Message Notes Sunday, February 12th

Scripture:

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Luke 21: 1-4 (NIV)

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Proverbs 21:5 (NIV)

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. 

II Corinthians 9:6-8 (NIV)

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

Prov 3:9 (NIV)

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Acts 20:35 (NIV)

NOTES

Generosity Myths

  1. Generosity is Spontaneous

  2. Generosity is about the Amount                

  3. Rich people are Generous

Generous living means we…

  1. Decide on the Priority of Money

  2. Decide on the Percentage of Money

  3. Decide on the Place you give your Money

Two Questions to ask when deciding where we give...

  • What am I grateful for?

  • What breaks my heart?

Framework for how to re-prioritize our finances: 

  • Give 10%

  • Save 10%

  • Live 80%

“What should rise is not the Christian’s standard of living, but his standard of giving.” -John Wesley