WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.620 Good morning, church. 00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:13.560 We are continuing on in our series on Jesus, on generosity, and let's see how much we've learned here. 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:29.780 ! Are you ready? Are you ready? God gives. How do we give back? That's right. All right. We're going to try that each Sunday until we mean it. All right. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:43.799 How many of you, you know what I don't have with me is my little clicker. Is it down there? Did I leave it in my office? You got me? God bless you, sir. 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:55.379 All right. Would y'all click through to the next slide? I want to show you a particular place in America. We used to see it all the time. It is called the Great Salt Lake. 00:00:55.380 --> 00:01:09.379 How many of you guys have ever been to Utah and you have seen the Great Salt Lake? Anybody? I know y'all have. By the way, my in-laws are here. Pray for me. I'm kidding. They're really nice people. 00:01:09.379 --> 00:01:16.519 I actually have good in-laws. I hit the lottery of life, man. No, I think that was God's blessings. 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:24.239 Favor ain't fair, I like to say. That was funnier in my head. All right. 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:32.060 My in-laws came up to visit us when we lived in that area and they are visiting us here. Man, they just go wherever we go. 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:36.140 Actually, they came to Panama when we were missionaries in Central America. We're getting off on a rabbit trail. 00:01:36.140 --> 00:01:41.040 We used to live near Utah. We lived in northern Nevada and actually, Bo. Where's Bo? 00:01:41.739 --> 00:01:45.379 Wave your hand, Bo. There you go. Nice and proud. Stand up so everybody can see you. All right. Sit down. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:52.079 So, sit down, boy. We're spiraling here, aren't we? 00:01:53.560 --> 00:02:00.260 Bo was born in Utah. That doesn't mean he's a Mormon. That's not what happens just because you're born in Utah. 00:02:00.260 --> 00:02:05.439 All right. There's a lot of them up there. But he was born in Salt Lake City. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:11.859 When you live in Elko, Nevada, you're probably not going to use the hospital there for much other than emergencies. 00:02:12.079 --> 00:02:16.599 And so, we drove the three hours into Utah and had him born in Salt Lake City. 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:22.259 And while you're driving there, you drive past this massive area. 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:25.579 It's called the Salt Flats. God bless you, sir. Thank you so much. 00:02:26.340 --> 00:02:27.199 You can punch me later. 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:30.199 The Great Salt Lake. 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:36.780 The Great Salt Lake is an awesome place. It is really cool. 00:02:36.899 --> 00:02:41.500 The only thing about it is it's not alive. It's dead. 00:02:41.659 --> 00:02:47.139 There are little streams that feed into it, but then the water goes nowhere. 00:02:47.139 --> 00:02:53.179 There's hardly anything that lives in the Great Salt Lake. 00:02:53.839 --> 00:02:56.519 There's a few, like there's some brine shrimp. 00:02:56.919 --> 00:03:02.339 That's about it. Whatever can survive in its overly salty waters. 00:03:03.139 --> 00:03:06.639 So, why do I want to show that to you today? 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:15.819 Because in Matthew chapter 10, by the way, turn to Matthew chapter 10, we're going to read verse 8 together. 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:19.799 We're going to read more than that, but we're going to focus on verse 8. 00:03:21.259 --> 00:03:24.219 While you're turning there, I want to share this quote with you. 00:03:25.339 --> 00:03:28.979 You can stand and you can look at the Great Salt Lake and it's beautiful. 00:03:28.979 --> 00:03:34.519 It's really cool looking. It looks like snow, but you realize it's salt. 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:35.780 It's not snow. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:45.859 And because of that incredibly high salt concentration, very little can live in its waters. 00:03:47.500 --> 00:03:49.799 Here's the quote I want to share with you. 00:03:50.799 --> 00:03:55.699 The Holy Spirit is in you and he wants out. 00:03:55.699 --> 00:04:02.239 He is in you as a river, not a lake. 00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:04.099 You understand the difference there? 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:15.699 The Holy Spirit is in you as a river to flow through you, not just a lake to flow into you. 00:04:16.039 --> 00:04:22.620 Matthew chapter 10 and verse 8, Jesus teaches us that principle and he says these words, 00:04:22.620 --> 00:04:27.620 Freely you have received, freely give. 00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:30.620 Freely you have received, freely give. 00:04:31.280 --> 00:04:33.579 We've been talking about generosity. 00:04:34.139 --> 00:04:39.540 And whenever we tackle a new subject, the very first place we should go, like Jared said earlier, 00:04:39.840 --> 00:04:42.360 is to see what Jesus had to say about it. 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:45.060 Let's go to the word of God himself. 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:48.319 What is he teaching us about the principle of generosity? 00:04:48.840 --> 00:04:50.560 And so that's what we're studying in this series. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:56.540 Let's look at Matthew chapter 10 and we're going to read a few verses beginning in verse 5. 00:04:56.899 --> 00:04:58.500 Matthew 10 and verse 5. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:01.819 Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them these instructions. 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:04.519 Don't take the road that leads to the Gentiles. 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:06.480 Don't enter any Samaritan town. 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:09.319 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 00:05:09.319 --> 00:05:16.040 Right now they are on mission to the people that God chose for the foundation of the world. 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:21.279 And they are here to tell them and show them and preach to them that their Messiah is here. 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:26.459 The long-awaited rescuer of their people who is going to restore the relationship between them and God. 00:05:26.539 --> 00:05:27.519 He's going to save them. 00:05:27.779 --> 00:05:28.240 He's here. 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:29.220 And so he says, 00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:31.280 Go to these lost sheep of the house of Israel. 00:05:31.819 --> 00:05:33.180 As you go, here's what you say. 00:05:33.540 --> 00:05:36.060 You proclaim the kingdom of heaven has come near. 00:05:36.660 --> 00:05:37.439 Heal the sick. 00:05:37.780 --> 00:05:38.519 Raise the dead. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:40.360 Cleanse those with leprosy. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:41.780 Drive out demons. 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:44.060 Freely you have received. 00:05:45.819 --> 00:05:47.319 Freely give. 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:48.319 Freely give. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:48.319 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:49.319 Freely give. 00:05:49.319 --> 00:05:54.319 This was the spirit in which Jesus sent out his followers. 00:05:54.599 --> 00:05:56.219 And let me tell you something today. 00:05:56.540 --> 00:06:00.980 This is the spirit in which God always sends out his followers. 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:04.219 It's the spirit of being a river. 00:06:04.620 --> 00:06:07.279 I've never held back from you, God says to us. 00:06:07.579 --> 00:06:09.920 I've always been generous with you. 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:12.500 I've always freely given to you. 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:17.019 And the purpose of that is not to make you fat. 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:18.139 So to speak. 00:06:19.019 --> 00:06:25.379 Not just to keep giving and giving and giving and piling up more for you. 00:06:25.599 --> 00:06:30.319 He says the purpose is for you to pass it on. 00:06:31.480 --> 00:06:33.899 To let it flow through. 00:06:34.719 --> 00:06:38.560 So this is a principle of giving and receiving. 00:06:39.779 --> 00:06:45.079 This is what we're going to study about today in our talk on Jesus on generosity. 00:06:45.659 --> 00:06:46.879 Giving and receiving. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:47.360 So. 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:52.379 Let's look at Matthew chapter 10. 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:53.560 Let's break it down. 00:06:54.339 --> 00:06:57.680 And let's see what he means when he says freely you've received. 00:06:58.100 --> 00:06:58.819 Freely give. 00:06:59.139 --> 00:07:05.540 First of all we understand that from the very beginning God has been generous with us. 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:10.519 From the very beginning of Coulter and Cason's relationship with God. 00:07:10.719 --> 00:07:11.759 When it all started. 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:13.199 Think back to you. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:14.879 Maybe it was not that long ago. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:16.740 Maybe it was a long time ago. 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:19.639 When you very first started your journey with Jesus. 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:22.759 When you first heard what we call the gospel. 00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:25.079 The good news of Jesus. 00:07:25.219 --> 00:07:27.339 Do you know what the gospel is? 00:07:27.599 --> 00:07:31.039 It's the story of how God was generous to us. 00:07:32.039 --> 00:07:35.000 And still is generous to us. 00:07:35.159 --> 00:07:35.939 The gospel. 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:37.180 The good news of Jesus. 00:07:37.180 --> 00:07:40.660 Jesus applies to every area of your life. 00:07:40.860 --> 00:07:43.180 Cason I'm going to use your testimony again. 00:07:43.340 --> 00:07:46.639 He said God doesn't just want to be a part of your life. 00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:49.579 He wants to be in every part of your life. 00:07:49.699 --> 00:07:51.600 He wants to impact all of it. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:54.680 And the gospel does that. 00:07:55.280 --> 00:07:57.300 God is so generous to us. 00:07:57.340 --> 00:08:01.220 Not in just the material things that he puts in our hands. 00:08:03.400 --> 00:08:07.320 He's generous in the immaterial. 00:08:08.860 --> 00:08:11.520 He's generous in his hope. 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:12.920 His joy. 00:08:13.340 --> 00:08:13.939 His comfort. 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:14.720 His peace. 00:08:15.140 --> 00:08:16.480 His long suffering. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:19.400 He puts up with a lot. 00:08:19.540 --> 00:08:20.180 In other words. 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:23.379 He is so generous to us. 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:26.980 And it all traces back to the gospel. 00:08:28.360 --> 00:08:29.700 Romans 5.8. 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:33.000 While we were still sinners. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:36.860 Christ died for us. 00:08:37.820 --> 00:08:40.360 It wasn't while we were all dressed up. 00:08:40.420 --> 00:08:41.680 Looking nice and living right. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:46.159 He died for us in our sin. 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:48.700 That's generosity. 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:53.259 That's not just passing on what we feel like we deserve. 00:08:53.680 --> 00:08:56.080 That is God giving us grace. 00:08:56.180 --> 00:08:57.659 Do we know what grace is? 00:08:58.539 --> 00:08:59.100 Unmerited. 00:08:59.720 --> 00:09:00.879 Undeserved favor. 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:06.120 Mercy is withholding punishment that we rightfully deserve. 00:09:06.420 --> 00:09:08.720 But grace takes it a step farther and says. 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:10.759 Not only am I going to show you mercy. 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:13.100 And not give you the punishment you deserve. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:15.480 Which is sending you to an eternal hell. 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:16.779 That I created for Satan. 00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:18.820 And all those without God. 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:21.759 But instead I'm going to take it another step further. 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:24.600 And I'm going to offer you something you don't deserve. 00:09:24.800 --> 00:09:26.500 Which is all of me. 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:29.120 It's my presence. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.159 It's my joy. 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:32.600 My peace. 00:09:32.940 --> 00:09:34.320 My salvation. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:37.879 Jesus is generous. 00:09:38.260 --> 00:09:40.360 And we see that in the gospel. 00:09:42.040 --> 00:09:44.100 Second Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 9. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:47.000 Paul was writing about this in his second letter to the church at Corinth. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:49.420 By the way we talked about that on Wednesday night. 00:09:49.700 --> 00:09:51.180 Shameless plug for Wednesday night. 00:09:51.280 --> 00:09:55.660 If you're not here fellowshipping with your brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:09:55.800 --> 00:09:56.600 And you can be. 00:09:57.100 --> 00:09:59.300 Please make that change in your weekly schedule. 00:09:59.299 --> 00:10:00.959 Please come here if you can. 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:03.879 And be together with your family from church. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:06.199 Lindsay posted something on social media. 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:06.979 If you didn't see it. 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:09.559 She said Wednesdays are where we see. 00:10:09.559 --> 00:10:10.039 What was it? 00:10:10.099 --> 00:10:11.639 Wednesdays are where we see church as family. 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:12.679 Or something along those lines. 00:10:12.740 --> 00:10:13.519 That was basically it. 00:10:13.579 --> 00:10:14.519 She said it better than I did. 00:10:14.979 --> 00:10:15.879 But that was awesome. 00:10:16.939 --> 00:10:18.019 And so we looked at this. 00:10:18.039 --> 00:10:21.039 And we talked about Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church. 00:10:21.139 --> 00:10:22.819 And dived into that together. 00:10:22.820 --> 00:10:26.760 But he says you know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:28.520 Though he was rich. 00:10:28.860 --> 00:10:30.200 You think God's rich? 00:10:30.660 --> 00:10:32.020 It's an understatement of the year. 00:10:32.160 --> 00:10:32.379 Right? 00:10:33.020 --> 00:10:34.140 Yeah he's got a little bit. 00:10:34.260 --> 00:10:35.240 He's got some resources. 00:10:35.920 --> 00:10:36.860 Though he was rich. 00:10:36.980 --> 00:10:38.440 Yet for your sakes. 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:39.600 For our sakes. 00:10:39.800 --> 00:10:41.700 He became poor. 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:44.860 He didn't have anything walking around this earth. 00:10:45.640 --> 00:10:47.040 He didn't even have anywhere to lay his head. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:50.540 So that he could make us rich. 00:10:50.800 --> 00:10:52.440 By his poverty. 00:10:53.280 --> 00:10:54.879 That's the spirit of generosity. 00:10:55.300 --> 00:10:57.100 I will do whatever it takes. 00:10:57.280 --> 00:10:58.520 To help you. 00:10:58.920 --> 00:11:00.200 And that's what Jesus did. 00:11:00.340 --> 00:11:01.100 With the gospel. 00:11:01.400 --> 00:11:04.360 So far that he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. 00:11:05.160 --> 00:11:06.000 He was God. 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:07.180 He owed us nothing. 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:08.360 He never sinned. 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:09.879 He never broke his own law. 00:11:10.040 --> 00:11:10.760 And he said. 00:11:11.300 --> 00:11:13.440 I will suffer for you. 00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:14.440 For your wrong. 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:15.860 For my wrong. 00:11:16.520 --> 00:11:17.460 That's generosity. 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:18.860 That is grace. 00:11:19.280 --> 00:11:20.780 And that's what Jesus showed us. 00:11:20.920 --> 00:11:21.840 Through the gospel. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:22.560 So. 00:11:22.820 --> 00:11:23.720 There's a truth here. 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:26.080 Generosity is a mirror. 00:11:26.300 --> 00:11:27.700 Of God's grace. 00:11:28.180 --> 00:11:29.320 Not a measure. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:30.100 Of our effort. 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:33.259 So often times. 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:34.660 We get this backwards. 00:11:34.660 --> 00:11:35.460 When we think. 00:11:35.540 --> 00:11:37.000 God wants me to be generous. 00:11:37.800 --> 00:11:39.660 Or we use that other G word. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:41.300 God wants me to give. 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:44.759 We always go to dollar signs. 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:46.479 We always go to an amount. 00:11:46.819 --> 00:11:47.939 We always think. 00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:48.279 Well. 00:11:48.359 --> 00:11:49.259 What can I afford? 00:11:50.859 --> 00:11:52.479 What do I have extra? 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:53.219 Laying around. 00:11:53.439 --> 00:11:54.759 Maybe I could give that. 00:11:56.339 --> 00:11:59.339 And maybe God will put a dollar sign on your mind. 00:11:59.439 --> 00:12:01.479 Maybe he'll show you something extra. 00:12:01.479 --> 00:12:02.519 That you could share. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:05.279 But that's not where it starts. 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:06.279 It starts. 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:07.699 It starts in the heart. 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:10.699 It starts by being overcome. 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:14.500 By God's gracious generosity toward us. 00:12:14.699 --> 00:12:16.000 And then us saying. 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:18.679 God make me a mirror of that. 00:12:20.439 --> 00:12:22.720 Make me reflect that. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:25.039 That when people look at me. 00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:25.720 They don't say. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:26.159 Wow. 00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:27.480 What a generous guy. 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:29.480 Instead they say. 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:29.920 Wow. 00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:32.220 What a generous God. 00:12:34.300 --> 00:12:36.480 God's been so generous to him. 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:38.980 God's been so generous to her. 00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:43.879 That they act like that toward me now. 00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:47.879 I want to meet her God. 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:50.620 I want to meet his Jesus. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:54.560 That's what God has called us to do. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:55.980 By being generous. 00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:59.820 Imitate God in everything you do. 00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:03.899 Because you are his dear children. 00:13:05.700 --> 00:13:07.100 Live a life filled with love. 00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:08.560 Following the example of Christ. 00:13:08.680 --> 00:13:09.200 He loved us. 00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:11.440 He offered himself as a sacrifice for us. 00:13:11.860 --> 00:13:13.860 We are called to imitate him. 00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:15.779 Because we're his kids. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:18.659 Anybody have little kids in the room? 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:20.779 I don't have to be in the room right now. 00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:22.379 Any of you have little kids? 00:13:23.700 --> 00:13:25.039 Some of you that have little kids. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.800 Are not raising your hand. 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:26.299 It's all right. 00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:26.839 It's all right. 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:30.639 How many of your little kids imitate you? 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:33.579 How many of you imitate? 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.899 How many of them imitate you at times when they wish. 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:37.240 When you wish they didn't. 00:13:38.079 --> 00:13:39.879 They repeat something you said. 00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:40.959 Where did you hear that? 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:41.799 Well you said it. 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:42.819 Oh great. 00:13:43.599 --> 00:13:44.439 Do what I say. 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:45.059 Not what I do. 00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:47.339 Don't do that that I said. 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:47.840 Sometimes they imitate us. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:50.160 Sometimes they imitate us. 00:13:50.280 --> 00:13:51.840 And it doesn't work out well. 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:54.600 Sometimes it's awesome when they imitate us. 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:56.519 And it just warms our heart. 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:58.120 And they see us. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:58.779 They see that. 00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:00.519 We see them trying to be like us. 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:02.000 And it's just so special. 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:04.240 It's so heartwarming. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:07.559 Because they look up to us. 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:08.980 Because they love us. 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:15.740 And as much as you think your kids maybe don't always feel warm and fuzzy about you. 00:14:15.920 --> 00:14:18.620 You're still the most important person in their life. 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:25.899 And so much of what they learn and then put into practice will come from their experience with you. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:27.139 No pressure. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:27.720 Right? 00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:30.340 As I say that to myself. 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:34.740 Imitate God in everything you do. 00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:37.100 Because you are his dear children. 00:14:38.040 --> 00:14:40.360 Why wouldn't we imitate our dad? 00:14:41.660 --> 00:14:44.740 Why wouldn't we imitate our good, good father? 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:50.300 Why wouldn't we then put into practice what we learn from him? 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:53.420 Because he is a perfect parent. 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:58.139 He is the one who will never lead us astray or say, 00:14:58.280 --> 00:14:59.800 Ah, don't do that. 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:01.019 Don't do what I just did. 00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:02.759 Don't say what I just said. 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:05.439 We're never going to have that with Jesus. 00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:09.439 So because we are his dear children, imitate everything. 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:13.179 Be a mirror of God's generous grace. 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:15.599 Generosity isn't obligation. 00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:17.339 It's imitation. 00:15:19.099 --> 00:15:24.299 I'm not asking you for more money because I want the church to be rich. 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:33.199 I'm asking you to be generous in every area of your life because I think we should all be imitating Jesus. 00:15:34.319 --> 00:15:36.199 That's what this whole series is about. 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:46.240 If our church began to mirror the master more effectively, then our church would be fulfilling what God put us here to do. 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:48.460 Otherwise, let's close it up. 00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:52.920 Let's go home because we could all probably find something else to do with our Sundays. 00:15:52.919 --> 00:16:00.459 But if we're serious about this and we really do believe in him, then let's try to imitate him. 00:16:00.839 --> 00:16:02.379 Let's try to mirror him. 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:04.539 Not out of obligation. 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:06.919 Not saying, Ah, man, God's going to get me. 00:16:06.919 --> 00:16:09.819 Or the church isn't going to think very well of me. 00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:13.819 Somebody's not going to like it if I don't give the right amount. 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:16.039 That's not what it's about. 00:16:16.719 --> 00:16:17.860 Hold on to your gifts. 00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:22.879 And pray that God changes you. 00:16:24.339 --> 00:16:25.639 To imitate him. 00:16:26.059 --> 00:16:28.799 Not out of obligation, but out of love. 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:30.599 Out of gratitude. 00:16:31.719 --> 00:16:32.860 And that leads us to number two. 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:35.459 Generosity reflects a heart of worship. 00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:41.840 When we stop and we look at the gospel, we look what Jesus did and how generous he was to us. 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:46.200 And we've tasted his grace and we say, Well, that grace is amazing. 00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:48.639 Somebody should write a song about that. 00:16:50.160 --> 00:16:51.040 Amazing grace. 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:53.200 How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:56.820 Then that's naturally going to lead us to worship him. 00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:58.759 How do we worship him? 00:16:58.900 --> 00:17:01.940 By being stingy and keeping everything we have for ourselves. 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.620 That's how we worship God, right? 00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:05.980 No. 00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.220 No. 00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:15.640 We worship him by opening up and saying, I'm going to live hands open, eyes up to the master. 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:20.259 And say, Master, what do you do with what I have? 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:23.519 What do you want with what you've given me? 00:17:23.600 --> 00:17:25.940 That's what we talked about last week with the treasure principle. 00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:27.700 The treasure test. 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:34.860 We said, whoever your master is determines what you'll do with your valuables. 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:37.319 Determines what's important to you. 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:41.720 And so we say, generosity reflects a heart of worship. 00:17:41.860 --> 00:17:45.559 Romans chapter 12 and verse 1 spells it out how this works. 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:53.340 Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he's done for you. 00:17:53.339 --> 00:17:57.139 Paul's always got to take us back and remind us, what has he done for us? 00:17:57.799 --> 00:18:00.159 I'm not asking you something unreasonable here. 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:04.819 Fact is, in the next verse, he says, this is reasonable to do this. 00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:15.480 So he says, because of all he's done for you, let your bodies be a living and holy sacrifice. 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:17.200 This isn't weird. 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:23.339 We're not asking you to go make some kind of animal sacrifice and kill something. 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:23.879 All right? 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:26.899 We're asking for a living sacrifice. 00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:36.920 While you have breath in your lungs and you never know when your last day of breath in your lungs will come. 00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:45.140 People across this country probably thought they had more time until it was gone. 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:59.759 So while we can be a living sacrifice, because of all he's done for us, let us present our bodies to God as a living and holy sacrifice. 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:02.380 That's what he will find acceptable. 00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:04.780 Not out of obligation. 00:19:06.540 --> 00:19:08.580 Not saying, man, it's just what you do. 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:10.180 You just give to the church. 00:19:11.020 --> 00:19:11.320 No. 00:19:11.320 --> 00:19:11.380 No. 00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:14.040 You give back to Jesus. 00:19:15.140 --> 00:19:17.840 Out of a heart of worship. 00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:20.520 Saying, God, look who you are. 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.540 Look at all you've done. 00:19:23.040 --> 00:19:24.440 Look what you've given me. 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:28.600 All that is right to do is offer it back to you. 00:19:28.740 --> 00:19:29.759 Such as it is. 00:19:30.080 --> 00:19:32.460 I don't think it's all that great compared to you. 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:36.360 But you say, you see it as valuable. 00:19:36.620 --> 00:19:38.940 You tell me that it's worth something. 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:40.940 You tell me it's important to you. 00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:42.740 And so I'm offering it up to you. 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:46.519 This is truly the way to worship him. 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.700 This is how you do it. 00:19:49.480 --> 00:19:55.140 So, dear brothers and sisters, worship him this way. 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:57.299 Takes us to a truth. 00:19:57.620 --> 00:20:02.059 Generosity is worship when it flows from gratitude, not guilt. 00:20:02.059 --> 00:20:05.879 Somebody was telling me the other day. 00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:08.559 And they were telling it almost as a way of confession. 00:20:08.679 --> 00:20:11.659 They said, you know, I had a chance to do something for somebody. 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:13.799 It didn't seem like a great situation. 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:16.200 And I wasn't confident it would be used in the right way. 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:18.159 And so I kind of turned them down at first. 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:20.799 And then they kept kind of hanging around. 00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:21.679 And they wouldn't leave. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.859 And I said, okay, fine. 00:20:22.879 --> 00:20:23.659 I'll go help you. 00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:28.759 And this person was saying, you know, I knew in the moment, like, this isn't really right. 00:20:28.840 --> 00:20:29.940 I'm doing this out of guilt. 00:20:30.060 --> 00:20:34.100 I'm doing this to kind of get them off my porch, so to speak. 00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:37.380 And just, ah, this isn't the right way to give. 00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:40.140 But sometimes that's how we end up giving. 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.700 Out of compulsion. 00:20:42.080 --> 00:20:43.740 Out of being compelled to do it. 00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:45.240 Not out of a sense of worship. 00:20:45.560 --> 00:20:49.080 Not out of a sense of, God, I want to give back to you because you've given so much to me. 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.400 Here's a chance to do that. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:52.100 Instead, it's our guilt. 00:20:52.800 --> 00:20:53.620 It's a complex. 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.780 We feel obligated. 00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:57.060 It's not what generosity is about. 00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:58.200 It's not what giving is about. 00:20:58.780 --> 00:21:04.200 And for you and your relationship with Jesus, who you say you love and is important to you, 00:21:04.300 --> 00:21:05.800 I want you to get this. 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:08.940 I want me to continually get this. 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:13.700 Generosity is not something you do. 00:21:14.300 --> 00:21:16.400 It's what God makes you. 00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:19.820 It's what God turns you into. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:22.240 A generous person. 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:25.440 It flows out of gratitude, not guilt. 00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:28.720 We talked about this a little bit last week, so I'm not going to spend a lot of time on it. 00:21:28.800 --> 00:21:36.100 But I wanted to remind you, it's the difference in bounded set and centered set. 00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:39.660 Just by way of a refresher, if you weren't here last week, that's okay. 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:41.700 I'll trust that you'll be here next week. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:47.319 Even after Saturday night at Pioneer Union, I trust you'll all be back here next week in your seats, right? 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:51.419 Bounded set versus centered set. 00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:57.799 Bounded set creates these boundaries that people are either inside or outside. 00:21:58.220 --> 00:22:00.319 And they'll help the people inside. 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:02.879 They'll care about the people inside. 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:06.320 The people on the outside, they'll look down their nose at. 00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:08.600 The people on the outside, you can't sit with us. 00:22:08.780 --> 00:22:11.000 The people on the outside, I don't like you. 00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:12.040 I'm mad at you. 00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:19.120 And until you conform and get inside my lines, you're not one of us. 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:23.399 And unfortunately, that describes a lot of religion. 00:22:24.459 --> 00:22:29.439 A lot of what people's understanding of church is, what their experience with church can be. 00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:31.319 But that's not who Jesus is. 00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:34.959 Jesus wants us to be centered set in our faith. 00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:39.759 That means we are moving toward him as the center. 00:22:40.719 --> 00:22:41.939 He's the only line. 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:46.099 He deals with us all individually. 00:22:46.739 --> 00:22:48.779 And so we look at people that way. 00:22:49.439 --> 00:22:53.319 And we don't judge people whether they're inside or outside my lines that I created. 00:22:53.719 --> 00:22:58.279 We judge people based on whether they're moving toward the one we're moving toward 00:22:58.279 --> 00:23:01.039 or away from the one we're moving toward. 00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:07.319 Because the truth is, people both inside and outside that circle might be moving away from Jesus. 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:14.899 They might check the boxes of how someone inside the circle ought to live. 00:23:15.219 --> 00:23:17.799 But in their hearts, they're not moving toward Jesus. 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:20.480 They've been moving away from him for a long time. 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:22.579 So there's a difference there. 00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:27.399 Generosity is moving toward the person of Jesus. 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:35.820 So, Proverbs chapter 3, verse 9 and 10 gives us real practical instructions on this. 00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:37.740 How do you do this? 00:23:38.320 --> 00:23:40.300 Honor the Lord with your wealth. 00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:44.859 And with the best part of everything you produce. 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:48.899 Some of you are saying, okay, yes, I can honor the Lord with my wealth. 00:23:49.399 --> 00:23:53.039 Some of you are saying, wealth and me have never been in the same sentence. 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:56.559 Nobody looks at me and says, wealth. 00:23:56.559 --> 00:24:01.919 But God says, listen, I have given you so much. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:04.819 Don't immediately go to your bank account. 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:09.460 Now, don't withhold your bank account because God wants to do something there too. 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:13.359 But he wants to touch every part of who you are. 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:16.039 And he's given you so much. 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:22.000 So he says, honor him with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:27.579 Then he will fill your barns with grain and your vats will overflow with good wine. 00:24:27.639 --> 00:24:28.740 There's a principle here. 00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:29.899 What's he teaching? 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:32.480 By the way, Proverbs is full of principles. 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:37.319 If you can't figure life out and you're having a hard time, go to Proverbs. 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:42.500 Proverbs, you'll find all kinds of wealth and wisdom and instruction hidden in there. 00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:48.839 All kinds of principles that can apply to business, to families, to relationships, personal habits. 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:51.200 Proverbs is full of these nuggets. 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.919 So what's the nugget here? 00:24:54.339 --> 00:24:58.879 If you give it back to God, he will give it back to you in abundance. 00:25:00.659 --> 00:25:05.919 Doesn't mean if you write him a check for $100, he's going to write you a check for $100,000. 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:10.100 If so, we'd have a way nicer building here, you know? 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:14.220 Of course, that's not what he's talking about. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:19.920 Because he doesn't give in terms of what we in the moment think is important. 00:25:20.340 --> 00:25:23.720 Somebody might be all about something at this moment in their life. 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:25.200 And then their taste changed. 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.920 Their interest changed. 00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:27.259 They learn more. 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:29.039 And now that's not important anymore. 00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:30.200 And something else is important. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:32.700 Have you ever asked a kid what they want to be when they grow up? 00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:36.740 It stays the same from toddler to adult, right? 00:25:36.840 --> 00:25:37.420 Never changes? 00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.120 Of course it changes. 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.400 Well, we do too. 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:45.400 So God doesn't always give us right in the moment what we think is most important. 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:50.039 He gives us what he knows is best and most important for us. 00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:52.319 Because he knows what we should be when we grow up. 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:55.259 And some of us, he's still waiting on us to grow up. 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:57.539 But he'll help us there. 00:25:57.660 --> 00:26:00.119 He'll help us in that maturing process. 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:02.879 So if we honor him, and that's what it is. 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:04.259 It's honoring him. 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:06.059 If we honor him, 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:11.240 then he'll pour it back out. 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:14.259 He'll pour it back out on us. 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:17.059 If we give him our best, 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:19.000 the first, 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.879 not the leftovers, 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.099 not the scraps, 00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:26.719 God pours out his best on us. 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.399 I don't know about you, 00:26:28.939 --> 00:26:31.259 but I'm very interested in God's best. 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:35.039 I don't want his scraps or leftovers. 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:38.079 Sure, they'd be better than what I have. 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:40.879 But if he's willing to give me his best, 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:43.619 like his one and only son, 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:47.559 that's what I want. 00:26:48.199 --> 00:26:49.919 And that's what he's willing to give. 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.559 So what have we learned today? 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:56.019 Worship isn't just what leave your lips. 00:26:56.439 --> 00:26:58.699 It's what leaves your hands. 00:26:59.219 --> 00:27:01.899 Worship isn't just what leaves your lips. 00:27:02.199 --> 00:27:04.199 It's what leaves your hands. 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:06.699 There's a very practical side to this. 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:10.439 I'd love to just say, 00:27:10.719 --> 00:27:12.559 give love, give joy, 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:14.079 give peace, give hope. 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.459 But you know what that looks like? 00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:18.339 Taking time out of your day to help somebody. 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:21.639 Taking money out of your bank to help somebody. 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:26.740 Taking energy when you're tired and helping somebody. 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:32.279 God might demand something from your hands. 00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:33.339 So what do we do? 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.740 We open our hands. 00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:37.779 Say, God, here it is. 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:40.079 All that I have, here it is. 00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:45.500 Grace flows best when it flows through us, 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:47.180 not just into us. 00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:49.480 Generosity isn't a duty. 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:52.519 It's a mirror that can reflect God's grace. 00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:57.400 And how we give reveals our gratitude to God. 00:27:58.180 --> 00:28:00.319 So I want to share this quote. 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.880 We'll be finished. 00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:01.920 Grace. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:05.680 I receive grace. 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:09.700 Through me, grace could flow on. 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:14.400 Like a cycle of water in continuous movement, 00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:17.080 grace is meant to fall. 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:19.020 A rain. 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:23.380 Again, again, again. 00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:27.920 Thank God for the rain we have received this year. 00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:33.480 The verses that talk about God as though he is a rain 00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:35.560 when he is depicted that way in scripture, 00:28:35.840 --> 00:28:39.620 that should mean so much to people in this part of the world. 00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:42.020 You depend on the rain, don't you? 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:44.420 Our community depends on the rain. 00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:47.780 We felt it last year when there was very little rain. 00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:54.559 Grace is meant to fall like a rain over and over and over again 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:56.339 that never runs out. 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:58.039 It never runs dry. 00:28:58.379 --> 00:29:01.359 The cattle, we, the sheep, never starve. 00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:04.859 We continually have rain to go back to. 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:09.279 And what I could do is I could share the grace. 00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:11.339 Multiply the joy. 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:15.440 Extend the table of God's feast that he's invited me to. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:18.340 To enlarge the paradise of his presence. 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:19.940 I am blessed. 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:21.220 Don't miss those last words. 00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:22.420 I am blessed. 00:29:22.840 --> 00:29:25.000 I can bless. 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:28.160 How many of you? 00:29:28.340 --> 00:29:30.900 I'm going to ask for full participation if I can get it. 00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:33.500 How many of you would say, 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:35.200 I am blessed by God? 00:29:36.340 --> 00:29:36.960 Thank you. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:41.019 Now I'm not going to ask you to lift your hand on this one. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.400 Please don't. 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:45.820 Take this to God. 00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:48.360 How many of you would say, 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:55.019 I have blessed just like how God has blessed me? 00:29:57.060 --> 00:29:58.200 I can't say that. 00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.880 But I want to. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:04.620 I want to be a river through which blessing flows. 00:30:06.040 --> 00:30:09.759 How God has been a river, a blessing to me. 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:14.619 So, how do you do that this week? 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:18.299 Notice God's grace every day. 00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:22.000 Gratitude will help us be generous. 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:25.940 If we aren't grateful, it's because we aren't noticing. 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.960 We aren't seeing what God's doing. 00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:31.200 So every day, put it into practice. 00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:33.420 What did God do for me today? 00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:36.340 What did he do for my spouse, for my children? 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:37.920 What did he do? 00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:40.840 What kind of blessings did I receive from God today? 00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.900 It starts very basic. 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:43.440 He allowed me to wake up today. 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.800 Not everybody gets to. 00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.720 He allowed me to have a place to sleep. 00:30:46.820 --> 00:30:47.900 He allowed me to have food to eat. 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.640 The very basics. 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:50.000 But don't just stay there. 00:30:50.320 --> 00:30:53.259 He does so much more than that every day for us. 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.640 Make a list. 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:56.200 And then start a flow list. 00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.819 God has given this to me. 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:59.460 I have freely received. 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:01.379 How then can I freely give? 00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:07.180 What are some ways that God's grace can flow through me specifically today? 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:13.740 And if we do that this week, we might wake up when we come to church next Sunday morning, right? 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:15.379 Y'all coming next Sunday morning, right? 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:20.839 And we might say, God helped me be generous this week. 00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:26.859 God is changing me into a generous person because I saw what he's doing for me. 00:31:27.179 --> 00:31:33.059 And then I opened my hands and opened my heart and said, God, flow through me. 00:31:33.199 --> 00:31:34.639 Church, let's say it together. 00:31:34.919 --> 00:31:35.779 God gives. 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:37.500 We give back. 00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.859 How do we give back? 00:31:39.159 --> 00:31:40.879 Thanks for what we can do. 00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:45.959 God, we thank you for giving so freely, so generously. 00:31:46.599 --> 00:31:48.459 We have received from you. 00:31:48.459 --> 00:31:50.039 Let us now give. 00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:55.279 In the same way, with the same spirit, teach us how to do that. 00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.899 We'll give you all the glory for it. 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.399 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:31:59.879 --> 00:32:00.220 Amen. 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:02.259 Church, would you bow your heads very briefly? 00:32:02.399 --> 00:32:03.699 We're going to have a moment of prayer. 00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:05.740 Linda's going to come and play. 00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:08.019 Sorry about that, Linda. 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.240 I didn't mean to put you on the spot. 00:32:09.339 --> 00:32:11.099 June's over here and she's playing today. 00:32:12.659 --> 00:32:14.619 June's going to play on the organ for just a moment. 00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:17.859 Use this brief moment to do some business with God. 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:22.199 Maybe God's working on something through his teaching from Matthew today. 00:32:23.139 --> 00:32:24.740 Maybe it was one of the other verses. 00:32:25.379 --> 00:32:31.959 Maybe something sparked something in your heart and mind that now you need to respond to. 00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:35.240 Maybe there's an action to take. 00:32:35.979 --> 00:32:37.619 Maybe there's a change to make. 00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:40.979 Maybe you're praying for someone else. 00:32:41.059 --> 00:32:42.779 God's put someone on your heart this morning. 00:32:44.239 --> 00:32:47.619 Maybe you need to go across the aisle to somebody and make something right. 00:32:48.679 --> 00:32:54.799 Whatever God is wanting you to do right now, you do business with God. 00:32:54.799 --> 00:33:00.279 I'll ask this question as I do every Sunday. 00:33:00.399 --> 00:33:02.980 We talked about how Jesus was so generous to us. 00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:07.700 How he offered up himself as the payment for our sin. 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:10.359 We heard a wonderful testimony from Cason when he got baptized. 00:33:11.720 --> 00:33:15.019 Is there anyone in the room who would say, 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:17.359 I need to choose today to follow Jesus. 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:20.639 I need to ask him to forgive my sin. 00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:24.500 Put all my faith in him to save me. 00:33:25.339 --> 00:33:26.339 Become my father. 00:33:26.439 --> 00:33:28.199 Would you slip your hand up now if that's you? 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.439 Thank you. 00:33:33.899 --> 00:33:36.259 Jared's down here if you need somebody to pray with. 00:33:37.219 --> 00:33:38.879 If you want to remain in your seat. 00:33:41.199 --> 00:33:42.399 Use these moments. 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:47.440 Where it's just you and God. 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:47.759 Amen. 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:47.759 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:47.759 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:47.759 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:47.759 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:47.759