Toilet Paper Sunday: Generosity and Community in Action
Summary
On this beautiful day, we gather in God's house for our third annual Toilet Paper Sunday, a unique tradition that began with an anonymous act of generosity. This event is more than just a fun gathering; it is a testament to the spirit of giving and community that defines us. We are here to worship, to celebrate, and to be inspired by the love of Jesus Christ, who calls us to be generous and to serve others. Today, we are reminded that even something as simple as toilet paper can be a powerful symbol of love and support for those in need.
Our tradition started when someone anonymously covered the church's annual toilet paper expenses, inspiring us to extend that blessing to others. This act of kindness has grown into a community effort, with our church becoming known as the "toilet paper giving church." This simple gesture represents our commitment to helping those in need and spreading the love of Jesus in tangible ways.
In our scripture today, we reflect on the miracle of Jesus feeding the multitude, a story that highlights the power of small offerings and the abundance that can result from them. Just as the little boy's lunch was multiplied to feed thousands, our collective efforts can make a significant impact in our community. This miracle is a reminder of Jesus' divinity and His ability to meet our needs beyond our imagination.
As we celebrate this day, we are called to be vessels of God's love, grace, and hope. We are reminded that each of us is a miracle, a gift to this world, and that through our faith in Jesus, we are transformed and empowered to make a difference. We are encouraged to expect the impossible, to ask God for the impossible, and to share the light of Christ with others.
Let us continue to be generous, to serve our community, and to spread God's love wherever we go. As we close our time of worship, we sing "This Little Light of Mine," committing to let our light shine and to be a beacon of hope and love in the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. Generosity as a Reflection of God's Love: Our tradition of Toilet Paper Sunday began with an anonymous act of generosity, reminding us that even small acts of kindness can have a profound impact. This event symbolizes our commitment to serving others and spreading the love of Jesus in practical ways. [27:43]
2. The Miracle of Multiplication: The story of Jesus feeding the multitude teaches us that God can take our small offerings and multiply them to meet the needs of many. This miracle is a testament to Jesus' divinity and His ability to provide abundantly for us. [56:08]
3. Expecting the Impossible: We are encouraged to ask God for the impossible and to believe in His power to work miracles in our lives. Our faith in Jesus empowers us to overcome challenges and to be vessels of His love and grace. [59:36]
4. Being a Light in the World: As followers of Jesus, we are called to let our light shine and to be a source of hope and love for others. Our actions, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the lives of those around us. [01:08:00]
5. Community and Collaboration: Our gathering today is a celebration of community and collaboration, where we work together to meet the needs of our neighbors. This spirit of unity and generosity reflects the heart of the gospel and our mission as a church. [01:11:56]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[27:43] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[39:05] - The Spirit of Generosity
[51:48] - The History of Toilet Paper
[54:08] - The Miracle of Multiplication
[56:08] - Feeding the Multitude
[59:36] - Expecting the Impossible
[01:01:52] - The Power of Small Offerings
[01:08:00] - Being a Light in the World
[01:11:56] - Closing Song and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 6:1-14 - The Miracle of Feeding the Multitude
2. Matthew 5:14-16 - Being a Light in the World
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the initial act of generosity that inspired the tradition of Toilet Paper Sunday? [51:48]
2. How did the church become known as the "toilet paper giving church"? [51:48]
3. In the story of Jesus feeding the multitude, what role did the little boy play, and how did his offering contribute to the miracle? [54:08]
4. What was the reaction of the people after witnessing the miracle of the feeding of the multitude? [01:01:52]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the tradition of Toilet Paper Sunday reflect the concept of generosity as a reflection of God's love? [51:48]
2. In what ways does the miracle of feeding the multitude demonstrate Jesus' divinity and His ability to provide abundantly? [56:08]
3. How can the act of expecting the impossible, as encouraged in the sermon, influence a person's faith journey? [59:36]
4. What does it mean to be a light in the world, and how can small acts of kindness contribute to this calling? [01:08:00]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you witnessed or participated in an act of generosity. How did it impact you and those around you? [51:48]
2. The sermon encourages us to expect the impossible. What is one "impossible" thing you are currently praying for, and how can you trust God with it? [59:36]
3. How can you be a vessel of God's love and grace in your community this week? Identify one specific action you can take. [01:08:00]
4. Think of a small offering or talent you have. How can you use it to make a significant impact in your community, similar to the boy's lunch in the miracle story? [54:08]
5. The sermon highlights the importance of community and collaboration. How can you contribute to building a stronger sense of community within your church or neighborhood? [01:11:56]
6. "This Little Light of Mine" was sung as a commitment to let our light shine. What is one area of your life where you can let your light shine brighter? [01:11:56]
7. How can you incorporate the spirit of generosity into your daily life, even in small ways, to reflect the love of Jesus? [51:48]
Devotional
Day 1: Generosity as a Reflection of God's Love
Generosity is a profound expression of God's love, and it often begins with small, seemingly insignificant acts. The tradition of Toilet Paper Sunday started with an anonymous act of kindness, which has since grown into a community-wide effort to support those in need. This event is a powerful reminder that even the smallest gestures can have a significant impact, reflecting our commitment to serving others and spreading the love of Jesus in practical ways. As we participate in this tradition, we are called to embody the spirit of generosity, allowing God's love to flow through us to touch the lives of others. [27:43]
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." (Proverbs 19:17, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a small act of kindness you can do today that reflects God's love. How can you make this a regular practice in your life?
Day 2: The Miracle of Multiplication
The story of Jesus feeding the multitude is a powerful testament to the miracle of multiplication. It demonstrates how God can take our small offerings and multiply them to meet the needs of many. This miracle not only highlights Jesus' divinity but also His ability to provide abundantly for us. It serves as a reminder that our contributions, no matter how small, can have a far-reaching impact when placed in God's hands. As we reflect on this story, we are encouraged to trust in God's provision and to offer what we have, knowing that He can do immeasurably more than we can imagine. [56:08]
"And he said to them, 'How many loaves do you have? Go and see.' And when they had found out, they said, 'Five, and two fish.'" (Mark 6:38, ESV)
Reflection: What small offering can you present to God today, trusting Him to multiply it for His purposes?
Day 3: Expecting the Impossible
We are encouraged to ask God for the impossible and to believe in His power to work miracles in our lives. Our faith in Jesus empowers us to overcome challenges and to be vessels of His love and grace. This expectation of the impossible is not about wishful thinking but about trusting in God's limitless power and His desire to work through us. As we cultivate this mindset, we open ourselves to the miraculous and allow God to use us in ways that exceed our understanding. [59:36]
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." (Ephesians 3:20, ESV)
Reflection: What is one "impossible" situation in your life that you can bring to God in faith today, trusting Him to work beyond your expectations?
Day 4: Being a Light in the World
As followers of Jesus, we are called to let our light shine and to be a source of hope and love for others. Our actions, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the lives of those around us. This calling challenges us to live intentionally, seeking opportunities to reflect Christ's love in our daily interactions. By being a light in the world, we become beacons of hope, drawing others to the transformative power of Jesus. [01:08:00]
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one way you can intentionally let your light shine in your community today. How can you be a beacon of hope to someone in need?
Day 5: Community and Collaboration
Our gathering is a celebration of community and collaboration, where we work together to meet the needs of our neighbors. This spirit of unity and generosity reflects the heart of the gospel and our mission as a church. By coming together, we can accomplish more than we could individually, embodying the love of Christ in tangible ways. As we engage in this collaborative effort, we are reminded of the power of community and the importance of supporting one another in our shared mission. [01:11:56]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in your community to support and collaborate with others in fulfilling God's mission? What steps can you take to foster unity and generosity in your church or neighborhood?
Quotes
We are so glad that you are here on what is now our third annual Toilet Paper Sunday. And while we were talking, some more rolls of toilet paper came in, so now we are up to 1,900. And 57 that's a lot of rolls of toilet paper if you forgot to bring yours in if you are watching online and you're like hey I want to be a part of that you can amazon it right here to the church and on Wednesday we're going to collaborate with churches in mission and bring this mountain of toilet paper over to them and so we want to I mean I'm not saying we're competitive for anything but we do want to beat last year's goal so that every year we're just building and so I think in order to beat last year's goal we need 200 more rolls who's pulling out their phone right now and going on amazon and having it sent right here to the church this is a great Sunday we are here to worship we're here to have fun we are here to celebrate what God is doing through this ministry the Mooresville First United Methodist Church and I have invited Lazarus to come to be here with us and he's no real he's no longer a guest Lazarus you you are a part you are us you are belonging right here in this place and I said Lazarus this is a Sunday that we just need to worship we need to praise we need to have a lot of energy because even there's a football game tonight but I'm telling you nothing soothes the soul like worship nothing soothes the soul like getting into God's presence and just inviting the Holy Spirit to come and be with us so yes we want to have some fun today and we want to worship our Lord and our Savior the one that inspires us to be generous today we want to worship Jesus Christ let's worship together [00:14:48] (151 seconds)
all of our gifts together and we just bring it right to the foot of the cross because what we do know is that each one of these rolls of toilet paper are going to be given out to people who need that extra help in their life so yes we laugh that it's toilet paper but it represents a great group of people who just need to experience the love of Jesus by getting a little extra help did you even know that here in Mooresville that we're becoming known as the toilet paper giving church so much so that churches in mission John was like we we're out of toilet paper let me go to the church I know we're out of toilet paper let me go to the church I know where it is and they know and really if you work at churches and mission and say in a couple months this is gone how long will this last do you think it'll last a couple months if we need to just declare another day like like a random day in June or July and we need to do this twice a year I think we can pull that off so would churches and mission representatives would you let us know if you know where it is there's a lot of work going on it's an event is it is accelerates work then again oftentimes if we f rinse off more than once a year we need to feer in three years so now what we really need to do we need to do this more than once a year and I don't know can you make a tradition more than once a year I mean we're just kind of making things up everybody remembers how this started right do you remember how this started it was over three years ago and I was doing my best stewardship pitch to all of you which pastors don't really love to do stewardship pitches and so I was trying to say you know as we all give our tithes and our offerings to the church that there are things that we need to pay for there there are things like electricity there are things like furnaces there are things like air conditioners and nobody would ever want to just say I'm gonna give my tithes to cover all of the toilet paper that is used at the church in a whole year nobody has ever done that in all of my 25 years of ministry until I came to the Mooresville First United Methodist Church did you know by the next Sunday someone anonymously turned in a check and said I they talked with Bill and they wanted to know exactly how much money they were going to pay for the how much we spend on toilet paper in a year and they wrote a check for that amount that great blessing then inspired us that if someone could cover all of the toilet paper that we use here at church how could we take that blessing and multiply it and be a blessing that's how this tradition started it was not some strategic plan it was the Holy Spirit at work and so the Holy Spirit moves as the Holy Spirit moves and we want to be a people who will always listen to that Holy Spirit and I appreciate that you do I appreciate that this is a special Sunday you know there's a football game tonight and so I had to make myself a new football jersey [00:31:38] (0 seconds)
This is why what we are doing today matters so much. I know, we laugh about it, sure. Who doesn't enjoy a little bit of bathroom humor from time to time? But there is not one of us here today who would want to go without it. So us collecting and giving all of this to church, churches, and mission is one way that we honor the dignity and the worth of another person, a person whom God loves. So if we can help them with this basic need, we are doing our part to help spread a little love, a little light into this world. And let's face it, we all need a little bit more light and a little bit more love in our lives. Sometimes it is our turn to receive that love and that light, while other times it is our turn, it is actually our responsibility to spread that love and light to others beyond. This is our way that we are honoring God's generosity to us in our way of loving our neighbor as ourselves. [00:54:08] (81 seconds)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse holds about 18,000. So imagine that is about as many people that might be there in a sold-out arena. So this gathering around Jesus, it was no small affair. This multitude didn't just stumble upon him. They followed because they had witnessed. They followed because they had heard of. They had heard of his miracles, especially the healing of the sick. Imagine the scene. Word of mouth would create such a buzz. Well, I guess in our modern day, we would say that this was the time that Jesus went viral. Something extraordinary was happening through Jesus. People came in droves, not just for physical healing, but perhaps in search of hope for something more. They came to hear a new teaching. Maybe they came out of curiosity. If Jesus had helped all of these other people, surely Jesus could do something for them. Well, how do we know that there were so many miracles? So John is very clear that he cannot and that he did not record all of Jesus' miracles because later on in the gospel of John in chapter 21, he says, and there are also. [00:56:08] (92 seconds)
Many other things that Jesus did, which if they were all written down one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. In other words, Jesus was doing miracles everywhere that he went. Miracle here, miracle there, miracle everywhere. But this miracle, this miracle in our scripture for today is the largest. It is the most public miracle. I mean, aside from the miracle of Jesus' resurrection, the miracle of feeding the multitude involves the most people at one time. So the people have gathered around Jesus. They are learning, they are listening, they are inspired, and no one wants to leave. The disciples see that the people are staying and they know that the people will need to eat something sooner versus later because who wants to deal with hungry people? So here's what happened. Jesus looks over at Philip and says, hey, where do you buy bread? Which seems like a pretty logical question. [00:58:05] (69 seconds)
Here's where we see this blend of humility and hope. It's a teachable moment about the kingdom of God where small, seemingly insignificant offerings are transformed into abundant blessings. Now I have heard some people try to discredit this miracle. And so they would say that it wasn't Jesus who really took this actual matter of fish and bread and then give thanks and multiply it to an overflowing abundance. Rather, some people have said that because that little boy was generous, then others became generous and they shared their lunches as well. And that's true. And that's true. And that's true. And that's true. And that's true. Just how they fed all of the people who were there. And that sounds Christ-like. That sounds kind. That sounds generous. That sounds how we hope this world would be. Yet, what does our scripture say? [01:01:52] (59 seconds)
And after the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, surely this is the prophet who is to come into the world. Jesus, knowing that they, intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. I think that we could all agree that if Jesus simply inspired them to be generous, that that would make him a good leader. And the people would have shared in a tremendous, loving, amazing experience, much like us here today. All of us are in a position that we can help bless and bless. And we can help bless and bless. And we can help bless and bless. And we can help bless and bless. And we can help bless. And we can help bless. And we can help bless. And we can another person with a little bit of something that they need in their life. And let's face it, it makes us feel good too. In fact, I am so stinking proud of all of you, of your generous spirits, your big hearts. I am so proud of this mountain of toilet paper. It might sound silly, but I think this great mountain of toilet paper is our tiny little glimpse into thy will, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is an awesome way to show and share and spread God's love. [01:02:55] (85 seconds)
And Jesus can do the same for you and me. We can receive the greatest from Jesus. miracle in our lives today we can allow God to bless us beyond our wildest imagination we can choose to believe that God's grace and God's love is here for us that each one of us is one of God's beloved children because God loves you you are the miracle you are the gift given to this world and when we believe in Jesus and when we choose to become a follower of Jesus it changes us it transforms us it fills us with God's love it fills us with God's grace it fills us with God's hope we cannot help but see others in this world with the eyes in the heart of Jesus when we are filled with God's love we can do anything nothing is impossible we can't even expect the impossible to happen we can ask God for the impossible that expecting of the impossible is the power of the hope and the promise of the Son God that we have with Jesus Christ that promise that expecting the impossible is what happens when we have the living Jesus Christ living within our hearts our minds and our souls and when Jesus Christ has [01:08:00] (114 seconds)
we receive it and then we send it off we pass it off to another person we are called to go show and share and spread God's love we are called to go show and share Share and spread God's hope. We are called to go show and share that light all throughout our hold your gift of God's grace right here? It was a beautiful throw. I mean, you just caught the most amazing throw of God's grace. It was a beautiful catch. And you get to hold it for a little bit. they can catch it and then they'll catch it and send it on to someone else and they'll catch it and send it on to someone else this is how god's math works this is how we make a difference in our mission field of showing sharing and spreading god's love today i thought i would ask us to do something just a little bit different on this special sunday i'm going to ask us to dig deep into our knowledge of sunday school songs and i want us to close today do you remember the song this little light of mine okay so i'm gonna need if you were if you were a teacher or you are a teacher i need you to come and help me lead this do you guys want to come and help lead this this little light of mine so we're going to do this together i'm asking for just a little bit of help because sarah you'll convince them good job sarah [01:11:56] (150 seconds)
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