Embracing Greater Works Through Generosity and Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing a Life of Greater Works

Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are invited into a life filled with divine promises and opportunities. This is not just about personal salvation but about stepping into a realm of greater works and blessings. God has prepared a life of purpose and impact for us, and our journey with Christ is meant to be abundant and transformative. We are called to live out the abundant life that Jesus promised, moving beyond the initial experience of salvation to a life of divine purpose. This means actively seeking ways to serve others, using our unique gifts and talents to make a difference in the world. [11:03]

John 14:12-13 (ESV): "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to move beyond personal salvation and embrace a life of greater works and blessings?

Day 2: Reflecting God's Character Through Generosity

Generosity is a powerful reflection of God's character and a way to impact the lives of others. It goes beyond financial giving and involves embodying the love and compassion of Christ in tangible ways. By supporting those in need, like Shannon Ruff, we become vessels of God's love and provision. Generosity is about being a blessing to others, and it creates a ripple effect that multiplies and impacts many lives. As a community, we are called to be a blessing to others, reflecting God's character through our actions. [17:35]

2 Corinthians 9:11 (ESV): "You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."

Reflection: Who in your life can you support this week, not just financially, but through acts of love and compassion that reflect God's character?

Day 3: Cultivating a Generous Heart

A generous heart leads to spiritual growth, joy, and fulfillment. It allows us to experience the refreshing presence of God and impact the lives of others. By moving beyond self-centeredness, we open ourselves to the joy and fulfillment that comes from giving. Developing a generous heart is about embracing a lifestyle of giving, knowing that as we refresh others, we too will be refreshed. This spiritual growth is not just for our benefit but for the benefit of those around us, as we become conduits of God's love and grace. [55:24]

Proverbs 11:25 (ESV): "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a generous heart today, and how might this impact your spiritual growth and the lives of those around you?

Day 4: Finding Joy in Giving

True joy and fulfillment come from being a blessing to others. When we give without expecting anything in return, we experience a deep sense of joy and accomplishment. Generosity enriches our lives and connects us with others in meaningful ways. It is through giving that we find true joy, as we align our actions with God's purpose for our lives. This joy is not just a fleeting emotion but a deep-seated fulfillment that comes from knowing we are making a difference in the world. [01:04:54]

Acts 20:35 (ESV): "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Reflection: What is one way you can give selflessly this week, and how do you anticipate this act of giving will bring joy and fulfillment to your life?

Day 5: Inspiring Others Through Generosity

Our acts of generosity inspire others to give. When we give generously, we create a ripple effect that multiplies and impacts the lives of many. As a church, we are called to be known for our love, generosity, and impact in our community. By being stewards of God's resources, we can make a difference in the world around us. This inspiration is not just about encouraging others to give but about creating a culture of generosity that transforms lives and communities. [01:26:06]

Hebrews 10:24 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works."

Reflection: How can your acts of generosity inspire others in your community to give, and what steps can you take to create a culture of generosity around you?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that there are greater works on this side of the cross. Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we step into a life filled with divine promises and opportunities. This revelation encourages us to embrace the abundant life that God has prepared for us, moving beyond the initial experience of salvation to a life of purpose and impact. We are reminded that our journey with Christ is not just about personal salvation but about stepping into a life of greater works and blessings.

We also took a moment to reflect on the power of generosity. As a community, we are called to be a blessing to others, reflecting God's character through our actions. The story of Shannon Ruff, a faithful member of our church who recently underwent a kidney transplant, served as a powerful example of how we can come together to support one another in times of need. This act of generosity is not just about financial support but about embodying the love and compassion of Christ in tangible ways.

Furthermore, we discussed the importance of developing a generous heart. A generous heart leads to spiritual growth, joy, and fulfillment. It allows us to impact the lives of others and experience the refreshing presence of God in our own lives. We are encouraged to move beyond self-centeredness and embrace a lifestyle of giving, knowing that as we refresh others, we too will be refreshed.

As we embark on our new series, "Blessed to be a Blessing," we are reminded that our blessings are not just for our own benefit but are meant to be shared with others. We are called to be stewards of God's resources, using them to make a difference in the world around us. Let us commit to being a church known for its love, generosity, and impact in our community.

Key Takeaways

1. centeredness, we open ourselves to the joy and fulfillment that comes from giving. [55:24]
4. Joy in Giving: True joy and fulfillment come from being a blessing to others. When we give without expecting anything in return, we experience a deep sense of joy and accomplishment. Generosity enriches our lives and connects us with others in meaningful ways.

5. Inspiring Generosity: Our acts of generosity inspire others to give. When we give generously, we create a ripple effect that multiplies and impacts the lives of many. Let us be a church known for its love, generosity, and impact in our community.

** [55:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:03] - Greater Works on This Side of the Cross
[17:35] - Supporting Shannon Ruff
[39:22] - Prayer for Overflow
[41:25] - Honoring Vessels in the House
[48:16] - Blessed to Be a Blessing Series
[55:24] - Dangers of Not Being Generous
[59:40] - Impact of Generosity
[64:54] - Joy and Fulfillment in Giving
[67:29] - Purposeful Giving
[72:06] - Dealing with Debt
[74:21] - Financial Stewardship
[78:28] - God's Principles of Order
[83:50] - Developing a Generous Heart
[86:06] - Inspiring Generosity
[87:03] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Sermon Clips

And do we got that picture? Am I actually going to put a picture up for those who may... I may not know Shannon. But Shannon, she serves in our prayer department here, leads prayer. She works the altar. She's a minister here. Her husband, Ruff. Yeah. And she just recently had that transplant. Been praying for this for months and months right now. And it finally has happened. Praise God. [00:17:55] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

And as crazy as this may sound, and again, we're here long enough at Hope City that we don't do stuff like this this way when it comes to offering. But I'm going to ask, if you're in here and you feel like you're one of the ones, if you don't mind standing, I would appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. [00:19:25] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

And they had to learn to trust God that the God who provided for me today, he will provide for me tomorrow. They had to trust God that the more I put out and I'd be a blessing to other people, somehow, some way, it's going to come back into my life. [00:58:11] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

When you're being generous and you see the impact of what your generosity did for that child, some of you want to retire right now, but you're staying in the school system a year or two longer. You're staying in the organization a little bit longer because you see needs that are still there, and you're giving up your time and your energy because you're being generous. [01:23:27] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Generosity inspires, and it multiplies. I thought about Exodus, where God told Abraham, I think it was, Abraham of Moses, to build a tabernacle. And he told him exactly how to build the tabernacle. He told them exactly what they had to bring in. How long the curtains and things had to be. What was to go into the ark. He told them specifically what he needed. What type of wood. And he had him to get it from the people. [01:25:18] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

But we'll be known for the most loving, the most generous, and the most giving church in our community that is meeting the needs of so many people. Whether it's in the prisons, whether it's in the nursing homes, whether it's in the school systems, whether it's the homeless, whether it's taking care of girls who have purposes in their life, of young boys who need mentors. [01:27:03] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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