Love Gives
✓We Gather because...our GOD Matters (Hebrews 10:24-25)
✓We Grow because...our GROWTH Matters (2 Peter 3:18)
✓We Give because...our Generosity Matters.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
1. GENEROSITY STARTS WITH GOD
a. God graciously gives his people spiritual Gifts. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties
of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
b. Remember the Purpose of spiritual gifts.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and
teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, Ephesians 4:11-12
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)
c. Find a need and Meet it.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11
Bottom-Line | Generosity flows from God to His people, for the building of His church, and service to one another.
2. TRUE GENEROSITY SPREADS
a. God wants to use Me to bless others.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? Matthew 25:35-36
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
b. To serve others, we must make ourselves Available.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
3. GENEROSITY AND OUR TREASURE
God owns it all
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. – Psalm 24:1
Three things happen when you practice Giving.
• You are putting God first in your life.
The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives
Deuteronomy 14:23 (TLB)
• You set your Heart right before God.
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Matthew 6:21
• You position your life to be Blessed by the Lord.
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. Malachi 3:10
