WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:08.080 Welcome to the Celebration Church Orlando podcast. 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:16.800 Thank you for joining us to learn more about Celebration Orlando, a church devoted to reaching the lost, equipping the found, and helping the hurting. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:25.519 Follow us on social media using the handle at Celebration ORL or visit our website, celebrationorl.org. 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:33.200 We are so so glad that you were here with us. 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:35.679 And if this is your first time, welcome. 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:41.679 You know, we we really do take it seriously when we believe that we are a church family. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:51.359 And I pray that we never get to a point where we lose the ability for us to engage in these moments that I believe are very intimate but also very powerful. 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:54.640 If you have your Bibles, I want to invite you to join me. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:56.159 Um and this is going to be easy to find. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:59.759 It's literally the first book of the Bible in Genesis chapter number four. 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:04.079 Genesis chapter number four is where we're going to be speaking from today. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:13.280 And while you're turning there, I want to take a moment to give you just a little bit of context, specifically for those who may not have been with us over the past week. 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:16.879 We're we're in the beginning of our all hands series. 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:18.000 We kicked it off last year. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:25.200 And if you're part of our church family, this is an annual series that we do that is centered around the concept of stewardship. 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:31.200 And ultimately, what we recognize in scripture is that we're not the owners of anything, but we're the stewards of everything. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:36.159 That simply means that we're called to be managers, we're facilitators for my basketball fans. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:44.159 We're we're basically point guards, that we facilitate, we look for where things can go and we distribute it according to the mind and will of God. 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:52.640 And so ultimately, if we were to put it in the most simplest form, that we ultimately are called to steward our our time, our talent, and our treasures. 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:57.760 That's that's making it fairly simple, but ultimately that's how we in the Christian faith have grown to understand it. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:01:59.359 How do I manage my time? 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:01.599 How do I manage the gifts that God has given me? 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:05.040 And then how do I manage the resources that God has given me? 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:18.159 Um and so each year we take this as an opportunity for us to give you a little bit of vision on who we are as a church, but also invite you um to participate because we truly believe that we're in all hands church. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:21.840 You'll see that that's just a part of our our theme and and our branding here. 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:31.599 But this year, specifically for all hands, we wanted to focus specifically on resources and to put it out of coded language, we're talking about money. 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:35.680 And as you notice, the doors are locked, the security is in place, so no one's getting out of here. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:38.080 We're we're talking about um money. 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:52.159 But but here's what I have grown to truly believe, specifically over um the past year, as I've recognized just the stress and the anxiety and the pain that is birthed as a result of money, is that I believe that this is an incredibly important topic. 00:02:52.319 --> 00:03:10.400 Not not because it means something to us socially, not because we can look at any study out there and see just the anxiety and stress um that money can create in us, not because even now, as we look in an election season, that ultimately every politician will talk about the promises of making sure you have more money. 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:15.759 The reason being is because we place such security and and sadly even our identity in our resources. 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:23.360 And I believe that God has something to say about that to help us have a healthy perspective of our resources. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:29.199 So last week we talked about the tithe, and if you've missed that message, I want to encourage you to go back and check it out. 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:38.240 I truly believe that it can give us some fresh perspective on how we steward our resources in partnership with the vision that God has given the local assembly. 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:50.800 Um, but but today I want to continue in this really foundational level for us to grow in understanding as it relates to these things that we do in church over and over again, and maybe we don't fully understand where they come from. 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:57.120 So today we're gonna be talking about offerings and and what exactly does that mean at its base level. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:05.759 The the reason why we're looking at this from Genesis is because in in biblical interpretation, there's this concept called the law of first mention. 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:16.079 And what that law ultimately is, it's not something that's meant to be rigid, but it's meant to say that, hey, the first time you see something mentioned in scripture is often this most purest intent. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:20.000 So we need to build our understanding off of that instance of it. 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:32.160 Of course, it can grow, it can evolve, but going back to the first time that something is mentioned in scripture is one of the key ingredients of the law of first mention, of understanding what was God's intent around this concept. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:44.399 So, interestingly enough, the first time that we see the concept of uh offerings entered into the biblical text, it is found in Genesis chapter number four. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:55.279 And the narrative that's attached to it is one that that it is very common even for people that aren't Christians, because we all have likely heard the term or of the people Cain and Abel. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:05:06.879 But that story actually has profound, deep theological truths that can help us to understand what the stewardship looked like, especially when it comes to inviting God into them. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:16.000 So looking at Genesis 4, starting at verse number 3, I want to read a couple of passages to us to kind of set the tone of where we're going today. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:24.079 Starting at verse number three, it says this in the course of time, Cain presented some of the land's produce as an offering to the Lord. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:31.759 And Abel also presented an offering, some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:38.160 The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:42.240 Cain was furious and he looked despondent. 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:45.439 Then the Lord said to Cain, Why are you so furious? 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:47.120 And why are you despondent? 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:50.480 If you do what is right, won't you be accepted? 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:59.759 But if you don't do what is right, sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:06.800 This this passage introduces a lot of theological nuances that time won't allow me to get into. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:20.639 But if we're looking at it from the context of where we're going in this series, what we see is two men that recognize their response to God is to give him an offering. 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:26.800 And yet, when we look at how God responds to their offering, we see that there's a bit of a distinction. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:30.639 One, he accepts it gladly, and one he rejects. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:33.439 And for years I've often wondered why. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:40.639 What really is the reason why God accepted Abel's but rejected Cain's? 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:42.800 I'm glad you asked. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:47.680 Because that's exactly what we are going to be talking about today. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:55.680 If you're if you're taking notes, and I really hope that you are, I think this is a great series to go back and reflect and look at some of the passages that we're going to refer to. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:58.399 Um, I want you to write this message title down, super simple. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:06:59.759 What is an offering? 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:01.920 Just what is it? 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:04.879 Let's pray and let's see what God wants to speak to us today. 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:13.120 Lord, we thank you so much for your grace, your mercy, and the overflow of your kindness that you continuously extend to us. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:22.879 Father, I just pray over the next few moments that you um that you allow us to quiet our minds and and allow our spirits to be in tune to what it is that you want to speak. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:27.519 So, God, I just ask that you give us open eyes that we can see you, that we can recognize you. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:30.639 Um, Lord, I pray for open ears, that we can hear your voice. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:38.720 And Lord, I pray for open hearts that we can receive the seed of truth and allow it to take root and bring about transformation. 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:40.319 It's in Jesus' name that we pray. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:41.120 Amen. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:42.399 And amen. 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:55.759 You know, as I was preparing for for this uh message, I I was thinking a lot about the concept of generosity, specifically when it comes to um the people that we're in relationship with. 00:07:56.160 --> 00:08:04.639 You know, I'm I'm I'm 49 years old now and I've seen a lot of evolutions in regards to how we engage people and how we can extend generosity to people. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:11.199 And so I feel like I need to upgrade my social lot my social lexicon a little bit because here's the truth. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:16.879 Um, I grew up in a day and my mom is is is one who is notorious, she's a phenomenal gift giver. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:22.399 Like she's the type of person that that if you mention something once two years ago, you may get it for your birth. 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:24.480 And you're like, I didn't even realize that you were even paying attention. 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:26.079 Like she's she has a gift for it. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:29.279 It is supernatural almost, almost kind of weird how good she's at it. 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:31.519 And so I was raised in a context like that, man. 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:33.200 That's that's that's what I was used to. 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:38.159 But as I got older, I began to like recognize that sometimes it's hard to zero in on what people want. 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:40.799 And so sometimes we can take the the easier way out. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:43.519 We can we can give people we can give people gift cards. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:45.200 I'm a great gift card guy. 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:47.120 I'm a I'm a phenomenal gift card guy. 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:50.559 There's probably not a better gift card guy on God's green earth than me. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:53.840 Like, let's just take the pressure off and just just hey, go get what you want. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:09:02.159 But but now I'm I'm seeing that there's this there's this circular thing, like I just need to know, like, is it okay to like re-gift something? 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:09.759 Somebody say yes. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:12.480 Now, now listen, listen. 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:13.519 I know we're in church. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:14.639 Don't give me the Christian answer. 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:16.720 I need to reel you, the authentic you to speak. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:24.480 So I want to know if you say that it is okay to re-gift something that you got, it was good intentions, but you know you're never going to use it. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:32.000 You know that there's no purpose for it in your life, you know that it's gonna sit on your shelf and then collect dust and then make its way out to your garage and then eventually get thrown out. 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:39.840 If you know that that's where its story is, but someone else can benefit from it, is it appropriate for you to re-gift it to someone that could possibly use it? 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:42.399 If you believe that, just let me hear you put your hands together. 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:46.799 Okay, okay. 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:55.600 Now let me let me Nate is literally giving it a standing ovation while he's still sitting, though. 00:09:55.679 --> 00:10:01.039 But he he's like, absolutely, if I don't have any Nate is the type that would actually say, hey, thank you, but I don't need this. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:06.080 Like that's so he's just a he's a whole different type of dude, so don't take your cues from him. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:10.320 But so we we see where that is. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:13.039 Let me let me ask you this, just so I can see what the room is. 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:18.720 If you believe, like, hey no, that's actually inappropriate, like you accept it with grace and then you just figure it out. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:26.000 Uh I don't know what you do with it, but if you feel like it's appropriate to keep it and not regift it, because sometimes we're in the same circle of friends and it can kind of get weird. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:34.000 So if you think it's better to just keep it to yourself and let you and the Lord figure it out in the future, if that's your position, let me hear you put your hands together. 00:10:35.279 --> 00:10:35.919 Wow. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:38.240 Okay. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:40.799 That is that is oddly surprising. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:41.919 I uh I love that. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:46.720 So so I I get that because ultimately we're talking about is is is intentionality. 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:49.279 How do we respond to the gifts that we're giving? 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:50.720 And this is a great indicator. 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:53.279 Um, what about what are your views on like Cash App? 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:57.919 Like, can can you just say, like, hey man, happy birthday and we're just gonna I'm gonna send you some Cash App, Venmo. 00:10:58.080 --> 00:10:59.919 I don't get paid for any endorsements of all of them. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:04.000 Um, like if you think Venmo and Cash App's okay, put your hands together. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:06.879 Okay, okay. 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:13.360 And and if you feel like no, you need to put some thought into the gift, be mindful, be a good friend. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:22.080 If that's what you feel, if you love people, if that's what you want to do, if if that's what your position is, can I hear? 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:22.639 Let me hear from you. 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:23.919 Put your hands together. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:28.320 Intentionality is what I'm hearing in this room. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:29.519 Being intentional. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:31.600 And here's why this is this is so important. 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:39.679 And let me let me just okay, let me give you guys a little bit of a confession on a horror story that I reached that I experienced several years ago when I was when I was a much younger man. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:45.440 I I got my just got my first big boy job, and and I got invited to um the birthday party of of one of my cousins. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.120 It was like my cousin's kids. 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:52.559 So, you know, as you start adding more people to the mix, like when you get second and third cousin removed, it's hard to keep up with everything. 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:54.480 As you can see, I'm trying to build my case. 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:59.919 So I was invited to come to this birthday party, and my cousin, she has two children. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:05.360 It was one that's 10 years old and one that's five years old, and I was invited to come to this birthday party. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:06.879 And I said, Okay, of course I'm gonna be there. 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:08.879 That's what we do as family. 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:12.720 But the problem was I bought a gift for the wrong child. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:17.759 So I bought a gift for the five-year-old, but it was the 10-year-old's birthday. 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:26.480 So when I got to the birthday party, uh and and everybody's like, there, I did not know that it was the other child's birthday until we literally sang happy birthday to them. 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:28.799 I was the only one that said the wrong kid's name. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:33.120 And that's when it occurred to me, like, oh, I bought a gift for for the wrong kid. 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:39.919 And so, meanwhile, when everybody's like, okay, let's go and open the gifts, I'm literally over there trying to get my gift off the table. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.639 And so they were like, yo, what are you doing? 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:44.960 And I was like, Oh man, you know, I I forgot to sign it. 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:47.200 Lie to my family and to the presence of the Lord. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:49.200 I haven't repented yet, Lord, forgive me for it. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:56.399 I I took it, I took it off the table because the last thing that I wanted to do was watch this, show up first empty-handed. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:07.039 I didn't want to show up to someone that I love and honor empty-handed, but I also didn't want to show up and offer a gift that seemed like they were an afterthought. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:16.799 Like that would be awful for that child to open up a gift and to see that it was intended for someone else, or if it was a leftover, or if it had been regifted. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:21.360 Something that basically communicated, hey, this is not important enough for me to put any thought into it. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:24.159 None of us would want to be on a receiving end of that. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:27.200 Including God. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:29.840 Y'all knew I was going there. 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:31.519 Y'all had an I was going there by this point. 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:42.480 What I recognize about the concept of giving offerings to God is that in its simplest form, an offering is a gift unto the Lord. 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:56.559 And when we present a gift unto the Lord, the whole idea is that we're being very intentional and mindful of who we're giving a gift to and how much we want to honor them through it. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:04.080 Offerings in its simplest form is a gift unto, in fact, offerings are the bridge that connects us to God. 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:19.919 When we think about it, offering has always been connected to an act of worship, it's been connected to an act of trust, it's been expression of thanksgiving, that it's ultimately our way of giving honor and not wanting to show up to someone that we value empty-handed. 00:14:20.159 --> 00:14:22.639 Think about the the Christmas story. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:33.279 We know the story of when the wise men showed up because they were made aware that the king had been born, and so they showed up and saying, We need to present an offering, we want to present a gift. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:41.919 It was a tangible way for them to honor the value of the person and to let them know that we are with them and that we love them. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:48.080 In a biblical context, what offering allows us to do is do the exact same thing with God. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:58.799 But what we learn by looking at the narrative of Cain and Abel is that it's not just what you give, but it's why are you giving it and how are you giving it. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:05.919 Those two ingredients determine whether or not what we are given, if it will, be received well. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:07.679 So let's gain some insight. 00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:18.720 And I have three principles I want to show um through this text that I think can hopefully help us as we navigate through a theologically healthy view of how we present offerings unto God. 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:23.440 Here's the first thing I want you guys to write down offerings are an expression of gratitude. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:30.159 That whenever we present an offering unto God, that that it is an expression of gratitude. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:37.600 See, the first principle of Cain and Abel as they were presenting offerings is that you can see there's an expression of gratitude attached to it. 00:15:37.679 --> 00:15:38.799 Here's how we can dissect it. 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:48.559 First and foremost, when we look at how Abel presented his offering, the text gives us some insight into the posture of his heart and also the gratitude that he found. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:54.240 It says here, it says that he gave him the fat portions of the first of his flock. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:56.720 I know in our context, it's like, what does that even mean? 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:00.159 What it ultimately meant is that he gave God the best. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:06.960 This wasn't a second thought, this wasn't the remnant, this isn't me looking at how much I have, and then I will give it to you. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:13.600 That what Cain, what Abel was able to do is that he was able to recognize that I want to give God my very best. 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:15.519 That is intentionality. 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:18.639 It was an expression of gratitude. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:29.840 Now, this is the part that it gets really good because when you read through scripture and you see the varying types of offerings that were there, I believe it can hopefully resonate with us a little bit more as I bring us on this journey. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:34.559 That the scriptures tell us about different types of offerings that were presented before the Lord. 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:39.039 There were thanksgiving offerings, there were guilt offerings, there were wave offerings. 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:45.440 There are tons and tons of them that you can read in the book of Leviticus, but there is one called the sin offering. 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:47.759 And the sin offering was very robust. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:49.519 You can read it in Leviticus chapter three. 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:58.799 But the sin offering was one where you would recognize, like, hey, whenever I violated one of God's commands, I would go through this robust process of looking at the list of what I've done. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:04.960 I would go and get the appropriate animal, I would bring it to the priest, he would do his deal, and that would absolve me from the sin. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:16.079 It was a repetitive process that took place over and over and over again because there was a clear recognition that an animal could never truly cover the sins of a man. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:21.359 So it was over and over again we would continuously do this, but this is where it gets good. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:27.839 The Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter number 10 that Jesus became our sin offering on our behalf. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.680 So he steps down from glory. 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:33.359 This is why he's referred to as the Lamb of God without spot or blemish. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:48.960 He literally fulfills all of the Levitical laws and he laid his life down to be the ultimate sin offering for us, so that now we are able to go boldly before the throne of grace without feeling like we have to do anything in order for us to draw close to God. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:51.759 Jesus became our perfect sin offering. 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:58.559 The Bible says that he offered himself once and it covers our sins of the past, our sins of the present, and our sins for the future. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:00.559 He became our sin offering. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:02.079 So this is where it gets good. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:13.039 So when we are aware that God has provided a sacrifice so that we don't have to do it anymore, the response from that should be an offering of gratitude. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:24.640 Because when you truly recognize when someone has done something incredibly good for you and to you, and you didn't do anything to earn it, the least we can do is be thankful for it. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:36.319 So that's why when we come to church and we lift up our hands and give God praise, we're not giving praise because of how I feel today, but I'm giving God praise because Jesus became the perfect sin offering. 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:40.240 So I am in right standing with God and it's not predicated on my behavior. 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:44.319 So even though in my flesh I am tired, God deserves my praise. 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:48.240 Even though right now my bank account may be low, but God deserves my praise. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:55.680 Even though I may be walking through the valley of the shadow of death, but God deserves my praise because I don't have to pay for my sins anymore. 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:57.519 Jesus did it on my behalf. 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:08.559 The beautiful thing about recognizing when God does something so significant on our behalf, it garners a response from us that is often connected to some form of offering. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:12.480 What I love how David puts it when he connects salvation to our response. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:18.640 He says it in Psalms 116 How can I repay the Lord for all the good that he has done for me? 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:24.000 I will take from the cup of salvation and I will call upon the name of the Lord. 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:31.200 What David was communicating to us is that even when you think it ain't good, you got the cup of salvation you can drink from. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:36.400 How could I ever repay God for him allowing me to be in right standing with him? 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:39.599 How can I truly repay God because of the goodness? 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:42.559 The first way we do that is by giving God some praise. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:48.160 If you recognize that God has been good in your life, can you just take a couple of seconds to give him some praise? 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.680 Lord, we give you praise. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:56.319 We recognize that in our own strength that we wouldn't be here, we recognize that in our own abilities that we would be far away from you. 00:19:56.480 --> 00:20:04.400 But God, because of your goodness, we're able to give you some glory, some honor, and some praise, not based on our feelings, but based off of how good you have been to us. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:06.000 We give you praise. 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:12.720 It's in these moments we recognize that we give God praise because of his goodness in our lives. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:32.400 But then in that praise is a response that often is connected to our pockets, where somehow we recognize that because of the message of the gospel, the good news, and how it's transformed my life, I feel a responsibility to ensure that I can sow into the space where the gospel message can continue to go forth. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:36.000 Let me tell you what the Bible tells us in the Gospel of John, chapter number 12. 00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:44.960 What the Bible tells us is about this beautiful story of this woman who comes in and she has this alabaster box and she breaks it wide open and she pours it out on Jesus. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:51.759 And everybody's a little bit overwhelmed because she literally took a year's worth of wages and poured it all out on Jesus in one moment. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:56.720 Can you imagine a year's worth of dracar being poured out in this room right now? 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:59.279 A year's worth, like a literal year's worth. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.200 But she said, I'm responding to this. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:03.119 But here's the thing that predicated it. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.359 Her brother Lazarus had been dead. 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:08.400 She had been praying and believing God for a miracle. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:24.240 And then when Jesus showed up and brought a transformation into her life, she felt my response to that is not only to posture myself at the feet of Jesus, but I also want to pour out an offering on him to ensure that the aroma of his grace will proceed and go before him and after him. 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:36.880 My friends, this is exactly what happens when we come into the household of faith and we recognize that maybe we had our own Lazarus situation where something was dead and stinking and rotten, but now we can recognize and know that yet it shall live. 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:38.319 Lazarus came forth. 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:48.079 So my response in those moments is to bow myself before the feet of the king and pour out an offering that I know that will anoint the environment that can literally shift the atmosphere. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:50.880 This is why we do what we do. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:56.720 She was able to take this and pour it out before Jesus, and it literally shifted the atmosphere. 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:59.759 What I want you guys to recognize is that every time we come into the house. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:19.599 Of faith, and we have an opportunity to sow into the work of the gospel message that what we're doing is we're saying, God, I thank you that you put me in right standing with you, and it's not based off my works, but I also thank you because I want to sow into that gospel message so that other people can experience the same freedom and healing that I have experienced. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:25.759 So the question that we have to ask is does my offering reflect my gratitude for God's goodness? 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.720 Is it is it connected? 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:36.000 Do I give something intentionally, knowing that it's it's a reflection of God's goodness in my life, or does it seem as if it's an afterthought? 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:38.160 Here's a second point I want to share with us. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:42.240 Offerings are a reflection of the condition of our heart. 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:45.839 It's a reflection of the condition of our heart. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:52.160 Let me introduce you into what the text tells us about Cain's offering. 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:56.480 The Bible tells us that when Abel presented an offering, he presented the very best of what he had. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:59.920 It was a reflection of God's goodness, it was a reflection of God's provision. 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.200 He poured out his very best. 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:11.039 But what it says about Cain, and it's very subtle when you look at the first line of the text we read, it says that in the course of time, that in the process of time. 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:18.640 So when you look at the hermeneutical nuance of the Hebraic language, what they're ultimately communicating is there was no urgency attached to it. 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.640 Just in the course of time. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:25.279 Just it's it's a passing idea, like, oh we're oh, is it time to give the Lord an offer? 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.079 Let me see what I got. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:30.880 It was a very, it was a it was a it was an offering that wasn't connected to his heart. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:38.400 It was an offering that was more connected to an obligation or a reaction instead of a true biblical response. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:46.880 What we recognize when we look at the word of God is that over and over again we see the principle that God is interested in the condition of our heart. 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:55.599 Remember when they were trying to find a king, and God came to Samuel and said, Listen, when you go out and look for a king, don't get fixated on the outside appearance. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:59.839 Man looks at the outward appearance, but I'm more concerned about the condition of the heart. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:02.400 Don't get distracted by how things look. 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:07.359 I'm more conditioned or important about the posture of the heart. 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:14.799 What Cain presented, and it was very evident with the language, is that he presented something to God, but his heart wasn't in the right place. 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:19.119 That he was giving something to God, but it wasn't out of freely giving. 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:22.799 It was giving out of obligation or out of resentment. 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:28.480 See, the Bible tells us in both the Old and New Testament this concept of free will offerings. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:33.680 And they they represent a significant dimension of our worship and our relationship with God. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:42.319 Unlike other offerings that were commanded to be given, that were meant to be in compliance with the law, a free will offering was meant to be voluntary. 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:49.279 It wasn't meant to be a spontaneous thing, but it was something that was given out of love, out of gratitude, and out of devotion. 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.960 They were not obligated to do it. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:53.920 It was simply their response out of their love. 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:59.119 Maybe you guys have been in situations where you've gotten a random gift from somebody. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:02.799 Maybe your significant other just did something like, hey, let's just let's go out and have a date night. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.000 It's not anybody's birthday. 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:05.759 We're doing it just because. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:08.400 Those seem to be very meaningful. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:16.480 Every activity is meaningful, but those ones that don't have anything attached to it, they just hit a little bit different because it's a just because thing. 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:19.200 That's in essence what a free will offering is. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:23.279 This is what Paul was talking about in 2 Corinthians 9, verse number 7. 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:32.880 It says that each person should give as they've decided in their heart, in their heart, not reluctantly, not out of compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:39.599 God's looking for someone who's excited to partner with his vision for earth, his vision for mankind. 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.640 That is what it's meant to be. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:44.319 It's an offering that's given out of my response and my love. 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:49.519 It's not out of obligation, it's not done begrudgingly, but it's done out of love. 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:55.440 We we see a very complex example of giving with the wrong heart in Acts chapter number five. 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:59.119 Maybe you're familiar with the story of Ananias and Sapphira. 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:01.680 Susan knows that story. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.200 She knows it. 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:06.640 Let me give you, let me give you the the the Chat GBT version of it. 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:13.359 Ultimately, what that story tells us about is about a couple that that they were in the community of faith. 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:18.160 They had resources and and they sold their home and they wanted to sew it into the kingdom. 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:23.359 But what happened is they wanted to actually give the appearance that they were more generous than they really were. 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:28.319 So what they ended up doing is they kept the portion for themselves, which was their right to do. 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:37.039 But because they wanted it to look a certain way, they said, Hey, we're giving you everything we have, knowing they were keeping a portion for themselves, they were giving with the wrong heart. 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:41.200 And the consequence from that, spoiler alert, it didn't go well for them. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:46.319 Literally, Peter said, Why have you fixed your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit? 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:48.880 Why are you giving begrudgingly? 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:50.960 He said, It was yours to begin with. 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:57.519 You didn't have to give it, but giving it with the attitude that you've given it, it's not life-giving, it's actually life-taking. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:09.279 What I want us to recognize is that when God invites us into these moments, it is better for our heart's posture to be one that is in alignment with recognizing that when I give, it is going to be life-giving. 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:13.599 So here's the question that we have to ask ourselves: why am I giving? 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.960 Why am I doing it? 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:20.559 Am I doing it because it aligns with God's vision and values and I want to be in partnership with it? 00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:22.240 Am I doing it out of obligation? 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.680 Am I doing it out of tradition? 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:25.839 Am I doing it because mom always told me to? 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:32.880 Discipline is important, but if our heart isn't connected to discipline, it's not going to transform our lives. 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:40.319 The third and final thing that I want to share with us is that offerings are meant to demonstrate our trust in God's provision. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:48.720 See, one of the things that I've learned when people struggle with giving is that it comes down a lot of times to a scarcity mindset. 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:57.680 It's a lot of times it's connected to this idea that maybe we were grown and born in a household where we didn't have a lot and we don't know if we're going to always have what we have. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:02.160 So we feel this need to keep what we have because we don't know if there's going to ever be any more. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.359 So let us hold on to it. 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.640 Scarcity mindset. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.279 Or we could be in a space where I don't know if I have enough. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:09.119 And not if I don't know if I have enough for retirement. 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:11.119 I don't know if I have enough for my kids, kids, kids. 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:15.759 So let me keep everything that I have, and that can sometimes get in the way of our generosity. 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:27.839 But what scripture does is God invites us into a space that breaks the scarcity mindset off of us, and that is how we surrender, recognizing that God is truly my provider. 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:32.160 The concept of the first fruits runs throughout the entirety of Scripture. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:46.880 And what the idea is, is that whenever God allowed a harvest to come through, that this extension of your faith was, Lord, I don't know what's going to come after this, but I'm going to trust that there's more because I serve a God of more than enough and a God of abundance. 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:52.799 And so my demonstration of faith is to go ahead and give you what I know is going to honor you. 00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:54.319 That is weighty. 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:55.599 That is challenging. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:29:04.400 Megan and I have been recently watching this TV show that dives deep into like just the nuances of farming. 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:14.960 You know, that's not something that's a part of our upbringing, but but now that I've gotten into this show, part one, I kind of want to get a farm, and then part two, it's a lot of work. 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:28.640 Now I've read scriptures, I've I've seen things, but but I really was enamored by this idea of after all the hard work, after tilling the ground, after planting the seeds, like now the farmers literally would just sit and wait for the harvest to show up. 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:30.000 They just had to wait. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:38.079 After they'd done everything in their own strength, after they did everything that appeared to be right, there was this part where they just had to say, Man, I hope the harvest comes through. 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:40.240 It's beyond my control at this point. 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:45.039 And then when the harvest came through, that's when they were able to say, Okay, yeah, we got enough resources. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:47.119 Now put that in the faith context. 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:52.640 What the believers of the Bible would do at that time, same mindset, man, I don't know what's going to come. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:55.759 We've done our part, we've planted, we've watered, now we're waiting. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:30:02.960 And then when that first harvest came through, they would give it to God, not knowing what the next harvest was going to be. 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:04.559 Imagine that. 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:10.000 Lord, I'm I'm going to I'm going to faithfully give to you without knowing what's coming behind it. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:16.480 But there's also this mindset that says, the same God that gave me this is going to give me more. 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:25.680 And then somehow, when I can respond in faith and saying, God, I trust you that you are the one who brought this harvest, so there's many more to come. 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:32.720 So I'm going to give this to you, recognizing that I serve a God who does exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:37.440 And that is the biggest demonstration of faith I can even imagine. 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:44.000 The Bible tells us in Luke chapter 21 about this, about this beautiful widowed woman. 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:46.319 And she didn't have a lot of resources. 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:49.200 And there's this moment where they're taking up the collection. 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:51.839 Yes, Jesus passed the plate in church. 00:30:52.079 --> 00:31:04.240 Jesus was sitting there, and as people were coming up and putting their offering in, Jesus recognizes that this woman puts two little mites in there, one of the smallest units of financial measure at that time. 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.680 And Jesus sees it. 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:10.240 And he turns to his disciples, like, man, like this woman, she gave more than everybody in here. 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:14.160 Not literally, but she gave out of her need. 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.440 She gave out of her faith. 00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:17.039 She gave as a response. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:21.359 And what I love about the scripture is that it ends there. 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:24.559 It doesn't give you any more context. 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:28.640 It doesn't say that Jesus didn't give her supernatural increase. 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:31.759 It doesn't say that her house was miraculously paid for. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:35.200 It just says that Jesus saw it and then we moved on. 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:37.599 And I think there's something beautiful about that. 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:44.079 Because if I could be honest, the preacher in me would have turned that into a formula and three points. 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:46.319 And worship would have come in in the back. 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:48.160 And we would have worshiped all together at the end. 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:50.559 Do these three things, and that's how you're going to get your breakthrough. 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.880 But Jesus didn't give us any of that. 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:57.519 He just simply says, Hey, when you give out of trust, I see it. 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:02.640 And and and maturity is saying, I'm okay with that. 00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:08.319 I'm okay with knowing that Jesus sees me giving sacrificially. 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:13.279 He sees me giving and understanding that that the currency of the Bible is faith. 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:24.960 And when I can do something in faith, whether it's worshiping in faith, whether it's serving in faith, whether it's giving in faith, that God responds to faith. 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:30.480 Whenever we are giving an offering, and as we see with this precious woman, Jesus notices it. 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:31.759 He sees you. 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:42.960 And I want everyone in here, those who give sacrificially, those who give out of abundance, it should be good enough for us to recognize that when you faithfully give, He sees you. 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:44.640 He sees you. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:46.160 He sees your burden. 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.599 He sees your struggle. 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.960 He sees your fear. 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:50.559 He sees your abundance. 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.920 He sees you. 00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:56.799 And if we do it out of faith and out of trust, there is a response to it. 00:32:57.440 --> 00:33:01.279 I want to close with this before we go into our giving moment. 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:11.519 Thursday night, Megan and I had the incredible privilege of speaking at one of our community partners, donor gathering event. 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:13.039 It was incredible. 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:14.319 It was for identity. 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:16.559 You guys have heard us talk about them in the past. 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:18.000 We have a true partnership with them. 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:24.480 They have an incredible vision to making sure that they can restore dignity and hope to people by giving them their identification. 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:29.359 You'd be amazed at just how far not having identification will keep you from going. 00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:37.440 So this is a nonprofit that we partner with to ensure that the cost of those those services are not passed on to their clients. 00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:41.440 And so we were at this, we were at this gathering on Thursday. 00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:52.240 And while we were there, we were sitting at the table and and they called for Megan and I to be the the keynote speakers, to do the ask, as they call it, in the donor world. 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:58.640 And so we get up there and and and we're sharing about the impact of i dignity and we're we're sharing about the story. 00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:03.200 And as we're talking about this, people were so excited to give. 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:14.719 So we're we're in this room of people and they were talking, and man, we're gonna do this, and people taking pictures of their phone. 00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:17.039 They were really fired up to give. 00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:18.400 Now, now watch this. 00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:20.480 The irony isn't missed on me. 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:48.400 That as we were giving this speech, encouraging people to give to this incredible mission that literally is transforming lives, sitting there as they were talking about their new building that they're breaking ground on in February, hearing about all the funds that they've raised and what's happening in their community, it's not missed on me that they said, we want you guys to do the ask while we as a church are in a$60,000 deficit and we don't have a building yet. 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:52.159 So there was a moment I was sitting there like, Lord, what am I doing here? 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:55.280 I don't know if I'm the guy for the job. 00:34:55.920 --> 00:35:11.920 But I believe that God was saying, I want to invite you into some spaces to see what it looks like when people can cheerfully recognize that we believe so deeply in this vision that we're gonna do everything we can do to advance the message of it. 00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:18.639 So so I want to do basically the same thing that we did with iDignity, and this is come common form for us. 00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:20.960 But but let me give you some ins and outs. 00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:24.960 Last week I told you guys about our annual budget. 00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:28.000 1,029,000 is our annual budget. 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:35.199 Here's what that breaks down to being per month:$85,000 per month in order for us to function as a church, give or take. 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:42.320 As I've shared before, 58% of that goes directly to ministry, 35% of that goes to operations, and 7% goes to missions. 00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:43.280