Pastor Nate Brosher
Feb 9, 2025
Acts 20:34-35 ESV - 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
1. Is Generosity a part of our discipleship / apprenticeship?
■ Blessed – Makarios – Happy, fortunate, well off.
Why aren’t we giving?
Matthew 6:19-21 NLT - 19 "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
“In Heaven” the Hebrew language means, “In God.”
What are we investing into?
Matthew 6:22-24 NLT - 22 "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! 24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
2. Abundance or Scarcity Mindset
Abundance Mindset – God as Father/Provider, Gratitude, Generosity.
Genesis 1:29 NLT - 29 Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.
Jesus says, “When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.”
■ What are your eyes fixated on?
Scarcity Mindset – Lacking, scarce resources, distorted, greed, living with fear.
Jesus said, but when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
3. We can’t serve two masters.
Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
KJV – mammon – mamonas – treasure, riches (where it is personified and opposed to God.)
Are we allowing Greed to control us?
2Corinthians 8:1-2, 7-9 NLT - 1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. ... 7 Since you excel in so many ways--in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us--I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches. 9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
2Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT - 6 Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need, and plenty left over to share with others.
Proverbs 22:8-9 NLT - 8 Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end. 9 Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.
God will generously provide all you need!
■ Gracious giving is an act of worship and a reflection of love for God and His people.
■ Christians should give sacrificially, generously, and cheerfully.
■ Christians should give proportionally, using their abundance to meet the needs of others.
Proverbs 19:17 says, If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD — and he will repay you!