
Summary
Today is a day of celebration and transformation as we witness the public declaration of faith through baptism. Eleven individuals, including an entire family, are stepping forward to proclaim their commitment to follow Jesus. Baptism is not a means of salvation but a public testimony of a personal decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. As a church, we rejoice in the transformative power of God's grace and mercy in their lives.
We also embark on a new series, "The Generous Life," exploring what it means to live generously. It's important to clarify that God doesn't need our money, but He desires our obedience and wants us to experience His blessings. The Bible contains over 2,350 verses about money, underscoring its significance in our spiritual journey. Jesus taught that money can become a competing god in our lives, and we must choose whom we will serve.
In Malachi 3, God challenges us to bring the full tithe into the storehouse, promising to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings. Tithing is an act of faith, acknowledging that everything belongs to God. It existed before the law, was included in the law, and is affirmed by Jesus in the New Testament. Tithing is not about legalism but about aligning our hearts with God's purposes.
We are encouraged to assess our giving journey using a ladder of generosity. Whether emerging, percentage, tithing, extravagant, or surrendered givers, each step represents a deeper commitment to trust God with our resources. Giving transforms us, breaking the hold of materialism and enabling us to impact lives for eternity. Our generosity supports ministries that share the gospel, bringing hope and salvation to countless souls.
Ultimately, our giving is about more than finances; it's about participating in God's mission to reach the lost. If you're here today and haven't yet accepted Jesus as your Savior, know that this is the heart of why we give and serve. Jesus died to bridge the gap between us and God, offering forgiveness and eternal life. If you haven't made that decision, I invite you to do so today.
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Key Takeaways:
1. Baptism as a Public Declaration: Baptism is a powerful testimony of a personal decision to follow Jesus. It symbolizes the transformation that occurs when we accept Christ as our Savior. This act of obedience is a public declaration of faith, celebrating the grace and mercy of God in our lives. [00:00]
2. The Generous Life: Living a generous life is about more than finances; it's about aligning our hearts with God's purposes. God doesn't need our money, but He desires our obedience and wants us to experience His blessings. Generosity opens the windows of heaven, allowing God's favor to flow into every area of our lives. [48:49]
3. Tithing as an Act of Faith: Tithing is a biblical principle that existed before the law, was included in the law, and is affirmed by Jesus. It's an act of faith, acknowledging that everything belongs to God. By bringing the full tithe, we position ourselves to receive God's provision, protection, and prosperity. [50:47]
4. The Ladder of Generosity: Our journey of giving can be visualized as a ladder, with steps ranging from emerging to surrendered giving. Each step represents a deeper commitment to trust God with our resources. As we grow in generosity, we break the hold of materialism and impact lives for eternity. [01:11:35]
5. The Heart of Giving: Our giving is about participating in God's mission to reach the lost. It's not just about finances but about sharing the gospel and bringing hope to those who haven't heard. If you haven't accepted Jesus as your Savior, know that this is the heart of why we give and serve. [01:24:52]
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Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Baptism Sunday Celebration
- [02:00] - Introduction to The Generous Life Series
- [03:45] - Misconceptions About Church and Money
- [05:30] - God's Desire for Our Blessing
- [07:15] - The Importance of Obedience
- [09:00] - Biblical Verses on Money
- [11:00] - Jesus' Teachings on Money
- [13:00] - Malachi 3: Tithing and Blessing
- [15:00] - Tithing Before and Within the Law
- [17:00] - New Testament Affirmation of Tithing
- [19:00] - The Ladder of Generosity
- [21:00] - Transformational Power of Giving
- [23:00] - Invitation to Accept Jesus
- [25:00] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Generous Life
Bible Reading:
1. Malachi 3:8-12
2. Matthew 6:24
3. Genesis 14:18-20
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Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of baptism as described in the sermon, and how does it serve as a public declaration of faith? [00:30]
2. According to the sermon, why does God emphasize the importance of money in the Bible, and how many verses are dedicated to this topic? [48:49]
3. How does the sermon describe the concept of the "Ladder of Generosity," and what are the different levels mentioned? [01:11:35]
4. What does Malachi 3:10 promise to those who bring the full tithe into the storehouse, and how is this related to the sermon’s message on obedience and blessing? [50:47]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the relationship between obedience to God's word and experiencing His blessings in every area of life? [49:33]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that money can become a competing god in our lives, and how does this relate to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:24? [48:49]
3. How does the sermon interpret the practice of tithing as an act of faith, and what historical examples are provided to support this view? [01:00:28]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the transformational power of giving, both for the giver and for those who receive the benefits of generosity? [01:18:25]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own journey of faith. How does the act of baptism as a public declaration resonate with your personal experience of following Jesus? [00:30]
2. Consider your current approach to giving. Where do you see yourself on the "Ladder of Generosity," and what steps can you take to move to the next level? [01:11:35]
3. How do you currently view money in your life? Are there areas where it might be competing with God for your attention and devotion? How can you address this? [48:49]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's word in experiencing His blessings. What specific areas of your life might require greater obedience to align with God's purposes? [49:33]
5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's provision or protection as a result of your faithfulness in giving. How did this impact your faith journey? [50:47]
6. How can you actively participate in God's mission to reach the lost through your giving? Identify one ministry or cause you feel called to support and plan a tangible way to contribute. [01:24:52]
7. The sermon mentions the transformational power of giving. In what ways can you cultivate a heart of generosity that impacts both your life and the lives of others? [01:18:25]
Devotional
Day 1: Baptism as a Transformative Declaration
Baptism is a profound act of faith, symbolizing a personal decision to follow Jesus. It is not a means of salvation but a public testimony of one's commitment to Christ. This act of obedience celebrates the transformative power of God's grace and mercy in our lives. As we witness others taking this step, we are reminded of the new life we have in Christ and the community of believers we are part of. Baptism is a celebration of the inward change that occurs when we accept Jesus as our Savior, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith. [00:00]
Colossians 2:12 (ESV): "Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead."
Reflection: Think about your own baptism or the decision to follow Christ. How does this commitment continue to transform your daily life and interactions with others?
Day 2: Living a Generous Life
Living a generous life goes beyond financial giving; it is about aligning our hearts with God's purposes. God desires our obedience and wants us to experience His blessings. Generosity is a spiritual discipline that opens the windows of heaven, allowing God's favor to flow into every area of our lives. By living generously, we reflect God's character and participate in His mission to bless others. This lifestyle challenges us to trust God with our resources and to see the impact of our giving on the world around us. [48:49]
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV): "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: Consider how you can practice generosity in a non-financial way today. What is one act of kindness or service you can offer to someone in need?
Day 3: Tithing as an Act of Faith
Tithing is a biblical principle that acknowledges everything belongs to God. It is an act of faith that existed before the law, was included in the law, and is affirmed by Jesus in the New Testament. By bringing the full tithe, we position ourselves to receive God's provision, protection, and prosperity. Tithing is not about legalism but about aligning our hearts with God's purposes and trusting Him with our resources. It is a tangible expression of our faith and dependence on God. [50:47]
Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV): "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine."
Reflection: Reflect on your current approach to tithing. How does it reflect your trust in God's provision, and what steps can you take to deepen this trust?
Day 4: Climbing the Ladder of Generosity
Our journey of giving can be visualized as a ladder, with steps ranging from emerging to surrendered giving. Each step represents a deeper commitment to trust God with our resources. As we grow in generosity, we break the hold of materialism and impact lives for eternity. This journey challenges us to evaluate our giving habits and to seek ways to increase our generosity. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's mission and experience the joy of participating in His work. [01:11:35]
Luke 6:38 (ESV): "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
Reflection: Identify where you currently stand on the ladder of generosity. What is one practical step you can take to move to the next level of giving?
Day 5: The Heart of Giving
Our giving is about more than finances; it's about participating in God's mission to reach the lost. It is an expression of our faith and a way to share the gospel and bring hope to those who haven't heard. If you haven't accepted Jesus as your Savior, know that this is the heart of why we give and serve. Jesus died to bridge the gap between us and God, offering forgiveness and eternal life. Our generosity supports ministries that share this message, impacting lives for eternity. [01:24:52]
1 Timothy 6:18-19 (ESV): "They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."
Reflection: Reflect on the eternal impact of your giving. How can you intentionally support a ministry or cause that aligns with God's mission to reach the lost?
Quotes
"Yeah, we get to celebrate lives that have been changed by the love and the grace and the mercy of God. And so I'm going to ask you to go ahead and, well, you can be seated. You can be seated. And today, as a part of Baptism Sunday, we have 11 different people that are going to be baptized, seven of them in this service, including one entire family of five, which is really cool, and then four in the second service, and they're coming in right now. And I just want you to understand, today, these people are making a public declaration. They're saying, hey, listen, I want you to know that I've made a decision in my life, and that decision is that I'm going to follow Jesus for the rest of my days. We want you to know that baptism doesn't save anyone. They made that choice. They surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. They invited Him to come in to their hearts, to forgive them of their sins, to be their Savior, to be their Lord. And now they're making a public statement. And it's our opportunity, church, to celebrate what God has done in their life." [00:20:17] (60 seconds)
"And I just want you to know something. That's not true. Okay? First of all, just hear this. God doesn't need your money. All right? God doesn't need your money. And we're not after all of your money. But here's one thing that I want you to understand. And it really is the motivation of why we want to talk about being generous is because I want you to experience the fullness of God's blessing for your life. As your pastor, I want you to be blessed. I want you to walk with the favor and the blessing of God upon your life. And quite honestly, that's every part of your life. I'm not just talking about your finances. I want you to experience God's favor. I want you to experience God's blessing. And I believe God wants to pour his favor and blessing over every part of your life. But I believe that in order to release that kind of favor and blessing, that we have to walk in obedience to his word." [00:45:55] (58 seconds)
"In the context of the word of God, there are some topics that we know that are very important. Like one of them would be prayer, right? We know that prayer is important. Prayer is a significant part of what we need to do as followers of Jesus Christ, people who believe in God and believe that he's a God that does miracles. We pray. It's something that we've, and this may surprise you to find out that there are just a little bit more than 500 verses in the Bible that talk about prayer. 500 verses that talk about prayer. That's significant. That helps us to realize that prayer is something that we really need to grab a hold of and understand what it is and how it works and so prayer is important, okay?" [00:47:21] (39 seconds)
"Jesus talked about this in Matthew chapter 6 as a part of the Sermon on the Mount. He said, you can't serve two masters. You'll love one and hate the other. You'll be devoted to one and you'll despise the other. And then there's this line, you can't serve both God and money. You can't serve both God and money. What does that mean? You can't have God to be your God and then money to be your God. You can't serve both. See, he was helping us to realize that money has the potential to become a God in our lives. The thing that we chase after, the thing that we worship and it's all we think about and it's all we want and he's saying, listen, you gotta make a choice. I'm either gonna be God or money's gonna be God but it can't be both. And he was helping us to understand that we need to put money in its proper place. Money should not be a God. It's a tool. It's a tool in our hands to be used for God and for his honor and for his glory." [00:49:12] (63 seconds)
"And so, if it talks this much about it, then let's just have an honest conversation about it. Let's talk about what the word of God says. And so let's look today at a passage out of Malachi chapter 3. And I want you to see, God is speaking here and he's speaking to the prophet and to the nation of Israel. And he says this, will man rob God? Yeah, you are robbing me. But you say, how have we robbed you? In your tithes and contributions, or you could say tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 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." [00:50:58] (50 seconds)
"And here's what God says here in this passage. He says, test me in this. Pull me to the test. Think of this. Almighty God, the God who spoke and created everything. He's saying to us, and this is the only time you'll find this in Scripture. It's the only time you'll see where God says, test me. Just try it and see. And that's what God is saying. He's like, come on, test me. Just you try it and see what I'll do. Right? And so He's saying, put me to the test. And if you do, here's three things that will happen. First one, He says, I'm going to provide for you. Look at verse 10. I'm going to provide. He said, I will throw open the windows of heaven so that you're going to have so much you're not going to have need anymore. I'm going to throw open the windows of heaven. And so think of this. It's like a window at your house. The window is closed and then, you know, because it's, you know, it's cold or it's hot depending on the season. And on those beautiful days when you want to get that fresh air on the inside of the house where you open up the window so that it can all come in. God is saying, listen, your obedience, you bringing the tithe, what I'm going to do, I'm going to open up the window of heaven. And I've got the blessing of heaven that can be released through that window of your obedience right into your life." [00:55:06] (84 seconds)
"Then of course, yeah, like what people are saying that tithing is included in the law. Absolutely. It's a big part of the law, right? In fact, Leviticus chapter 27, verse 30 puts it this way. A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees belongs to the Lord. It is holy to the Lord. So tithe of everything. Again, they were agriculturally based but for us it would be whatever we bring in as increase. That paycheck that we get on a weekly basis, that's the increase that we have. What this passage is saying is that a tithe of all of that belongs to God. It's God's. And so for us to get a paycheck and to take that, even that first 10 % and go, you know what? Nevermind. I'm keeping this for myself. I worked. I earned it. It's my money, right? Well, this is very, very clear here. A tithe of everything belongs to God." [01:02:21] (54 seconds)
"And so when we're talking about this idea of living a generous life, I just want you to, our goal through this series is not to guilt you into giving or to twist your arm or to manipulate you, but it's to help you to walk in obedience to the word of God. Because when you're walking in obedience to God's word, that opens up the windows of heaven. And what's behind those windows is released into your world, into your life. Okay. So there may need to be a little bit of a shift in your thinking. So let me share another passage with you. It's in Psalms chapter 24. It's verse 1. And it says this. The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. What does that mean? It means it's all God's. I know we can walk around our homes and go, that's mine. And that's my, that couch is mine. That TV is mine. That car in the garage is mine. And we, and we walked around and we, we, we think all this is mine. And, you know, I have a job and I've worked hard and I got paychecks. And with that, that money, I was able to buy all this stuff and it's all mine. But according to Psalms 24, one, it's really not yours. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Everyone and everything in it belongs to God. So ultimately it's all God's." [01:06:46] (81 seconds)
"And I want to encourage you to take the next step in your journey of generosity, of living a generous life. We just finished the series like, do you see it? And, and do you see what your next step is? And what is your next step? And we talked about all these other areas, but we didn't talk about giving, but we're going to talk about it today. What's, what's your next step? When it comes to giving, what is your next step now to understand what your next step is and being a generous person, you need to understand where you're at today. And so I know you've been looking at this ladder, trying to figure out why is the ladder on there? And how come he's not talked about it? We're going to talk about it right now. Okay. And so I want to help you to kind of figure out what your next step may need to be. But in order to figure out what your next step is, you need to know again, where you're at. And so there's these different levels, if you will, of giving. And so we want to, we want to look at them. The first one, I'm going to try to do this with, with signs and a mic and a ladder. Okay. So pray, pray for me. All right. So the first level of giving, we'll put it down here. Hopefully you can see that, that, that, that's emerging. You're an emerging giver. That means, honestly, you're not, not really given. You're maybe just kind of stepping out. You give a couple bucks maybe here and there, but nothing regular. And, and you just kind of, you know, this whole idea of giving in church is kind of a brand new idea to you. Brand new thing. You're an emerging giver. Okay. That's awesome." [01:09:26] (92 seconds)
"Let me give you an example of two things that change. First of all, you change. Church, when you give, God begins to change your heart. Giving breaks greed off of your heart. Giving breaks the hold of materialism in your life. When you start giving, the thing that maybe was an idol or was a God for you, my money, my resources, my, well, all of my stuff. When you start giving, you know what, you change. And you begin to celebrate the fact that you will be able to be a part of giving $400,000 to Kingdom Builders so that ministry could happen around the world. Giving changes you. Another thing that giving does is that it changes the hearts of those who get to hear the gospel message. Again, why do we give? Why do we give? Why do we talk about bringing the tithe into the storehouse? And why do we talk about giving to Kingdom Builders? And we're going to, again, talk about that in weeks coming up. It's because there are people in our world today that still don't know that Jesus loves them." [01:17:11] (71 seconds)
"And the reason why it's Jesus Christ is because he's the only one who was willing to go to the cross and die and pay the penalty and price for my sin and for your sin. And that sin that we've all committed, that sin is a barrier. It keeps us. It keeps us from God. We can't be in God's presence because he's so holy. Sin can't be there, and so there's a big problem. We're all sinners, but God loves us and wants us there with him. That's why he sent Jesus. And Jesus came and he died, and in dying on the cross, he paid the price for your sin and for my sin. And if we put our faith and trust in him, if we ask him to come into our lives, we ask him to forgive us of our sins, he forgives every part of it so that we, one day, will be able to go to heaven and be with God. And, friend, you need to know that. And not just you, but everybody else in this East Valley who hasn't heard that story yet. They need to know, and not just the people in the East Valley, but people all around the world need to know that there's a God that loves them, and there's a Savior that died for them." [01:24:12] (63 seconds)
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