A Vision for Generosity and Growth at New Hope Church

Today, we gathered to reflect on the vision for New Hope’s potential pace—what God could do in and through us as a church if we all stepped into greater trust and generosity. We began by remembering the biblical principle of “first and best,” established by God in Genesis, which calls us to put Him first in every area, including our finances. This principle is not just about tithing, but about trusting God with what matters most to us, believing that He blesses what we surrender to Him.

We looked at Paul’s words to the church in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 9, where he encourages believers to give generously, not reluctantly or under compulsion, but cheerfully. Paul reminds us that generosity in the present is connected to blessings in the future—when we sow generously, we reap generously. God is able to bless us in every way, not just financially, but in all areas of life, so that we can continue to be generous on every occasion.

A key insight is that obedience and generosity are not just add-ons to the Christian life; they are evidence that the gospel has truly taken root in our hearts. Just as baptism is a step of obedience that brings understanding, so too is giving. When we trust God with our resources, we experience His faithfulness and provision in ways we could never have imagined.

We also celebrated the growth and faithfulness of our church family, recognizing that so much of what we see God doing is built on the generosity of a relatively small group. Yet, there is so much more potential if each of us steps into obedience at whatever level God is calling us to. I shared a vision of what could be if everyone who calls New Hope home participated—how we could always say “yes” to needs, send missionaries, plant churches, and meet tangible needs in our community and beyond.

Ultimately, God set up this whole system of generosity not because He needs our money, but for our benefit. He wants to grow our faith, align our hearts with His, and use us to accomplish His purposes in the world. The invitation is to prayerfully consider where you are in your journey of trust and generosity, and to dream with God about what could be as we move forward together.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Generosity unlocks future blessings When we give generously, we are not just meeting present needs—we are sowing seeds for future blessings in our own lives and in the lives of others. God promises to enrich us in every way so that we can continue to be generous, and this cycle of giving and blessing deepens our trust in Him. Generosity is not a loss, but an investment in God’s kingdom and in our own spiritual growth. [31:42]
• 2. Obedience in giving reveals heart transformation Our willingness to trust God with our finances is a tangible sign that the gospel has changed us. Just as baptism is a step of obedience that brings deeper understanding, so is giving. When we obey, even when it doesn’t make sense, God supplies both understanding and blessing, proving that our hearts are truly aligned with Him. [36:07]
• 3. God’s system of generosity is for our benefit God does not need our money; He could accomplish His purposes in countless ways. Yet, He chooses to involve us, using our resources to grow our faith and to bless others. This is a profound act of grace—He invites us to participate in His work, not for His gain, but for our transformation and joy. [39:08]
• 4. Our collective potential is greater than we imagine The impact of our church is not limited to a few faithful givers. If each of us steps into obedience at whatever level God calls us to, the cumulative effect is exponential. Together, we can meet needs, send missionaries, plant churches, and always say “yes” to God’s call—far beyond what any one of us could do alone. [62:31]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Celebrating Church Life and Announcements
• [04:30] - The Principle of First and Best
• [08:15] - Jesus’ Teaching on Money and the Heart
• [12:40] - The Holy Spirit and Generosity in the Church
• [15:20] - Context: Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians
• [18:00] - Sowing and Reaping: Generosity and Blessing
• [22:30] - You Cannot Outgive God
• [25:50] - Obedience, Generosity, and Heart Change
• [28:40] - God’s Indescribable Gift
• [31:42] - Attendance, Growth, and Giving at New Hope
• [36:07] - Vision: What Could Be
• [41:24] - Giving Levels and Setting the Pace
• [50:48] - The Power of Collective Generosity
• [56:35] - Greater Impact and Kingdom Legacy
• [62:31] - Dreaming About Our Potential Pace
• [66:22] - Prayer and Response
• [67:12] - Worship and Closing

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (NIV) — 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
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.
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Observation Questions

1. According to 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, what attitude does God desire from us when we give?
2. In the sermon, what is the “principle of first and best” and where does it originate? ([08:15])
3. What does Paul say will happen when we sow generously, both in the passage and as explained in the sermon? ([31:42])
4. How does the sermon describe the connection between obedience in giving and heart transformation? ([36:07])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul emphasizes that giving should not be done “reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”? How does this shape our understanding of generosity? (2 Corinthians 9:7)
2. The sermon says that generosity is not just about meeting needs, but about sowing seeds for future blessings. What might these “future blessings” look like in someone’s life? ([31:42])
3. The pastor compared giving to baptism as a step of obedience that brings understanding. Why might obedience in giving be so closely tied to spiritual growth? ([36:07])
4. The sermon claims that God’s system of generosity is for our benefit, not His. What does this reveal about God’s character and His intentions for us? ([39:08])

Application Questions

1. The “principle of first and best” means putting God first in every area, including finances. What is one area of your life where you find it hard to put God first? What would it look like to trust Him more in that area? ([08:15])
2. The sermon shared that only a small group’s generosity is fueling much of what happens at New Hope. If everyone participated, the impact could be exponential. What holds you back from giving or participating more fully? ([44:03])
3. Paul says that when we sow generously, we will also reap generously. Can you think of a time when you trusted God with your resources and saw Him provide in unexpected ways? If not, what fears or doubts do you have about this promise? ([31:42])
4. The pastor described giving as an act that proves the gospel has taken root in our hearts. How does your current approach to giving reflect (or not reflect) your trust in God and the transformation He’s done in you? ([36:07])
5. The sermon painted a vision of what could be if everyone at New Hope stepped into obedience—meeting needs, sending missionaries, planting churches, and always saying “yes” to God’s call. What part of this vision excites you most? What is one step you could take to help make it a reality? ([01:02:31])
6. The pastor encouraged everyone to prayerfully consider where they are in their journey of trust and generosity. Where do you see yourself on that journey right now? What is one practical next step you sense God might be inviting you to take? ([01:06:22])
7. God doesn’t need our money, but He invites us to give for our own benefit and growth. How does this perspective change the way you think about giving? ([39:08])