Generosity and Stewardship: Living with Joyful Obedience

Today, we gathered to reflect on the deep connection between generosity and the heart of God. As we enter a season marked by giving, it’s important to pause and perform a “self-check”—to examine what pulls us away from our values and what grounds us in the life God calls us to live. The world around us is filled with the “gravity of more”—the constant pull to accumulate, achieve, and compare. Yet, this pursuit often leaves us feeling empty or burdened, rather than fulfilled. True freedom comes when we intentionally resist this pull and instead align our lives with the generous character of God.

Generosity is not just a duty or a response to need; it is a reflection of God’s own nature. God’s love is extravagant, unearned, and freely given. When we give—not out of compulsion or guilt, but out of love and gratitude—we participate in the very life of God. This act of giving brings joy and a sense of rightness, because it draws us closer to the One who created us to be generous. The stories we share, whether about a parent navigating holiday shopping or the testimony of a member learning to loosen his grip on possessions, remind us that generosity is a journey. It often begins with obligation or even reluctance, but as we grow in awareness and gratitude, it becomes a source of freedom and joy.

Scripture teaches us that our use of money and resources is a window into our hearts. Jesus challenges us to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth, and to let our giving be a true reflection of our faith. John Wesley’s wisdom—“earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can”—reminds us that money is a tool, not an end in itself. We are stewards, not owners, entrusted with resources to care for others and to reflect God’s love in tangible ways.

The practice of tithing, while rooted in ancient law, is ultimately about intentional, joyful generosity. It’s not about legalism or shame, but about setting goals that help us grow in trust and obedience. We give not because the church needs it, but because we need it—to reshape our hearts, to reorient our values, and to remind ourselves that everything we have is a gift from God. As we prepare for Commitment Sunday, may we each consider how we might take a next step in generosity, trusting that God will multiply our gifts for good.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Resist the Gravity of More The constant cultural pull toward accumulation and comparison can subtly draw us away from our deepest values. True freedom is found not in having more, but in intentionally pausing to examine what is shaping our desires and choices. When we perform a “self-check,” we can realign our lives with God’s call to generosity and simplicity. [17:50]
• 2. Generosity Reflects God’s Heart Giving is not merely a response to need, but a participation in the very nature of God, who is the author of boundless grace. When we give freely and joyfully, we experience a unique joy and sense of rightness, because we are living out the image of God within us. Generosity is a spiritual practice that draws us closer to God and to one another. [19:49]
• 3. Stewardship Over Ownership We are not owners, but stewards of all we have—our time, talents, and resources. This perspective shifts our relationship with money from one of control or anxiety to one of trust and responsibility. Recognizing that all we have belongs to God frees us to use our resources wisely and generously, for the good of others and the glory of God. [34:46]
• 4. Growth Through Sacrificial Giving The journey toward generosity often begins with reluctance or obligation, but as we stretch beyond what is comfortable, our faith and trust in God deepen. Sacrificial giving is not about equal amounts, but about equal sacrifice—responding to God’s abundant gifts with gratitude and a willingness to bless others. Each step of faith in giving expands our capacity for joy and trust. [55:49]
• 5. Giving Reshapes Our Hearts We give not simply to meet needs, but because the act of giving transforms us. It reorients our values, reminds us of our dependence on God, and cultivates a spirit of gratitude and freedom. Generosity is a discipline that leads to spiritual growth, deeper community, and a life marked by hope and purpose. [42:17]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:14] - Worship: The Lion and the Lamb
• [04:40] - Worship: How Great Is Our God
• [08:46] - Worship: Reckless Love
• [12:45] - Opening Prayer
• [14:03] - Monday Self-Check and Copier Story
• [16:33] - Defying Gravity: Lessons from Wicked
• [18:28] - The Gravity of More
• [19:49] - The Joy of Generosity
• [21:47] - A Story of Holiday Giving
• [25:08] - Jesus on Treasure and Values
• [27:48] - John Wesley’s Wisdom on Money
• [34:46] - The Call to Stewardship
• [39:48] - Tithing: Law, Grace, and Joyful Giving
• [42:17] - Why We Give: Heart Transformation
• [46:05] - Communion Invitation
• [51:21] - Brad’s Testimony: A Journey of Generosity
• [57:04] - Announcements and Angel Tree
• [62:08] - Blessing and Sending
• [63:30] - Closing Song: Reckless Love

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV) — > “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

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

Observation Questions

1. According to Jesus in Matthew 6, what is the difference between storing up treasures on earth and treasures in heaven? What does he say about the connection between our treasure and our heart? ([27:07])
2. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, what kind of attitude does God desire when we give? How is this different from giving out of guilt or obligation? ([40:28])
3. The sermon described the “gravity of more” in our culture. What are some examples given of how this pull shows up in our daily lives? ([18:28])
4. What is the biblical meaning of being a “steward” rather than an “owner” of our resources? ([34:46])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus links our hearts so closely to our use of money and possessions? What does this reveal about what we truly value? ([27:07])
2. The sermon said, “We give not because the church needs it, but because we need it—to reshape our hearts, to reorient our values, and to remind ourselves that everything we have is a gift from God.” How does giving actually change us on the inside? ([42:17])
3. The idea of tithing was discussed as a spiritual discipline, not a legalistic rule. How might setting a giving goal help someone grow in trust and obedience to God? ([41:42])
4. The testimony shared in the sermon described a journey from giving out of obligation to giving out of gratitude and joy. What factors can help someone move from reluctant giving to joyful generosity? ([55:49])

Application Questions

1. The sermon encouraged us to do a “self-check” and notice what pulls us away from our values. What is one area in your life where you feel the “gravity of more” pulling you away from generosity or simplicity? What would it look like to pause and realign your heart this week? ([17:50])
2. Think about a time when you gave freely and joyfully, not out of guilt or pressure. What was different about that experience? How did it affect your relationship with God or others? ([19:49])
3. The sermon challenged us to see ourselves as stewards, not owners. Is there something you currently hold tightly (money, time, possessions) that you sense God inviting you to hold more loosely? What step could you take to practice stewardship this month? ([34:46])
4. The testimony mentioned that “getting rid of things I no longer needed or wanted is not generosity but convenience.” How can you tell the difference between true generosity and just decluttering? ([55:12])
5. The practice of tithing was described as a goalpost, not a burden. If you have never set a giving goal before, what would it look like to prayerfully consider a next step in your generosity? If you already have a practice, is there a new way God might be inviting you to grow? ([41:42])
6. The sermon said, “We give because it reshapes our hearts.” In what ways do you hope your heart and values will be reshaped by practicing generosity this season? ([42:17])
7. The story of the holiday shopping trip reframed a stressful situation into an opportunity for love and generosity. Is there a stressful or burdensome area in your life right now that could be reframed as an opportunity to give or serve? ([24:29])