Choosing God's Way for Financial Freedom
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone! Whether it's your first time here or you've been with us countless times, we are honored to have you. Today, we are starting a new series called "How to Make a Monster Listen," focusing on the topic of money. Money impacts everyone, and if not handled correctly, it can become a monster in our lives, causing stress, anxiety, and arguments. However, it doesn't have to be this way. The Bible provides practical guidance on managing money, and over the next few weeks, we will explore these teachings.
Before diving into the series, I want to invite you to our early morning prayer session this Wednesday from 6 to 7 a.m. at our Columbia and Florence campuses. It's a time to seek God and recenter ourselves at the start of the month.
Reflecting on the journey of our church, we started with the mission to help people know God, gather together, chase their purpose, and ultimately change the world. This vision remains our driving force. However, I must apologize for not addressing an essential aspect of discipleship—finances. Growing up, I often heard that the church just wants your money, which created an insecurity in me. But about a year and a half ago, I felt convicted to teach God's way of handling finances.
In Deuteronomy 30, God sets before us a choice between life and death, blessings and curses. This choice extends to our finances. We must decide whether to follow God's way or our own. God's way brings blessings, while our way often leads to stress and financial bondage. The Israelites' journey from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land illustrates this. Despite God's provision, they turned their relationship with Him into a transaction, leading to 40 years in the wilderness.
Financial decisions are crucial, and the reality we live in today is a result of past choices. We must choose God's way, which requires faith and trust. Faith often defies logic, but it leads to God's blessings. Obedience to God's commands attracts His favor, while disobedience brings curses. This principle applies to all areas of life, including finances.
As we embark on this series, I encourage you to commit to doing things God's way. Sit down with your family and come to an agreement to follow God's financial principles. If you haven't given your life to Jesus, that's the first step. Accept His grace, mercy, and love, and walk as a redeemed follower of Christ.
Our church practices what we preach. We give away at least 10% of our income to various ministries and causes. We are also expanding our facilities to accommodate more people and reach more communities. We believe in doing things God's way, and we invite you to join us in this journey.
To help you get started, we have a QR code that will take you to our sermon resources, including a budget template and other financial tools. Let's commit to doing things God's way and experience the blessings that come with obedience.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Choosing God's Way: In Deuteronomy 30, God sets before us a choice between life and death, blessings and curses. This choice extends to our finances. We must decide whether to follow God's way or our own. God's way brings blessings, while our way often leads to stress and financial bondage. This principle applies to all areas of life, including finances. [46:02]
2. Faith Over Logic: Choosing God's way requires faith, which often defies logic. Faith means trusting that God has it all figured out, even when we don't. This trust can alleviate the burden of trying to control everything ourselves. When we choose faith, we allow God to guide us, leading to His blessings and favor. [57:50]
3. Obedience Attracts Blessings: Obedience to God's commands attracts His blessings, while disobedience brings curses. This principle is evident throughout the Bible. When we follow God's way, blessings follow us. This applies not just to finances but to all areas of life, including relationships, mental peace, and overall well-being. [49:07]
4. Practical Steps to Financial Freedom: To handle finances God's way, we need practical tools and resources. Our church provides a budget template and other financial resources to help you manage your money according to biblical principles. This practical approach, combined with faith and obedience, can lead to financial freedom and blessings. [01:11:32]
5. Community and Accountability: Our church practices what we preach by giving away at least 10% of our income to various ministries and causes. We also have accountability measures in place to ensure financial integrity. This commitment to doing things God's way extends to our community, as we expand our facilities to reach more people and make a greater impact. [01:09:14]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[31:23] - Introduction to the Series
[32:40] - The Impact of Money
[33:53] - Vision and Mission of the Church
[35:06] - Apology and Conviction
[36:05] - Personal Insecurities About Money
[37:04] - Conviction to Teach About Finances
[37:49] - God's Way vs. Our Way
[39:18] - Financial Freedom and God's Way
[40:00] - Decisions and Their Impact
[43:18] - Choosing Your Adventure
[46:02] - The Importance of Choosing God's Way
[47:29] - God's Provision in the Wilderness
[48:26] - Transactional Relationship with God
[49:07] - Obedience Attracts Blessings
[51:51] - Choosing God's Way
[52:39] - Faith Over Logic
[55:05] - Blessings and Curses
[56:22] - Choosing Life in All Areas
[57:50] - Faith Over Logic
[59:52] - Trusting God Over Control
[01:01:41] - Compromise and Conviction
[01:03:47] - Obedience and Disobedience
[01:06:04] - The Consequences of Our Way
[01:07:38] - Practical Steps to Financial Freedom
[01:09:14] - Community and Accountability
[01:10:51] - Expanding Our Facilities
[01:11:32] - Resources for Financial Management
[01:12:06] - Homework: Choosing God's Way
[01:13:25] - Prayer for Salvation
[01:14:20] - Invitation to Respond
[01:15:21] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Deuteronomy 30:15-20: "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."
### Observation Questions
1. What choices does God set before the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30:15-20?
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the negative impacts money can have if not handled correctly? ([32:40])
3. How did the Israelites' relationship with God become transactional, and what was the consequence of this behavior? ([48:26])
4. What does the pastor say about the importance of choosing God's way over our own way in financial decisions? ([43:18])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the pastor emphasize the importance of choosing God's way in financial matters? How does this relate to the choices presented in Deuteronomy 30:15-20? ([46:02])
2. How does faith play a role in choosing God's way over our own way, especially when it comes to finances? ([57:50])
3. What are the potential blessings and curses associated with obedience and disobedience to God's commands, as outlined in Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and the sermon? ([49:07])
4. How does the pastor's personal experience and conviction about teaching finances reflect the principles found in Deuteronomy 30:15-20? ([37:49])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to make a significant financial decision. Did you choose to follow God's way or your own way? What was the outcome? ([43:18])
2. The pastor mentioned that faith often defies logic. Can you think of a situation where you had to rely on faith rather than logic? How did it turn out? ([57:50])
3. How can you start incorporating God's financial principles into your daily life? What practical steps can you take this week to begin this journey? ([01:11:32])
4. The sermon talks about the importance of community and accountability. How can you involve your family or small group in your financial decisions to ensure you are following God's way? ([01:09:14])
5. The pastor shared his personal struggle with teaching about finances due to past insecurities. Are there any areas in your life where past experiences are holding you back from fully trusting God? How can you overcome these insecurities? ([37:04])
6. The Israelites turned their relationship with God into a transaction. Are there areas in your life where you treat your relationship with God transactionally? How can you shift to a more genuine, faith-based relationship? ([48:26])
7. The pastor encourages us to choose life in all areas, including finances. What specific changes can you make this week to align your financial decisions with God's principles? ([46:02])
Devotional
Day 1: Choosing God's Way in Finances
Description: In Deuteronomy 30, God sets before us a choice between life and death, blessings and curses. This choice extends to our finances. We must decide whether to follow God's way or our own. God's way brings blessings, while our way often leads to stress and financial bondage. This principle applies to all areas of life, including finances. [46:02]
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."
Reflection: What financial decisions have you made recently that reflect either choosing God's way or your own way? How can you begin to align your financial choices with God's principles today?
Day 2: Faith Over Logic
Description: Choosing God's way requires faith, which often defies logic. Faith means trusting that God has it all figured out, even when we don't. This trust can alleviate the burden of trying to control everything ourselves. When we choose faith, we allow God to guide us, leading to His blessings and favor. [57:50]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own logic rather than faith in God? How can you practice trusting God more fully in those areas starting today?
Day 3: Obedience Attracts Blessings
Description: Obedience to God's commands attracts His blessings, while disobedience brings curses. This principle is evident throughout the Bible. When we follow God's way, blessings follow us. This applies not just to finances but to all areas of life, including relationships, mental peace, and overall well-being. [49:07]
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (ESV): "And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's blessings as a result of your obedience. How can you continue to cultivate a heart of obedience in your daily life?
Day 4: Practical Steps to Financial Freedom
Description: To handle finances God's way, we need practical tools and resources. Our church provides a budget template and other financial resources to help you manage your money according to biblical principles. This practical approach, combined with faith and obedience, can lead to financial freedom and blessings. [01:11:32]
Proverbs 21:5 (ESV): "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty."
Reflection: Have you taken practical steps to manage your finances according to biblical principles? What is one specific action you can take this week to move towards financial freedom?
Day 5: Community and Accountability
Description: Our church practices what we preach by giving away at least 10% of our income to various ministries and causes. We also have accountability measures in place to ensure financial integrity. This commitment to doing things God's way extends to our community, as we expand our facilities to reach more people and make a greater impact. [01:09:14]
Acts 2:44-45 (ESV): "And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need."
Reflection: How can you contribute to your community and hold yourself accountable in your financial practices? What steps can you take to ensure that your financial decisions positively impact those around you?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Blessing follows you when you follow him. It's biblical. And here's the truth. Most of us already know how this turns out. Especially in our finances. You know why? Because we've been living it for 40 years. We've been living it ever since we got a checking account. It's my way. I want this. I think it should be this way. And can I just tell you? You can choose this way if you want. But this is what you all have to deal with when you go your way. Or I can go, I'm going to choose God's way. And what would happen, what would happen if, I'm going to put a time frame on it. For six months, you just said, I'm going to try God's way." [01:06:04]
2. "Everything in your life boils down to a decision. The reality of what you're living today is because of a decision you may have made last year. You may have made yesterday. Your reality of life today is due to decisions. Your reality of life. Your reality of life. Your reality of life tomorrow is due to choices that you made. You could go throughout your entire life and you could break down the decisions that you've made and the life that you've had to live according to those choices, right?" [40:00]
3. "Only you can choose your adventure. Your spouse cannot choose your adventure today. Your pastor cannot choose your adventure for you today. Your kids, your grandparents, your parents, no matter how great they are, no matter how amazing they are, no matter what you've done, no matter where it is, you individually have to choose your adventure. And you will choose it one way or another today. We will all walk out of here and choose our adventure today." [46:02]
4. "So when I choose my way, it's just logic. It's just, let me boil everything down to a mathematical equation and let me just make it all work and let me make it all happen because it's all dependent on me because it's my way or no way and all this stuff's going to happen. And when I choose my way, I better have the logic right. I better have it figured out. But when I choose God's way, choose faith. I choose faith. And can I tell you something about faith? This is why faith is so scary. Faith defies logic." [57:50]
5. "I can go this route and here's the truth. Everybody in the room today, everybody online today, we have the choice. We have the choice. See, the reality is as much as blessing is a reality, so is curse. As much as God's way is an opportunity, so is my way is an opportunity. And this is the reality. This is the, I know people that will read those verses and go, well, God's just mean. Why would he create curses? Because in order for there to be blessing, there has to be curse." [55:05]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Here's the truth. Everything in your life boils down to a decision. The reality of what you're living today is because of a decision you may have made last year. You may have made yesterday. Your reality of life today is due to decisions. Your reality of life. Your reality of life. Your reality of life tomorrow is due to choices that you made. You could go throughout your entire life and you could break down the decisions that you've made and the life that you've had to live according to those choices, right? All of us could. We all could. Good, bad, ugly, doesn't matter. It's all choices." [40:00]
2. "What does disobedience bring? Nothing good, right? But when I choose God's way, I begin to walk in obedience. All right, God. I'll follow your word. I'll follow your command. I'll follow your suggestion. I'll do what you say. I'll do it how you say to do it. I'll follow you in this step as we walk through life and as we do this thing. Because what begins to happen is we begin to see the benefits of obedience or disobedience and disobedience as we read in Deuteronomy chapter 28 and in Deuteronomy chapter 30 is disobedience. Disobedience brings curses. It attracts curses every single time." [01:03:47]
3. "Hey, God, I'll come back when I need something. Hey, God, as long as you come through for me, then I'll show up to you. Hey, God, as long as you do what I ask, I'll keep praying. Hey, God, as long as the praise team, plays the worship songs I like, I'll show up. Hey, God, as long as the preacher doesn't preach on money, I'll be there. You made it, though. You're good. Right? All this stuff, and when they turn him into a transaction, and can I tell you something? The whole story is about this. God honors obedience. God begins to turn his back on them, and blessings come." [48:26]
4. "I know what's best. That's why we'll sit there and fight about opinions that don't even matter. Because if I'm not right, I'm not in control. And if I'm not in control, then I can't be, you know, I'm not useful. I'm worth nothing. Can I tell you something? Some of us just need to let go just go, all right, God, I'm going to practice not being in control and freak out for a little while. Some of you need to practice the art of freaking out and trusting God. I'm for real. I'm not always in control. I don't always have it together. God can do whatever God wants to do because I'm not God and I'm not in control." [59:52]
5. "I just want y'all to know that. My heart is that we would choose life. That we'd choose life and our finances. That we'd choose life with our kids. That we'd choose life in our marriage. That we'd choose life in our spiritual life. That we'd choose life at work. That we'd choose life at the grocery store. That we'd choose life when we wake up and we'd choose life when we go to bed. That we don't get to choose life in the areas of our life. That we just want there to be blessing. But we'd choose life in every area of our life because God loves us enough that He cares about it all." [56:22]
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