Open Handed, Part 4

The church, which depends entirely on the generosity of God’s people, has often rightly earned quite a negative reputation with the surrounding culture regarding giving and generosity. It’s a topic worth going to Scripture to explore. Repeatedly, the New Testament asserts that a lack of generosity isn’t a money problem but a heart problem. The failure to be generous is always evidence of disorder in the heart.

Take You At Your Word
Cody Carnes

The Passion
Hillsong Worship

You Deserve it All
Josh Baldwin

My King Forever
Bethel Music

Our lack of generosity isn’t about our lack of money, it is about the condition of our heart.

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Luke 3:7-9
John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

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Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

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Luke 3:10-14
“What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

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The Story of the Rich Young Ruler
Mark 10:17-31

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Our lack of generosity is not about our lack of money, it is about the condition of our heart.

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Luke 11:42
“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.”

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Mark 12:41-44
Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything– all she had to live on.”

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2 Corinthians 8:1-9
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you — see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

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1. Generosity comes from a heart that is increasingly being captured by the love and grace of God.

2. Generosity is to Jesus for the purpose of extending His kingdom.

3. Generosity is not a command from a person, it is a gift from a loving God.

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