Empowered for Mission: Embracing Community and Giving
Summary
Today, we gathered to worship and celebrate the goodness of God, inviting His presence to fill our lives and our church community. As the new missions pastor at TC3, I am thrilled to be part of this vibrant family, and I encourage everyone to get connected through our various activities and life groups. This week marks the beginning of our "40 Days of Decrease" series, a journey we are embarking on together as a church. It's an opportunity for us to unite in spiritual growth and reflection, and I urge everyone to join a life group or start one if needed.
We also took time to focus on the act of giving, emphasizing that our contributions are not mere transactions but acts of worship. Giving is a declaration of trust in God as our provider, and it allows us to participate in His work both locally and globally. As Malachi 3:10 reminds us, God invites us to test His generosity, promising blessings beyond measure. Our giving is a response to God's initial gift to us, and it is a way to bring the light of Jesus to a world in need.
As we concluded our "Out of the Box" series, we heard powerful testimonies from members of our church family. These stories of transformation remind us of the importance of community, confession, and turning our gaze towards Jesus. We are all called to share our stories, as they are integral to our mission of connecting others to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. Sharing our experiences helps us and others break free from the boxes that confine us.
Finally, I announced the return of the "Taste of TC3" event, a delightful gathering where we celebrate community through food and fellowship. Whether you're a cook, a helper, or simply a participant, there's a place for you. As we leave today, remember that we are entering the mission field, empowered by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. Let's carry that power with us and continue to share God's love with the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Community and Connection: Being part of a church community is vital for spiritual growth and support. Engaging in life groups and church activities helps us stay connected and united in our faith journey. This connection is essential for personal and communal transformation. [00:00]
2. Giving as an Act of Worship: Our financial contributions, time, and talents are not just transactions but acts of worship. They reflect our trust in God as our provider and our commitment to His work. Giving allows us to participate in God's mission and experience His abundant blessings. [29:16]
3. Transformation Through Testimonies: Sharing personal stories of transformation is powerful. It encourages others and helps us break free from the boxes that confine us. Our testimonies are a testament to God's work in our lives and a tool for connecting others to Jesus. [32:27]
4. Embracing God's Call: God calls us to abide in Him and act according to His will. Reflecting on how we live and what God is calling us to change is crucial for spiritual growth. Our response to God's call shapes our journey and impacts those around us. [32:27]
5. Empowered for Mission: As we leave the church, we enter the mission field, empowered by the Holy Spirit. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us, equipping us to share God's love and make a difference in the world. [01:17:17]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction and Connection
- [03:00] - 40 Days of Decrease Series
- [05:45] - The Act of Giving
- [10:00] - Malachi 3:10 and Generosity
- [15:30] - Testimonies and Transformation
- [20:00] - Patrick's Story
- [25:00] - The Power of Sharing Stories
- [30:00] - Taste of TC3 Announcement
- [35:00] - Call to Action and Mission Field
- [40:00] - Closing and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Malachi 3:10 - "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."
2. Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
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Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of the "40 Days of Decrease" series mentioned in the sermon, and how is it intended to impact the church community? [29:16]
2. How does the sermon describe the act of giving, and what biblical reference is used to support this view? [29:16]
3. What role do personal testimonies play in the church's mission, according to the sermon? [32:27]
4. How does the sermon describe the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers as they enter the mission field? [01:17:17]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does Malachi 3:10 challenge believers to trust in God's provision, and how does this relate to the concept of giving as an act of worship? [29:16]
2. How does Romans 5:8 illustrate the depth of God's love for humanity, and how might this understanding influence a believer's willingness to share their testimony? [32:27]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of community and connection in spiritual growth, and how might this be reflected in the "40 Days of Decrease" series? [29:16]
4. How does the sermon encourage believers to reflect on their current life and consider changes in response to God's call? [32:27]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current involvement in church activities and life groups. How can you deepen your connection with the church community to enhance your spiritual growth? [29:16]
2. Consider your current approach to giving. How can you view your financial contributions, time, and talents as acts of worship rather than mere transactions? [29:16]
3. Think about a personal story of transformation in your life. How can sharing this testimony encourage others and help them connect with the life-changing power of Jesus? [32:27]
4. Reflect on a specific area in your life where you feel God is calling you to change. What steps can you take this week to align your actions with His will? [32:27]
5. As you leave church and enter the mission field, how can you be more intentional about sharing God's love with those around you? [01:17:17]
6. How can you participate in the upcoming "Taste of TC3" event, either by contributing your skills or simply by being present to foster community and fellowship? [01:17:17]
7. Identify one person in your life who might benefit from hearing your testimony. How can you create an opportunity to share your story with them this week? [32:27]
Devotional
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Quotes
Now, I'm going to remind you, I know we've been pushing this a little bit, but this is a big push. This week starts a new series, 40 Days of Decrease. Every one of our life groups is supposed to be doing this study. We're encouraging every group that we have here at TC3 to be going through this series. Over the next 40 days, as Pastor Miles teaches from the pulpit here, from the front, we're going to be going through this. And so if you're not already in a life group, you need to sign up. And if you can't find a life group, you need to start a life group. This is a big push. We want to go through this together. We want a united church body, connected, going through this as one. [00:26:39] (42 seconds)
It's a declaration saying that God is our provider and all that we have was already his. It was his first and he's gifted it to us. It's an invitation to take part in God's work here through TC3 and in the Treasure Coast. It's a way of being part of changing lives and taking part in that work and that activity that goes beyond our community but reaches out into the world. [00:28:07] (34 seconds)
Which is why we always say when you give here at TC3, you're not giving to the church, but you're giving through the church. I love that. It's a beautiful picture. There's this sweet verse in the Old Testament, Malachi 3 .10, where God is challenging his people to give. He says, test me in this. He says, challenge me. I've never heard that said before, but he says, test me. Bring me your tithe and watch as I open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so many blessings that you won't be able to store them. [00:28:41] (35 seconds)
Our giving isn't done so that we can get something from God. We give because God first gave to us. Because of the things that he has done in our life, it's our response to what he has already been doing in our lives. And so we create this space in our service as an opportunity for us to trust God, for us to worship him, and to watch him move through our generosity. [00:29:32] (31 seconds)
Now, if you've been with us, and if you haven't, you can still go back and watch these. But for the last several weeks, we've been working through a series called Out of the Box. A great series. It's been a tough series of learning about how we sometimes get caught up in our sin. We get caught up in our self-deceit, in our pride. And we end up putting ourselves in the box that really prevents us from living out the life that God has called us to. [00:31:11] (26 seconds)
And so, Pastor Miles and Pastor Mike's kind of worked and helped us go through the healing process of confessing and working with community and just kind of owning our stuff, turning our gaze towards Jesus in order that we might get out of the box and in order that we might take people that we've put into the box out of those boxes. [00:31:51] (23 seconds)
So we've seen and we've heard How God has been moving In three of our own But the reality is God is active and moving Throughout our entire church We have hundreds Maybe thousands of stories Of people right here Whose lives have been changed Through a relationship with Jesus Each one of us has a story That God is actively writing And is intertwining with his own And he calls us to share those stories It's those sharing of stories That enable us to work together To get each other out of the box And stay out of the box People want to hear your stories People need to hear your stories. [01:11:03] (45 seconds)
For it's not just our calling as Christians to share those stories, but it's our mission here at TC3 to connect others to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. And we do that through sharing our stories. Now, if God has moved in you in any way today, I want to encourage you to share what's happened. Underneath the screens here at the end of the service, we'd love to have you come share and talk about some of those things. [01:11:49] (28 seconds)
I want to kind of make a big announcement here. The Taste of TC3 is back, and it's here. It's happening next week, March 9th, on Sunday in the afternoon. It's an amazing event, one of our best, biggest, most delicious events. And we want to see you here. It's a food extravaganza where cooks and chefs and grillers and bakers come together to try out their best recipes and compete for the coveted golden spatula. [01:12:41] (34 seconds)
Lastly and finally, I want to remind you that when you hit those doors, you are entering the mission field. But know this, the same power, the same spirit that rose Jesus from the dead is also at work in you. God bless you. We love you. We'll see you next week. [01:14:22] (20 seconds)
We ask that you join us here in this space. Fill this space. Fill our lives with your spirit. Make your presence known to us here and now. We surrender everything to you. Amen. It is so good to be in God's house this morning, worshiping with you all here at TC3. [00:25:02] (26 seconds)
Go ahead and grab a seat. I'm going to take a minute just to introduce myself. My name is Jason Pridmore, and I'm the new missions pastor here at TC3. It is such an honor and a privilege. It is a blessing to be on staff here. Thank you. It's a wonderful place. You guys already know that, but I'm so excited to be part of this team and this crew. [00:25:28] (21 seconds)
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