Empowering Generosity: Building God's Kingdom Together

Devotional

Day 1: Generosity as a Catalyst for Transformation

Generosity is a powerful force that can transform lives and communities. Through the Kingdom Builders initiative, the church has witnessed the profound impact of giving, from supporting missionaries worldwide to rescuing churches and aiding those in need. This generosity is not just about financial contributions but about investing in the transformation of lives and communities. By surpassing last year's goal, the church has been able to launch new campuses, support addiction recovery centers, and provide Christ-centered counseling. This demonstrates that when people come together with a heart of generosity, they can make a significant difference in the world. [18:53]

"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." (Proverbs 19:17, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a specific way you can be generous this week, whether through time, resources, or encouragement. How can you make a tangible impact on someone’s life today?

Day 2: Prayer as the Foundation of Mission

Prayer is a crucial element of being a Kingdom Builder. It aligns hearts with God's mission and empowers efforts to reach others. By praying for missionaries and the impact of contributions, individuals participate in God's work around the world. Prayer is not just a ritual but a powerful tool that connects believers to God's heart and purpose. It is through prayer that the church can discern God's will and receive the strength to carry out His mission. As the church embarks on new goals, prayer remains the foundation that supports and guides every endeavor. [37:19]

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)

Reflection: Set aside a specific time each day this week to pray for a missionary or mission project. How can you make prayer a more intentional part of your daily routine?

Day 3: The Transformative Power of Giving

Giving starts with the tithe, a biblical principle that acknowledges God's provision. Beyond the tithe, generous giving allows individuals to partner with God in His mission, transforming hearts and enabling them to be Kingdom Builders. This act of giving is not just about financial contributions but about participating in God's work and experiencing the joy of generosity. By giving, believers can see the tangible results of their contributions and witness the transformation of lives and communities. The church's success in surpassing its financial goals is a testament to the power of giving and the impact it can have on the world. [38:58]

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your current giving habits. Is there an area where you feel called to increase your generosity? What steps can you take to align your giving with your values and faith?

Day 4: The Call to Actively Participate in Outreach

Being a Kingdom Builder means actively participating in outreach, both locally and globally. Believers are called to share the love of Jesus in their communities and beyond, following Jesus' example and command to make disciples of all nations. This call to go requires a shift from a self-centered to an others-centered mindset, embracing the mission of reaching out to those in need. By participating in outreach, individuals can experience the joy of serving others and making a difference in the world. The church's commitment to launching new campuses and supporting global missions is a reflection of this call to go and make an impact. [50:02]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one local or global outreach opportunity you can participate in this month. How can you step out of your comfort zone to share the love of Jesus with others?

Day 5: Empowerment by the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be Kingdom Builders, breaking free from self-centeredness and enabling them to fulfill God's mission. Through the Spirit's power, individuals can overcome challenges and make a lasting impact. This empowerment is not just about personal strength but about relying on the Holy Spirit to guide and equip believers for the work ahead. As the church sets new goals and embarks on new initiatives, the Holy Spirit remains the source of strength and inspiration for every endeavor. By relying on the Spirit, believers can experience the joy of being part of God's mission and making a difference in the world. [36:00]

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a challenge you are currently facing. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength to overcome it and fulfill your calling as a Kingdom Builder?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate Vision Sunday, a day dedicated to reflecting on the past year's achievements and setting our sights on the future through our Kingdom Builders initiative. This initiative is our church's expression of generosity, aimed at impacting lives both locally and globally. Last year, we set a goal of $599,644, but through your overwhelming generosity, we surpassed it, raising $681,686. These funds have been instrumental in supporting missionaries across continents, feeding starving children, rescuing churches from closure, and providing Christ-centered counseling to those in need. We've also launched new campuses, such as the one in El Salvador, and supported addiction recovery centers in places like Cuba.

Looking ahead to 2025, we have set a new goal of $640,287. This goal is outlined in our Kingdom Builder book, which serves as a guide and prayer tool for our community. The book highlights our three main focuses: global outreach, local church expansion, and nurturing future Christian leaders. We believe that every dollar given is a soul reached, and we invite everyone to join us in this mission.

Being a Kingdom Builder involves three key actions: praying, giving, and going. Prayer is foundational, as it aligns our hearts with God's mission and empowers our efforts. Giving starts with the tithe, a biblical principle of returning 10% of our income to God, and extends to generous contributions that support our initiatives. Lastly, going means actively participating in local and global outreach, sharing the love of Jesus in our communities and beyond.

As we embark on this journey, we are reminded of Jesus' call to follow Him and become fishers of people. This mission requires sacrifice and a shift from a self-centered to an others-centered mindset. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome challenges and fulfill this calling. Together, through prayer, giving, and going, we can make a significant impact, one soul at a time.

Key Takeaways

1. centeredness and enabling us to fulfill God's mission. Through the Spirit's power, we can overcome challenges and make a lasting impact. [36:00]
** [36:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Introduction to Vision Sunday
[04:30] - Kingdom Builders Overview
[07:00] - Celebrating Last Year's Achievements
[10:00] - Impact of Generosity
[13:00] - New Campus Launches
[16:00] - Supporting Global Missions
[18:53] - Empowering Future Leaders
[23:35] - Cuba Women's Center
[27:26] - 2025 Goals and Vision
[30:33] - The Heart of Giving
[33:55] - Jesus' Call to Follow
[36:00] - Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
[38:58] - The Role of Prayer
[41:32] - The Joy of Generosity
[45:01] - The Call to Go
[50:02] - Invitation to Participate
[52:40] - Commitment and Encouragement
[55:21] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action

Sermon Clips

But we're celebrating some things today because of our generosity. We believe, for those of you that are new, we believe that Kingdom Builders is our expression of generosity to the world where we meet a lot of people. And we're celebrating a lot of people. And we're a lot of needs. You're going to hear a lot about that today. And so I just think it's time that once a year we stop and we celebrate what God did this past year and where God is leading us in this next year. [00:16:24] (24 seconds)

In El Salvador, to chase after their God-given dream so that they can become who God called them to be and be able to afford to go to college so that they can help to fund the local church in El Salvador for generations to come. That was one of the things that you helped to fund, and we provided a way for adults that are addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, prostitution, whatever it is that you came alongside. [00:21:57] (30 seconds)

So soon, because of your generosity, 16 women are going to be finding freedom in Jesus' name. Thank you, Kingdom Builders, for doing that. I want you to hear from their directors, Juan and Yvonne. Wow. I'll tell you what, it moved my heart to be down there. And when I was getting ready to leave, one of the women yelled out, you know, thank you. [00:24:11] (96 seconds)

When I give to Kingdom Builders, right? And maybe better said through Kingdom Builders. When Kim and I do, we equate every dollar to a soul. See, that allows me to give with generosity. It allows me to give with great Christ-centered purposefulness. It allows me to really attach a face to it, a heart to it, and realize that it's a great gift. [00:30:48] (23 seconds)

I want you to remember what Jesus said to the very first followers of his. When he came to Peter and to Andrew along a beach shore on the Sea of Galilee, in Matthew chapter 4, verse 19, Jesus said this, he says, look guys, come follow me, right? Now look very carefully at the next couple of words, right? And I, Jesus says, I will show you how to fish for people. [00:33:04] (26 seconds)

So let me just make it super clear. The Holy Spirit empowers you to be a kingdom builder in three practical ways. The first one is he empowers you to pray. And that's why in this project guide, we made sure to incorporate prayer into it. And I want you to use it for that because this is what a kingdom builder does. A kingdom builder captures the heart of God and they start to pray for missionaries. [00:37:19] (27 seconds)

And here's the reason why I'm talking about money right now. Why it's not awkward. Because I don't feel like I'm really talking about money when I'm talking about money. I feel like I'm really talking more about my heart and about your heart than I am talking about money. Because when we give biblically, like God teaches us to, then God gets a piece of our heart and he gets to transform us. [00:41:32] (19 seconds)

I want to make it super clear to you that... The first thing that we do as kingdom builders is that we take the good news of Jesus to the community that we live in. We go there first before we go to the ends of the earth. We're not going to be a church that pats ourself on the back for what we do around the world while we say to our local community, you can go to hell. That's not us. [00:46:20] (23 seconds)

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