OCTOBER 23, 2022
SERIES: CREATING A HEALTHY CHURCH

HEALTH DEPENDS ON GENEROSITY

Acts 20:35

Verse 35 – Remember the words the Lord Jesus Himself said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”

Key Bible Words

Believe Love
Pray Give

Luke 6:38 – Give, and it will be given to you. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

I. How giving benefits your life.

1. Giving makes us more like God.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son.

2. Giving draws me closer to God.

Matt. 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

3. Gives me victory over materialism.

I Tim. 6:17-19

Deut. 14:23 – The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives.

4. Giving strengthens my faith.

Malachi 3:10

Prov. 3:5&9 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income, and He will fill your barns to overflowing.

5. Giving is an investment for eternity.

I Tim. 6:18-19 – Give happily to those in need and always be ready to share whatever God has given you. By doing this you will be storing up real treasure for yourselves in heaven, it is the only safe investment for eternity.

6. Giving blesses me in return.

Prov. 22:9 – A generous man will himself be blessed.

Psalm 112:5

Prov. 11:25

7. Giving makes me happy.

I Chron. 29:9 – The people rejoiced, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord.

II. How to get the most out of giving.

1. Learn to give willingly.

II Cor. 9:12 – For if the willingness is there, your gift is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.

2. Give generously.

II Cor. 8:3-4 – They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own.

3. Give joyfully.

II Cor. 9:7 – For God loves a cheerful give.

4. Give thankfully.

I Chron. 29:13-14 – Now our God, we give you thanks, that we should be able to give as generously as this.

5. Give expectantly.

II Cor. 9:6 – Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

II Cor. 8:5 – They first gave themselves to the Lord.