Summary: <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Gospels: Full of Grace and Truth</span></p><br> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Shattering Myths about Generosity</span></p><br> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4</span></p><br> <p class="p2"> </p><br> <p class="p3"><span class="s1"><strong>And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. (Mark 12:41)</strong></span></p><br> <p class="p4"> </p><br> <p class="p3"><span class="s1"><strong>And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two coins worth 2/5 of a cent. (Mark 12:42)</strong></span></p><br> <p class="p4"> </p><br> <p class="p3"><span class="s1"><strong>And he called [unto him] his disciples, and said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow has cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:" (Mark 12:43)</strong></span></p><br> <p class="p4"> </p><br> <p class="p3"><span class="s1"><strong>“For all [they] did cast in unto the offerings of God out of what they had left; but she of what she was lacking did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living.” (Mark 12:44; Luke 21:4)</strong></span></p><br> <p class="p4"> </p><br> <ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"> <span class="s1">What I give is nobody’s </span><span class="s2"><strong>BUSINESS</strong></span><ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">I don’t know what anybody gives</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Jesus is watching the people give and makes a point of calling his disciples’ attention to what and why people are giving</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">We don’t say this about retail stores</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">We don’t have a problem claiming our tax return off of our giving</span></li> <br> </ol> </li> <li class="li3"> <span class="s1">People give because it makes them feel </span><span class="s2"><strong>GOOD</strong></span><ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Giving = sacrifice</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"> <span class="s1">People who give are happier</span><ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">10% is enough to make a difference</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"> <span class="s1">Giving encourages financial responsibility</span><ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Budget</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Live on less than than you make</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Live debt free</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Spend on what you value</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Gratefulness for God’s provision</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Protect against greed</span></li> <br> </ol> </li> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Those who give are more cheerful and less depressed</span></li> <br> </ol> </li> </ol> </li> <li class="li3"> <span class="s1">If we give, God will make us </span><span class="s2"><strong>RICH</strong></span> </li> <br> <li class="li3"> <span class="s1">Large </span><span class="s2"><strong>ONE-TIME</strong></span><span class="s1"> donations make more of an impact</span><ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"> <span class="s1">The best time for one-time donations</span><ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">When there is a one-time expense</span></li> <br> </ol> </li> <li class="li3"> <span class="s1">The downside of having a huge bank account</span><ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Generosity becomes disassociated from discipleship</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Urgency and mission usually goes with it</span></li> <br> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Before long, a few families are holding on to a building and large bank account, but not using it for the Kingdom in any way</span></li> <br> </ol> </li> <li class="li3"><span class="s1">Consistent giving allows churches to budget and function responsibly</span></li> <br> </ol> </li> </ol>
