Embracing Sacrifice for Greater Impact and Generosity
Summary
The sermon begins with the speaker introducing the topic of the sermon series, which is about pursuing a future of greater impact. The focus is not on building expansion, but on matters of the heart. The speaker then shares the history of Spring Hill Community Church, which was founded by a passionate group of people with a big dream. The speaker discusses the challenges and sacrifices made by the early members of the church to establish a second service. The church board was challenged to attend both services until the new service gained momentum, even though it meant hearing the same sermon twice every Sunday. The speaker expresses pride in the early church members who gave, served, and led sacrificially to make the current state of the church possible.
The speaker shares a story of sacrificial generosity from a single mother in their congregation. The mother, who was struggling to survive, sold her daughter's antique dresser in order to give a financial gift for a building project. The speaker expresses admiration for her choice to prioritize mission over comfort. Later on, when the mother was in need of reliable transportation, someone in the congregation donated a used car with a bow on it as a gift from Jesus. The speaker also mentions the completion of the building project and the joy of moving into the new facility.
The speaker then shares the early history of the church and its transition into the Church of the Nazarene. The church initially met in the pastor's home but eventually acquired land with an old farmhouse that became their primary meeting place. The congregation grew rapidly, with people even sitting on the stairs due to limited space. However, the church faced difficulties, including the health issues of their founding pastor, which led to uncertainty about their ministry's future. They formed a friendship with the Church of the Nazarene and decided to be folded into the denomination.
The speaker then discusses the church's journey of expansion and growth. Initially, the church received a donated single wide mobile home that had been partially burned and repaired, which they used as a children's worship space. However, the church felt the need to apologize to the children for this temporary arrangement and decided to propose a new children's space. As the church continued to grow, they faced the challenge of limited space and financial constraints. Instead of building a new facility, they made the strategic decision to add a second service in their existing building, which was a difficult change for the close-knit congregation.
The sermon concludes with the speaker discussing the projected timing of a building project and the importance of unrestrained generosity for the mission of spreading the healing love of Jesus. The speaker mentions that if everyone gives their money all at once, the project can start sooner. They emphasize the need for an outpouring of unrestrained generosity and gratitude to help make a difference in the community and the world.
Key Takeaways:
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of pursuing a future of greater impact, not just in terms of building expansion, but in matters of the heart. This involves making sacrifices and prioritizing mission over comfort. [38:23]
- The speaker shares a story of sacrificial generosity from a single mother in the congregation, demonstrating that even in times of struggle, prioritizing mission over comfort can lead to unexpected blessings. [01:03:37]
- The early history of the church shows that growth and expansion often come with challenges and difficulties. However, these challenges can be overcome with faith, perseverance, and a strong sense of mission. [44:41]
- The church's journey of expansion and growth demonstrates the importance of strategic decision-making in the face of limited resources. The decision to add a second service in their existing building, despite initial pushback, proved to be a key factor in the church's growth. [51:15]
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of unrestrained generosity for the mission of spreading the healing love of Jesus. This involves not just giving money, but also giving time, effort, and resources to help make a difference in the community and the world. [01:27:09]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 35:4-5, 20-22 (NIV)
> Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze... Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.”
2. Luke 7:36-38 (NIV)
> When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
3. 1 Corinthians 16:9 (NIV)
> Because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the Israelites asked to bring as an offering in Exodus 35:4-5, 20-22?
2. In Luke 7:36-38, what did the woman do when she came to Jesus at the Pharisee’s house?
3. According to 1 Corinthians 16:9, what did Paul see as an opportunity, and what was the challenge he faced?
4. What sacrifices did the early members of Spring Hill Community Church make to establish a second service? [49:12]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sacrificial giving of the Israelites in Exodus 35 reflect the concept of unrestrained generosity discussed in the sermon? [37:48]
2. What does the woman’s act of pouring perfume on Jesus' feet in Luke 7:36-38 teach us about unrestrained gratitude? [37:48]
3. How can the challenges faced by Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:9 be compared to the challenges faced by Spring Hill Community Church during its expansion and growth? [51:31]
4. What does the story of the single mother selling her daughter’s antique dresser teach us about prioritizing mission over comfort? [01:02:59]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to choose between comfort and mission. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome? [50:13]
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of unrestrained generosity. What is one specific way you can practice unrestrained generosity in your life this week? [37:48]
3. Think about the story of the single mother who sold her daughter’s dresser. Is there something in your life that you hold dear but could sacrifice for a greater mission? [01:02:59]
4. The early church members attended both services to help the new service gain momentum. How can you support new initiatives in your church or community, even if it requires extra effort? [52:57]
5. The sermon mentioned the importance of strategic decision-making in the face of limited resources. How can you apply strategic decision-making in your personal or professional life to achieve greater impact? [49:12]
6. The speaker talked about the need for an outpouring of unrestrained generosity and gratitude. What are some practical steps you can take to cultivate a heart of gratitude and generosity? [01:27:09]
7. How can you contribute to the mission of spreading the healing love of Jesus in your community? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [01:27:09]
Devotional
Day 1: Pursuing Impact Beyond Physical Expansion
The pursuit of a future with greater impact is not confined to physical expansion, but extends to the matters of the heart. This journey involves making sacrifices and prioritizing the mission over comfort. It's about the willingness to give, serve, and lead sacrificially, just like the early members of the church. [38:23]
Hebrews 13:16 - "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Reflection: Reflect on your personal journey with God. What sacrifices have you made in the past week to prioritize His mission over your comfort?
Day 2: Generosity Amid Struggle
Even in times of struggle, prioritizing mission over comfort can lead to unexpected blessings. A single mother in the congregation demonstrated this by selling her daughter's antique dresser to give a financial gift for a building project. Her sacrificial generosity was later rewarded when she received a car from a fellow congregant. [01:03:37]
2 Corinthians 9:7 - "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when you prioritized the mission over comfort? How did that decision impact your life and faith?
Day 3: Overcoming Challenges Through Faith and Perseverance
Growth and expansion often come with challenges and difficulties. However, these challenges can be overcome with faith, perseverance, and a strong sense of mission. The early history of the church is a testament to this, as they faced health issues, uncertainty, and yet continued to grow. [44:41]
James 1:12 - "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
Reflection: What challenges are you currently facing in your life? How can your faith and perseverance help you overcome these challenges?
Day 4: Strategic Decision-Making Amid Limited Resources
Strategic decision-making in the face of limited resources is crucial for growth. The church's decision to add a second service in their existing building, despite initial pushback, proved to be a key factor in their growth. This decision demonstrated the importance of strategic thinking and adaptability. [51:15]
Proverbs 16:9 - "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision you made that required strategic thinking. How did this decision impact your personal or spiritual growth?
Day 5: Unrestrained Generosity for the Mission
Unrestrained generosity is vital for the mission of spreading the healing love of Jesus. This involves not just giving money, but also giving time, effort, and resources to help make a difference in the community and the world. [01:27:09]
1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
Reflection: What is one way you can demonstrate unrestrained generosity today? How can this act of generosity contribute to the mission of spreading the healing love of Jesus?
Quotes
"Today is week three of a series that we're calling unrestrained pursuing a future of greater impact. And part of the freight being delivered in this unrestrained packaging is a proposed plan to do some much needed building expansion. But that's really secondary. The building expansion is really secondary. What we're really talking about is the same thing we're always talking about. And that is matters of the heart." [38:23]
"But unbeknownst to us, she heard the challenge. And she actually emptied her daughter's clothes out of an antique dresser that was in her daughter's bedroom and put her daughter's clothes in cardboard boxes on the floor so that she could sell the dresser to give a financial gift for the building project... That is choosing mission over comfort at a whole new level." [01:01:30]
"And the only way we can do it, the only way we can make it happen, is if we all choose mission over comfort and give with unrestrained generosity from hearts of unrestrained gratitude for the sake of unrestrained mission." [01:05:06]
"In all this conversation, can we not just think about the moment? Can we think about generations to come? And being the kind of people who the next generation will say, you know what, it's because of their love and service and sacrifice that we have what we have here today." [53:52]
"Mission triumphed over comfort. And we did it. We added a second service. I'm pretty certain that if we had not done that, I think that's the most strategic change, the most strategic decision in terms of growth that this church has ever made." [51:15]
"We've been asking God for an outpouring of a spirit of unrestrained generosity. From hearts of unrestrained gratitude. For the sake of unrestrained mission in our community and in our world. Because if you haven't noticed, our world desperately, desperately needs to know." #!!01:18:19!!#
"Our God is the same God. Who placed before the Apostle Paul and his companions a wide open door in ancient Corinth. But walking through that door for Paul choosing mission over comfort actually to the extreme. And walking through God's wide open door for a great work has always, always meant choosing mission over comfort wherever and whenever the work of the gospel has flourished every time." #!!01:25:55!!#
"Sadly, along the way, the church endured some difficulty, including some health issues of their founding pastor. And some things kind of began to lose momentum, as they sometimes do, and the future of their ministry became uncertain." #!!42:24!!#
"The congregation reluctantly traded in their beloved 10-year veteran founding pastor for a total, total rookie. And the church formerly known as Spring Hill Community Church and later formerly known as Spring Hill Church of the Nazarene. It was in 2003 that we changed the name to Grace Community Church of the Nazarene." #!!47:08!!#
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