Radical Generosity: Reflecting God's Love in Action

The heart behind “For St. Joe” is a vision for Christians to be known as the most kind, compassionate, and generous people in our community. Too often, the opposite is true, and many have been hurt or pushed away by the church. But the truth is, God is for every person—whether or not they are for Him—and we want to reflect that same posture. God’s generosity toward us, most clearly seen in the gift of His Son, compels us to be generous and to serve others, not just as a church but as individuals throughout the year.

Paul’s words to Timothy remind us that, by global standards, we are all rich, and with that comes a responsibility: to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. Statistically, the more we have, the less likely we are to be generous, but Jesus calls us to a different way—a way that stretches us beyond our comfort and natural selfishness. Generosity is not just about money; it’s about serving, loving, and being for people, especially those who are different from us or who cannot repay us.

Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount challenges us to love not just those who love us, but even our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, and to greet and serve those outside our usual circles. This is not natural, but it is the way of our Heavenly Father, who loved us when we were far from Him. Perfection, in Jesus’ context, is not about flawless rule-keeping but about loving, giving, and serving those who cannot or will not do good for us.

Our hope is that our community would see our good works and give glory to God, not to us. We want to be a church that, if it ever disappeared, the community would feel the loss. That’s why we give 100% of our “For St. Joe” funds away, support local schools, help families in need, and serve our first responders. This week, we have tangible opportunities to serve—packing food at Second Harvest, hosting a family night at Eugene Field, serving our fire departments, and giving high fives to kids at Pershing Elementary. The invitation is for everyone to participate, to stretch, and to let our light shine so that others see Jesus through us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Generosity Is the Model for Ours God’s love is not contingent on our response to Him; He is for us even when we are indifferent or opposed to Him. This radical generosity is the foundation for how we are called to treat others. Our giving and serving should flow from the reality that we have first been given everything in Christ, and our generosity is a reflection of His heart for the world. [02:10]
• 2. True Wealth Is Measured by Generosity, Not Accumulation Paul’s command to the “rich in this present world” is a reminder that, by global standards, most of us are wealthy. Yet, the more we have, the more tempted we are to hold tightly to our resources. The call is to loosen our grip, to be rich in good deeds, and to find our security not in what we possess but in how we give and serve others. [05:01]
• 3. Loving Like Jesus Means Loving Beyond Our Circles Jesus challenges us to love not just those who love us, but even our enemies and those outside our comfort zones. It’s easy to serve and greet those who are like us, but true Christlikeness is seen in how we treat those who are different, difficult, or even opposed to us. This kind of love is what sets followers of Jesus apart and points people to the heart of God. [13:26]
• 4. Perfection in God’s Eyes Is Radical, Selfless Love When Jesus says, “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect,” He’s not calling us to flawless rule-keeping but to a life marked by selfless love, generosity, and grace toward those who cannot repay us. The measure of spiritual maturity is not just in religious activity but in how we love, give, and serve those who may never do the same for us. [23:59]
• 5. Our Motivation Must Be God’s Glory, Not Our Recognition The goal of our generosity and service is not to draw attention to ourselves but to point people to Jesus. As C.S. Lewis said, “Don’t shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him.” Our hope is that our community would see our good works and give glory to God, longing for the church to remain because of the tangible difference it makes. [28:27]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:44] - The Vision: Christians Known for Generosity
• [01:32] - God Is For You—And So Are We
• [02:42] - God’s Generosity: He Gave His Son
• [03:43] - Paul’s Command to the Rich
• [05:01] - The Paradox of Wealth and Generosity
• [06:43] - For St. Joe: Generosity in Action
• [09:03] - Impact Stories: Where the Money Goes
• [10:23] - The Joy of Generosity
• [12:16] - The Challenge of Living Generously
• [13:26] - Loving Like God Loves
• [14:21] - Jesus’ Radical Teaching on Generosity
• [16:38] - Loving and Praying for Enemies
• [18:30] - Becoming Children of the Father
• [20:34] - Breaking Out of Our Comfort Zones
• [22:35] - Be Perfect: Redefining Perfection
• [23:59] - The True Mark of Following Jesus
• [25:41] - The Reputation of Christians
• [27:34] - Letting Our Light Shine for God’s Glory
• [29:24] - Our Annual Plan: Funding and Serving
• [30:43] - Serve Week: How to Get Involved
• [32:28] - Family Night at Eugene Field
• [33:54] - Serving Our Fire Departments
• [35:29] - High Five Fridays at Pershing
• [36:14] - How to Sign Up and Participate
• [38:40] - Why We Care: God Is For Our Community
• [39:03] - Invitation to Make a Difference Together

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:43–48 (ESV) — > “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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.”

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 5:43–48, what does Jesus say is different about the way his followers should love compared to the way the world loves?
2. According to 1 Timothy 6:17–19, what specific instructions does Paul give to those who are “rich in this present age”?
3. The sermon mentioned that “the richer that we are, the less generous we tend to be with what we have.” What statistic or observation from the sermon supports this idea? [05:01]
4. What are some of the practical ways the church is living out generosity in the St. Joe community, as described in the sermon? [09:42]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus commands his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them? What does this reveal about God’s character? [16:38]
2. Paul tells Timothy to “command” the rich to be generous, not just suggest it. Why might generosity be so important for spiritual health and witness? [04:13]
3. The sermon says, “Perfection defined is doing good for those who cannot or will not do good for you.” How does this challenge common ideas about what it means to be a “good Christian”? [23:59]
4. The motivation for generosity and service is to point people to God, not to ourselves. Why is this distinction important, and how can it affect the way we serve? [28:27]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to be known as the most kind, compassionate, and generous people in our community. If someone who didn’t know you watched your life this week, what would they say you are “known for”? Is there anything you want to change? [00:44]
2. Paul says to “be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” What is one area of your life (time, money, skills, relationships) where you tend to “hold tightly” instead of sharing? What would it look like to loosen your grip this week? [05:01]
3. Jesus calls us to love and serve people who are different from us, or even opposed to us. Who is one person or group in your life that you find difficult to love or serve? What is one step you could take to show them kindness this month? [13:26]
4. The sermon mentioned that “generosity is not just about money; it’s about serving, loving, and being for people.” What is one non-financial way you can be generous this week? [12:16]
5. The church gives 100% of its “For St. Joe” funds away and invites everyone to participate in serving. What is one upcoming opportunity (like packing food, serving at a school, or encouraging first responders) that you could commit to? What might keep you from participating, and how can you overcome that? [30:43]
6. The sermon quoted C.S. Lewis: “Don’t shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him.” How can you check your motivation for serving and giving? What helps you keep the focus on God’s glory instead of your own recognition? [28:27]
7. Think about a time when you were stretched to be generous or serve outside your comfort zone. What did you learn from that experience? Is there a new way God might be inviting you to stretch this season? [11:53]