God – The Pattern for Generosity

Living Generously “The world asks, ‘What does a man own?’ Christ asks,

‘How does he use it?’ ”

Andrew Murray “I cannot think of a better definition of Christianity than

that: give, give, give.”

James McCord “Generosity is to materialism what kryptonite is to

Superman”

Pastor Lloyd Shadrach “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost

them all. But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”

Martin Luther

The Pattern in Proverbs 1124. One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another

withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

25. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

26. The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

27. Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it.

28. Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

John 3: 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only

begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

1. God’s love is the pattern of generosity

2. God’s love is the motivation for giving

3. God had one Son and He gave Him anyway

4. God transfers the task of love to Jesus

John 15: 13-14Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever

I command you.

1. Jesus continues God’s pattern of generosity

2. Jesus’ love is His motivation for giving

3. Jesus had one life and He gave it anyway

John 13: 34-35A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one

another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

1. Jesus transfers the task of love to us.

2. We must love the way that Jesus loves us

3. We have one life and We must gave it anyway

Matthew 25: 14-15For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.Matthew 25: 24-25He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.

Replicators

Romans 12: 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be

transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will

of God.

1. We are all replicators

2. We are continually in a process of replication:

a. Being conformed by the world;

b. Being transformed by God

3. Our lives are a compilation of our consumption

How many of us say: “We’re Christians”?

Which Jesus are we?