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2009-10 Opening Stewardship Sermon Oct 18th
“My hope and prayer is that someday, when someone asks your closest family to talk about your life, a part of the story told about you is that you were defined by generosity.”- Pastor Phil Dicks - Sermon 10/18/09
WHAT DEFINES YOU
Message – October 18, 2009
Jordan Creek Church – Stewardship Launch Sunday
SCRIPTURES:
1 Timothy 6:17-19: Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.
Malachi 3:10: Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day. "You ask, 'How have we robbed you?'
"The tithe and the offering—that's how! Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields against plunderers."
Luke 6:38: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
1 Timothy 6:17-19: Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.
Malachi 3:10: Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day. "You ask, 'How have we robbed you?'
"The tithe and the offering—that's how! Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields against plunderers."
Luke 6:38: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
What defines you? As a pastor, I am called to meet with a family who has lost a loved one to prepare a eulogy to talk about their life. I always ask the question: “What defined your husband or wife?” The response often is a true reflection of their life as remembered by those they loved.
How do you want to be remembered? Someone once shared that the greatest response would be: Generosity. I would hope that that is how all of us might be defined one day – by our acts of generosity: faithful in giving and willing sacrificing so that others would have.
We all have persons to come to mind when we think of who defines generosity for us in our lives and world. As Christians, we have the greatest example in Jesus. Jesus filled his life with acts of generosity towards others in healing, giving, feeding, rescuing, and loving all persons. Jesus gave us the example of sacrificing so that others would have – “for God so loved the world, He gave his only son – Jesus to die for us while we were yet sinners so we could have forgiveness of sins and eternal life!” That is generosity!
Winston Churchill – “We make a living by what we receive. Make a life – what we give”
WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE? We know that we are made in the image of God. Since generosity is one of the attributes of God, we also are made to naturally be generous. In fact, generosity is a need we have built inside of us. Every time we are moved to help or give to some persons or cause, it is our generous God image coming out! The great challenge for us is we want to please God, but sometimes, we have two warring voices that tries to counter our God-ordained generosity. Those countering voices are (1) a voice of fear that says: “if you give, there will not be enough left over for you and (2) a voice that says if we give, you won’t get the stuff that makes you happy – you won’t be able to buy everything you want.
A THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION FOR A GENEROUS LIFE. The bottom line for all Christians is this: “everything belongs to God.” If it is life, children and even the next paycheck – everything belongs to God. John Ortberg authored a book recently titled: “At the End it All Goes Back in the Box.” His premise is to remind us that we do not bring anything into this world when we are born adn we do not take any thing with us when we die – it all goes back into the box. God is the source and owns it all “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” But God also expects us t o help others and especially God’s work through the Church.
WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF US IN OUR GENEROSITY: Throughout the scriptures, God reminds us of the way those who are Christians are called to give? In the Old Testament, Abraham, Jacob and Moses all refer to the first 10th of all we receive is considered holy unto God. Even Jesus refers us to be generous with all we receive. However for many, the gifting looks something like this:
(Illustration) On Sunday, you would see 10 apples. These represented 10 gifts from God. I shared that all ten are given to us and we have the blessings to return back to God as our holy gift – demonstrating our generosity and receiving the blessing that comes form making that gift. As I placed the one apple on the altar, I quickly took it back and began to slice off piece and after piece as I shared why each slice would be needed. (Since the other 9 apples, never seem to be enough and I found myself taking only from God’s portion – one slice for car payments, one slice for Christmas gifts, one slice for my wife a gift, etc. until only the core was left. And as I put that on the altar, I took off a few more bits so that there was not much to give to God. An illustration on how we don’t give God the “first fruits,” but simply what is left over or less. It is from God’s holy portion that I remove my wants and needs. It leaves God with little to nothing.
What we give to is our God. Look at your life. You might be surprised to see that your God is not really God but yourself and your own personal needs.
The bottom line is that (pardon the expression) we are no generous, but spiritually and financially constipated-you take in, but you do not give out. You and I were created for generosity. That is why we are often not happy because we were not just made to take in, but created for generosity (in God’s image) to find the most pleasure in giving out.
Sometimes generosity can start off reluctantly, but then as we practice it – something changes inside. It is like love. Sometimes it is hard for us to love, but as you learn to give love your receive love in return adn often more love than we give. That is the law of Generosity.
Here is God’s word to us today: From Malachi 3:10:
How do you want to be remembered? Someone once shared that the greatest response would be: Generosity. I would hope that that is how all of us might be defined one day – by our acts of generosity: faithful in giving and willing sacrificing so that others would have.
We all have persons to come to mind when we think of who defines generosity for us in our lives and world. As Christians, we have the greatest example in Jesus. Jesus filled his life with acts of generosity towards others in healing, giving, feeding, rescuing, and loving all persons. Jesus gave us the example of sacrificing so that others would have – “for God so loved the world, He gave his only son – Jesus to die for us while we were yet sinners so we could have forgiveness of sins and eternal life!” That is generosity!
Winston Churchill – “We make a living by what we receive. Make a life – what we give”
WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE? We know that we are made in the image of God. Since generosity is one of the attributes of God, we also are made to naturally be generous. In fact, generosity is a need we have built inside of us. Every time we are moved to help or give to some persons or cause, it is our generous God image coming out! The great challenge for us is we want to please God, but sometimes, we have two warring voices that tries to counter our God-ordained generosity. Those countering voices are (1) a voice of fear that says: “if you give, there will not be enough left over for you and (2) a voice that says if we give, you won’t get the stuff that makes you happy – you won’t be able to buy everything you want.
A THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION FOR A GENEROUS LIFE. The bottom line for all Christians is this: “everything belongs to God.” If it is life, children and even the next paycheck – everything belongs to God. John Ortberg authored a book recently titled: “At the End it All Goes Back in the Box.” His premise is to remind us that we do not bring anything into this world when we are born adn we do not take any thing with us when we die – it all goes back into the box. God is the source and owns it all “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” But God also expects us t o help others and especially God’s work through the Church.
WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF US IN OUR GENEROSITY: Throughout the scriptures, God reminds us of the way those who are Christians are called to give? In the Old Testament, Abraham, Jacob and Moses all refer to the first 10th of all we receive is considered holy unto God. Even Jesus refers us to be generous with all we receive. However for many, the gifting looks something like this:
(Illustration) On Sunday, you would see 10 apples. These represented 10 gifts from God. I shared that all ten are given to us and we have the blessings to return back to God as our holy gift – demonstrating our generosity and receiving the blessing that comes form making that gift. As I placed the one apple on the altar, I quickly took it back and began to slice off piece and after piece as I shared why each slice would be needed. (Since the other 9 apples, never seem to be enough and I found myself taking only from God’s portion – one slice for car payments, one slice for Christmas gifts, one slice for my wife a gift, etc. until only the core was left. And as I put that on the altar, I took off a few more bits so that there was not much to give to God. An illustration on how we don’t give God the “first fruits,” but simply what is left over or less. It is from God’s holy portion that I remove my wants and needs. It leaves God with little to nothing.
What we give to is our God. Look at your life. You might be surprised to see that your God is not really God but yourself and your own personal needs.
The bottom line is that (pardon the expression) we are no generous, but spiritually and financially constipated-you take in, but you do not give out. You and I were created for generosity. That is why we are often not happy because we were not just made to take in, but created for generosity (in God’s image) to find the most pleasure in giving out.
Sometimes generosity can start off reluctantly, but then as we practice it – something changes inside. It is like love. Sometimes it is hard for us to love, but as you learn to give love your receive love in return adn often more love than we give. That is the law of Generosity.
Here is God’s word to us today: From Malachi 3:10:
Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day. "You ask, 'How have we robbed you?'
"The tithe and the offering—that's how! Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields against plunderers."
Check out this promise that God makes to us: (because when the blessings flow – we become generous.)
Luke 6:38: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
Jordan Creek Church has no other source of gifting than its members. Those who joined Jordan Creek Church and the Christian faith are called to fulfill their covenant pledge as members to support the church with “our prayers, presence, gifts & service. We need your faithfulness in your gifting. We need your faithfulness in your presence (especially with the option of an earlier service), we need your prayers for the people of Jordan Creek Church, the leadership and for God to allow generosity to define us. Without that generosity, the ministry of Jordan Creek Church will not be a witness to the community and the world. The answer to our needs is in your hands and your willingness to be defined by generosity and be the church…not just in name, but in action. It is in your hands.
According to legend, a very wise old man lived on a hilltop overlooking the world. It was reputed that he could answer any question anyone might ask him. Two local boys figured they could trick him so caught a bird and took it to the wise sage.
"Tell us," they asked, "is the bird in our hand dead or alive?"
The wise man replied, "Son, if I say the bird is alive, you will close your hands and crush it to death. Or, if I say the bird is dead, you will open your hands and it will fly away.
The answer is in your hands."
The faithfulness and future of Jordan Creek Church is in your hands. Will you be defined by gratitude? As a member of Jordan Creek Church, you have commited yoruself to support the Church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service. Next Sunday and throughout this week, you will have the opportunity to make your commitment. God asks you to live out your generosity and to be faithful to your membership commitment to God and to God's Church. Jordan Creek Church is in need of your faithful generosity.
The answer is in your hands.
Check out this promise that God makes to us: (because when the blessings flow – we become generous.)
Luke 6:38: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
Jordan Creek Church has no other source of gifting than its members. Those who joined Jordan Creek Church and the Christian faith are called to fulfill their covenant pledge as members to support the church with “our prayers, presence, gifts & service. We need your faithfulness in your gifting. We need your faithfulness in your presence (especially with the option of an earlier service), we need your prayers for the people of Jordan Creek Church, the leadership and for God to allow generosity to define us. Without that generosity, the ministry of Jordan Creek Church will not be a witness to the community and the world. The answer to our needs is in your hands and your willingness to be defined by generosity and be the church…not just in name, but in action. It is in your hands.
According to legend, a very wise old man lived on a hilltop overlooking the world. It was reputed that he could answer any question anyone might ask him. Two local boys figured they could trick him so caught a bird and took it to the wise sage.
"Tell us," they asked, "is the bird in our hand dead or alive?"
The wise man replied, "Son, if I say the bird is alive, you will close your hands and crush it to death. Or, if I say the bird is dead, you will open your hands and it will fly away.
The answer is in your hands."
The faithfulness and future of Jordan Creek Church is in your hands. Will you be defined by gratitude? As a member of Jordan Creek Church, you have commited yoruself to support the Church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service. Next Sunday and throughout this week, you will have the opportunity to make your commitment. God asks you to live out your generosity and to be faithful to your membership commitment to God and to God's Church. Jordan Creek Church is in need of your faithful generosity.
The answer is in your hands.
If you have not yet completed a 2009-2010 Commitment Card, please CLICK HERE
Thank you for yrou generosity!
Thank you for yrou generosity!