Embracing Generosity: A Vision for Community Revival

### Summary

This week, we delved into the "Hope for Everyone" initiative, a vision to reach 3% of the Bay Area over the next ten years. This initiative is not just about numbers but about the heart of God for our community. We discussed the importance of unity and vision, and how God often works through these to bring about significant change. The focus this week was on money and generosity, a topic that many pastors, including myself, often shy away from. However, Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic, not because money itself is powerful, but because it reveals our hearts.

We explored the idea that when we don't talk about money, we rob people of the blessings God wants to bring into their lives. The initiative aims to raise $80 million, with $45 million expected through regular giving and $35 million through additional investments. This funding will support various projects, including finding permanent homes for our San Mateo and Mountain View campuses and making capital improvements to ensure our spaces reflect God's love and are welcoming to all.

We also touched on the concept of revival and how it starts with personal renewal. True revival is renewal gone viral, and it begins with prayer, repentance, and personal introspection. We need to focus on doing ministry well and seeking God's heart to activate a passion for reaching the 3%.

Generosity is a key aspect of this initiative. We discussed the spectrum of abuse in giving, from the prosperity gospel to a scarcity mindset, and emphasized that God's favor follows generosity. It's not about becoming financially rich but about trusting God with our resources and seeing His favor in our lives.

Finally, we talked about the urgency of this mission. The days are evil, and we need to make the most of our time. This initiative is not just about improving our church but about reaching people who are far from God. We are working with God, not just for Him, to ensure that no one perishes but that all come to know Him.

### Key Takeaways

1. **Unity and Vision in God's Work**: Unity and vision are crucial for God's work. When we align ourselves with God's vision, we see significant changes. This initiative to reach 3% of the Bay Area is a testament to what can happen when we come together with a common purpose. [04:50]

2. **Generosity Reveals Our Hearts**: Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic because it reveals our hearts. When we move our resources, we move our hearts. Generosity is not just about giving money but about aligning our hearts with God's purposes. [05:53]

3. **Revival Starts with Personal Renewal**: True revival begins with personal renewal. It involves prayer, repentance, and personal introspection. We need to focus on seeking God's heart and doing ministry well to see a significant outpouring of people turning to Him. [10:59]

4. **God's Favor Follows Generosity**: God's favor follows generosity. When we trust God with our finances, we see His favor in our lives. It's not about becoming financially rich but about experiencing God's blessings in various aspects of our lives. [14:12]

5. **Urgency in God's Mission**: The mission to reach people for God is urgent. The days are evil, and we need to make the most of our time. This initiative is not just about improving our church but about reaching people who are far from God and ensuring that no one perishes but all come to know Him. [25:24]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[03:29] - Series Overview
[04:50] - Unity and Vision
[05:53] - Money and Generosity
[07:58] - Financial Goals
[09:10] - Defining Revival
[09:58] - Global Impact of Revival
[10:59] - Personal Renewal
[12:10] - Jesus on Money
[13:38] - Spectrum of Giving
[14:12] - God's Favor and Generosity
[15:25] - Cultural Challenges
[17:20] - Temporary Nature of Wealth
[19:27] - Urgency of the Mission
[23:24] - Student Ministry Insights
[25:24] - Urgency in God's Mission
[27:43] - Generational Giving
[29:25] - Paul's Example
[31:26] - Abundant Life in Jesus
[35:30] - Giving Pathway
[37:26] - Christian Rap Song on Generosity

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 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."
2. Luke 12:48 (NIV) - "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."
3. John 10:10 (NIV) - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus say about the relationship between our treasures and our hearts in Matthew 6:19-21?
2. How does the sermon describe the importance of unity and vision in God's work? [04:50]
3. According to the sermon, why is generosity emphasized as a key aspect of the "Hope for Everyone" initiative? [05:53]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of how God's favor follows generosity? [14:12]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How might the concept of storing treasures in heaven, as mentioned in Matthew 6:19-21, influence a person's approach to generosity and financial giving?
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that personal renewal is a precursor to revival? [10:59]
3. How does the sermon interpret the urgency of God's mission in light of the current state of the world? [25:24]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between financial generosity and experiencing God's favor in one's life? [14:12]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current financial priorities. How do they align with the idea of storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth? What changes might you consider making?
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of unity and vision in achieving the "Hope for Everyone" initiative. How can you contribute to fostering unity and vision within your own community or church? [04:50]
3. Consider the spectrum of giving discussed in the sermon, from prosperity gospel to scarcity mindset. Where do you see yourself on this spectrum, and how might you move towards a more balanced view of generosity? [13:38]
4. The sermon highlights the urgency of reaching people who are far from God. What practical steps can you take this week to engage with someone in your life who may be distant from faith? [25:24]
5. How can you incorporate prayer, repentance, and personal introspection into your daily routine to foster personal renewal and potentially contribute to a larger revival? [10:59]
6. Reflect on the idea that God's favor follows generosity. Can you recall a time when you experienced God's favor as a result of being generous? How did it impact your faith journey? [14:12]
7. The sermon mentions the temporary nature of wealth and the importance of investing in eternal things. What is one specific way you can invest in something eternal this week? [17:20]

Day 1: Unity and Vision in God's Work
Unity and vision are essential components in the work of God. When people come together with a shared purpose and align themselves with God's vision, significant changes can occur. This initiative to reach 3% of the Bay Area is a testament to what can happen when a community unites under a common goal. Unity fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, while vision provides direction and motivation. Together, they create a powerful force for transformation and growth. [04:50]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: Think of a time when you experienced unity in a group setting. How did it impact the outcome of your efforts? How can you contribute to fostering unity and vision in your church community today?


Day 2: Generosity Reveals Our Hearts
Generosity is a reflection of our hearts and our alignment with God's purposes. Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic because it reveals where our true priorities lie. When we move our resources, we move our hearts. Generosity is not just about giving money; it's about trusting God with our resources and aligning our hearts with His will. By being generous, we open ourselves up to the blessings and favor that God wants to pour into our lives. [05:53]

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Reflect on your current attitude towards giving. Is there an area where you feel reluctant to be generous? How can you take a step towards trusting God with your resources today?


Day 3: Revival Starts with Personal Renewal
True revival begins with personal renewal. It involves prayer, repentance, and personal introspection. Revival is not just a collective experience but starts with individuals seeking God's heart and allowing Him to transform their lives. When personal renewal occurs, it can spread and lead to a larger movement of people turning to God. Focusing on doing ministry well and seeking God's heart is crucial for activating a passion for reaching others. [10:59]

Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV): "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."

Reflection: Take a moment to examine your heart. Are there areas where you need to seek God's forgiveness and renewal? How can you make personal renewal a priority in your daily life?


Day 4: God's Favor Follows Generosity
God's favor follows generosity. When we trust God with our finances and resources, we see His favor manifest in various aspects of our lives. It's not about becoming financially rich but about experiencing God's blessings in different forms. Generosity is a way to align ourselves with God's heart and to participate in His work. By being generous, we open ourselves up to the opportunities and blessings that God has in store for us. [14:12]

Proverbs 11:24-25 (ESV): "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."

Reflection: Consider a recent opportunity you had to be generous. How did you respond? What steps can you take to cultivate a spirit of generosity in your life?


Day 5: Urgency in God's Mission
The mission to reach people for God is urgent. The days are evil, and we need to make the most of our time. This initiative is not just about improving our church but about reaching people who are far from God and ensuring that no one perishes but all come to know Him. There is a sense of urgency in God's mission, and we are called to work with Him to bring His love and salvation to others. [25:24]

Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Reflection: Think about the urgency of God's mission. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear about God's love? How can you take a step today to share the message of hope with them?

I'm just going to see everybody. Doing well. Doing well. Glad to be here.

It's, yeah, it's been a good week. And my life has felt more normal. Like this tells you that I was probably a little overbooked, that it was like a pretty normal week where I was able to do normal work. And at times I felt guilty that I was not busier. And I was like, that is probably a red flag.

Okay. So, yeah. Feeling good, feeling thankful. Yes. For sure.

Yeah. Well, and really when you do these series, I've talked about this, like, you know, there's been so much work beforehand. That's actually kind of your most important, most busy time.

Yeah. And then when it becomes public, a lot of those conversations are already finished. And so then your schedule goes back to normal. So I am very thankful for that.

Yes. Yep.

Yeah. So, um, you know, this series is trying to help people think and pray through the Hope for Everyone initiative over the next three years within the framework of this kind of bigger call. We feel like God's given us as a church to reach 3% of the Bay Area in the next 10 years.

Uh, and it's been like pretty amazing. I mean, I think this is what, uh, typically like God works in unity. He works, uh, I think with vision and I mean, I've had, uh, pastors and like nonprofit leaders and people at significant big tech environments, uh, that I've had conversations. Even just since the series went public of people that are like, we're in, what do we do? Let's go.

Uh, which is really fun. And I think this idea, this dream to say, what if one of the last places that doesn't have a documented revival did, and what if the hope of heaven invading the hearts of people in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area didn't just sit here and rippled out from here around the world?

So, uh, trying to help people think about that and understand what does engagement look like? In week one, we tried a lot to focus on what does it look like to think about prayer and service. And we sort of alluded to, uh, committing financially around this big vision.

And then this week really was about how we think about money and generosity. And I kind of apologized because I didn't kind of apologize. I apologize because, uh, I think this is an area that pastors, myself included, tend to shy away from that if things are okay, uh, you just kind of do that.

Right. And honestly, I felt like there was a sense in which it meant a lot to me. I felt like, you know, if you go into an organization and there's like money challenges, I always feel like the budget and spend side is like the first thing you do to earn trust, to be able to have the conversation on the other side.

So I felt like there were things we needed to do to tighten our belt financially, to make sure that every dollar had a name and every name had a mission before we went to Menlo and said, "Hey, would you help resource the vision?"

So we're at that place. Um, but then just trying to help people understand that when we don't talk to you about money, uh, we're actually robbing a blessing that God wants to bring in your life.

Um, and I hope that, uh, people heard it from within that context and that, um, you know, Jesus talks about money more than anything else. And it's not because money itself holds some sort of unique power. It's because money reveals our heart.

And, um, if we want to move our heart, we move our resources. And so this initiative, uh, I think represents an opportunity for us all. Myself, myself, myself, myself, to help raise $80 million.

Yep. 45 of that is dollars that we would, Lord willing, anticipate to come in through the normal course of the next three years. And 35 million of it represents investments, uh, through resourcing, uh, partners in the Bay Area and beyond at more than 10%, um, as well as making capital improvements to, uh, key parts of our campuses around the Bay Area.

And then two of our campuses, San Mateo and Mountain View that we currently rent, finding permanent homes for both of those campuses, not only so that we don't have a risk that we would lose those, but also that we can reinvigorate those spaces to make sure that they're really built, not for us.

Like, you know, we like things to be nicer. That's fine. But we're sort of used to church being church. We actually want to invest in those campuses so that the buildings don't become barriers to relationship, that when people come on, every space makes a statement, and we want the spaces at Menlo to make the statement that God loves you, that He sees you, and that we do too, and that you're worthy of an investment.

And so we believe that this initiative will help us do that.

Yeah, dude, that's a great question. I think, you know, typically revival is defined as a move of God that has a regional or national impact.

I think... You know, some of it becomes a vocab lesson, right? Like, so I grew up in a Baptist context, and every year we had what we called a week-long revival, which was really just like, we're going to do church meetings for a week, which is like, we shouldn't call it a revival, but some places call that like a tent meeting, you know, just as different based on your tradition.

And then I've heard the Ashbury Revival actually called the Ashbury, like, outpouring, because it was kind of this just like unique thing that God did in that space.

Yeah. And I don't want to minimize any of that stuff. Like, that's amazing.

Right. But when we look historically, you know, week one of the series, I talked about kind of the first, second, and third Great Awakening in the United States, as well as the Jesus Movement in the 60s and 70s of these, like, you know, really unique moments that created a ripple that made a difference all around the country.

And I think the Bay Area represents something that if God were to do something like that, you see people that are, you know, en masse, in mass, deciding to follow Jesus, in mass, deciding to get baptized, in mass, deciding to change their life, to redirect it to the will of God for their life.

I don't think that we would just be talking about a regional or national impact because of what the Bay Area represents. I think we'd be talking about global impact.

And so I think the opportunity to say, you know, the Bay Area represents one of the very last places where we don't have a documented revival like that taking place.

And I think that, you know, actually, my first two messages that I preached at Menlo when I arrived a couple years ago were about this idea that there is never revival without renewal, and that renewal or revival is really, is basically what it is, is it's renewal gone viral, right? That's what revival really is.

What God is doing in me, what God is doing in us, that God, He radiates that. And so, you know, sometimes I think as Christians, we're like, oh, God, He radiates that. We're like, those non-Christians, they better figure this out.

And we have these blind spots in our own life that we kind of are like, we're cool with these being blind spots. And we're like, God, but would you do a bunch of work out here?

And I would say prayer, repentance, renewal, like personal introspection. Every time you see a move of God, it comes with that first.

And so for us, when we think about how do we focus on doing ministry well, on seeking the heart of God, on praying together.

Mm-hmm. I'm praying that God would activate in us a passion for the 3%. I think all those are precursors to say, God, we're really serious about this. Would you use us in this season, in this moment?

Yeah. But yeah, I think that idea that God would choose to use us in this season for a significant outpouring of people turning to Him, I think that's what we're praying and believing for.

Yeah.

Yeah. Well, I talked a little bit about how Jesus talks more about money than anything else. And He doesn't talk about money that way, to Rochelle's point earlier, because He needs our money.

Scriptures tell us He's got cattle on a thousand hills. He made it all. Like, it's all His. Sometimes we think, like, how much of my money does God want? And I always have to remind myself, I don't have any money.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah. God has money, and He's trusted me with it. And so what am I doing with God's resources? Every decision that I make, Jesus is standing next to me. He's looking at my bank account. He's looking at my spending patterns. He wants all of them to glorify Him.

Right. And then there are these, like, patterns of generosity that we see that followers of Jesus have had, really, throughout church history.

And so trying to help people understand, you know, when we think about giving, I talked about the spectrum of abuse, that on one end, there's, like, the prosperity gospel of, I put God in my debt, that if I give a certain amount or if I give a certain way, then God will, you know.

And so you think about, like, sort of the jokes of TV evangelists and, like, we'll send you a blessed towel, you know, and all the things.

And, you know, I think we want to be very clear. We want to be clear that that's not us, that that's not what we believe is true.

But I think a lot of us, myself included, in order to avoid that one, we jump into scarcity. That's how I grew up.

And so God doesn't do anything. He doesn't ever show up. He doesn't really care, you know. He doesn't want your money. He doesn't need your money. He doesn't even want to talk to you about your money.

That's not true either. And so if we want favor in our life, what we saw over and over again in the scriptures is that, actually, wherever we put our money, our heart falls.

It's a rudder. It's an invisible rudder in our life of how we spend. And I think that God's favor, which is how all of us are fueled in our life, is the favor of God.

God's favor follows generosity. And so it doesn't mean that we're going to, like, be the most, you know, financially rich ever. It just means when we trust God with our finances, there is favor that gets poured out into our life.

There is favor that gets poured out into our life. That we... When we... When we sow little, when we plant very few seeds with generosity, we reap little.

Yeah. And for a lot of us, we're living out of a place of scarcity, and we're going, why isn't God showing up? And he's like, I told you how I would show up.

Like, please, please, please. Actually, it's the only place in all the scriptures that we're told to test God is with generosity. It's the only place.

Actually, everywhere else we're told not to. Right. Except for this one.

Yeah. And so, you know, if you're not a follower of Jesus, this isn't for you. But if you're a follower of Jesus and you go, what does it mean for God to have my heart?

Well, Jesus would say, wherever your treasure is, that's where your heart really, actually is.

And so, we talked about some of the cultural challenges around, like, the consumption assumption and some of the statistics about where we spend money.

And some of them are really staggering, right? And I talked about that passage, from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded. And from the one who has been entrusted with much, much will be asked.

And I think it's easy... It's easy to look at the people that are... To our right and to our left. In our moment, in our neighborhood, you know, we have a unique dynamic here at Menlo.

Sometimes we'll joke around, like, we... If you're on staff at Menlo, it's like we cosplay being rich. Like, we don't act... We're not... Like, when I look at my neighbors, I'm like, this is crazy that we live next to you.

Yeah, for sure. And so, if I qualify them as rich and me as not rich, well, then it's pretty easy for me to justify. I don't... This passage doesn't apply to me.

Right. But I bet if I asked my neighbors, do you think you're rich? They would talk about people next to them or a few streets over that to them, you know, rich is a moving target.

Right. And when we think about what rich means globally, and especially when we think about it globally and historically, if you are listening to this podcast right now, you are among the most rich people that have ever existed in the history of the world.

Right?

Yeah. And so, we'll talk a little bit about that more next week, but I think it creates a really dangerous spiritual blind spot of greed.

And... I think it creates a really dangerous spiritual blind spot of gluttony and materialism and consumerism that generosity is the antidote to.

And so, it's not loving people and it's not shepherding God's church at Menlo well for us to not talk about it.

Well, you know, the line, like, you can't take it with you is such an important line.

Yeah. Because it's really true. You know, the joke of, like, you've never seen a U-Haul traveling behind a hearse, or we hear about how, like, the...

I've never heard that line.

Oh, really?

Yeah. Or, like, you know, you've heard about the, like, pharaohs that would be put...

Yeah. Inside of a tomb with all their stuff and all their servants, actually, too, so they could, like, take them with them to the afterlife.

Right. And, you know, we read Jesus' text in Matthew 6, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

Jesus isn't even saying, you can't take it with you. He's saying, like, the very nature of the thing you want is temporary.

Yes. Not only can you not take it with you, it will deteriorate.

And then he offers this contrast in verse 20, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

That's the continuation of it. Right. And so this idea of, like, do you want to give it? And the, like, crazy part of, if you give, it'll be waiting for you.

That's, like, if you give it, you'll get it. But if you get it now, you'll leave it behind. That's, like, a crazy, countercultural, true statement.

And we all know it in a little bit, right? Like, it's why fads and trends and, like, it's why the new iPhone is a thing.

Mm-hmm. And we can go look in drawers. In our house right now, all of us probably can, and see stuff that when we bought it, we were like, this thing is going to make me happy.

Yeah. And now we're like, should I throw it away or should I give it away or do I just keep it in here in case I need it?

Even the iPhone box.

Right. The iPhone box.

Yeah, yeah, for sure. Right? For sure.

Yeah. And I think they're just these reminders, these artifacts of the insufficiency of the kingdoms of this world. They are all depreciating assets.

Wow.

Because the revivalists can be like, you think it's hot here.

Yeah. That was the setup, right?

Yeah, yeah. I mean, that's the kind of stuff that happened. I'm not even joking. I see you sweating out there like, okay, okay.

Yeah.

Yeah, man. I think, you know, the question of why do we need this? Like, I'll just go back to what we talked about last week. We don't.

It's not for us. If this was just like creature comforts of improved church, God help us.

And I think the question of why do we need to do this now? We don't. We're going to heaven. Pumped about it. It's going to be amazing.

But I think I used to think about this all the time with students. I used to do student ministry for a long time.

And I would think about the clock that I had with students. I used to have it, actually, for every grade level. I had how many weeks I had left with them.

And I would think like, okay, this is how many weeks I have before they graduate. And I knew the statistics. I knew the statistics, not just nationally, but for our students historically of when they graduated, how many of them were still connected.

How many of them were still connected to a faith community 12 months later. And that was actually our kind of key measuring stick was that percentage.

But I knew tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. And the idea of like, hey, can we wait a year to do this?

And I would just go like, there's a bunch of students that we're not going to reach. So we're just going to pour that out.

Like, we're good. I'm just burning off that chaff. Like, sorry.

And I think from my perspective, this goal of 10%, to a certain extent, this 3%, or this 3% is going to be the goal of 10%.

To hit that 3% is really about us establishing a bunch of foundational things that help create the flywheel over the subsequent seven years that help us get there.

And I think, you know, we live in a transient place. And so the neighbors that you're thinking of right now, that you're like, man, I would love to be able to invite them.

And if there was an amazing event, or that campus was set up to be able to care for their neurodivergent kids, or there was an amazing park in there, that church campus that even if they didn't come to church, that park was available.

Or that group of students whose school is right across from our Saratoga campus, we offered them like a meal once a week that was like a really fun, cool thing that was really built for them as an outreach all the time.

We go like, well, why do we need to do that now? Because those students are going to hell.

Because like the time, Paul says the days are evil. And so, you know, part of this is who I am as a person, as a leader.

But for me, when somebody says like, why is this so urgent? I go, everything's this urgent. Like what we're doing matters way too much.

And I think at Menlo Park, we're acutely aware that life is temporary. We do more memorials and funerals at Menlo Park than any other campus.

And I just think, man, God bless those people. I'm so glad that we get to do those memorials and funerals.

And so many of them, we get to talk about a legacy of faith.

Yeah. But how many percent of people in our communities, they're having funerals. And there's no legacy of faith to talk about.

And, you know, I want us to understand the days are evil. We want to make the most of the time.

We're not working primarily for God. We're working with God because he's got a mission that he doesn't want anyone to perish, but that all would come to know him.

And so I would just say, man, let's roll up our sleeves together. Let's lean in together. The plan is aggressive, but I don't think it's reckless.

I think it is in line with the heart of God for our church. And to be able to leverage the last 150 years to begin writing the next.

Yeah. When I pulled in the parking lot, they're doing the bag thing. Thanks TikTok.

Yup. And I think like the thing that I love about Menlo is that there are groups of people that just like generation after generation after generation have done that, right?

Like they've given their time. They've given their talent and they've given their treasure and we wouldn't be here if it weren't for them.

And so it's our turn. It's our turn to be that for the next generation.

Yeah. And, uh, I hope that people hear that. I hope they get a chance to respond, you know?

And I think anytime you do this, uh, there's, there's multiple groups of people, right? Some people, they don't even have the details, but they just see a number and they're, they're mad and they'll email me and I try to be gracious back.

Right. I think about that text in Proverbs that, um, a soft response turns away anger, you know?

Like I, I never want to, like, I'm going to be kind, I'm going to be kind.

Um, but like the, the stuff that I just, uh, I just, man, it, like it breaks my heart and it's so encouraging.

And I talked about that quote from that grandmother, uh, who emailed me and said, uh, I would give everything to see my grandchildren walking with God.

And, uh, I just think like how that grandmother feels about her grandkids is how God feels about that coworker you have right now, about that classmate, about that teammate, about that spouse, about that neighbor, you know?

Like that level of like, of course, I totally get why that grandmother is like sold out for that, whatever it takes.

Uh, that's what God would say.

And, you know, a text that I'm doing some memorization in right now, and we'll get to in the fourth week of the series on commitment weekend is a text in first Corinthians nine, where Paul talks about this, this transition.

He's going from like the most religious leader you can imagine, uh, to a passionate follower of Jesus.

And he says, look, uh, I was a slave. Now I'm free.

Like I, I'm no longer under the law. It's amazing.

And here's what I've done. I've, I'm taking my freedom and I'm using it to become a servant to everyone.

I'm going to become a servant to, uh, the weak. I'm going to become a servant to the strong.

I'm going to become a servant to the religious. I'm going to become a servant to the irreligious.

He says, I become all things to all people so that by any means necessary, I might save some.

And he says, I do it all for the sake of the gospel that I might share with them in its blessing.

Paul says, whatever it is, he's, he's saying, I, that lady's grandchildren, I want them.

Right.

Well, and I, you know, I, I feel this like as deep as it possibly can be in my life, you know, buried my brother who to my knowledge was not a follower of Jesus.

Watched my dad become a follower of Jesus in the very last years of his life after going through just an unthinkable, unthinkably challenging life himself, you know, got to celebrate and honor my mom, very different faith legacy.

And, you know, I think for me, I instantly clicked to eternity, which I think is appropriate.

But I think the other part of it to that question of like, Hey, people thinking about their comfort, you know, for a lot of people, the like one day, someday hell thing, they're like that.

I almost like live in cognitive dissonance of that. Like I can't even emotionally process that.

Like it would be crushing and I get it. But I would say part of the urgency for me too, Jesus said in John 10, 10, I, you know, thief comes only to kill, steal and destroy, but I've come that you might have life and have it to the abundance.

It's not just about where people, it's not just about the hell that people are going to. It's about the hell that they're walking through.

And so I think some of it is the way of Jesus is a better way of life. It's not easier, but it's a better way of life.

And so the people that think that comfort is going to mean purpose, the people that think accomplishments and accolades can quiet the voice inside of them.

And that says you were made for more than this. It can't.

And so the reason that we do this is not just for eternity, although that's a big deal.

Sure. It's that the eternity, eternity starts right now and it's in our heart today.

Right.

Um, I mean, this week I would say really does kind of dovetail into next week of like, we talked a little bit about, you know, generosity and what does it look like to be a generous person?

Um, I think next week we're going to talk about kind of like, what are the stakes of me doing this or not doing this, but I just want to reiterate, uh, some of that I talked about around, uh, what does this giving pathway at Menlo look like?

Because if you don't give, you know, this campaign really does demonstrate kind of an opportunity for you to test God on this, for you to be a pilot giver and just try it out.

And I'd encourage you, even if you've never given before to Rochelle's point earlier, uh, these initiatives represent such unique opportunities to try to incorporate healthy habits.

Uh, and you know, you think about all the different, you know, different ways that different parts of your life that you want to be able to do, um, and how do you do it?

You don't go from like, you know, oh, I don't ever work out to like, tomorrow I run a marathon. You can destroy yourself.

Right. What?

And so like the, the first step of that might just be, hey, I'm going to give something. I'm going to talk to God. I'm going to trust God with the number that he puts on my heart.

Uh, for a lot of people, I think that's where they are at Menlo right now.

Like when we do, um, you know, there's a big crisis somewhere in the world and we say, hey, would you help us with this?

Or, uh, hey, we're nearing the end of our fiscal year. Would you help us bridge the gap? Those kind of one time, like little moments they'll give.

And the next step for a lot of people at Menlo, I think is to become priority givers, to give God their first and best, not their leftovers, not what's hanging around, not giving out of just comfort and ease, but saying, God, uh, before something else, you're going to get, uh, my first and best.

God honors us and honors the faith that we have when we give him our first and best.

And then for some of you, it's giving that growing percentage. You've never even done the math of what you give against what you make.

10% in the Hebrew scriptures was sort of a baseline, right? We treat it like a ceiling, but it was never designed to be that. It's certainly not that in the New Testament, uh, but a baseline to say, God, all right, that that's, that's then number I'm going to assume I'm starting with.

And then finally, there's some people that that's what you've been doing for a long time. And the Lord's really blessed you financially. And 10% is a rounding error. You would never feel it in your life. You don't even realize you give it.

Right.

Uh, and God's asking you to give above and beyond. Maybe it's above and beyond from the cash flow that you receive.

We have some people, uh, that are literally talking about and praying about selling homes and giving significant proceeds.

And I'm like, oh my goodness. You know? And I'm, I'm saying, talk to the Lord like that. I don't want to be the person that's twisting anybody's arm for that.

Uh, but I would say wherever you are in that giving pathway, uh, man, just ask the Lord. Maybe this is the season to take the next step.

So, uh, I also did this thing while we were talking, which probably was funny if you're watching on YouTube.

Cause I was a little distracted.

Um, but I, I took, so before we started, Rochelle was talking about a rap song, a Christian rap song, which I couldn't find, um, a Christian rap song, uh, about money.

But what I did do is I took the weekend's message. I put it into chat GPT. I said, I want you to make a rap song out of this.

And then I went to a music generator and I said, take these lyrics and create a rap, a Christian style rap song.

Okay. Out of these lyrics.

So I kind of wanted to finish by just playing this rap song.

Absolutely. Is that okay?

Absolutely.

So here we go, everybody. It's right here.

So I, I have not actually listened to all of this, so, uh, we'll see.

We can still edit.

It's already good.

That's right. So we can, we can make that track available.

There you go. I was just like, oh, I bet I could do something like this.

So there we go. Amazing.

1. "Jesus talks about money more than anything else. And it's not because money itself holds some sort of unique power. It's because money reveals our heart. And, um, if we want to move our heart, we move our resources. And so this initiative, uh, I think represents an opportunity for us all. Myself, myself, myself, myself, to help raise $80 million. Yep. 45 of that is dollars that we would Lord willing anticipate to come in through the normal course of the next three years. And 35 million of it represents investments, uh, through resourcing, uh, partners in the Bay area and beyond at more than 10%, um, as well as making capital improvements to, uh, key parts of our campuses around the Bay area." [05:53] (89 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "When we don't talk to you about money, uh, we're actually robbing a blessing that God wants to bring in your life. Um, and I hope that, uh, people heard it from within that context and that, um, you know, Jesus talks about money more than anything else. And it's not because money itself holds some sort of unique power. It's because money reveals our heart. And, um, if we want to move our heart, we move our resources." [05:53] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "I think the Bay Area represents something that if God were to do something like that, you see people that are, you know, en masse. In mass, deciding to follow Jesus. In mass, deciding to get baptized. In mass, deciding to change their life, to redirect it to the will of God for their life. I don't think that we would just be talking about a regional or national impact because of what the Bay Area represents. I think we'd be talking about global impact." [09:58] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "Every time you see a move of God, it comes with that first. And so for us, when we think about how do we focus on doing ministry well, on seeking the heart of God, on praying together. Mm-hmm. I'm praying that God would activate in us a passion for the 3%. I think all those are precursors to say, God, we're really serious about this. Would you use us in this season, in this moment?" [10:59] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "God has money, and He's trusted me with it. And so what am I doing with God's resources? Every decision that I make, Jesus is standing next to me. He's looking at my bank account. He's looking at my spending patterns. He wants all of them to glorify Him. Right. And then there are these, like, patterns of generosity that we see. That followers of Jesus have had, really, throughout church history." [12:46] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6. "If we want favor in our life, what we saw over and over again in the scriptures is that, actually, wherever we put our money, our heart falls. It's a rudder. It's an invisible rudder in our life of how we spend. And I think that God's favor, which is how all of us are fueled in our life, is the favor of God. God's favor follows generosity. And so it doesn't mean that we're going to, like, be the most, you know, financially rich ever. It just means when we trust God with our finances, there is favor that gets poured out into our life." [14:12] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7. "If you are listening to this podcast right now, you are among the most rich people that have ever existed in the history of the world. Right? Yeah. And so, we'll talk a little bit about that more next week, but I think it creates a really dangerous spiritual blind spot of greed. And... think it creates a really dangerous spiritual blind spot of gluttony and materialism and consumerism that generosity is the antidote to. And so, it's not loving people and it's not shepherding God's church at Menlo well for us to not talk about it." [16:01] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8. "The reason that we do this is not just for eternity, although that's a big deal. Sure. It's that the eternity, eternity starts right now and it's in our heart today. Right." [32:08] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


9. "God honors us and honors the faith that we have when we give him our first and best. And then for some of you, it's giving that growing. Percentage. You've never even done the math of what you give against what you make. 10% in the Hebrew scriptures was sort of a baseline, right? We treat it like a ceiling, but it was never designed to be that it's certainly not that in the new Testament, uh, but a baseline to say, God, all right, that that's, that's the number I'm going to assume I'm starting with." [36:07] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


10. "I think like the thing that I love about Menlo is that there are groups of people that just like generation after generation after generation have done that, right? Like they've, they've given their time. They've given their talent and they've given their treasure and we wouldn't be here if it weren't for them. And so it's our turn. It's our turn to be that for the next generation." [27:43] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)