Pre-Deciding Generosity: A Commitment to Faith

 

Summary

In this sermon, I emphasized the importance of pre-deciding to be generous, as a reflection of our faith and commitment to God. I stressed that generosity is not accidental, but a conscious decision that we make to honor God and make a difference in the world. I shared personal anecdotes about my journey towards generosity, from giving away shirts and furniture to eventually giving away cars. I also highlighted the ultimate act of generosity by God, who gave his only son, Jesus, to die for our sins. I urged the congregation to accept this generous gift of forgiveness and eternal life, emphasizing that it cannot be earned but is freely given by God.

In the second part of the sermon, I led the congregation in a prayer of surrender and commitment to Jesus, asking for forgiveness of sins and the strength to follow Him. I reiterated the importance of pre-deciding to be generous, not just when we have more, but even when we have less. I reminded the congregation that the quality of our decisions determines the quality of our lives, and that as followers of Christ, we should pre-decide to be ready, consistent, devoted, generous, faithful, and finishers. I concluded the sermon with a call to action, encouraging everyone to pre-decide to be more generous, as it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Key Takeaways:
- Generosity is not accidental, but a conscious decision that we make to honor God and make a difference in the world ([31:55]).
- The ultimate act of generosity is God giving his only son, Jesus, to die for our sins. This generous gift of forgiveness and eternal life cannot be earned but is freely given by God ([32:43]).
- As followers of Christ, we should pre-decide to be ready, consistent, devoted, generous, faithful, and finishers ([33:27]).
- We should strive to be generous not just when we have more, but even when we have less ([33:55]).
- The quality of our decisions determines the quality of our lives. We should seek God early and pre-decide our actions ([34:21]).

Study Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 20:35 #!!02:30!!#

Observation Questions:
1. What does Acts 20:35 say about giving and receiving?
2. How does the story of the woman who saved up to give meat reflect the principle in Acts 20:35?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Acts 20:35 challenge the cultural norm of acquiring and accumulating?
2. What does the act of the woman saving up to give meat tell us about the nature of generosity according to the Bible?

Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you felt more blessed or happier after giving than receiving? Share your experience.
2. How can you practice the principle of "It's more blessed to give than to receive" in your daily life?
3. What is one specific way you can pre-decide to be generous this week?
4. Can you think of a person or a group of people you can be generous to this week? How can you plan to do so?
5. How can you challenge yourself to "round up" in your generosity, like the woman who saved up to give meat?

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Gift of Salvation

The sermon emphasizes the importance of accepting the gift of salvation that God offers through Jesus Christ. This acceptance is not just a one-time event, but a continuous surrender to God's will and a commitment to follow Him. It's about acknowledging our sins, seeking forgiveness, and allowing God's love to transform us ([34:47]).

Bible Passage: Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

Reflection: How can you daily surrender to God's will and allow His love to transform you?

Day 2: Cultivating a Spirit of Generosity

The sermon encourages us to cultivate a spirit of generosity, trusting God with our resources and using them to make a difference in the world ([31:55]). This generosity is not just about giving money, but also about giving love, time, and talents.

Bible Passage: 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 can you cultivate a spirit of generosity in your daily life?

Day 3: Rejecting the Culture of Acquisition

The sermon challenges us to reject the culture of acquisition that is constantly promoted by advertisements and social media ([00:52]). Instead, we are called to find joy and fulfillment in giving rather than receiving.

Bible Passage: Luke 12:15 - "Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'"

Reflection: How can you resist the culture of acquisition and find joy in giving?

Day 4: Pre-Deciding to Be Generous

The sermon encourages us to pre-decide to be generous, making a conscious decision to give even before we are faced with the opportunity ([03:54]). This pre-decision helps us to be ready and willing to give when the opportunity arises.

Bible Passage: Proverbs 11:24 - "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty."

Reflection: How can you pre-decide to be generous in your daily life?

Day 5: Becoming Irrationally Generous

The sermon inspires us to become irrationally generous, giving not just out of our abundance but also out of our need ([06:02]). This kind of generosity reflects God's own generosity towards us and is a powerful testimony of our faith.

Bible Passage: Acts 4:32-35 - "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had... And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them."

Reflection: How can you practice irrational generosity in your daily life?

Quotes

1. "Every waking moment we're reminded of what we don't have, but what we think we need in order to be happy. And the pervasive message of most ads is that to be happy, you have to get more, you have to acquire, you have to accumulate. But Jesus has a very counter-cultural message. He said, 'It's more blessed to give than it is to receive.' You're more joyful when you're giving. You're more fulfilled when you give." 02:30

2. "I want to talk to you about how to become irrationally generous. And the title for today's message is When You Stop Holding Back. Father, we ask today that by the power of your Word, you would inspire us to be more blessed." 03:13

3. "Pray heavenly Father, forgive my sins. Jesus saved me. Make me brand new. I surrender completely to you. Fill me with your spirit so I can know you and follow you. As you've given to me, help me give to others your love." 35:05

4. "God, help us to prayerfully and strategically design our life around a spirit of generosity. God, help us to start by trusting you, by putting you first, but not stopping there. Give us eyes to see how we can prayerfully and strategically plan to make a difference in this world." 31:55

5. "Generous people, they make a plan, and they always round up. They pre-decide to be generous. And that along with so many other moments have been changing my heart because by nature, I'm just not a generous person. For years and years and years, I was more the stingy type. And it wasn't a money problem, it was a spiritual problem, because I was trusting in what I would see rather than trusting in what God says." 27:34

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