Sermons

Family Life: “Generosity”

07-21-2019 • Dr. Steve Washburn

Generosity in the church family is one of the most prominent doctrines of the New Testament.

Family Life: “GENEROSITY”

Generosity in the church family is one of the most prominent doctrines of the New Testament.

• Not all generous people are Christ followers.
• But ALL Christ followers should be generous people.

1. The BLESSING of Generosity

   A. “Opposite” of blessing.
(Malachi 3:7-9) “Since the days of your fathers, you have turned from My statutes; you have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Hosts. “But you ask: ‘How can we return?’ Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! You ask: ‘How do we rob You?’ By not making the payments of 10 percent and the contributions. You are suffering under a curse, yet you… are still robbing Me.”

      a. Not to give Him His tithe is robbing Him.
      b. Not to give Him His tithe puts us under a curse.

   B. “Test” for blessing.
(Malachi 3:10) “Bring the full 10 percent into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.”

   C. “Proof” of blessing.
(Malachi 3:11) “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your ground, and your vine in your field will not be barren,” says the Lord of Hosts.

2. The PURPOSE of Generosity

   A. Generosity is one way we transact with God.
(Galatians 6:7) Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap.
(Proverbs 11:24-25) One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor. A generous person will be enriched.

   B. Generosity is a ministry to our brothers.
(2 Corinthians 9:1) Now concerning the ministry to the saints…

3. The SPIRIT of Generosity
(2 Corinthians 9:1-7) Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians: “Achaia has been prepared since last year,” and your zeal has stirred up most of them… Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not an extortion. Remember this: the person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart – not out of regret or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

   A. Generosity that’s contagious.
(2) your zeal has stirred up most of them.

   B. Generosity that’s cheerful.
(7) God loves a cheerful giver.

More from Sermon Series: Family Life

View as:

Family Life: “Multiplying”

The Lord wants us to multiply the number of members in our family.

Matthew 28:19-20; Genesis 1:26-28

Family Life: “Supporting”

The key to the dynamics of church Family is supporting each other.

Hebrews 10:23-25

Family Life: “Belonging”

Belonging to a church family is a very special thing.

Romans 8