with radical generosity
Series: Breaking the Chains
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 20th July 2014
Passage: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 A carnival set up in the concourse down in Chatswood.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:08 They had a variety of side shows on display,
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 one of which was a strongman competition.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:18 What that means is they had this 150 kilogram muscle-bound hulk of a bloke
00:00:18 --> 00:00:22 who was squeezing oranges into a glass
00:00:22 --> 00:00:26 until he couldn't get any more drops of juice out of it
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 and then he'd throw the challenge out there to the crowd that had gathered
00:00:29 --> 00:00:32 and amazed at how strong this guy was.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:33 Throw the challenge out.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 Anyone who can squeeze even one more drop out of the orange,
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 you get $1 in prize money.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:45 Many from Crunch Gym tried, but no one succeeded.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:50 Until that is a young Asian lady watching from the back,
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 stepped up to the platform, grabbed the orange,
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 proceeded to squeeze and squeeze this orange
00:00:56 --> 00:01:01 until another half a cup of juice came out of the orange.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:06 The crowd roared with delight as the $1 of prize money was handed over.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:12 The muscle-bound hulk of a bloke was somewhat embarrassed and flabbergasted.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:17 And so he asked her who she was and how on earth did she manage to do that?
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 She said, my name is Wendy Jay.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 I'm the treasurer of the local Anglican church.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 And I do this every Sunday with a collection.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:36 It's not a true story.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:40 Just for Jason's sake, wherever he is, where's Jason?
00:01:40 --> 00:01:41 It's not a true story, Jason.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:52 What I'm speaking about today is practically a taboo subject in our culture.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:58 While we might put up with a money sermon once or maybe twice a year,
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 we expect it's sort of things like on, you know, Commitment Sunday,
00:02:02 --> 00:02:03 if we do it much more than that,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 and I run the risk of being accused of just being interested in people's money.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 And yet money is a big deal to God.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:18 Jesus talked about money 10 to 20 times more than he talked about sex,
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 and twice as much as he talked about prayer and faith.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 One third of Jesus' parables were about money,
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 and he sets up money, of all the things he picked on,
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 he set up money as the alternative God,
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 where he said you cannot serve both God and money.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:40 The practical reality is that all too often raising funds for ministry and for mission
00:02:40 --> 00:02:45 is like squeezing the orange,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 trying to get those last drops out
00:02:46 --> 00:02:50 and making every little bit stretch as far as we possibly can.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:57 The reason for that is that money is a spiritual issue.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 It is not a financial issue for the Christian.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:02 And so we're finishing 1 Corinthians
00:03:02 --> 00:03:07 with the first four verses of the chapter, of chapter 16,
00:03:07 --> 00:03:12 where it raises the issue of taking up a collection
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 for the support of other churches.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 And we're going to jump around the Bible a bit
00:03:16 --> 00:03:20 and look at this issue of radical generosity,
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 how the cross shapes our wallets and our purses.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 We're going to see how money exercises power over us,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 which is why we don't give as much as we should.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:33 We're going to see why money exercises power over us
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 and how we break that power that it has over us.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 1 Corinthians 16, if you've got your Bibles open there,
00:03:40 --> 00:03:45 begins with the familiar now about or now concerning.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 It's the fifth time that Paul has used this little phrase
00:03:48 --> 00:03:52 to address another issue that the Corinthian church
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 had previously written to him about.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 And so he's bringing clarity to them on this particular issue.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 The collecting of money here is the issue that they need clarity on.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:06 And it's collecting of money from the missionary churches of the Gentiles
00:04:06 --> 00:04:07 that Paul had established and planted
00:04:07 --> 00:04:11 for the mother church back in Jerusalem.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 The collection started as a support of the mother church
00:04:15 --> 00:04:19 during a severe famine, which hit Judea in the first century,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 and it brought enormous hardship throughout Judea
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 and particularly the capital in Jerusalem.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:31 And Paul gives very simple advice to this church of Corinth
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 as he did with the other churches that were collecting money for Jerusalem.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:35 It's in verse 2.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:36 He says,
00:04:36 --> 00:04:37 On the first day of the week,
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 each one of you should set aside a sum of money
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 in keeping with his income.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 And so what he encourages here
00:04:43 --> 00:04:48 is regular proportional giving accordance with your income.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 Over time, though,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 this church of Corinth stumbled on this issue.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 They might have had a good start,
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 but they sort of petered out over time.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 Paul addresses the fact that they were petering out
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 on his instructions here in 1 Corinthians 16
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 in his second letter, 2 Corinthians,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 and in chapters 8 and 9.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 Paul was concerned not that this church of Corinth
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 would fail in the collection.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:21 His concern was that they would fail to excel
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 in the grace of giving,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:29 that they would fail to keep giving and go beyond giving.
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 That was his concern.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 What we notice as you go through the scriptures
00:05:35 --> 00:05:39 is that the Bible revolutionizes our view of money and generosity.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:43 In 1 Chronicles,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 and this is where I want to challenge us tonight
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 in terms of our view of money.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 Let's have a biblical perspective of it,
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 on what we have.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 1 Chronicles 28 and 29,
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 King David is raising funds
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 for the building of the temple in Jerusalem.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 And he prays to God in these words.
00:06:04 --> 00:06:04 He says,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 Everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 Wealth and honour come from you.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 Everything comes from you.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:13 And we have only given what comes from your hand.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 What that's saying there is
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 that everything that you have,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 everything that we have,
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 is a gift from God.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:22 Everything.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 Now, that might seem a little offensive
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 because we've worked really hard for what we have,
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 but we've worked really hard,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 or your parents have worked really hard,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 with abilities, opportunities, circumstances,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:38 and health that God has provided.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 It's very easy for us in our culture to say,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 well, I've just worked really hard,
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 and I've been really lucky,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 and I've made some really wise choices.
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 If you were born in the 5th century,
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 in the jungles of New Guinea,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 you wouldn't be able to say that.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:00 Everything that you have
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 has been given to you from God.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 But it's not just that everything comes from God's hand.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 Here's the next bit.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 Everything that comes from God's hand
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 is still owned by God.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 It's His.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:21 God does not give up ownership of something
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 when He gives it to us.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:26 So what that means is that we relate to our money
00:07:26 --> 00:07:27 and our resources
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 the way an investment manager relates
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 to the wealth of their clients.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 And there are plenty of parables in the New Testament
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 that talk about this.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 If you are an investment manager,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 you don't operate as if the money is yours
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 and that you can do whatever you want with it.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 There's an accountability to it
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 as an investment manager.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 You have to invest the money
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 in line with the purposes and the desires
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 and the directions and the values of the investor.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 If you take their money
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 and do something else with it,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 it's called fraud.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 And God is the great creator investor.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 Everything we have comes from Him.
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 It is His.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 And we are His investment manager.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 And if we deny the investment manager role
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 that we have with God's resources
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 and regard ourselves as the ultimate owner
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 of everything we got,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 we actually rob God.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 That's how strong the language is in Malachi 3
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 that was just read out to us.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 Where God is talking about His people's failure
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 to be generous.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 God poses a question to them.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:42 He says,
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 Will a man rob God?
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 And yet you rob me.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 The word rob here is a very rare word.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:54 It's in fact used only in one other place in the Bible.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 It is a word that really means to oppress,
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 to pillage, to plunder, to rape.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 It is a very violent word.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:07 And this is what the people of God are doing to God.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:11 And when they hear this,
00:09:12 --> 00:09:12 they're shocked.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 How do we rob you?
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 How on earth could we be possibly doing that to you, God?
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 What are you talking about, God?
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 And God comes back and says,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 I'm talking about your lack of generosity with money.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 I'm talking about the fact that you spend more on yourself.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 You have a tendency not to give away.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:37 You see, when they keep it for themselves,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 they are robbing God,
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 plundering, pillaging,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 raping God's purposes
00:09:43 --> 00:09:46 for His world.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 So instead of building up,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 it's destroying.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 And according to these verses,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 these people in Malachi 3
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 are oblivious to it.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 And that is the power that money has over us.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 A great deal of the power that money has over us
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 is that it blinds us
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 to the power that it has over us.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 Money is different to other things
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 because we are blind to how much it is affecting us.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 Materialism and greed
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 is a sin that blinds you to its presence.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 That's why Jesus says in Luke chapter 12,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 watch out!
00:10:25 --> 00:10:25 Watch out!
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 In the same way that if someone was crossing Fuller's Road right now
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 and they're oblivious,
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 they've got their headphones in,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 they're wandering along,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 there's a bus zooming down on them,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 you'd go, watch out!
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 Because they haven't seen the bus.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 And Jesus says, watch out!
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 For all kinds of greed.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:50 Is there any place where Jesus says,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 watch out!
00:10:51 --> 00:10:55 For all kinds of sexual immorality.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 Now it's,
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 well, I can't think of any.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 It's not because
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 sexual immorality, adultery,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 all that sort of stuff is any less sinful.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 It's because we're blind to greed and materialism
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 in a way that you're not blind
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 to adultery and sexual immorality.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 You don't go,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:14 oh,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 when you've committed adultery,
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 you're not my wife.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 You're not my husband.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 You know they're not.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 Jesus doesn't say,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 watch out,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 you might be committing adultery
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 not knowing it.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 Of course you know it.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 But we sin,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 this sin of greed and materialism,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 you're blind to it.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 And it's interesting
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 that I find after,
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 you know,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 about 20 years of ministry
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 that no one has ever asked me
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 to preach on money
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 except other ministers
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 who've asked me to come in
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 and do it for them.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 No one has ever asked me
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 to help them think
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 through a godly response
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 to their use of their money.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 I've never heard anyone confess
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 greed and materialism,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 that is the sin of greed
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 and materialism to me.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 I've had all sorts of stuff
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 confessed to me
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 over the years.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 You name it,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:10 it's probably happened.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 Except terrorist
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 or something like that,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 never done that.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 But,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:18 no one has ever confessed
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 greed and materialism.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 No one ever thinks
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 it's their problem.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 And I would hazard a guess
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 that no one here
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 sitting in this room
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 at the moment
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 probably thinks
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 it's their problem.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 They could probably think
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 of someone who is
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 it as their problem,
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 but it's not them.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 No one ever asked me
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 to pray for them
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 and counsel them
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 because they were ungodly
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 in the use of their money.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 But if we take the text
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 of the Bible seriously
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 then we should work
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 on the assumption
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 that it's true for us.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 This is a blind spot for us
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 in the wealthy West.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 We're blind too.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 Now I'm saying
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 it's necessarily true of you.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 I'm saying that the only way
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 to give any credence
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 to what the Bible says
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 is to always be checking
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 for this blind spot
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 which means you need help.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 And fortunately
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 the Bible gives us some help.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 The Bible does give us
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 at least one guideline
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 by which we can check ourselves
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 to see whether or not
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 money has a hold on us
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 and our understanding
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 of generosity
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 and giving to ministry
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 and charity
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 is anywhere
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 in the ballpark
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 of what God thinks
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 it ought to be.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 And it's right here
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 in Malachi 3.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 It's called the tithe.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 The Old Testament scriptures
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 required
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 that all people
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 give 10% of their annual income
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 to the temple.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 And historically
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 this has raised a question
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 for whether this is an obligation
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 for Christians or not.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 And the word tithe
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 is mentioned only once
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 in the New Testament
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 but it is very significant.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 It's in Luke chapter 11
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 verse 42
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 and Jesus is talking
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 to the Pharisees
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 and he says this to them
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 woe to you Pharisees.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 In other words
00:13:54 --> 00:13:57 curse upon you Pharisees
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 because you give God
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 a tenth of your mint
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 you ruin all kinds
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 of garden herbs
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 but you neglect justice
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 and the love of God.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 You should have practiced
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 the latter
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 without leaving
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 the former undone.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 That is
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 it's right for you
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 to give a 10%.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 But the trouble
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 with the Pharisees
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 is they have this
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 legalistic limitation
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 that they're operating in.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 They give 10%
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 and view the 90%
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 as theirs.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 God you got your bit
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 the rest is mine.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 And so when an issue
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 of justice and love
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 or some other need
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 pops up
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 they go
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 not my problem.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 They refuse to go
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 beyond the tithe.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 They aren't being driven
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 by the grace
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 they aren't being driven
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 by the gospel
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 by love
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 by justice
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 they've been driven
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 by a legalistic code
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 of conduct
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 that pats themselves
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 on the back.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 And I don't think
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 that we could ever
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 expect God to say
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 to his New Testament
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 people with greater
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 blessing
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 greater privileges
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 greater hope
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 in the gospel
00:15:04 --> 00:15:08 you can give less.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:13 I suspect
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 the reason
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 tithing isn't
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 mentioned a whole lot
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 is because
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 we're not meant
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 to see it
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 as a legalistic
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 limitation
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 to our giving
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 but as a baseline
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 a guideline
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 a rule of thumb
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 a beginning
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 make sure
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 that you're
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 in the ballpark
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 and then
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 like the Lord Jesus
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 go beyond it.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 Radical generosity.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 Money
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 sorry
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 Malachi 3
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 also gives us
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 a clue
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 as to why
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 money has
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 such power
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 over us.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 Bring the whole
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 tithe into the
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 storehouse
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 that there may
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 be food
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 in my house.
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 The word
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 house there
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 means God's
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 temple.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 God's instruction
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 here is for
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 his people
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 to give
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 their gold
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 and silver
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 and their
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 resources
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 and so on
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 and whatever
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 into the
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 storehouse
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 of the
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 temple.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 So the word
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 house means
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 temple
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 the word
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 storehouse
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 means treasury
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 it's the
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 treasury
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 of the
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 temple
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 and so
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 what the
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 instruction
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 here is
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 bring
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 your
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 treasure
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 the
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 stuff
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 that
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 I've
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 given
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 you
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 into
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 my
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 treasury
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 and when
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 God
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 says
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 bring the
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 whole
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 tithe
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 to me
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 into my
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 treasury
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 into my
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 temple
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 into the
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 service
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 of my
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 salvation
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 into the
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 worship
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 of me
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 the implication
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 is that
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 if you
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 are not
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 doing
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 that
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 then your
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 treasure
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 is in
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 another
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 treasury
00:16:32 --> 00:16:38 it's a
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 matter of
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 who or
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 what you
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 really
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 trust
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 money
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 has a
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 hole in
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 us
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 because we
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 expect it
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 and we
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 trust it
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 to deliver
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 what only
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 God can
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 deliver
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 I'll give you
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 two examples
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 of what I
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 mean
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 firstly
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 if you
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 find it
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 really hard
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 to give
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 money away
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 and I
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 mean
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 you know
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 it's
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 hard
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 you've
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 got to
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 think
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 about
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 so much
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 just not
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 natural
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 just so
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 difficult
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 but it's
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 so incredibly
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 easy to
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 spend money
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 on clothes
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 on cars
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 on travel
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 on renovations
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 on entertainment
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 on takeaway
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 on you know
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 almost effortless
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 piece of cake
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 whip it out
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 spend it
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 go on
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 just like
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 that
00:17:19 --> 00:17:22 then those
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 things
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 are your
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 real treasure
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 they are
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 your real
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 treasure
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 oh sorry
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 they are the
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 real treasury
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 of your
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 real temple
00:17:31 --> 00:17:34 because
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 what you're
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 really doing
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 no matter
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 what you
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 say you
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 believe
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 is that
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 you're
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 actually
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 looking
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 to those
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 things
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 to get
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 the sense
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 of
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 security
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 desirability
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 acceptability
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 lovability
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 or experiences
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 whatever it
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 might be
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 rather than
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 looking to
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 God
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 for your
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 satisfaction
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 your
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 contentment
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 your
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 security
00:17:55 --> 00:18:00 alternatively
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 there might
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 be those
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 amongst us
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 who look
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 at all
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 these people
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 around us
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 in our
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 consumeristic
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 culture
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 and you
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 puke at
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 that
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 these people
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 spending money
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 on clothes
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 and homes
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 and cars
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 and travel
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 and you
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 just sneer
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 you look
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 down your
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 nose
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 and you
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 think
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 what a
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 waste
00:18:17 --> 00:18:20 and you're
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 so proud
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 of the
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 fact
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 that you've
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 been
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 wearing
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 and repairing
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 the same
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 pair of
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 undies
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 for 10
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 years
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 and that
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 you hang
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 out your
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 tea bags
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 to dry
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 so you
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 can reuse
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 them
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 and you're
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 living in
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 a small
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 apartment
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 and you
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 don't own
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 a mobile
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 phone
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 and you're
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 just really
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 frugal
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 and what
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 you're doing
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 instead is
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 you're putting
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 your money
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 away into
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 banks
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 and investments
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 for a rainy
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 day
00:18:42 --> 00:18:45 but you
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 like the
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 spender
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 is still
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 controlled
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 by money
00:18:49 --> 00:18:52 you're still
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 under the
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 power of
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 money
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 if you
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 find it
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 very hard
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 to give
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 money away
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 but very
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 easy to
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 save it
00:18:59 --> 00:19:02 then your
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 bank is
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 your temple
00:19:03 --> 00:19:05 rather than
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 God you
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 are looking
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 to your
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 bank to
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 give you
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 control
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 that's what
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 it ultimately
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 is about
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 it's about
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 control
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 in a
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 very
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 very
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 chaotic
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 and unpredictable
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 world
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 where only
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 God has
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 control
00:19:19 --> 00:19:22 instead of
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 God
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 I've got
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 beauty
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 and acceptance
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 because of
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 these great
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 clothes
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 instead of
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 God
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 I've got
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 control
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 because of
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 these
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 investments
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 instead of
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 God
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 I've got
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 comfort
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 and security
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 because of
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 this great
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 house
00:19:34 --> 00:19:39 it is so
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 incredibly
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 easy
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 to give
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 money to
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 whatever
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 is your
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 saviour
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 your lord
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 your hope
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 your happiness
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 your meaning
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 your significance
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 and your
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 security
00:19:50 --> 00:19:53 money reveals
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 what we
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 truly
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 worship
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 and that is
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 why Jesus
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 says you
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 can't serve
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 both God
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 and money
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 he sets
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 up money
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 as the
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 alternative
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 God
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 because it
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 promises us
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 security
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 and hope
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 and freedom
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 and a clear
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 conscience
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 and a good
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 health
00:20:09 --> 00:20:12 but it will
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 never deliver
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 for us
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 what we think
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 it will deliver
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 for us
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 the biggest
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 saving account
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 in the world
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 cannot stop
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 cancer
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 it cannot stop
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 traffic accidents
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 it cannot stop
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 family
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 disintegration
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 it cannot stop
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 broken hearts
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 God is the
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 only one
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 who can give
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 you genuine
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 security
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 he's the
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 only one
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 who can give
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 you genuine
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 significance
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 he's the only
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 love that you
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 can never
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 lose
00:20:38 --> 00:20:41 and so
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 how do we
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 break this
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 power that
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 money has
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 over us
00:20:45 --> 00:20:47 the answer
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 is the
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 gospel of
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 the Lord
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 Jesus
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 Paul puts
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 it like this
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 in 2
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 Corinthians 8
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 this is when
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55 he's addressing
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 this church
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 at Corinth
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 that failed
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 to really
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 follow through
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 in his
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 instructions
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 here in
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 1 Corinthians
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 16
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 so this is
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 his second
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 letter to
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 them
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 he says
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 see that you
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 also excel
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 in the grace
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 of giving
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 I'm not
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 commanding you
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 but I want
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 to test
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 the sincerity
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 of your
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 love
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 for you
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 know the
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 grace of
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 our Lord
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 Jesus
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 Christ
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 that though
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 he was
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 rich
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 yet for
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 your
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 sakes
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 he became
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 poor
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 so that
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 you through
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 his poverty
00:21:19 --> 00:21:21 might become
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 rich
00:21:22 --> 00:21:25 everyone
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 in this
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 room
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 has set
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 their heart
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 on something
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 every one
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 of them
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 every one
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 of us
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 here
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 you've set
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 your heart
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 on something
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 it might
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 be
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 the children
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 your
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 grandchildren
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 it might
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 be a
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 status
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 it might
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 be
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 career
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 it might
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 be
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 physical
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 beauty
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 it might
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 be
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 leisure
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 it might
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 be
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 investments
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 it might
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 be the
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 great
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 Australian
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 dream
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 it might
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 be
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 international
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 travel
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 any list
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 of things
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 that you
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 could set
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 your heart
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 on
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 whatever
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 your heart's
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 treasure
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 is
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 you will
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 do
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 anything
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 for it
00:21:58 --> 00:22:00 you will
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 pay any
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 cost for
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 it
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 you will
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 do
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 anything
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 to
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 maintain
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 it
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 sustain
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 it
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 and reclaim
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 it
00:22:05 --> 00:22:09 and what
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 this
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 passage
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 here says
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 from 2
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 Corinthians 8
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 is that
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 Jesus Christ
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 came and
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 he died
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 for us
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 why would
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 he do
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 that
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 why would
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 he do
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 that
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 I think
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 at least
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 one
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 answer
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 to that
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 question
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 is that
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 you and
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 I are
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 his
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 heart's
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 treasure
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 he has
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 set
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 his heart
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 on you
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 me
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 every
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 other
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 treasure
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 in this
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 world
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 will insist
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 that we
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 die to
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 purchase
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 it
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 that we
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 sacrifice
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 to get
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 it
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 but
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 Jesus
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 is
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 the
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 only
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 treasure
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 that
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 died
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 to
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 purchase
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 you
00:22:50 --> 00:22:54 and
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 that's
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 why we
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 have a
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 mission
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 statement
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 that says
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 that we
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 exist
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 to treasure
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 Jesus
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 above
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 everything
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 in this
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 world
00:23:02 --> 00:23:06 now what
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 Paul does
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 here
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 he puts
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 no pressure
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 on your
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 will
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 he doesn't
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 say
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 I'm
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 an apostle
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 you're
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 Christians
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 I started
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 you churches
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 do what I
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 tell you to
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 do and
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 give money
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 doesn't
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 say that
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 he doesn't
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 even put
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 pressure on
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 your emotions
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 he doesn't
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 try to
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 even wind
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 the heart
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 come on
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 guys
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 you're so
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 rich
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 you got
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 all these
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 possessions
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 you got
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 all this
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 money
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 you'd
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 say this
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 and look
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 at these
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 poor
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 orphans
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 over here
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 starving
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 kids
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 with big
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 eyes
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 and your
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 heart
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 goes
00:23:41 --> 00:23:43 oh man
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 I've got
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 to hand
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 over 20
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 bucks
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 to help
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 feed those
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 kids
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 he doesn't
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 play with
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 your emotions
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 he doesn't
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 force your
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 will
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 he just
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 says simply
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 here that
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 if you do
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 not have
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 the freedom
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 to give
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 away your
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 money in
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 eye-popping
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 proportions
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 it's because
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 something other
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 than the
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 Lord Jesus
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 Christ is
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 your functional
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 Lord and
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 Saviour
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 that's what
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 he says
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 and he
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 says the
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 way to
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 break the
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 hold that
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 money has
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 on your
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 life
00:24:17 --> 00:24:20 is to
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 think about
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 the radical
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 generosity of
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 the Lord
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 Jesus Christ
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 on the
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 cross
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 until
00:24:25 --> 00:24:27 you get
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 freedom to
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 give
00:24:29 --> 00:24:34 when we
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 see Jesus
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 dying because
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 he loved the
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 world so
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 much
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 then and
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 only then
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 will we
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 love him
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 when we
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 see that
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 we are his
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 greatest
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 treasure and
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 that he has
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 given everything
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 for us to be
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 the treasure of
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 his heart
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 then he'll
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 become ours
00:24:54 --> 00:24:57 the vice of
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 the apostle
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 Paul here is
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 don't sit down
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 with a
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 calculator if
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 you want to
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 break the
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 power of
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 money over
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 your life and
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 grow in
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 generosity
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 sit down
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 with the
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 cross and
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 think about
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 what Jesus
00:25:10 --> 00:25:12 did what he
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 has given
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14 what he has
00:25:14 --> 00:25:16 promised until
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 it wells up
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 in you
00:25:18 --> 00:25:21 a freedom
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 a radical
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 generosity to
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 give your money
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 away in eye
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 popping proportions
00:25:26 --> 00:25:31 I read
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 recently the
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 sad reality
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 is that many
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 Christians are
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 in fact not
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 radically generous
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 that is they
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 confess with
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 their mouth
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 that they
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 follow Jesus
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 but they have
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 really little
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 grasp of
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 the impact
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 of the cross
00:25:44 --> 00:25:46 they're not
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 actually living
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 the cross
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 shaped life
00:25:48 --> 00:25:51 recent survey
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 said that
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 20% of
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 those who
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 regarded
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 this is
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 evangelical
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 Christians
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 these are
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 people in
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 our camp
00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 20% of
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 those who
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 regarded
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 themselves as
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 mature or
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 very mature
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 Christians
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 let alone the
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 rest of them
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 had never
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 given a
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 single cent
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 to any
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 form of
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 ministry or
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 charity
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 nothing
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 20%
00:26:15 --> 00:26:18 that's
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 astounding
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 it's astounding
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 that anyone
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 would link
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 Christian
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 maturity with
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 a lack
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 of giving
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 that's an
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 oxymoron
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 doesn't exist
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 you can't
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 you cannot
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 be a mature
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 Christian and
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 not give
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 money
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 it's impossible
00:26:34 --> 00:26:37 and also
00:26:37 --> 00:26:39 it's said that
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 in the western
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 world the
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 average Christian
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 gave just
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 2.7%
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 of their
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 income
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 away
00:26:46 --> 00:26:50 2.7%
00:26:50 --> 00:26:52 and if
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 the American
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 Christians
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 alone
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 just America
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 forget about
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 us guys
00:26:55 --> 00:26:55 just lump
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 their
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 responsibility
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 on them
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 if the
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 American
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 Christians
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 alone
00:26:59 --> 00:27:02 actually
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 obeyed
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 this passage
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 and gave
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 10% of
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 their income
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 every year
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 they'd be able
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 to wipe
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 out world
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 hunger
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 just the
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 American
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 Christians
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 alone
00:27:11 --> 00:27:15 our own
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 stats here
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 at St Paul's
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 is that
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 30%
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 of
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 St Paul's
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 members
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 give
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 over
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 80%
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 of our
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 budget
00:27:24 --> 00:27:27 just
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 30%
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 give
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 80%
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 of our
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 budget
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 and for
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 time to
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 build
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 we put
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 it to
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 vote
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 97%
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 of our
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 church
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 said
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 let's
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 proceed
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 with
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 this
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 building
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 project
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 and
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 the
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 establishment
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 of the
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 international
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 Chinese
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 school
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 but to
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 date
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 around
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 45%
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 have
00:27:46 --> 00:27:46 actually
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 partnered
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 with that
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 project
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 financially
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 we all
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 agree
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 it's a
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 good
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 idea
00:27:51 --> 00:27:53 but only
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 50%
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 of us
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 have
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 actually
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 well less
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 than 50%
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 of us
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 have actually
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 given
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 something
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 to it
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 and so
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 in line
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 with
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 1 Corinthians
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 16
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 and the
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 call
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 throughout
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 this
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 whole
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 series
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 of
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 1 Corinthians
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 about
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 living
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 the
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 cross
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 shaped
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 life
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 I
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 call
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 you
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 to
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 give
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 according
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 to
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 your
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 ability
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 equal
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 sacrifice
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 unequal
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 giving
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 is the
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 principle
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 what that
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 means is
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 that some
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 of you are
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 better off
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 than others
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 and it
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 turns out
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 that spider
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 man agrees
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 with the
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 bible
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 when he
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 said
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 with great
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 power
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 comes great
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 responsibility
00:28:25 --> 00:28:27 that's what
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 the bible
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 says
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 some of you
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 have been
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 gifted many
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 talents
00:28:32 --> 00:28:34 not for
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 your sake
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 but
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 but as
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 God's
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 investment
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 manages
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 to use
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 it
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 for
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 his
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 sake
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 for
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 his
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 glory
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 for
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 his
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 kingdom
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 but there
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 might be
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 those
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 amongst
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 us
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 and I
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 suspect
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 in this
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 room
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 here
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 thinking
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 that
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 you know
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 dude
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 I got
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 just
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 small
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 small
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 little
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 bits
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 coming
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 and going
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 here
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 and there
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 you know
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 my parents
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 feed me
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 pocket money
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 whatever
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 it is
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 and you
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 think
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 a small
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 contribution
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 won't make
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 much
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 difference
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 I want
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 to say
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 that
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 everything
00:28:58 --> 00:28:58 that we
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 hope to
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 do
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 here
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 as a
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 church
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 would
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 not happen
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 without
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 the
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 partnership
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 across
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 the board
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 of this
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 whole
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 church
00:29:04 --> 00:29:06 it is
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 profoundly
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 unhelpful
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 for us
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 and unhealthy
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 for us
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 to have
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 a few
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 big
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 givers
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 and
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 very few
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 contributors
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 across the
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 church
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 that's not
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 healthy
00:29:18 --> 00:29:20 I want
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 to suggest
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 broad
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 regular
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 modest
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 and
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 sacrificial
00:29:23 --> 00:29:23 giving
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 all adds
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 up to
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 enormous
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 impact
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 now I'm
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 going to
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 tell you
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 I'm
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 going to
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 get
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 personal
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 right
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 here
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 this is
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 a personal
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 note
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 I'm
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 not
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 asking
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 you
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 to
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 do
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 anything
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 that
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32 Natalie
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 and I
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 aren't
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 doing
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 she's
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 sitting
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 here
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 in the
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 room
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 tonight
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 we are
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 committed
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 to this
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 church
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 family
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 we're
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 committed
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 to the
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 vision
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 the direction
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 we're
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 heading
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 as a
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 church
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 we want
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 to see
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 lives
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 transformed
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 through
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 the
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 ministry
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 of this
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 church
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 by the
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 Lord
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 Jesus
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 Christ
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 for all
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 of
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 eternity
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 and that
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 means
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 sacrifice
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 the
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 time to
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 build
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 project
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 that's
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 currently
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 going
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 on
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 right
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 now
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 is
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 the
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 biggest
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 single
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 amount
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 that we
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 and as
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 I said
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 on a
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 video
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 which
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 some
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 of you
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 saw
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 a few
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 weeks
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 ago
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 our
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 giving
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 has
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 doubled
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 in the
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 past
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 year
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 a year
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 ago
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 we put
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 down
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 what we
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 thought
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 we'd
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 give
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 and we
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 went
00:30:13 --> 00:30:15 and we're
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 giving more
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 than that
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 now
00:30:16 --> 00:30:19 and our
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 giving has
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 gone
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 five times
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 as much
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 as it
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 was when
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 we started
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 here five
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 and a half
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 years ago
00:30:24 --> 00:30:28 I want
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 to encourage
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 you to
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 apply a
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 principle
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 that
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 Natalie
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 and I
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 have
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 we've
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 never
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 really
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 named
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 it
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 I've
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 named
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 it
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 as of
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 the
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 last
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 few
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 days
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 it's
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 a
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 principle
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 that
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 we've
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 worked
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 with
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 when
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 it
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 comes
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 to
00:30:42 --> 00:30:42 giving
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 it's
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 called
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 the
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 big
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 gulp
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 principle
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 that
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 is
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 you
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 write
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 a
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 figure
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 on
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 a
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 piece
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 of
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 paper
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 and
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 you
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 go
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 if
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 it
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 doesn't
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 make
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 you
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 go
00:30:50 --> 00:30:53 then
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 maybe
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 you
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 should
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 write
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 another
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 figure
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 on
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 piece
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 of
00:30:55 --> 00:30:55 paper
00:30:55 --> 00:30:57 and
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 I
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 say
00:30:57 --> 00:30:57 that
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 because
00:30:58 --> 00:30:58 of
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 Malachi
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 chapter
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 3
00:30:59 --> 00:31:01 Malachi
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 chapter
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 3
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 God
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 says
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 bring
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 in
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 all
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 the
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 tithes
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 and
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 offerings
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 in
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 the
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 storehouse
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 test
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 me
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 on
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 it
00:31:07 --> 00:31:09 test
00:31:09 --> 00:31:09 me
00:31:09 --> 00:31:12 he
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 says
00:31:12 --> 00:31:12 I
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 dare
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 you
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 to
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 test
00:31:14 --> 00:31:14 me
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 with
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 your
00:31:15 --> 00:31:15 money
00:31:15 --> 00:31:19 see
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 that
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 I
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 will
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 not
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 bless
00:31:21 --> 00:31:21 you
00:31:21 --> 00:31:27 we
00:31:27 --> 00:31:29 he
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 had a
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 great
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 testimony
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 and
00:31:30 --> 00:31:30 God's
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 blessed
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 them
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 I
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 stand
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 here
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 saying
00:31:33 --> 00:31:33 that
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 it
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 has
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 pushed
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 that
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 nine
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 the
00:31:35 --> 00:31:35 last
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 12
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 months
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 and
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 I
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 suspect
00:31:37 --> 00:31:37 will
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 continue
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 to
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 push
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 us
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 but
00:31:39 --> 00:31:39 we
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 do
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 it
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 with
00:31:40 --> 00:31:40 delight
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 and
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 God
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 continues
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 to
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 bless
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 us
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 our
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 kids
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 are
00:31:43 --> 00:31:43 fed
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 probably
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 over
00:31:44 --> 00:31:44 fed
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 but
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 our
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 kids
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 are
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 fed
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 we
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 got
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 no
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 complaints
00:31:48 --> 00:31:50 sit
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 down
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 with
00:31:50 --> 00:31:50 the
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 cross
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 and
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 make
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 a
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 decision
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 to
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 take
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 all
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 I'm
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 suggesting
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 is
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 you
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 take
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 one
00:31:56 --> 00:31:56 step
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 forward
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 one
00:31:58 --> 00:31:58 step
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 forward
00:31:59 --> 00:32:01 in
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 showing
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 gratitude
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 for what
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 Christ
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 has
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 given
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 you
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 our
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 grasp
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 of
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 the
00:32:05 --> 00:32:05 great
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 eternal
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 truth
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 the
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 great
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 treasure
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 that we
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 have
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 in
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 Jesus
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 will
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 be
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 reflected
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 in
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 a
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 life
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 of
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 radical
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 generosity
00:32:12 --> 00:32:14 is
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 a
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 cross
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 shaped
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 life
00:32:16 --> 00:32:18 so
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 the
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 one
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 step
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 forward
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 is
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 if
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 you're
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 that
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 20%
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 you've
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 not
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 given
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 anything
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 start
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 giving
00:32:23 --> 00:32:25 if
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 you're
00:32:25 --> 00:32:25 an
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 irregular
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 giver
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 spasmodic
00:32:28 --> 00:32:28 giver
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 start
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 giving
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 regularly
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 that's
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 your
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 step
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 forward
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 if
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 you're
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 a
00:32:32 --> 00:32:32 regular
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 giver
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 but
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 you're
00:32:33 --> 00:32:33 only
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 giving
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 in
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 a
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 small
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 proportion
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 you know
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 like
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 you'd
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 be
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 lucky
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 to
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 do
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 the
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 2.7%
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 take
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 steps
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 to
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 move
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 towards
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 the
00:32:40 --> 00:32:41 ballpark
00:32:41 --> 00:32:41 that God
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 says
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 that we
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 should be
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 playing in
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 10%
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46 and if
00:32:46 --> 00:32:46 you are
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 a regular
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 and proportional
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 giver
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 that is
00:32:50 --> 00:32:50 you're already
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 sitting there
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 at the
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 10%
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 take a
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 step
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 towards
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 extravagant
00:32:54 --> 00:32:54 giving
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 don't be
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 like the
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 Pharisee and
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 go
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 I'm doing
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 my bit
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 90%
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 mine
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 10%
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 God
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 experience
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 the joy
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 of radical
00:33:02 --> 00:33:02 generosity
00:33:02 --> 00:33:06 a phrase
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 that we've
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 used a
00:33:07 --> 00:33:07 number of
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 times in
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 this series
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 in 1
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 Corinthians
00:33:09 --> 00:33:09 is
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 living a
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 cross
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 shaped
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 life
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 that's
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 what this
00:33:12 --> 00:33:12 passage
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 is about
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 the death
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 and resurrection
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 of Jesus
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 changes
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 everything
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 the cross
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 of Christ
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 is not
00:33:20 --> 00:33:20 just a
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 place of
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 past
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 substitution
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 for sin
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 it is
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 the place
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 of our
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 present
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 execution
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 execution
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 for the
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 Christian
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 as we
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 like Jesus
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 take up
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 our
00:33:31 --> 00:33:31 cross
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 we die
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 to self
00:33:33 --> 00:33:33 interest
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 and we
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 follow
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 Jesus
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 and that
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 happens
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 every
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 moment
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 of every
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 day
00:33:37 --> 00:33:38 when you're
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 in the
00:33:38 --> 00:33:38 chase
00:33:38 --> 00:33:39 when you're
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 in Westfield
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 whatever you're
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 doing
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 you die
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 to self
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 interest
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 and so
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 brothers and
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 sisters
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 as the
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 apostle Paul
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 encouraged
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 this church
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 of Corinth
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 so I
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 encourage you
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 to excel
00:33:50 --> 00:33:50 in the
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 grace
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 of giving
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 I'm not
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 commanding
00:33:54 --> 00:33:54 you
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 but I
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 want to
00:33:55 --> 00:33:55 test the
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 sincerity
00:33:56 --> 00:33:56 of your
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 love for
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 the Lord
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 Jesus
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 for you
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 know the
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 grace of
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 our Lord
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 Jesus
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 Christ
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 that though
00:34:01 --> 00:34:01 he was
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 rich
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 yet for
00:34:02 --> 00:34:03 your
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 sakes
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 he became
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 poor
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 so that
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 you through
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 his poverty
00:34:06 --> 00:34:08 might become
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 rich
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 I dare you
00:34:10 --> 00:34:12 to trust
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 God
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 with a life
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 of radical
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 generosity
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 there's two
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 more things
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 I want to
00:34:18 --> 00:34:18 say
00:34:18 --> 00:34:19 in fact
00:34:19 --> 00:34:19 there's really
00:34:19 --> 00:34:20 one thing
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 with two
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 parts
00:34:21 --> 00:34:23 the bulletin
00:34:23 --> 00:34:23 for the
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 last month
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 this last
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 month
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 as it does
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 with every
00:34:27 --> 00:34:27 month
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 has ways
00:34:28 --> 00:34:28 that you
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 can support
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 electronic
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 giving
00:34:30 --> 00:34:30 there's
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 normally
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 two ways
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 that people
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 give
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 you
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 we either
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 do it
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 via the
00:34:33 --> 00:34:33 computer
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 electronically
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 or we
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 put money
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 in the
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 plate
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 here's the
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 third option
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 for you
00:34:37 --> 00:34:39 as of this
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 last week
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 we put together
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 a card
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 with a credit
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 card slip
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 on it
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 this might be
00:34:43 --> 00:34:44 an option
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 for you
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 if you've
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 never given
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 this might be
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 a way to
00:34:46 --> 00:34:46 start giving
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 there's slips
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 here at the
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 back
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 take it away
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 either fill
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 it out now
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 stick it in the
00:34:51 --> 00:34:51 plate as it
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 comes around
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 if you've got
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 your credit
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 card if you
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 want to
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 or alternatively
00:34:54 --> 00:34:56 stamp
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 self-addressed
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 envelope
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 take an
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 envelope with
00:34:59 --> 00:34:59 you
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 take a
00:35:00 --> 00:35:00 card with
00:35:00 --> 00:35:00 you
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 take it
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 home
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 think about
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 it and post
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 it back
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 to us
00:35:03 --> 00:35:03 there's another
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 option in terms
00:35:04 --> 00:35:05 of giving
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 so I dare you
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 according to
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 Malachi 3
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 I dare you to
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 trust God
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 with a life
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 of radical
00:35:11 --> 00:35:12 generosity
00:35:12 --> 00:35:14 anxiety
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 I'm
00:35:15 --> 00:35:16 I am
00:35:16 --> 00:35:20 I am
00:35:20 --> 00:35:20 I
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 I am
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 I am
00:35:21 --> 00:35:21 I am
00:35:21 --> 00:35:22 I am
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 I am
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 I am
00:35:24 --> 00:35:24 I am
00:35:24 --> 00:35:26 I am
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 I am
00:35:26 --> 00:35:26 I am
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 I am
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 I am
00:35:28 --> 00:35:29 I am
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 I am
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 I am
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 I am
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 I am
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 I am
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 I am
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 I am
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 I am
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 I am
00:35:33 --> 00:35:33 I am
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 I am
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 I am
00:35:34 --> 00:35:34 I am
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 I am
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 I iz
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 I am
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 I am
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 I am
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 I am
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 I am
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 I am
00:35:38 --> 00:35:40 I am
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 I are