The Generous Church: What has been accomplished and what will be required

     Around November last year, I took a Sunday off in order to go to New Jersey and hear one of my favorite groups, The 5 Browns, perform. The 5 Browns is a family of yes, five siblings, who all attended Julliard around the same time and tour the world play 5 grand pianos. Sometimes they play simultaneously. Sometimes three people gather around one piano to play the same instrument together. But whatever they do, it is imperative that they are in sync - for one note out of place would be so very noticeable in the sea of harmony.
    I think the same is true of our spiritual lives. When we join the local church, we vow to support it with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. It's not about picking and choosing which of these we will do, its about doing them together, in harmony, in order to seek and serve the Kingdom of God.
   Which part of the vow do you struggle with the most? And how can you bring it in harmony with your life in order to shine forth the Kingdom?

“A Generous Church: What has been Accomplished and what will be Required” Devo

October 28th, 2018

Devotional

“A Generous Church: What has been Accomplished and what will be Required”

Matthew 19: 16 and   Matthew 6: 19-21

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “What is Good” - Matthew  16: 16-17

What does it look like, everyday, to be transformed by Christ? What does it look like, in word and action to mirror the love of Christ? In other words what does it look like to be an everyday Christian disciple?

  Even those who lived during the time of Jesus and saw him in the flesh struggled with these questions. In today’s scripture lesson we find an unnamed ruler asking Jesus what he has to do to inherit eternal life. It is as if the ruler is living into the struggle that all of us feel in our own walk with Christ. On one hand we realize that eternity in heaven is a gift - it is a gift we inherit because of the goodness and mercy of God. It cannot be earned. But on the other hand we have been given such a wonderful treasure in this gift that our lives should reflect it.

Jesus enters into the struggle of the ruler’s question and starts off by not quite answering the expected way. He doesn’t even address the question at first, instead he focuses with laser precision on the words that proceeded the question, “what is good?” Jesus wants the man to know that only God is good. I have to wonder if he is testing the ruler - seeing if he truly recognizes that Jesus carries the heart of God inside of him because he is God in the flesh, coming to proclaim the Kingdom of God. 

What do you describe as good?

What would God describe as good?

Prayer: Most Holy, Lord. Give us eyes and hearts to see as you see. Help us to get past the outer layer of this world, to proclaim with you, what is truly good. Root us in your love that we may share it for the sake of the Kingdom. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Keep the Commandments” - Matthew 16: 17-20

Jesus then goes on to answer the question by saying that the ruler is to follow the law that he is already aware of - the commandments, which the ruler replies that he has followed.

 The ruler must have been feeling pretty good at that moment. His changes of inheriting eternal life are in his favor. Jesus just told him that he had to follow the commandments, which he says that he has kept. Giant check mark. Now he can breathe easy and not worry about eternity. But then…then Jesus rocked his world by telling him that he lacked one thing - he was to sell all that he had and give everything, yes everything away to the poor. The ruler must have started to run through all of the scripture he memorized in head. Where was that located? What had he done? He asked Jesus this question and now the answer was something he was unable, unwilling to do!

It was as if Jesus saw deep into the man’s heart and noticed the one thing that was blocking him from being able to fully follow God, fully be a disciple. Yes, the ruler followed the commandments, but just following the rules doesn’t transform people. Leaving baggage behind and following Jesus as a disciple changes people. 

Why do we have the commandments? 

What lead you to follow Jesus?

Prayer:  Lord, today we lay before you our tendency to focus on your commandments without examining the spirit behind them. We confess that too often we may it about the do’s and don’ts in life instead of actually being obedient to your Spirit’s leading. Helps us to be transformed anew, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Went Away Grieving” - Matthew 19: 21-22

The man was unable to do what Jesus asked of him. Unable to journey with Jesus. We too are on a journey, yet how many of us have unsurrendered pieces of our lives as well. 

Maybe today on of the biggest barriers in our hearts isn’t material possessions, per say, but the commodity of time and the commitments we make. We don’t have time to pray. Or we don’t want to give up anything during a fast by rearranging our schedules to pay more attention to God. We don’t have time to come to another service during the week. We don’t have time to just sit in the presence of God and ask God to revel to us any unconfessed sin so we can have clean hearts. We live in a culture of hurry, and since spiritual growth cannot be rushed, we all too often push it to the side. 

What is Christ asking you to give up today that grieves your heart?

Prayer: Lord, when we confess that while we want to follow you it is hard to think of giving up that which we long for in our heart. So today, Precious Lord, we ask that you replace our longings with your longings, that we could focus on your desires. Speak to our hearts. Amen. 

Thursday: “Where’s Your Treasure” - Matthew 6: 19-21

  Pastor Andy Stanley tells the story of Milton Scott in his book Fields of Gold. In all appearances, Mr. Scott was an average man, who died at the age of 106. He worked from the time he was 25 until he was 102 in a textile mill. He lived his entire working life in the same house, driving a simple car. He owned only four suits and four pairs of shoes. By all appearances, Mr. Scott was living a less than middle class ideal life. But what people didn’t know was that he was a fearless giver. As his income grew over the years, he kept his life style the same. Appearances or being noticeable were not among his priorities. Funding the work of ministry was his priority. He helped widows and orphans. He smuggled thousands of Bibles into Russia before the iron curtain fell. He didn’t save money for a rainy day or worry about tomorrow. He didn’t ask the “what if” questions about money we talked about last week. He was simply wrapped up in the joy of giving for the Kingdom of God. By the end of his life it was conservatively estimated that he gave away 70-80 percent of what he earned for the work of God.

Where would you say that Milton Scott’s treasure was? In the gospel of Matthew today Jesus is teaching his followers about money and possessions - asking them where their treasure is stored - on earth or in heaven. Telling them that where their treasure is, that’s where their heart is. 

  My guess is that the Milton Scott story made some of us uncomfortable. We cannot even fathom parting with that much money for the work of God. For others of us we simply dismiss the story by citing how this man had more money to give so of course he gave more away. But the story of Milton Scott isn’t about the specific details. Or how much money he made. The story of Milton Scott challenges us past where we may be comfortable with questions like: how much am I willing to give to the work of the Kingdom of God? Is advancing the Kingdom of God my priority no matter what the cost? 

How would you describe your treasure?

What does this story make you think and feel?

Prayer: Lord, we crave freedom. Break the chains that hold us back from follow you, wherever you may lead. In Christ’s name. Amen,

Friday: “Treasure and Heart” - Matthew 6: 19-21

The truth is, what we treasure the most in this world may not be money. That may not be what would be holding us back from following Jesus. But if we examine our hearts, asking God to reveal to us what our treasure truly is, we may be just as surprised and grieved as the Rich Young Ruler. 

There is a string that connects our treasure and our heart. Sometimes we know what that is, other times we do not. Something that we forget is truly God’s in the first place. May we take time today to be in silent prayer, asking for God to examine our hearts anew. 

What does “enough” look like for you in terms of your treasure?

What fears do you have around that which you treasure most?

Prayer: God, you are the source of all love and truth. Yet, we confess that sometimes we keep areas of our lives from you. This day, O Lord, we state that we no longer want to do that. Instead, we present our hearts to you for examination. Trusting that you will lead us in the way of truth and grace. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Love God and Rejoice in God” - Matthew 22: 36-38 and Nehemiah 8: 10

Family Activity: Go on a treasure hunt. Ask each member of your family, if they were going to hunt for something they treasure most, what would it be? How is that thing a gift from God? 

Sabbath. Study. Serve

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Matt 19:16

    Matthew 6: 19-21

From the Sermon:

At its heart __________ is ___________ God. 

                       Sometimes we get caught up in the idea of stewardship like a_________. 

Being a Christian isn’t about a set of rules or obligations. Its about having a heart that is set on the ______________________.

The Rich Young Ruler is asking how to inherit eternal life, but in the end the current desire of his ______ out weighted this question that was on his _____.

Reflection Questions:

What does stewardship look like for this to be in action?

Practically, what does it look like to store up our treasures in heaven?

Prayer:

Lord, we want to present our whole lives to you as an offering. We want to plant our roots for your Kingdom. Lord, may we bear fruit that proclaims your name! Amen. 

The Generous Church: Claim it for the Kingdom

   This week we have been talking about claiming what we for the Kingdom of God. A few weeks ago someone asked me a question about an awesome church that is growing in our area. They asked what they were doing differently, and I talked about how they have an emphasis on small groups and caring for one another. While that is 100 percent true, I want to change my answer. Perhaps they chief reason they are growing and doing absolutely amazing things for God is because they can tell their story and Christ's story well. They know why they exist as a church. They are excited to be part of the movement of the Kingdom. They claim how God is being seen and being proclaimed every single day! Praise be to God!
     We all need to learn how to weave together our story and God's story. In other words we need to be able to proclaim how God has changed our lives and how God is inviting us to help be a part of the lives of others.
     There are some people who can do this quite naturally. But naturally or not, we are all invited to do this. The churchy word we may attach to it is "testimony" as in giving testimony to God in our lives. But our testimony, friends, is not just talking about how we got saved, its talking about how we see God show up in the everyday and how God is using us, yes, even us, to touch hearts and change lives.
   What is your testimony? What is your story? And who is God calling you to share it with?

“The Generous Church: Claim it for the Kingdom” - 1 Tim 6:10

October 21st, 2018

Devotional

“The Generous Church: Claim it for the Kingdom” - 1 Tim 6:10

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Love of Money” - 1 Timothy 6:10

I’m not sure if you notice but we live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with the message that we don’t have enough. Commercials and ads tells us that we need a newer, shiner, car. Need to supersize our meals. Need faster internet. The list goes on and on. And brothers and sisters, those are just messages I get from the billboards driving the roads in this area, since I don’t have cable at the house. We are indicted with the message that we need to have more things that are bigger, better, and faster in order to consider ourselves to be successful. 

  But what has the church’s response been to this bombarding? One of two things. Either cricket silence, saying that it isn’t our place to talk about money. Or misquoting scripture to say that money is evil. But scripture does not say that money is evil, money itself is neutral. Scripture tells us that the love of money is evil. We need money to live, but it is how we spend our money that matters. Do we look to money to give us happiness? Or are we grateful to God for the blessings we have? Scripture speaks quite a bit about money, both in the Old and New Testaments, so this is not a topic that we can simply ignore. 

What do you think love of money looks like? 

How can we be on guard against the love of money?

Prayer: Most Holy and Precious Lord, we thank you for being the great provider in our lives. This week, may you teach us to rely on you, and shape our hearts to overflow with generosity. In Jesus’s name. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Love of Money” - 1 Tim 6:10

Most Americans live in a constant state of anxiety about money. If there will be enough to pay the bills this month. If there will be enough to retire. We are so worked up about not having enough that we are stressing ourselves out. In fact, the American Psychological Association stated in a study from 2008 that 80 percent of Americans are stressed out about finances. And no one is exempt. Not single people or married couples. Not those with one child or multiple children. All sorts of demographics are affected.

Because we live in a world that constantly encourages people to live beyond their means. That wasn’t always the case, but it is certainly true of the world we live in today. We live in a day and time that tells us that we can have things now and pay for it later - everything from big ticket items like cars that we take out loans for to smaller every day items we put on credit cards. Now don’t mishear me, there are certainly times we need spend money. But the choices we need to make about loans will effect choices we can make in the future. All too often, I fear that we jump into spending money without thinking about how it will change our spending habits in the future. Or worse, we don’t change our habits at all, instead, living as if the loan or bill doesn’t exist, and simply charging more and more. This, friends, is one face of what love of money can look like. 

How can love of money now effect how generous we can be in the future?

Prayer:  Lord, we confess that sometimes we do not know or live into the difference between a want and a need. We think that we need to meet our every desire, no matter what the cost. Free us from the bondage that makes us live beyond what we have been blessed with, so that we can have free hands to serve you and you alone, O God. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Wandering from Faith” - 1 Tim 6:10

One of the questions we are asked during the ordination worship is service is a historic question that traces back to the days of John Wesley, are you not in debt as so to embarrass yourself or others? Usually there is a bit of struggle around this question because of the cost of the seven years of education that it takes to become and ordained pastor, but I think that what the question is really getting at is reflective in 1 Timothy 6, are you so in love with money that your spending habits have caused you to wonder from the faith? Do our finances reflect a life of simplicity and generosity?

  When we answer that question during the ordination service we do so only for ourselves, not for the person who is standing to the left or the right of us. We are not called to judge how others handle money - we can only examine ourselves. Because only we know exactly how much we make, how much we save, and how much we give away. We can only know the state of our own hearts, not the hearts of others. We are only in a place to ask God to pierce our own consciences about whether we are profiting by the world’s standards or Gods.

How do your finances reflect your faith life?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you that you do not ask us to live as disjointed people - people of faith in some areas of our lives and not in others. Instead, you invite us to live fully for you. May we be whole people, O Lord, wholly committed to you alone. Amen. 

Thursday: “Two Standards” - 1 Tim 6:10

The standard of the world around is what has become known as the American Dream - which over the years has morphed into the belief that you can have anything and everything you want materially. This dream is perhaps best summarized in the slogan for Master Card: “Theres some things money can’t buy but for everything else, there’s master card”. The American Dream has lead some people to purchase things on credit that they would never dream of buying if they had to hand over cash. The American Dream has also lead us in this current day and age to live beyond our means, and not save for the future. It used to be that most people put ten percent of their pay checks into savings, now the national average is less than one percent. 

In contrast, we find God’s standards around money which allows us to certainly use the money that God has blessed us with, but also calls for us to be generous in giving to others. God’s standard asks us to seek to live a simple life - whatever that may mean for you and your family - instead of trying to find our worth in how much we can spend or having the “best” new things on the market. God’s standard asks us to prayerfully examine what difference our time, talent, and resources can make in the lives of others and for the sake of the Kingdom of God. 

How would you describe the differences between the standards of the world and those of the Kingdom of God?

Prayer: Lord, teach us what it means to embrace a simple life. Examine our hearts and lives, so that this simplicity doesn’t just apply to our finances, but to our calendars as well. Use us, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “Love One Another” - John 13: 31-35

If most of us were honest, we would say that we feel some of the tension when we think about money. We worry about it. We sometimes overspend. And we feel trapped between the idea of that we should be able to have everything we want and knowing that there has to be a better way. 

What would it look like to intentionally pray to God to help us reveal to us that better way - the way of scripture to live into our finances in this day and age? To examine our heart, especially around the topic of money? Not examine the hearts of others, but to examine our own heart and our own household? How could our lives be changed?

What does “enough” look like for you?

What fears do you have around money?

Prayer: God, you are the source of all love and truth. Yet, we confess that sometimes we keep areas of our lives from you. This day, O Lord, we state that we no longer want to do that. Instead, we present our hearts to you for examination. Trusting that you will lead us in the way of truth and grace. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Generous Church: We are God’s Stewards”

Family Activity: What is an act of service you can do together as a family? What does it feel like to serve others? How is service an act of generosity? 

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Sabbath, Study, Serve 

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: 1 Timothy 6:10

From the Sermon:

_________ it for the Kingdom of God!

Living as a _________ church isn’t just about money.

Paul says that the ____ of money is the root of all kinds of evil. When we love money for money’s sake, sometimes it can block us from actually being generous.

Some things that can block us from being generous include:

1.

2.

3.

When Christ is the one ______ our lives, it becomes easier to see what Christ is _____ in our lives.

Reflection Questions:

What role does Christ play in your life? Is Christ so important to you that he is the true North in our lives, giving us direction and purpose?

What is our good news? How are acts of generosity involving time, talent, and money proclaiming Jesus through us?

Prayer:

Lord, examine our hearts and lives, we pray. Reveal to anything that may be an unknown roadblock to giving and giving boldly to you. Free us to not just give with our money, precious Lord, but our time and talents. May all we have and all we are be used to minister to your name. Amen.  

The Generous Church: Plan as if for God

    I think one of the paractical ways that we as a local church can plan as if it was not for us, but for God and God's Kingdom is take some time to ask ourselves what we already do well. All too often, we think that we need to be doing what the bigger church is doing, when really we need to be examining what God has called us to do and who we are called to be for such a time as this. God will not call us that which God has not gifted us for. So what is our gift? And out of those gifts, what are we hearing God calling us to do?
    But we can't stop there. We also need to be able to explain why we do what do we do. Another way to describe this is the phrase "so that...". We may be able to say what our gifting is and what God is calling us to do, but we miss the why we do what we do part, and without that we can quickly fizzle out.
    We give, friends, not because we feel like we have to, but often because of the mission and vision. Because we want to be part of the amazing movement of the Spirit. May we examine who we are called to be and what we are called to do as part of God's tremendous Kingdom.

The Generous Church: Plan as if for God Devo

October 14th, 2018

Devotional

“The Generous Church: Plan as if for God” - Proverbs 3: 9

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Our devotional this week is not so much a traditional devotional structure as a reworking of a previous newsletter article that I wrote about stewardship. For each number, take time this week to consider the scripture and the possible actions steps and discuss with your family what this could mean for you. What does it look like for you to plan as if for God?

1. Put God first in your living and giving. 2 Cor 9: 6-7. The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth appealing to them to have a generous lifestyle. Paul writes the biblical truth that many of us have come to know in our own lives - you reap what you sow. So we must make up our minds what we are going to sow in our lives - specifically if we are going to sow God’s generous love, grace, and mercy - or if we are going to be guided by other forces in our life.

Possible Action Step: Model the humility and generosity God calls you to do. Consider giving your time, talents and financial aid to missions and community outreach.

2. Prepare a spending plan and track your monthly expenses - Proverbs 27: 23-24 - We may not think that the Bible talks about budgets and expenses, but in the book of Proverbs we find the author dispensing the wisdom to know the condition of your flocks and watch after your herds. Some of us do have flocks and herds today, and others may not, but we all have what they represent in Biblical times - lively hood and assets. Keep track of what you have and look after it, so it doesn’t go to waste. 

Possible Action Step: Learn to set up and live by an annual budget.

3. Simplify your lifestyle, and live below your means - Matthew 6: 19-33 - A frightening statistic came out in 2007 - the average American saved negative 1 percent. Yes, you read that correctly. The average America spent more money then they brought in. This is contrary to what Jesus raised up time and time again in the parables to be content with what you have. It’s also contrary to the United Methodist approach to stewardship which is based off of John Wesley’s approach to: “Earn all you can and save all you can, so that you can give all you can." He modeled modest living and sacrificial giving in order to help others in need. 

Possible Action Step: Assess what you have and what you need. What are some ways you can save money by living modestly in order to be generous to those in need?

4. Provide immediately for an emergency fund - 1 Tim 6: 9-12- Another scary statistic that came out this past month from several different research institutions - around 40 percent of Americans wouldn’t be able to have the cash or savings on hand to cover a 400$ emergency. Remember that part of Wesley’s plan was to save - to save by spending less (when you are able) in order to give more, but also just to save a wise and reasonable amount for emergencies. 1 Timothy reminds us that it is not money itself that is evil, or saving money that it is troublesome, rather it is the love of money that is problematic. 

Possible Action Step: Decide what a reasonable amount is to have in savings and develop a plan to work towards this amount.

5. Pay off all credit card debt. - Proverbs 22:7 - One of the biggest hindrances to being generous is debt, which Americans have racked up quite a bit of by living beyond our means - especially when it comes to using credit cards. Proverbs reminds us that the borrower is the slave to the lender, and for many of us that means being a slave to our credit card companies. 

Possible Action Step: Pay off your credit cards as quickly as possible and then only use them for true emergencies.

6. Practice long range savings and investing habits -Luke 14: 28- Friends, we are building a future - not just our future or our families future, but the future of the church through our spending habits. We need to be careful not to sell ourselves short in the future by not thinking through our spending habits now.

Possible Action Steps: Pray about your regular giving to God's ministry and mission. 

Set up a schedule to eventually reach full tithing, or begin by tithing one week of every month.

Sabbath. Study. Serve.

Taking the Sermon Into Our Week 

Scripture of the Week: Proverbs 3:0

From the Sermon:

Money is not ___________________ on anything and everything we may ______, but instead we are to ask ourselves if we are using what we have in a way _______________. 

We need a ____________________ that starts with our heart.

No longer can we say that we want to know if _____ money is well spent, so much as we want _____ money to be well spent.

Honor God with what? With the __________________.

We need a.) ______________________________________________

And b.) __________________________________________

Reflection Questions:

What does that practically look like to honor God with our finances?

What does God want this church to be about? What are we building with God for the sake of God’s Kingdom? What do we value? And how does our budget and spending reflect those Kingdom values?

What happens if we don’t give?

Why do we put money in the offering plate?

Prayer:

Lord, we confess that sometimes we are quick to think of reasons that we cannot give instead of reasons that we do give. Help us to have opened eyes and hearts that allow us to see the blessing of giving our first fruits to you and your Kingdom work. May you take what we give and expand it for the sake of hearts and lives being transformed by the Gospel, including our own and well as those beyond the walls of this place, we pray. Amen. 

“The Generous Church: The Generous Church” Mark 8:35 Mathew 25: 34-36 Matthew 28: 19-20

     I was asked recently about a church that was doing amazing things in my community and why they were so effective at sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I answered with a true statement, that have a system in place to connect people to God and to other people that help them grow in their faith.
   But as I've reflected upon that question more and more, I actually think it is the system/ structure plus. I think its also, and perhaps even more so, that they are a church that there folks cannot help but talk about. They invite people to come week after week, because the Gospel has changed their hearts there so they want others to have that experience as well. The love of Christ in that Church pours out the doors in a tangible way Sunday morning.
   As we spend the next few weeks reflecting on generosity, I realize that often we use that word as a nice way to mean money, and yes, money is certainly a critical part of generosity, but its not the only part. Generosity is also sharing the love of Christ. Generosity can be inviting folks to come. Generosity is caring for other's needs throughout the week.
    What does the word generosity mean to you and how is generosity a mark of your faith?

“The Generous Church: The Generous Church” Devo

October 7th, 2018

“The Generous Church: The Generous Church” 

Mark 8:35, Mathew 25: 34-36, Matthew 28: 19-20

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle at her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Save and Lose” - Mark 8:35

Jesus often would say things to his disciples that went against ever instinct they had. Who would ever think that you would save your life by losing it? Often we think about saving our life by doing everything possible in our power to watch out for ourselves, to make sure that we will be provided for in the future. Yet, Jesus says that those who want to save their life will lose it. 

But he doesn’t stop there, he says that those who lose their life for his sake, and the sake of the Gospel, will save it. When we commit our lives to Jesus, it is not just giving part of our lives, we give all of ourselves. We say to the Lord “use me” and seek to be obedient to the ways of the Lord. 

That however, does not mean that it is always easy. We spend our lives growing in our faith and our willingness to lose our lives for the sake of the Kingdom. To put God first and foremost. There are times that we are going to fail, tightly holding on to our own lives. But we there are other times, as we grow in trust and faith that we find joy in setting ourselves aside. 

Do you find it easy or difficult to lose your life for Jesus? Why?

Prayer: Precious Lord, giver of life, help us to trust you more fully with our lives. May we follow after you more closely, laying aside our lives for the desires of your heart. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Blessed” - Matthew 25:34

Why do we seek to be generous? Because all that we have first came from God. When we start to realize that God has blessed us abundantly and that we are stewards of those blessings, then it becomes easier to be generous to others. 

One of the ways that we can recognize how God is moving in our lives is to tell our story and God’s story. To tell the story of God - the story of Jesus Christ - and connect it to our story - how has Jesus shown up in my life? How has Jesus changed me? The more we can tell these stories, sometimes called testimonies, the more we can see the hand of blessing on us. 

How have you been blessed by God?

Prayer: Great God, may we recognize every day how you have provided for us, and in this recognition, may you free our hands to serve you and to serve others in your name. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Generosity to the Stranger” - Matthew 25: 35-36

Christ tells us in scripture that when we arrive at heaven we are going to be asked what we did for those whom Christ deeply cares about. Did we feed people? Give them something to drink? Welcome the stranger? Give clothes? Care for the sick and visit those in prison?

 Our salvation is meant to be lived out. We are not meant simply to make a decision to love Christ and then sit back and wait to be taken into heaven. No - our faith is meant to be embraced, lived, and shared. How can you share you faith in Jesus this week with someone in need? 

How can you live out your faith in a tangible way?

How has your faith impacted people before?

Prayer: God, thank you for calling us to an active faith. A faith that isn’t about sitting still and waiting for you to return, but instead a faith that ministers to the world around us. Thank you for inviting us all to be part of this mission. Amen. 

Thursday: “Generosity in Going” - Matthew 28: 18-19

  Jesus is alive. Jesus conquered the grave and walked amongst his disciples for a period of time before ascending back into Heaven. While others had risen from the grave before, like Lazarus, they would once again be confined to the grave, but Jesus would not. During the short time he walked in this world following his resurrection, he had a message that he greatly wanted to impart to his disciples - to go. 

  This command to go and make disciples of all the world, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is not just contained to the early disciples. It is our mission as well. But sometimes we can get tied up in the bigness of what Jesus is commanding to the point where we are afraid to share the gospel at all. We need to take baby steps to share the gospel - or to use a sports metaphor you need to be able to walk before you can run. 

What do you think Jesus means by “all the world”?

What small steps are you being called to take in order to share the Gospel?

Prayer: Jesus, we confess that at times we have heard the words of your great commission and we have ignored them. We have thought they aren’t for us or that we aren’t up to the task. We have been paralyzed by the enormity of what you are calling us to do as your followers. Forgive us, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “Generous Because of Christ” - Matthew 28:20

Jesus is essentially handing his ministry, the ministry that he has been modeling for his disciples for three years, off into their hands now. People will either hear, or fail to hear, the Good News of the Gospel because of their actions or inactions. Note that I am not saying that the acceptance of the Gospel by others is their responsibility, for that lies with the Holy Spirit, but they are tasked to go and share about Jesus.

  But Jesus is not sending them out alone. Previously, the disciples had been sent out two by two for a period of time - now they are being sent out with Jesus at their side. While Christ may not be physically with them, the Holy Spirit is within them as believers, and they are accompanied by the strength, wisdom, and power of Jesus Christ.

  When we share the Gospel, Christ and the Holy Spirit are with us as well. Sharing the Gospel is not optional as a believer of Jesus Christ, but when we do share about the Good News, we know that we are not alone. 

What are we invited to share in order to make disciples?

  What prevents you from sharing the good news?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for not calling us to the task of sharing your Good News alone. We believe that your peace and presence go with us when we testify to your power in our lives. Thank you, Lord! May your Spirit prime hearts and minds to accept your Word as we share, so that lives may be transformed. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “The Generous Church - Plan as If for God” - Proverbs 3:9. 

Family Time:

What does the word generous mean to you? How can we be generous to people at school? How does this show the love of Jesus?