WEBVTT 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:04.080 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:08.960 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:10.320 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:16.640 Well, today we're kicking off a new series called Keep It Simple. 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:19.839 Keep it simple, a guide to financial peace. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:23.839 And I bet most of you are familiar with the KISS principle. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:24.399 Yeah. 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:26.160 This means yes, this means no. 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:28.879 The KISS principle is keep it simple. 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:32.320 I just made you say stupid in church. 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:34.479 But keep it simple, stupid. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:36.079 Like keep it simple. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:38.159 And that's what we want to talk about. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:44.560 Like, uh what does, you know, how do you discover and experience financial peace? 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:49.359 And specifically, what if the pathway to financial peace is actually simple? 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:51.679 What if it's not complicated? 00:00:52.320 --> 00:01:03.439 What if it isn't just this kind of elusive carrot on the end of a stick that you're always kind of searching after, trying to somehow get, but you can never quite arrive? 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:16.000 What if there is some simple practices that you could embrace today that would then in return help cultivate financial peace in your life? 00:01:16.079 --> 00:01:19.359 That's what we're gonna spend the next three weeks talking about. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:23.599 Like, how do you experience financial peace? 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:29.599 Now, the reality is, is we all live in the um Silicon Valley. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:41.040 And this is what you're thinking, because I know it's how I would be thinking, is it even really possible to experience financial peace in the Silicon Valley? 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:46.000 We don't experience financial peace, we experience financial pressure, amen. 00:01:46.159 --> 00:01:50.879 It just feels like the most expensive place on the planet to live. 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:53.760 It doesn't just feel that way, it pretty much is. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:02:02.879 And so is it even possible in the midst of the heart of Silicon Valley to truly uh experience financial peace? 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:13.520 Now, for us, and many of you have experienced this, but most of us live in this so long we've forgotten that this isn't normal. 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:19.759 The minute you come to Silicon Valley, you notice that there is a pace to the valley, right? 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:21.840 There's a pressure to the valley. 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:25.439 Some might call it a hustle to the valley. 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:29.680 There's a Silicon Valley hustle going on. 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:33.680 And if you're new, you're like, oh my gosh, this place is going. 00:02:34.639 --> 00:02:41.599 And the minute you step outside of it, even if you drive to Santa Cruz, you realize it changes. 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:53.439 And I want to talk a little bit about the Silicon Valley hustle because the reality is, is as long as we're caught up in the Silicon Valley hustle, we'll never actually be able to experience financial peace. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:55.439 Here's what the Silicon Valley hustle is. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:03:00.080 The Silicon Valley hustle begins this way: success at any cost. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:02.879 Like I gotta have success. 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:11.680 And so I'm gonna climb the corporate ladder, I'm gonna work really long hours, and it may come at the expense or at the cost of my family. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:20.479 It may come at the expense or the cost of uh emotional well-being or my health or key relationships or my spirituality. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:22.240 It's success at any cost. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:29.039 Uh, as a result, this is kind of our motto in the valley is busyness as a badge of honor, right? 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:33.199 We're hustling, we're going, and so how are you doing? 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:35.120 Busy, right? 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:39.280 And if you don't answer busy, something's wrong with you, right? 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:51.360 You know, like if you don't sit busy, you may not be living up to your potential, and you feel like a slacker, and you have to fill every waking moment to be effective. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:55.039 And we wear busyness like it is this badge of honor. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:04:03.919 And so what it produces and what happens, or the aim and the goal, is financial freedom is the aim and the goal. 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:12.960 We want to be financially free, which means the freedom to do, to go, and to be, however, I want to be. 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:18.800 It's the freedom to do whatever you want to do whenever you want to do it. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:27.199 Maybe it's to retire young, maybe it's to own a nice house, maybe it's to drive the right car, to take all those trips financially free. 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:39.120 Like, oh my gosh, wouldn't it be amazing to be financially free and we get to see different people in the startup world that we look at and who have made it like, oh, to be free. 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:40.959 Here's what's interesting. 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:46.399 We seem to think that if we could be financially free, we'd experience financial peace. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:50.000 Those two are not the same. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:57.120 In fact, there's plenty of people who are financially free who have no peace. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:06.160 See, what the Silicon Valley hustle produces is simply this success at the expense of significance, doesn't it? 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:13.040 At the expense of uh what matters most and meaning and purpose and key relationships. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:16.639 That busyness as a badge of honor, what does it produce? 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:26.959 Well, it produces an overworked yet underfulfilled life where you just are overwhelmed with life. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:36.000 And then finally, because of financial freedom is the goal, and the reality is, is many here are you're making more money. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:39.759 The paycheck is bigger. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:44.480 You have more money, but less peace, right? 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:48.720 You know, it's interesting that word peace. 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:52.399 We're talking about, you know, how do you experience or have financial peace? 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:59.120 You know, uh, in the Bible, in in uh the old testament, the word peace is the Hebrew word shalom. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:11.439 It means not just to be absent of strife or angst, the shalom has this idea of a sense of completeness, fulfillment. 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:19.920 Shalom has this idea uh of a contentment and a wholeness, a well-being. 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:21.279 Think about that. 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:39.759 Wouldn't it be amazing not just to have the absence of strife or angst financially, but to have this sense of wholeness, of contentment, of well-being when it comes to your finances, to feel financially at peace. 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:47.279 You know, Jesus actually talked about money more than he talked about heaven and hell combined. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:50.800 He he talked about it all the time. 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:55.759 And I want to take you to a passage where he begins to unpack financial peace. 00:06:55.839 --> 00:07:02.480 It's one of his most iconic teaching on finances and one of his most important ones. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:08.959 And you'll understand why in this passage, why he takes the time to talk about it so much. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:15.120 If you got your Bibles, would you open up to Matthew chapter six, Matthew chapter six, verse 19? 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:19.279 It's in the Sermon on the Mount, and it begins this way. 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:27.600 He says, Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth where maz and vermin destroy and where thieves break in. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:42.000 And still, he's saying, if you want to experience financial peace, stop running after the things that are so uncertain in our day and begin to, you know, orient your life towards other things. 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:53.680 You know, this isn't that the reason we experience so much financial anxiety is that we put our peace, we put our well-being in things that are uncertain, right? 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:55.360 I mean, think about it. 00:07:55.600 --> 00:08:02.079 We put our financial peace or well-being in our 401k, and it's dependent on how the stock market's going. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:05.920 And oh, the stock market's going great, you're feeling great, and then the next day it's not. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:09.839 Oh no, or in our housing, and you know, are we on a bubble? 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:11.279 It's been going really great right now. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:12.160 I just bought a house. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:13.600 Is it gonna go down? 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:24.000 He says, don't put your hope, don't put your trust, don't spend your life wondering and going after things that are incredibly uncertain. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:26.879 No wonder we wrestle with peace in this area. 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:29.600 Stop doing that, and then he gives us something to start. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:46.399 But instead, store up for yourself treasures in heaven where maz and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and still begin to orient your life about around things that are eternal, that are weighted with significance. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.080 You know, it's it's interesting. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:09:00.799 I think one of the great seductress of the soul is external, external success at the expense of uh eternal significance. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:15.120 And that we run after these things and run after these things, and then you look up and you realize you're caught in the hustle, and we find ourselves empty, no matter how much is in the bank account. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:18.399 And then Jesus does something that's so incredible. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:23.440 This next line is so powerful, and he begins to explain why. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:30.080 He says, For where your treasure is, there your heart is also. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:34.799 Whatever you value most has your heart. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:40.559 Where your treasure is, your heart follows. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:50.399 So you may have never thought of this before, but your heart has like this invisible line connected to your bank account. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:57.759 And wherever you spend your money and time and resources, your heart naturally gravitates towards it. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:00.960 It's this invisible law of the universe. 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:02.799 Said another way. 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:14.720 Your heart gets connected to it. 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:31.120 And he's saying, be so careful and wise about what you put your hope in, what you treasure in, where you invest your money, because that is the place upon which you'll either live under financial pressure or experience financial peace. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:35.360 Here's what's fascinating Jesus doesn't want your money. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:38.720 We don't want your money. 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:49.759 In fact, that's one of the things I just want to say right at the beginning, because the minute we start to talk about money, there begins this wall, like, oh, the church just wants my money. 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:54.240 We've seen God provide for us in incredible ways through the years. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:55.759 Get to share stories. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:11:06.240 And if there's any hint of that here where you feel like, oh, he's just preaching so you know, uh awakening can, you know, uh hit their budget. 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:07.279 It's not. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:13.840 And what I want to invite you to through the rest of this sermon is if that's where you're at, don't give here. 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:18.799 And I really mean it, because what God has for you is so much more important. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:24.559 You can give to Compassion International, World Vision, other great causes like that. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:29.519 But just for a moment, just take a breath. 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:45.840 And what if God really wants you to experience peace, flourishing, well-being, and what if the pathway is a lot simpler than what we thought. 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:50.399 See, Jesus doesn't want your money, but what he does want is he wants your heart. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:58.080 And what he knows is that wherever you give your money, that has your heart. 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:05.039 Whenever that goes, wherever your money goes, there your heart follows. 00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:15.919 So to be honest, if you don't like where your heart is, or if you want your heart connected to something, you might think about giving money in that direction. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:20.240 If you want to have a heart for the poor, you're like, man, I just wish my heart was more broken for the poor. 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:25.679 Begin to give to places that serve the poor. 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:26.960 Begin to give your time. 00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:32.639 You'll find all of a sudden you care way more about the poor. 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:33.039 Why? 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:37.759 Because wherever your money goes, there your heart follows. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:48.960 And so the pathway to financial peace is simply what we have to do in our area, in our world, is we have to reverse the order. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:52.399 In fact, that's the title of today's sermon, Reverse the Order. 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:54.159 Would you say that with me? 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.759 Reverse the order. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:58.960 Now let's pretend like you really meant it at this moment. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:02.399 Um, let's say that in one, two, three. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.320 Reverse the order. 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:17.519 Here's the thing: we've been caught up in the hustle of Silicon Valley, and Jesus is teaching us a new way to be human, a new way to go about life, a new way that is going to get you new results. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.600 And so we have to reverse the order. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:20.960 Well, what's the old order? 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.440 The normative way that we go about things. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:27.759 The normative way that we spend our money is first we consume what you make, right? 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.840 Whatever you make, you consume it. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:32.320 Then you save if you can, right? 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:38.720 And so uh I'll save it if I can, and then I'll give if there's any left order, left over. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:43.279 That's the order that we live off of and we, you know, uh go about. 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:45.759 In fact, in America, think about this. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:50.639 The average American lives on 110% of their income. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:56.639 I'm not the best mathematician, but that doesn't work. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:02.159 The average American buys 40% of things they cannot afford. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:10.240 The average American or 60% of Americans don't pay off uh cred their credit card debts. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:13.200 College students, you're not exempt. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:21.360 And we all know, we all know that there's such an issue with graduating with such immense uh college student loans. 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:27.440 However, 80% of college students graduate with credit card debt. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:40.799 You know why, because on freshman orientation day and all the there's credit card companies handing out credit cards like candy to every freshman, and you don't know how to steward your money wisely and well. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:46.799 The normative practice, consume what you make, save if you can, give if there's any left over. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:49.840 Simply reverse the order. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:53.679 Listen, financial peace is simple. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.960 It doesn't mean it's easy, but here's how simple it is. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:06.480 When I was 10-ish, maybe a little bit younger, my parents taught me the order for financial peace. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:09.840 So as a 10-year-old, I could understand this. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:14.240 In fact, they got uh me three jars. 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:15.440 This is the literal jar. 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:17.200 Yes, I had dinosaurs on it. 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.559 Thank you very much. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:26.000 And three orders, uh, three jars, and they they taught me the order for financial peace. 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:27.200 It's so simple. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:29.679 And one was give first. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:34.080 I had a jar that just said give, and then it had 10%. 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.840 And right next to give first in your notes, I want you to write 10%. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:43.279 The second jar, and this is the jar, uh, is save seconds. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:45.200 And mine has a bike. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:52.159 So at 10 years old, I was saving for a bike, and right next to save, write 10%. 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:58.000 And then the third jar, their jar said spend. 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.720 In ours, we're just gonna say live on the rest. 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:04.320 And right next to live on the rest, write 80%. 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:10.480 That you give first, we gotta reverse the order, you save second, you live on the rest. 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:13.440 You give first, you save second, you live on the rest. 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:14.799 Say that with me. 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:19.200 Give first, save second, live on the rest. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:22.080 That is the pathway to financial peace. 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:31.279 It's not complicated, but it is tough, and it goes against what we are doing in our culture around us. 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:36.240 And what we're gonna spend the next few weeks is we're gonna talk about each of those areas. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:38.480 Today we're gonna talk about giving first. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:41.200 Next week, we're gonna talk about save and invest second. 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:46.000 Our final week, we're gonna talk about uh living on the rest. 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:55.759 And the interesting part is the minute I said give first, save second, and and I've began to put some of those numbers there, right? 00:16:55.919 --> 00:17:02.080 10%, 10%, 80%, you're like, Ryan, I cannot do that. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:05.680 Don't you know where we live? 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:09.200 Didn't you just talk about the financial pressure? 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.279 Friends, I get this. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:18.160 I'm living in the Silicon Valley on a pastor salary, not a high-tech salary. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:20.079 It's different, by the way. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.440 Just thought I'd let you know. 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:22.799 It's different. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:26.640 A little less okay. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:33.119 And by the way, I wouldn't trade it for the world. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:35.440 We do this as a family. 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:39.759 It was instilled as a young boy, and it is so powerful. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.880 I want you to get it. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.920 But we wrestle with this. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:44.559 I can't afford to uh be generous. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:51.839 And the truth is, when you understand the genius of generosity, you'll understand you can't afford not to be generous. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:18:04.240 Like your peace is at stake when you're not generous, your happiness is at stake when you're not generous, your overall health and well-being is at stake. 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:08.400 You're like, Ryan, that those are really big things to say. 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:10.480 Well, I didn't fully say them. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:11.839 Jesus said something. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:14.799 He said it is more blessed to. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:18.160 It's in your notes, you can cheat, by the way. 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:21.279 It's more blessed to than to. 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:24.559 Huh, interesting. 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:26.400 Circle that word blessed. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.720 There's a couple ways you can define that. 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:31.680 One is it's more happy. 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:35.519 It's happier to be a giver. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:42.880 As one who loves to receive gifts, especially on Christmas as a kid, and especially expensive gifts. 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:45.440 I love expensive high-tech gifts. 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:49.039 I'm like, is it really happier to give than receive? 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.599 I don't know. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:52.720 I just so enjoy gift receiving. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:58.559 The other way to interpret that word is flourish. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:00.160 I like that one. 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:09.119 There is a flourishing of those who are generous than those who are not, is what Jesus is saying. 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:22.000 There's a way of life where there is that shalom, that well-being, that contentment, that wholeness that comes when we live a generous life. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:30.880 The proverb says it this way: one person gives freely yet gains even more, another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:33.200 A generous person will prosper. 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:37.599 Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.839 Now, here's what's fascinating. 00:19:40.079 --> 00:19:54.880 Christian Smith and Hillary Davidson's professors at Notre Dame decided to do a research project on generosity, an extensive project, and out of it they wrote a book called The Paradox of Generosity. 00:19:55.119 --> 00:20:02.240 This is their conclusion after doing uh viewing all the data points and the research. 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.839 Here's what they said. 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:19.519 If Americans want to become happier, healthier people who live with greater purpose, suffer less depression, and enjoy more personal growth, one way they might better accomplish that is to learn to be more generous. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:30.400 The scientific evidence shows clearly that more generous people are doing significantly better in their lives in many important ways. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:32.720 That is incredible. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:39.920 That the best research today confirms what Jesus said 2,000 years ago, and the Proverbs said 3,000 years ago. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:43.200 I don't know, maybe God knows what he's talking about. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:54.880 So the pathway, the first step to financial peace is not in getting more, it's in giving more. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:18.079 And what we think and what we wrestle with is you know what, Ryan, I really want to do that. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:20.720 I really want to be generous. 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:24.240 But the reality is, is right now it's tight. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.680 Right now it's hard. 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:30.480 When I make more, then I'll be generous. 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.680 Right? 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.880 Have you ever thought that? 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.680 You ever felt that? 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:36.880 Like, you know, I I I so agree with that. 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:43.359 Okay, so when I make more, then I'll be more generous. 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:54.160 The reality is, is the research says otherwise that when you make more, you actually end up being less generous. 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:59.519 And if you don't develop the habit of generosity when you have little, you will not. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.640 Be generous when you have more. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:08.319 You know, uh Christianity Today wrote an article on who are the most generous in the U.S. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:11.200 Like, have you thought about that? 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:15.359 Like, who are what are the most generous cities in the U.S.? 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:21.839 And you would think, I mean, Silicon Valley with all the wealth here, New York, LA, of course. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:26.079 The three most charitable cities in America are all in Idaho. 00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:31.920 Pocatella, Idaho Falls, and Jackson. 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:38.160 Christians in these cities give on average$17,977 to charity annually. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:47.039 Surprising, Las Vegas, often called Sin City, comes in second with a rate of giving$10,410. 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:48.799 Listen up. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:59.039 America's largest cities do not even make it onto the list of the top 50 most charitable cities in the U.S. 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:03.839 and yet have the most wealth. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:10.720 According to nonprofit source, only 5% of church members give regularly. 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:18.079 Households that make more than$75,000 are the least charitable. 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:24.559 Please don't buy into when I get there, once someday I'm going to then be generous. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:29.359 Nationwide, Christians today give 2.5% of their income. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:34.319 For comparison, during the Great Depression, that number was 3.3%. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:43.200 Today, we as a church in America are less generous than those in the Great Depression. 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:55.279 13.9% of Americans give less than 2% of their income away. 00:23:55.519 --> 00:24:01.839 Only about 2.7% give 10% of their income away. 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:05.519 Wanna know which generation is the most generous generation? 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:15.440 84% of millennials report to giving less than$50 to charity per annum, even though charitable giving ranks high on their priorities. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:28.000 The most generous generation in the$500 to$2,500 range is Gen X, and the most generous generation over$2,500 is compromised of those older than the baby boomers. 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:37.599 The first step to financial peace is not getting more, but giving more. 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:51.839 It's actually learning to embrace a rhythm and a habit of generosity wherever you are at with whatever you are making. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:55.200 So let's talk it then about the rhythm of generosity. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:59.200 How do we embrace this rhythm of generosity? 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:06.559 The rhythm of generosity is actually developed in the practice of the tithe. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:10.880 Now you've heard it said, even Chris said it a little bit earlier, tithe and offering. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:17.759 And if you're new to church or just been around, or maybe no one ever explained it, you're like, what in the world is a tithe? 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:29.200 This is the practice that Christians down through the centuries and those who were a part of the Jewish faith practice to begin to develop this habit, this rhythm. 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:37.759 Because I would say most of us, most of us think we're generous because we can remember a time when we were generous. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:42.480 Or like, yeah, I remember that time when I gave that person 20 bucks. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:46.400 But most of us don't have a habit of generosity. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:53.279 And see, a rhythm, we have to begin to do systematically what we are now doing sporadically. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:56.960 And this is the rhythm of the tithe. 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:58.559 So what is a tithe? 00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:01.279 Well, tithe literally means a tenth. 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:04.799 That's the reason I gave you that 10% right at the front. 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:08.000 And by the way, this is pretty fascinating. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:24.960 Uh, again, in the paradox of genera uh there you go, the paradox of generosity, they note at the very least, we can conclude that the practice of giving away 10% of one's income is associated with greater probability of being happy in life. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:34.079 State in reverse, Americans who do not give away 10% of their income run run the significant risk of ending up less happy than they might have been otherwise. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:36.799 In fact, as a group, they are less happy. 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.440 Hmm. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:38.480 Flourishing. 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.440 Interesting. 00:26:39.680 --> 00:26:51.039 In Leviticus, this is the way God says it, a tithe, he calls for a tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord. 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:51.759 It is holy. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:56.480 See, tithing isn't giving, it's returning back to God what's already his. 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:57.680 It's already his. 00:26:58.160 --> 00:27:00.559 It's not really being generous, it's just being obedient. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:06.160 This is what God calls us as followers of Jesus for our own flourishing. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:07.759 Now that's the Old Testament. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:09.599 What does it mean in the New Testament? 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:12.079 The Old Testament was percentage-based, 10%. 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:15.759 The New Testament was pre in proportion to what you had. 00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:16.960 It was proportional. 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:22.480 Irenaeus, the early church father, said the Jews were constrained to a regular payment of tithes. 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:32.240 Christians who have liberty assigned all their possessions to the Lord, bestowing freely, not the lesser portions of their property, since they had the hope of greater things. 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:34.079 It's like, God, it's all yours. 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.039 All that I have. 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:39.759 Think about this radical, instead of it's mine, God, this is all yours. 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:41.920 And how do you want to use it? 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:44.000 How do you want me to steward it? 00:27:44.160 --> 00:28:03.359 You know, when we began awakening, uh, we began uh with the the principle that as a church, not just as leadership, we're gonna give at least 10% of what comes in outside the doors of our uh church to serve our community around us. 00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:12.880 Now I remember I had financial people, really nice, well-meaned financial people, Christian financial people tell me, Ryan, do not do that. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.400 Don't do that. 00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:18.240 And um I said, excuse me, why? 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:24.720 You you need to focus, this is a startup, you need to focus all of your funds on really growing this church and spending all. 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:29.359 And by the way, you recognize that you have a church, a bunch of young people. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:32.160 I don't even know if you're gonna make it financially, anyways. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.279 Thank you. 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:42.640 Okay, I love the vote of confidence, but I believe you can't out give God and that we're just gonna be obedient. 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:48.559 And I don't ever want to ask or call people to things that I'm not personally doing and that we're not doing as a church. 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:59.680 So we started out day one, and every year we've given at minimum, but many years much more, than 10% outside the doors of our walls. 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:07.200 It's been incredible to see how God has provided, and we've never been in need as a church. 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:12.880 And so when we began, we started on this campus, and we had an immediate ministry. 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:18.160 And we you've heard this said if you've been around, that Del Mar is more than a place to meet, but a people to love. 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:25.039 For nine plus years, we have served this community in so many different ways. 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:29.039 And here's what's amazing: the partnership that we have with this school. 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:35.039 A teacher wrote us a letter, and I just want to read it to you just so that you get it hear it. 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:38.720 And it's a little long, but it's definitely worth the read. 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:44.079 Of getting to see the impact that God's using us as a church in our generosity. 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:49.759 Dear awakening church members, I have so much to thank you for that it won't even fit in our video. 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:51.519 They had sent us a video a while back. 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:58.480 The bottom line is that your generosity and support for Del Mar allows us to be the caring community that we strive to be. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:04.240 You are an essential part of the school climate and your impacts wildly, wildly felt. 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:06.559 Last year was hard. 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:10.480 And you were right there in step with us when we needed it the most. 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:15.920 Curiously enough, in distance learning, we had a more intimate view of our students' home lives. 00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:20.960 We realized how much they needed, and at the same time felt powerless to do much about it. 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:23.920 Emotionally, this was very, very difficult for us as teachers. 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:30.079 It made a huge difference to be able to call our office to provide gift cards to students who were experiencing trauma. 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:36.720 When I learned that a student had recently become homeless, Del Mar was able to provide gift cards to Target and Safeway to support their family. 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:39.279 Those gift cards were because you gave them. 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:43.039 They matter a lot to students, but they mean a lot also to us. 00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:48.240 It helps us to know that at least one positive thing happened in our students' home lives. 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:55.039 This year is hard too, and your generosity continues with the food pantry, which is an amazing resource for our families. 00:30:55.279 --> 00:31:00.720 In August last year, I was the personal recipient of Awakening Church's response uh generosity. 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:06.799 On the third day of school, I was evacuated from my home in the Santa Cruz Mountains due to the lightning complex fire. 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:09.359 And I stayed evacuated for almost three months. 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:16.000 The most stressful part of that whole experience was trying to simultaneously adjust to online teaching. 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:19.039 And I admit, I was not taking great care of myself. 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:24.000 The Awakening Church sent me gift cards, and honestly, I felt the love. 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:29.920 I felt this was a reminder to take care of myself and my situation, so I continued to care for my students. 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:38.400 This year, I transitioned to a new position in Delmar as the English language emergent multilingual student coordinator. 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:43.759 In my new role, I am seeing for the first time behind the scenes the impact of Awakening Church. 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:46.319 We have enrolled many students who are new to the country. 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:55.359 One of the first stops in our school tour is the community liaison, Bianca or Blanca Diaz office, where students receive backpacks and school supplies. 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:58.640 This is a huge part of their welcome to our school and our community. 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:04.319 And honestly, they are so grateful for these gifts that they can almost not believe it. 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:14.720 The backpacks and school supplies uh take a financial burden off the families and allow students to thrive at school and even it uh to just fit in on their first day. 00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:16.319 We could not do this without you. 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:21.519 Last but not least, I'm very grateful for the coffee and the food that you provide to teachers on a regular basis. 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.880 This is an amazing gift. 00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:30.240 I treasure the coffee mug that you purchased for us a few years ago, and every time I use it, which is often, I keep it, I keep it at school. 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:32.240 I think that someone is caring for me. 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:34.240 I know that sounds corny, but it's true. 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:35.920 I'm sorry. 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:42.640 I'm also a little dependent on coffee that you provided. 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:50.240 We had a lot of professional development sessions last year about caring for the caregivers and taking time for ourselves. 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:53.599 But honestly, teachers are not really good at doing that. 00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:57.599 Awakening Church steps in and makes us stop and replenish. 00:32:57.759 --> 00:33:01.039 I've never eaten so many donuts until I began working at Del Mar. 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:04.079 You replenish us physically and spiritually. 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:08.240 I really can't express how much your church impacts Del Mar for the better. 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:12.559 All of your acts of giving are so gratefully appreciated by all of us. 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:14.079 Thank you, Michelle. 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:34.799 That letter is because we as a church made a decision on the front end that long before we knew whatever would come in that we're gonna give at least 10% outside of our doors. 00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:42.640 And I can't, I was getting choked up that I would I would give more than that to get to read that letter again. 00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:45.279 Talk about flourishing and well-being. 00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:47.680 Tithe literally means a tenth. 00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.880 Why do we tithe? 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:51.839 It trains our heart to trust God. 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:58.240 Jesus in Luke chapter 16 would talk about money being the little thing. 00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:03.039 And as we're faithful with the little, then he entrusts us with true riches. 00:34:03.279 --> 00:34:04.880 We think of money as the big thing. 00:34:05.039 --> 00:34:06.799 God thinks of it as the little thing. 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:16.559 And it trains our heart when we can trust him with our finances, it trains our heart that he is faithful, that you can't out give God, that he will provide for you. 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:18.719 I love how the apostle Paul said it. 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:25.360 He said, Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:30.159 Each one of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. 00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:35.039 So this needs to be not a just impulse reaction. 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:44.239 This needs to be you have taken time and decided in your heart ahead of time, not reluctantly withholding or under compulsion. 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:49.199 Like if there's that sense of like I feel guilted into it, never give under that. 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.320 Step back. 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:53.599 For God loves a cheerful giver. 00:34:53.679 --> 00:34:57.519 And then it goes on, and God is able to bless you abundantly, flourish you. 00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:58.079 Why? 00:34:58.320 --> 00:35:08.960 So then all things, at all times, having all that you need, not like everything you ever wanted, all that you need, here's the goal: you'll abound in every good work. 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:11.840 Tithing trains our heart to trust God. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:22.559 It reminds us that we're stewards, that all that we have, we're simply stewards, and it releases the grip of greed, of consumerism on our hearts. 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:24.719 And so it's a tenth, it's a training. 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:27.039 It helps begin to help us trust God. 00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:28.800 And so, how are we to tithe? 00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:30.239 We've already said it today. 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:32.239 We're to give to God first. 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:34.480 We're to give to God first. 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:36.800 We take we start. 00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:40.960 It does not take faith to give last. 00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:43.599 The old order. 00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:45.599 Consume what you have. 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.800 Save if you can. 00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:55.679 Give if there's any left over, and chances are if you're living on 110%, there's nothing left over. 00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:58.000 You begin to give first. 00:35:58.639 --> 00:36:02.400 I believe where give to wherever you're spiritually fed first. 00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:07.599 But you just begin to give, okay, God, I'm gonna give to you first. 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:12.239 Now, for some, by the way, 10% is way too big right at the beginning. 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:14.719 Okay, start with 1%. 00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:23.199 Take time after this and just go, okay, God, I really want to take a step of faith, and I'm gonna decide ahead of time that I'm gonna give to you first. 00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:24.639 And so what does that look like? 00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:26.320 It's like at the beginning of the month. 00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:33.440 It's when you get your paycheck, it's when you get your tips as a server that you just go, okay, I'm gonna just set aside time um 10%. 00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:34.800 I mean, that's what I had here. 00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:42.159 I had the give pile, and I just take that, you know, if I had$10, it'd add one dollar right over to that uh bucket. 00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:46.000 The way it happens in our home, I get paid twice a month. 00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:51.679 And so I have on automatic uh deposit, uh, I just have that pulled out automatically. 00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:53.119 My wife's in real estate. 00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:54.480 She doesn't get paid once a month. 00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:55.519 That would be amazing. 00:36:55.679 --> 00:37:00.159 Um, but she gets paid, you know, whenever she closes a deal. 00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:01.519 And so what does she do? 00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:02.800 What does she do? 00:37:02.880 --> 00:37:04.000 I speak for a living. 00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:13.440 Um, what anyways, she writes a check every time she receives, you know, a payment there. 00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:15.840 And so we're to give to God first. 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:22.639 Proverbs says, honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits, not the last fruits, with the first fruits of all your crops. 00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:27.760 And now, for those and many of us, because this is connected, this feels scary. 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:29.440 You're like, I don't know about this. 00:37:29.599 --> 00:37:36.719 Here's what's incredible: this is the only place in scripture where God asks us to test him on. 00:37:37.360 --> 00:37:42.239 He so wants your good and your flourishing, and he knows it's gonna be hard. 00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:44.559 He says, actually, test me on this. 00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:45.679 Would you test me? 00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:46.400 Would you try me? 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:48.880 Notice what he says in Malachi 3.10. 00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:53.039 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. 00:37:53.280 --> 00:38:02.719 Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I'll not throw up in the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:05.760 Jesus says, say it this way: give and it'll be given to you. 00:38:05.840 --> 00:38:13.760 Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap, for with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 00:38:15.119 --> 00:38:20.079 And I've seen God show up in such significant ways in people's lives. 00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:23.840 And remember, blessing is flourishing, wholeness, well-being. 00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:25.840 I've seen God show up financially. 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:35.599 I've there's a couple one time we were talking on this uh years and years ago, and we're talking about, okay, being generous, and they're like, okay, we've never given. 00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:40.639 We feel like God is calling us to finally begin to give, but here's where we're at. 00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:45.360 We have, I think it was like$30,000 worth of medical bills. 00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:46.639 We don't know how to do that. 00:38:46.719 --> 00:38:48.960 We're not sure how we're gonna pay for this. 00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:53.199 But we're gonna take the step and we're just gonna start to give what we have. 00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:55.039 Here was amazing. 00:38:55.519 --> 00:39:00.559 They came back the next week, they're like, our medical bills got covered. 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:05.360 They gotta see, when you take a step of faith, you get to see a God who's faithful. 00:39:06.079 --> 00:39:08.320 Now he doesn't always answer in that way. 00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:16.559 I've also seen couples who begin to start taking this step, experience restoration in their marriage. 00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:17.280 Why? 00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:20.079 Because wherever your money goes, there your heart follows. 00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:27.280 And as they began to say together, we're gonna begin to give and pursue after things of Jesus, it began to unite their hearts. 00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:30.480 God says, Test me on this. 00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:36.800 I want to help you live out from financial pressure to financial peace. 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:38.400 And actually, we have a little thing. 00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:41.920 I want to test you on this, the stewardship challenge. 00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:45.280 Would you take three months and take God to the test? 00:39:46.239 --> 00:39:49.280 Tithing, it says here, trains our heart to trust God. 00:39:49.519 --> 00:39:51.599 The Bible says we can test Him on this. 00:39:51.760 --> 00:39:58.719 And so, would you write in here, say, I or we have decided to honor God with the first and figure out that percentage. 00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:00.559 Remember, decide in your heart. 00:40:00.639 --> 00:40:02.239 You don't need to fill this out today. 00:40:02.480 --> 00:40:07.599 Take time and fill this out and go, maybe it's 1%, maybe it's 2%, maybe it's 10%. 00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:10.400 I want to begin to give. 00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:15.599 And remember, if there's anything about awakening, give to a great organization. 00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:17.599 Just start giving. 00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:18.559 Sign it. 00:40:18.719 --> 00:40:19.599 Here's what we would love. 00:40:19.679 --> 00:40:21.440 We'd love just to partner in prayer with you. 00:40:21.599 --> 00:40:22.960 We ain't tracking anybody. 00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:25.920 I don't know what anybody gives around here, by the way. 00:40:26.320 --> 00:40:27.280 Write your name. 00:40:27.360 --> 00:40:29.199 We just want to be able to pray with you. 00:40:29.440 --> 00:40:33.039 And as you see God show up in your life, we want to celebrate with you. 00:40:33.199 --> 00:40:34.880 We'd love to hear those stories. 00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:36.880 Would you take the stewardship challenge? 00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:40.079 God says, test me on that. 00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:43.280 For some, I want to give you one other resource. 00:40:43.599 --> 00:40:46.800 My dad wrote a book called The Genius of Generosity. 00:40:46.960 --> 00:40:50.400 And for you, you want to kind of dive into this a little bit deeper? 00:40:50.639 --> 00:40:53.280 Hey, we'll give you this book. 00:40:53.440 --> 00:40:56.800 We have it in the back and would love to give you this book. 00:40:56.880 --> 00:40:58.559 It's a great little, it's a short read. 00:40:58.639 --> 00:40:59.280 Look at that. 00:40:59.760 --> 00:41:01.199 You can read that, right? 00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:02.639 You can do that. 00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:06.239 I was a speed reader, I just finished it. 00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:12.800 But we would love, love, love, love to give you this book to help you grow. 00:41:13.519 --> 00:41:17.760 Isn't the way that we've been doing finances not working? 00:41:18.719 --> 00:41:22.000 And aren't you tired of the pressure and the pace? 00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:24.239 What if? 00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:31.440 What if it's so simple a 10-year-old can understand it? 00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:38.559 And what if it is just as simple as beginning to give to God first, save second, and live on the rest? 00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:51.280 You know, the way we've said it at awakening through the years is we believe the church should unleash extravagant generosity to a hurting and broken world because we have an extravagantly generous God. 00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:55.199 And that's where I want to land the plane this morning with you. 00:41:55.840 --> 00:41:59.519 Not in us giving, but in the God who gave. 00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:10.000 You know, the Apostle Paul would write to the Corinthian church and he'd say to them in the context of giving and remind him of the extravagantly generous God. 00:42:10.079 --> 00:42:22.719 He says, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 00:42:23.760 --> 00:42:31.119 And we just want to take time and remind ourselves of the extravagant generosity of our God. 00:42:31.440 --> 00:42:46.480 Every time we stop and partake in communion, this is celebrating the God who loves you, the God who came for you, the God who said, I will take your pain. 00:42:48.320 --> 00:42:53.840 I will take the cross just so that I can be with you. 00:42:54.639 --> 00:42:59.039 The bread, Jesus would say, This is my body broken for you. 00:42:59.519 --> 00:43:01.760 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:12.559 You say the cup is the cup of the new covenant that no longer do you have to earn your way to God or work your way to God, but he has worked his way to you. 00:43:15.360 --> 00:43:19.039 Would you partake and do this in remembrance of me? 00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:24.239 Someone and just give you a time, we're gonna continue in worship. 00:43:24.559 --> 00:43:30.719 And where we would think and go, just this collective moment as a church where we just say thank you. 00:43:30.880 --> 00:43:40.800 Thank you for Jesus, thank you for your generosity, thank you for your heart towards me and your sacrifice, that you would over be overwhelmed by his love. 00:43:41.119 --> 00:43:47.760 And so as we continue in worship, you can come at any time during worship forward and partake in the help of us. 00:43:48.400 --> 00:44:00.079 Jesus, thank you so much for your love and your grace, your extravagant generosity that has welcomed us into the family, that has given us new life. 00:44:01.920 --> 00:44:07.119 Thank you that though you were rich for our sake became poor. 00:44:08.079 --> 00:44:11.519 That in your poverty we might be rich. 00:44:12.639 --> 00:44:16.320 May we live in awe of who you are and what you've done. 00:44:16.559 --> 00:44:17.840 In Jesus' name. 00:44:19.840 --> 00:44:22.159 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:44:22.400 --> 00:44:27.360 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:29.840 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:44:30.079 --> 00:44:36.079 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.