Living Generously: Trusting God Through Extravagant Giving
Summary
The sermon focused on the theme of extravagant generosity, emphasizing the importance of giving as an act of worship and trust in God's provision. The speaker shared a personal story about Tracy, who was consumed with worry about downsizing her house, which illustrated the struggle between trusting God and succumbing to worry and covetousness. This story served as a reminder that our focus should be on God, who is the author and controller of our lives, rather than on our own plans and desires.
Drawing from the teachings of the Apostle Paul, the speaker highlighted that God's grace enables believers to be generous in every good work, including giving to the poor. The sermon clarified that God's provision is not about material prosperity but about a harvest of righteousness. The speaker encouraged the congregation to prioritize Christ above all else, to step into the beyond with faith, and to manage God's resources faithfully. The annual tradition of the church to practice extravagant generosity was also mentioned, with a call to apply the same level of dedication to giving as to other spiritual disciplines like prayer.
The speaker further discussed the principles of sowing and reaping, cautioning against both the misuse of this concept for personal gain and the dismissal of its importance. The sermon emphasized that giving should be motivated by a willing and generous heart, not by compulsion or external pressure. The speaker also touched upon the joy found in worship and involvement in God's work, urging believers to serve the Lord with gladness and to approach Him with joyful singing.
The sermon concluded with a call to action for the congregation to create space over the next year to steward the generosity that God brings through the church. The speaker encouraged the listeners to let faith arise and to live a lifestyle of generosity, focusing on God's kingdom rather than temporary treasures. The church's budget and focus on missions were discussed, with an emphasis on God's provision through the generosity of the church members.
Key Takeaways:
- Extravagant generosity is an act of worship that reflects our trust in God's provision and control over our lives. It is a response to God's grace, which empowers us to be generous in every good work. This generosity is not about material gain but about cultivating a harvest of righteousness that aligns with God's kingdom purposes. [48:51]
- The principle of sowing and reaping should be understood in its proper context, avoiding both the exploitation of this concept for selfish gain and the neglect of its significance. True giving arises from a heart that willingly and joyfully contributes, recognizing that our resources are ultimately God's and meant to be used for His glory. [56:55]
- Joy is a central theme in worship and giving. When we view God as our treasure and the kingdom of God as our focus, we experience a joyful exchange and investment in God's work. This joy transcends our circumstances and is rooted in the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy. [01:03:00]
- God desires our hearts more than our resources. Giving joyfully and serving with joy are responses to who God is and what He has done for us. This perspective aligns with the biblical teaching that emphasizes love as the greatest virtue, even in the context of giving. [01:06:04]
- As believers, we are called to live a lifestyle of generosity, not driven by fear or the pursuit of temporary treasures, but by a desire to become more like Christ. This involves being faithful stewards of the resources God entrusts to us and responding to His leading in how we give and serve. [01:25:06]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Extravagant Generosity
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Corinthians 8:7 - "But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also."
2. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
3. Psalm 16:11 - "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean by "this act of grace" in 2 Corinthians 8:7?
2. According to 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, what are the two contrasting outcomes of sowing sparingly versus sowing bountifully?
3. How does Psalm 16:11 describe the experience of being in God's presence?
4. In the sermon, what personal struggle did Tracy share about her experience with downsizing her house? ([43:47])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize excelling in the act of giving alongside other virtues like faith and knowledge in 2 Corinthians 8:7?
2. How does the principle of sowing and reaping in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 relate to the concept of generosity as an act of worship? ([54:17])
3. What does it mean to be a "cheerful giver" according to 2 Corinthians 9:7, and why is this important to God? ([58:55])
4. How does the joy described in Psalm 16:11 connect to the joy found in worship and giving as discussed in the sermon? ([01:03:00])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you gave generously. How did it impact your relationship with God and others? How can you cultivate a heart of generosity in your daily life? ([54:17])
2. Tracy shared her struggle with worry and covetousness while trying to downsize her house. Have you ever experienced a similar struggle between trusting God and focusing on your own plans? How did you overcome it, or how can you work on overcoming it now? ([43:47])
3. The sermon emphasized that giving should come from a willing and joyful heart, not out of compulsion. How can you ensure that your giving is motivated by joy and not by external pressure? ([58:55])
4. The principle of sowing and reaping was discussed in the sermon. How can you apply this principle in your financial decisions and other areas of your life? ([56:55])
5. The sermon mentioned the joy found in worship and involvement in God's work. How can you incorporate more joyful worship into your daily routine? ([01:03:00])
6. The speaker encouraged the congregation to live a lifestyle of generosity. What specific steps can you take this week to practice extravagant generosity in your community or church? ([01:25:06])
7. Reflect on the idea that God desires our hearts more than our resources. How can you align your giving and serving with this perspective? ([01:06:04])
Devotional
Day 1: Worship Through Generous Giving
Generosity is an expression of worship that demonstrates trust in God's sovereignty and provision. It is a tangible response to the grace received, allowing one to participate in God's work through giving that goes beyond mere obligation. This form of worship is not about accumulating wealth but about nurturing a heart aligned with God's purposes. [48:51]
2 Corinthians 9:7 - "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: How does your current giving reflect your trust in God's provision and your worship of Him?
Day 2: Understanding Sowing and Reaping
The principle of sowing and reaping is not a means to selfish gain but a spiritual truth about the impact of our actions. True generosity comes from a heart that gives willingly, recognizing that all resources are God's and are to be used for His glory. This understanding calls for a joyful and intentional approach to giving. [56:55]
Galatians 6:9 - "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Reflection: In what ways can you sow seeds of generosity today that align with God's kingdom, rather than your personal gain?
Day 3: Joy in Worship and Giving
Joy is the hallmark of a life centered on God and His kingdom. When God is treasured above all, giving becomes a joyful act of worship, an investment in the eternal rather than the temporal. This joy is not dependent on circumstances but is found in the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy. [01:03:00]
Psalm 16:11 - "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a joyful heart in your worship and giving, regardless of your current circumstances?
Day 4: The Heart Over Resources
God's desire is for a heart that gives joyfully and serves with gladness. This reflects an understanding of God's nature and His deeds. Love remains the greatest virtue, even in giving, and it is this love that should motivate our generosity and service. [01:06:04]
1 Corinthians 13:3 - "If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
Reflection: How can you ensure that your giving and service are motivated by genuine love and not just a sense of duty or expectation?
Day 5: Lifestyle of Generosity
A lifestyle of generosity is a call to live like Christ, stewarding God's resources faithfully and responding to His leading in our giving and service. This lifestyle is not driven by fear or the pursuit of earthly treasures but by a desire to reflect Christ's love and grace to others. [01:25:06]
Matthew 6:20-21 - "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: What steps can you take to cultivate a lifestyle of generosity that focuses on heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones?
Quotes
"Extravagant generosity is a lifestyle of worship, and so that's what above and beyond is really all about. That is what it's all about." [01:15:59] (Download)
"Is Christ Above All? Is Christ our true treasure? And are we willing to step into the Beyond, trusting Him to use us as good and faithful managers?" [49:27] (Download)
"Imagine if God becomes the treasure, imagine if the kingdom of God and what He's doing on planet Earth becomes wow, then the investment and the return is I get to be a part of what God is doing." [01:01:42] (Download)
"In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Rejoice in hope, not in your circumstances, for you have a God who is your hope within the circumstances." [01:03:00] (Download)
"Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. The truth of who God is is so real to you that you can rejoice while you have tears running down your cheeks." [01:03:42] (Download)
"God's able to make this ability to give his grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." [01:11:24] (Download)
"The same God who gives the ability to be generous and give is also the God who cares about you and your needs and he provides the grain for bread meaning he meets your needs, he provides for you." [01:12:42] (Download)
"Increasing something doesn't mean Prosperity the way we think about it as Americans bigger this, newer this, shinier this; he says no, there will be a harvest of your righteousness not necessarily your fat bank account." [01:13:26] (Download)
"Faith would arise and not fear, that chasing after other Treasures that ultimately won't satisfy would be identified and we would swing the pendulum to trust not to worry but to trust and just say Lord I offer myself to you." [01:25:48] (Download)
"Our opportunity to believe God for all of the funds needed to do all of the work, the Ministries and missions that we support as a church, is not just about numbers; it's about faith and stewardship." [01:17:09] (Download)
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