Leveraging Life for Eternal Impact and Trusting God

 

Summary

Summary:

Today, we gathered to reflect on the concept of leveraging our lives for eternal impact, focusing on the resources God has entrusted to us. We began by acknowledging God's unchanging nature and His invitation for us to return to Him, emphasizing that our security should be rooted in His character rather than worldly possessions. The sermon explored the idea of leveraging our resources, particularly our finances, for the kingdom of God. We were reminded that while we cannot take our earthly possessions with us, we can send them ahead by investing in God's work. This involves a heart posture of trust and obedience, recognizing that everything we have belongs to God.

We delved into the biblical principle of tithing, understanding it as a test of our trust in God's provision. Tithing is not merely about money; it's about our hearts and our willingness to trust God with our resources. The sermon highlighted that God invites us to test His faithfulness, promising to meet our needs as we prioritize His kingdom. We were encouraged to view tithing as a starting point, not a finish line, and to give intentionally and joyfully. The message concluded with a call to action, urging us to leverage our lives for the sake of the gospel, making an impact that will matter for eternity.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Unchanging Nature: Our security should be rooted in God's unchanging character, not in worldly possessions. In a world of constant change, God remains stable and trustworthy, inviting us to return to Him and find our security in His promises. [01:19:12]

2. Leveraging Resources for Eternity: We are called to leverage our resources for God's kingdom, recognizing that while we cannot take our possessions with us, we can send them ahead by investing in eternal impact. This involves a heart posture of trust and obedience. [01:06:32]

3. The Principle of Tithing: Tithing is a test of our trust in God's provision. It is not about the money itself but about our hearts and our willingness to trust God with our resources. God invites us to test His faithfulness, promising to meet our needs as we prioritize His kingdom. [01:19:41]

4. Trusting God's Provision: In a world where many things can fail us, our relationship with God is the one thing that will never fail. We can trust Him because He is a risen Savior, alive and reigning, and He promises to provide for us as we follow Him. [01:24:02]

5. The Heart of Giving: Our giving should be intentional and joyful, reflecting a heart that has been changed by Jesus. It's not about the amount but about the heart behind it. We are called to give generously, trusting that God will use our resources for His kingdom purposes. [01:25:23]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[03:00] - Introduction and Super Bowl Sunday
[05:30] - The Concept of Leverage
[10:00] - Eternal Impact and Kingdom Focus
[15:00] - The Suitcase and Envelope Analogy
[20:00] - God's Unchanging Nature
[25:00] - The Call to Repentance
[30:00] - Tithing and Trust
[35:00] - The Test of Tithing
[40:00] - Trusting God's Provision
[45:00] - The Heart of Giving
[50:00] - Personal Testimony and God's Faithfulness
[55:00] - Call to Action and Closing Prayer
[01:00:00] - Response and Worship

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Malachi 3:6-12
- Acts 4:32-37
- Matthew 23:23

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Malachi 3:6-12 reveal about God's character and His expectations for His people? How does this passage emphasize the importance of returning to God? [01:06:32]

2. In Acts 4:32-37, how did the early church demonstrate their understanding of community and shared resources? What was the result of their actions? [01:11:29]

3. According to Matthew 23:23, what does Jesus say about the balance between tithing and other aspects of the law such as justice and mercy? [01:26:34]

4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of leveraging resources for eternal impact using the suitcase and envelope analogy? [48:11]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the principle of tithing in Malachi 3:6-12 serve as a test of trust in God's provision? What does this imply about the relationship between faith and finances? [01:19:12]

2. In what ways does the early church's practice of sharing resources in Acts 4:32-37 reflect the heart of giving that the sermon emphasizes? How does this model challenge modern-day believers? [01:11:29]

3. How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 23:23 about tithing and justice inform our understanding of holistic obedience to God? What does this suggest about the priorities of a believer's life? [01:26:34]

4. The sermon mentions that God invites us to test His faithfulness. How does this invitation impact our understanding of God's promises and our response to them? [01:19:41]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current financial practices. How can you begin to view your finances as a resource to be leveraged for God's kingdom rather than just personal gain? What steps can you take this week to align your spending with kingdom priorities? [01:06:32]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of intentional and joyful giving. How can you cultivate a heart of generosity in your daily life? Identify one specific way you can give joyfully this week. [01:25:23]

3. Consider the areas of your life where you may be placing your security in worldly possessions rather than in God's unchanging nature. What practical changes can you make to shift your trust to God? [01:19:12]

4. How can you apply the principle of testing God's faithfulness in your life? Is there a specific area where you need to step out in faith and trust God more fully? [01:19:41]

5. The sermon calls us to leverage our lives for the sake of the gospel. What is one specific action you can take this week to make an eternal impact in your community or church? [01:36:17]

6. Reflect on the story shared in the sermon about trusting God during financial uncertainty. How can this testimony encourage you to trust God in your own challenges? What is one area where you need to rely on God's provision? [01:34:41]

7. How can you ensure that your giving is not just a financial transaction but a reflection of a heart changed by Jesus? What steps can you take to align your heart with God's purposes? [01:25:23]

Devotional

Day 1: Rooting Security in God's Unchanging Nature
Our security should be anchored in God's unchanging character, not in the fleeting nature of worldly possessions. In a world where change is constant and often unsettling, God remains the same—stable, trustworthy, and inviting us to find our security in His promises. This understanding calls us to return to Him, recognizing that our true safety and peace come from His eternal nature. By focusing on God's steadfastness, we can navigate life's uncertainties with confidence, knowing that He is our rock and refuge. [01:19:12]

"For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6, ESV)

Reflection: What worldly possessions or circumstances are you currently relying on for security? How can you shift your focus to trust in God's unchanging nature today?


Day 2: Investing Resources for Eternal Impact
We are called to leverage our resources for God's kingdom, understanding that while we cannot take our possessions with us, we can send them ahead by investing in eternal impact. This involves a heart posture of trust and obedience, recognizing that everything we have belongs to God. By prioritizing His kingdom, we align our lives with His purposes, making a difference that will last beyond our earthly existence. This perspective challenges us to evaluate how we use our time, talents, and treasures for God's glory. [01:06:32]

"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." (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your current financial and time investments. How can you intentionally redirect them to have a more significant eternal impact?


Day 3: Tithing as a Test of Trust
Tithing is a test of our trust in God's provision, not merely a financial transaction. It reflects our hearts and our willingness to trust God with our resources. God invites us to test His faithfulness, promising to meet our needs as we prioritize His kingdom. This practice is not about the money itself but about cultivating a heart that relies on God's provision and acknowledges His sovereignty over all we possess. Tithing becomes a starting point for a lifestyle of generosity and faith. [01:19:41]

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." (Malachi 3:10, ESV)

Reflection: What fears or doubts do you have about trusting God with your finances? How can you take a step of faith in this area today?


Day 4: Trusting in God's Provision
In a world where many things can fail us, our relationship with God is the one thing that will never fail. We can trust Him because He is a risen Savior, alive and reigning, and He promises to provide for us as we follow Him. This assurance allows us to live with confidence and peace, knowing that God is actively involved in our lives and committed to meeting our needs. Trusting in His provision frees us from anxiety and empowers us to live boldly for His purposes. [01:24:02]

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you struggle to trust God's provision. What practical steps can you take to surrender this area to Him?


Day 5: The Heart of Giving
Our giving should be intentional and joyful, reflecting a heart that has been transformed by Jesus. It's not about the amount but about the heart behind it. We are called to give generously, trusting that God will use our resources for His kingdom purposes. This kind of giving flows from a deep understanding of God's grace and a desire to participate in His work on earth. As we give, we experience the joy of partnering with God in bringing about His kingdom. [01:25:23]

"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 attitude towards giving. How can you cultivate a more joyful and intentional approach to generosity?

Quotes



"Is how you're leveraging your life right now going to make an impact that matters a hundred billion years from now? So I want you to think like there's some things that we just, we get so worked up about, like we get so anxious about. We get so anxious about it. We get so anxious about it. We get so like worried, nervous." [00:46:55] (18 seconds)


"who he is see before you dive into oh we're going to talk about money or we're going to talk about finances or whatever listen god says i'm not here to talk about your money god doesn't live on a currency okay god owns it all god says actually i'm here to teach you a lesson about who i am so here's what i want you to know" [00:55:23] (21 seconds)


"See, we're told to test God because he's trustworthy. He never changes. And the bottom line is, if I'm a millennial, and so we have lived through, if you're a millennial in the house, like we've lived through 9 -11. We've lived through the housing boom thing, crisis, boom, crisis, everything. Like we've lived an international pandemic through a lot. And we've learned that you can't trust. You can't trust a lot in this world, right?" [01:23:35] (27 seconds)


"Like, you can't trust your retirement. You can't trust that. Every day, you hear a new news from 50 miles down the road that says there's going to be no more retirement. There's going to be no more of this, no more of that. You can't put your trust in your retirement. You can't put your trust in a king or a politician. You can't put your trust in a stock market. You can't put your trust in your job security. You can't put your trust in your college degrees." [01:24:00] (26 seconds)


"To say, man, if I made one sacrifice to see dozens of other people's lives changed, that was worth it. Could you say the same? Here's what I know. it ahead. And every investment you make in the local church is not going, even though we are thankful for this building, we don't own this building. Well, we get this building four hours a week." [01:34:01] (34 seconds)


"Your money ain't going to a building. Your money's not going to extravagant salaries. I love my 2011 Ford Escape. Your money is going to start new churches in Athens, Greece, to start a Spanish church in Centerville, Virginia. When we give to this local church, we're sending it. We're sending it ahead and we're seeing lives that are being changed from Syria and from Egypt and from Iraq and Iran." [01:34:37] (24 seconds)


"We are seeing right now a team from our sending church that is in India right now, like sharing the gospel with tribes who represent those red dots you saw earlier. And we gave to that. Like, I want you to see you can't take it with you, but you can certainly send it ahead. And so today we're not going to I'm not calling and asking you to make some sort of facelift. Pledge, because here's what else I want to tell you. We don't need your money." [01:35:17] (27 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?