IS THE CHURCH STILL RELEVANT TODAY?

“When It Is Generous”

Pastor Duane Cross |  10.16.2011

“Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.  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.  For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more.  And they did it of their own free will.  They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.  They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.”    II Corinthians 8:1-5 (NLT)

“May the God of hope fill you with al joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”   (Romans 15:13)

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”   (Romans 12:2)

1)  OUR DESIRES

2)  OUR DEBTS

3)  OURDISTRIBUTIONS 

3 STEPS TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM

STEP #1:  I must honor God with my full tithe. 

“Should people cheat God?  Yet you have cheated me!  But you ask, ‘What do you mean?  When did we ever cheat you?’ You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.  You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple.  If you do, says the Lord Almighty, I will open the windows of heaven for you.  I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!  Try it!  Let me prove it to you!”     (Malachi 3:8-10)

STEP #2:  I must eliminate personal debt.

“...the borrower is servant to the lender.”                                                                  (Proverbs 22:7)

STEP #3:  Our church must become debt free.

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”   (Matthew 6:33)