Flowing Generosity: The Tale of Two Seas
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we gathered to celebrate our community and the spirit of generosity that defines us. We began by acknowledging the importance of being present, even when life gets busy, and how our church aims to love people right where they are. We highlighted our unique "Soak and Serve" initiative, encouraging everyone to spend 75% of their time soaking in God's presence and 25% serving others. We spotlighted Ed and Lisa for their incredible contributions, showing how their willingness to serve has impacted our community.
We also celebrated birthdays and prayed for those in need, emphasizing that God knows our struggles and is always there to support us. We then moved into the main message, "The Tale of Two Seas," comparing the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Both are fed by the Jordan River, yet one is full of life while the other is dead. This contrast illustrates the importance of flow in our lives—receiving and giving, rather than hoarding blessings.
Generosity is not just about financial giving; it's about sharing our time, skills, and resources. We discussed how true generosity comes from a deep place within us and transforms our intentions into actions. We shared examples of how abundance in America often blinds us to the needs of others, urging us to shift our perspective and recognize how blessed we truly are.
We concluded by emphasizing the importance of being connected to God, the source of all blessings. When we believe in Him, rivers of living water flow from us, impacting everyone we encounter. We encouraged everyone to live the "Jesus style," letting their light shine before others and making a difference in the world.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Presence and Community: Being present in church and community activities, even when life gets busy, is crucial. Our "Soak and Serve" initiative encourages a balanced approach to spiritual growth and service, fostering a supportive and loving community. [05:26]
2. Generosity as a Way of Life: True generosity goes beyond financial giving. It involves sharing our time, skills, and resources. This kind of generosity transforms us from the inside out and impacts those around us in profound ways. [35:34]
3. The Tale of Two Seas: The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, both fed by the Jordan River, illustrate the importance of flow in our lives. The Sea of Galilee, which receives and gives, is full of life, while the Dead Sea, which hoards, is dead. This teaches us the value of receiving and then giving. [33:21]
4. Recognizing Our Abundance: In America, we often overlook how blessed we are. Owning a car or a home places us in the top percentage of wealth globally. Recognizing this abundance should inspire us to be more generous and less focused on material gains. [48:31]
5. Connection to the Source: Being connected to God is essential for a life of flow and generosity. When we believe in Him, rivers of living water flow from us, impacting everyone we encounter. This connection transforms our lives and allows us to live the "Jesus style." [55:44]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[05:26] - Spotlight on Ed and Lisa
[06:15] - Young Adults Group
[07:34] - Birthday Celebrations
[08:22] - Opening Prayer
[26:15] - Prayer Requests
[28:46] - Worry Less, Love More
[29:26] - Visitor Welcome and Summer Share
[31:01] - Tithes and Offerings
[32:43] - Introduction to "The Tale of Two Seas"
[33:21] - The Sea of Galilee vs. The Dead Sea
[35:34] - The Secret of Giving
[38:23] - How We Handle Our Blessings
[48:31] - Recognizing Our Abundance
[55:44] - Connection to the Source
[01:00:04] - Rivers of Living Water
[01:07:05] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 7:38 - "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
2. Isaiah 58:10 - "Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon."
3. Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
#### Observation Questions
1. What is the main difference between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea as described in the sermon? [33:21]
2. How does the "Soak and Serve" initiative encourage a balanced approach to spiritual growth and service? [05:26]
3. What examples were given in the sermon to illustrate the concept of true generosity? [45:20]
4. According to the sermon, what are some indicators of abundance in America that we often overlook? [48:31]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the analogy of the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea help us understand the importance of giving and receiving in our spiritual lives? [33:21]
2. In what ways does the "Soak and Serve" initiative reflect the teachings of Jesus about loving and serving others? [05:26]
3. How can recognizing our abundance change our perspective on generosity and our daily actions? [48:31]
4. What does it mean for rivers of living water to flow from us, and how does this concept relate to our connection with God? [55:44]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current involvement in church and community activities. How can you be more present and engaged, even when life gets busy? [05:26]
2. Think about a time when you felt truly generous. What motivated you, and how did it impact you and others around you? [35:34]
3. How can you incorporate the "Soak and Serve" initiative into your daily routine? What specific actions can you take to balance soaking in God's presence and serving others? [05:26]
4. Identify one area in your life where you might be hoarding blessings. How can you start to share more of your time, skills, or resources in that area? [33:21]
5. Reflect on the abundance in your life. How can you shift your perspective to recognize and be grateful for your blessings? What steps can you take to be more generous with what you have? [48:31]
6. How can you stay connected to God, the source of all blessings, in your daily life? What practices can help you ensure that rivers of living water flow from you to others? [55:44]
7. Think of a specific person or group in need that you can help this week. What practical steps can you take to feed the hungry or help those in trouble, as Isaiah 58:10 suggests? [57:00]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Presence and Community
Being present in church and community activities, even when life gets busy, is crucial. Our "Soak and Serve" initiative encourages a balanced approach to spiritual growth and service, fostering a supportive and loving community. This initiative suggests spending 75% of our time soaking in God's presence and 25% serving others. By doing so, we create a nurturing environment where everyone feels loved and supported, no matter where they are in their spiritual journey. Ed and Lisa's contributions are a testament to the impact of being present and serving others, showing how their willingness to serve has strengthened our community. [05:26]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: How can you make more time to be present in your community and church activities this week? What specific steps can you take to balance soaking in God's presence and serving others?
Day 2: Generosity as a Way of Life
True generosity goes beyond financial giving. It involves sharing our time, skills, and resources. This kind of generosity transforms us from the inside out and impacts those around us in profound ways. When we give from a deep place within us, our intentions turn into actions that reflect God's love. Generosity is not just about what we give but how we give it. It’s about the heart behind the action and the willingness to make a difference in someone else's life. [35:34]
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (ESV): "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: Think of a skill or resource you have that you can share with someone in need this week. How can you use it to make a positive impact in their life?
Day 3: The Tale of Two Seas
The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, both fed by the Jordan River, illustrate the importance of flow in our lives. The Sea of Galilee, which receives and gives, is full of life, while the Dead Sea, which hoards, is dead. This teaches us the value of receiving and then giving. When we allow blessings to flow through us, we bring life and vitality to those around us. Hoarding blessings, on the other hand, leads to stagnation and lifelessness. This principle applies not only to material blessings but also to our time, love, and spiritual gifts. [33:21]
Proverbs 11:24-25 (ESV): "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."
Reflection: Are there any areas in your life where you are hoarding blessings instead of letting them flow? How can you start sharing more freely with others?
Day 4: Recognizing Our Abundance
In America, we often overlook how blessed we are. Owning a car or a home places us in the top percentage of wealth globally. Recognizing this abundance should inspire us to be more generous and less focused on material gains. When we shift our perspective and see how blessed we truly are, it becomes easier to share our blessings with others. This awareness helps us to appreciate what we have and encourages us to use our resources to make a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. [48:31]
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (ESV): "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."
Reflection: Take a moment to list the blessings in your life that you often take for granted. How can you use these blessings to help someone in need this week?
Day 5: Connection to the Source
Being connected to God is essential for a life of flow and generosity. When we believe in Him, rivers of living water flow from us, impacting everyone we encounter. This connection transforms our lives and allows us to live the "Jesus style." By staying connected to God, we become conduits of His love and grace, bringing life and hope to those around us. This connection is the source of our strength and the foundation of our ability to give and serve others selflessly. [55:44]
John 7:38 (ESV): "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Reflection: How can you strengthen your connection to God this week? What practices or habits can you incorporate into your daily routine to ensure that His living water flows through you to others?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "In a world that is driven by anxiety, studies show we deal with more anxiety in 2024 than at any time in human history. Why? Because we won't stay off our phones long enough to just live life. We're too busy stressing about life and looking at everybody else's life. And my life doesn't measure up." [29:26] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We are more blessed. We are more blessed than we know. We really are. In so many ways. Not just money. Hear me now. On your way to church today, were you worried about who may see you because you could get arrested? You didn't even think about it. Because we have a level of freedom that a lot of countries don't have. Blessed. The most blessed and highly favored nation in the history of the world." [52:14] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We can take the abundance that we received and keep it moving. We can have a flow. We can use it for others, helping them out with a heart of gratefulness, thankfulness, and generosity. Or we can take our abundance and hoard it for ourselves out of fear of losing it. If you're walking in a spirit of fear, it means you've lost power, love, and sound thinking. If you're walking in a spirit of fear of losing what God has blessed you with, then you're trusting your wallet." [53:12] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When we drink the water that God offers us, Scripture says this is the water, the water of the word. When we build a relationship with him, we will never thirst. We will never thirst. When we were walking without God, the things that world tells you is important that you can never get enough of, it makes you thirsty. I'm so thirsty for more. I'm so thirsty for more. I'm so thirsty for more. It never quenches the thirst." [54:48] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven. Let your light so shine before men. In other words, live the Jesus style. Live the Jesus style. And people will be amazed at what they see in your life. And they'll glorify God because they'll say, boy, I knew them back in the day." [55:44] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "How do you deal with time, skills, money, and resources? How do you deal with that? That's the blessings that I'm talking about. Those are the things that we have. Our time, our skills, our money, our resources. How do we deal with those things? How do we handle those things? Your time, the most valuable thing you truly own. Because once you spend it, you can't get that back." [38:23] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Generosity is action-based. It's living out of something inside so deep in who we are that it wells up in such a way that the feelings transform into intentions that in turn turn into a form of action. That impacts the people and the world around you. Isn't that good? It's action-based. It comes from deep within. And it creates a feeling that creates an intention, but then we have a choice whether or not we turn that into an action." [43:33] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If your family income is $10,000 a year, you are wealthier than 84% of the world. Now, notice it says a year because we hear that sometimes, and our brain wants to go a month. No, a year. I got teenagers in here making more than that. Y'all didn't realize how rich y'all were, huh? Mowing lawns, wealthier than 84% of the world. Let's take it one step further. If it's $50,000 or more a year, you make more than 99% of the world." [49:25] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. He who believes in me. It starts right there. Do you believe that Jesus is real? Do you believe that Jesus came and died on the cross for our sins? That he resurrected on the third day? That the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of believers? Do you? Believe. The Bible says so many times, Don't be afraid, only believe." [58:36] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Your life has got to have a flow. You know, there's a lot of people that know a lot of scripture. I call it this. I say it this way. They have a lot of know. They know it. They've memorized it. They can spit it out like Eminem. Come on, somebody. Really fast sometimes. But they don't have a lot of flow which comes from the heart. A lot of know, but not a lot of flow. A lot of know, but not a lot of flow. Not a lot of flow from the heart." [01:01:16] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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