Don’t just try to live more fully in Christ. Train to live more fully in Christ! This involves practice! As we journey through 2024 year together our desire is to become more spiritually AWAKE and more fully ENGAGED in the practices we see modeled in the life of Christ. Our practices reveal our priorities.
The practices are not the goal. They are the train tracks that help us find our way into a deeper connection with God and others. The core practices for becoming more irrationally giving are simplicity and generosity.
Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ESV
Simplicity empowers generosity.
The average American house has 300,000 items in it. My challenge to you this week is to simply give some stuff away! A few years ago I announced that I was no longer going to buy any kind of clothing without making room for it by giving something away. A new pair of shoes means an old pair must go. A new shirt means an old shirt must go. It really began to change the way I thought about all “the stuff” I have.
Not only does simplicity empower generosity but complexity strangles generosity.
Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. ESV
In the 1960’s, labor saving devices began to emerge with the promise of leveraging our time: electric skillets, vacuums, hair dryers, etc, Increasing efficiency would mean more work in less hours providing more rest and relaxation. The problem was when people chose money over time. Leveraging time made room to give more time to making more money. Choosing money instead of time leveraged work rather than rest and a more fulfilling life escaped us all as a result.
Studies today show people who choose money over time experience less happiness than people who choose time over money.
The fallen world has a broken system.
Generosity is the key that unlocks the abundant life Jesus promises in John 10:10. This is why God has always made giving tithes and offerings to be a part of his plan for worship.
The frequency of words express a priority in Scripture. “Pray” is used 371 times. “Love” is used 714 times. “Give” is used 2,152 times. The Bible mentions “give” three times for every one mention of “love”, emphasizing the importance of an actionable practice.
REFLECT on your priorities and consider areas of your life where simplicity can be embraced. Declutter physical spaces, simplify schedules, and reassess financial priorities.
REFLECT on being intentionally generous: Set aside a portion of your income for giving and consider how you can use your time and talents to bless others.
Everywhere we go....
We Bring GP2RL: Clean out your closet and give some things away embracing the practice of simplification empowering the practice of generosity.
Irrationally Giving Practices
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Every year we devote the first 40 days to focusing on foundational truths that speak to our identity, as a church family. We are OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
2 Peter 1:12-15 endorses the idea of rehearsing foundational things with the intention of leaving them firmly planted in the heart of the next generation.
As we journey through 2024 year together our desire is to become more spiritually AWAKE and more fully ENGAGED in the practices we see modeled in the life of Christ. As we are awakened to the principles of God’s Kingdom, we must choose to become more engaged in the practices. Our practices reveal our priorities.
It is God’s plan is for us to develop the rhythm of drawing close to His heart and hearing His voice together as a spiritual family. This explains the first question we start with in our groups:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Ask each person in your group to answer the discussion questions below after reading the verses.
Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ESV
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. Simplicity empowers generosity. What are some challenges or obstacles we commonly face today in our counter cultural call to simplicity?
3. What are a few practical examples of how simplicity can be demonstrated in our daily lives?
4. The pursuit of “treasure” isn’t condemned by God. So what’s the difference between treasures on earth and these treasures in heaven?
5. What is one thing you can do this week personally to more effectively focus on trea sure in heaven instead of earth?
Everywhere we go, we bring...
GP2RL: Clean out your closet and give some things away embracing the practice of simplification empowering the practice of generosity.