WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:21.679 Well, good morning, Awakening. 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:23.839 How are we doing on this holiday weekend? 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:24.719 We good? 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:28.719 Woo! Oh, it's good to be with you. 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:30.079 Uh, my name's Ryan. 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:31.120 If you're new, welcome. 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:32.799 We're thrilled to have you join us today. 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:37.119 We're in a series called 201, the profile of a disciple. 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:44.320 If you are new uh or just checking this out, this is a great time to come as you're gonna hear uh more about who we are, what we're about. 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:49.439 Um, and we've just been wrestling with like, what does a disciple look like? 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:54.159 What does it look like for us to be a church that looks more and more like Jesus? 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:56.719 What is the profile, if you will, of a disciple? 00:00:56.799 --> 00:00:58.399 And we distilled it down to five things. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:06.560 First, we talked about uh having a compelling faith that a follower of Jesus has this compelling faith. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:15.359 It's winsome, it's attractive, uh, and we've experienced a condemning faith, but we're called, and Jesus, he was a compelling person. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:20.560 So we have compelling faith, life-giving practices, and then intentional relationships. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:25.359 The truth is the Christian life isn't just difficult to do on your own, it's impossible. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:28.159 We were made for community and designed for it. 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:31.280 So today we're talking about extravagant generosity. 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:32.480 Here's what I want to do. 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:39.359 I know it's a holiday weekend, we're all ready for some of you are three-day weekend, or you're in uh holiday mode. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:40.560 Here, would you do this for me? 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:42.640 Would you say extravagant generosity? 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:51.680 But but as if it is the most exciting thing you've ever heard of that you just like want to yell it, share it with me. 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:52.480 All right, you ready? 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:53.760 Uh extravagant generosity. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:54.719 3, 2, 1. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:01:59.040 Thank you. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:01:59.920 All right. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:01.359 Well, have a great Sunday. 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:02.560 We'll see you next week. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:16.080 Um, no, we want to talk about extravagant uh generosity, uh, and the reason is one of the hallmarks for the early church was this extravagant generosity. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:23.120 Now, the challenge for us today is we live in one of the most expensive places in the world to live, don't we? 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:25.360 Like, forget about owning a home. 00:02:25.439 --> 00:02:28.639 Let's just try renting a one-bedroom apartment around here. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:29.599 Right? 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:38.000 Inflation, my goodness, the cost of coffee is just astronomical these days, let alone gas. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:40.879 We're experiencing tech layoffs. 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:45.520 How many waves of tech layoffs, the uncertainty with the economy? 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:55.120 Now listen, in one of the most expensive places to live in the world, how do we break free from a scarcity mindset? 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:00.960 And then begin to live with extravagant generosity. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:02.240 Scarcity mindset. 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:17.520 I I don't know if I'll have enough, and so I gotta make sure to like hold on and get what's mine to an extravagant generosity where we're living in such a way that our life is a blessing to all those around us. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:27.680 Now, the first followers of Jesus, they had a view when it came to their possessions, a view when it came to their time. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:34.560 They had a very clear understanding when it came to every aspect of their life. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:36.639 They had a core conviction. 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:48.879 And we've said this core conviction as just part of our language over the last 12 years as a church, and said it's not just those first followers, but it's us today too. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:51.439 And here's what we believe, it's what they believed. 00:03:51.599 --> 00:04:01.120 We believe that the church should lead the way in unleashing extravagant generosity to a hurting and broken world. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:01.919 Why? 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:06.400 Because we have an extravagantly generous God. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:10.240 We believe that the church, and the church isn't just an institution. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:12.560 We think about like, yeah, the church should do that. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:13.360 You go get them. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:15.840 Like the church is us, it's a people. 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:19.600 Every follower of Jesus, we're a member of the church. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:26.399 It's all of us individually coming collectively, unleashing our extravagant generosity together. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:27.759 That's what it looks like. 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:36.000 And the reason why, the motivation why behind all of it, is because we have an extravagantly generous God. 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:44.319 Now, listen how the Apostle Paul said it to the church in Corinth, and the church in Corinth was struggling with this idea of generosity. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:52.480 In fact, chapter 8 and chapter 9, the Apostle Paul spends two full chapters to help them grow and develop in this. 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:55.519 And he writes this in 2 Corinthians 8, verse 7. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:05:06.879 But since you excel in everything, it's like us in the Valley, we try to excel in everything, in faith and speech, and knowledge, in complete earnestness and in love we have kindled in you. 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:10.720 See that you also excel in this grace of giving. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:17.120 Whoa! Like that's a calling for us to excel in the grace of giving. 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:18.959 And then he gives the reason why. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:33.120 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. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:48.800 The gospel at its core is the extravagant generosity of God towards you, towards me, towards all of humanity. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:06:06.000 It says, in light of an extravagantly generous God, in light of a God who held nothing back but gave himself completely, that did whatever it took to be with you, to welcome you back into the family of God, to redeem you. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:07.839 That means literally buy back. 00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:11.199 He's like, to buy you back, I will give my life. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:15.839 In light of that, church. 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:20.399 Excel in the grace of giving. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:25.120 Because that's being like your heavenly father. 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:29.680 So, how in the world do you excel in the grace of giving? 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.120 In the Silicon Valley. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:35.360 Right? 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:45.600 What does it mean to be extravagantly generous when you're just trying to afford living here? 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:51.360 What I want to do with our time first is I want to give you just a big picture. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:53.759 It's a theology of generosity. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:07:00.399 And then we're going to take some time of like, okay, if that's a theology of generosity, then what keeps us from being generous? 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:03.600 And often it's myths we believe about generosity. 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:05.279 And then how do we practice this? 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:09.199 What does it practically look like for us today? 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:12.079 Okay, so a theology of generosity. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:15.839 I want to give you just three big ideas when it comes to a theology of generosity. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:19.680 The first is simply this God owns it all. 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:21.519 God owns it all. 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:27.120 Psalm 24 says, the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:31.439 All the people who live in it, it's the Lord's. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:33.680 Like God owns it all. 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:37.279 He doesn't need your money, by the way. 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:41.519 He's not like, oh my goodness, I really need a little bit more. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:43.120 No, he owns it all. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:45.199 He created it. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:51.199 And your day and your life and my life is a gift. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:53.519 This moment is a gift. 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:57.920 Your breath is a gift. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:08:03.839 And if God owns it all, it changes our perspective on our stuff, our finances, our possessions. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:06.639 It changes it from an owner to a steward. 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:07.759 You are a steward. 00:08:07.839 --> 00:08:12.319 If it's his and it's entrusted to you, you are a steward. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:14.160 Now think about this with a steward. 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:26.399 A steward is one who has been entrusted with something for a certain amount of time and then will be accountable with how they stewarded it. 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:32.639 Every single person, we are a steward of our time. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:37.759 We are a steward of our talents. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:42.320 And we are a steward of our treasure, our resources. 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:44.000 And we are accountable. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:45.840 God says, this is all mine. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.840 I'm entrusting it to you. 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:52.879 And how are you going to handle what I have given you? 00:08:54.000 --> 00:09:00.240 The first for us understanding a theology of generosity is God owns it all. 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:02.799 The second is that God gave it all. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:04.799 He gave it all. 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:08.320 It's not a God that owns it all and then says, you know what? 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:12.080 And um I'm gonna withhold from you. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:15.120 We just talked about it, 2 Corinthians 8, right? 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:23.600 He who was rich became poor so that through his poverty you might become rich. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:25.200 That's the gospel. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:30.480 John 3 16, for God so loved the world that he gave. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:32.399 Romans 8. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:39.519 He who did not spare his own son, but graciously gave him. 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:43.759 How will he not, along with him, give us all things? 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:47.360 Like God gives it all. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:56.480 And so then the picture shifts from okay, I'm a steward, not an owner. 00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:01.279 I've been entrusted, then I'm indebted, I'm not entitled. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:02.879 I'm indebted. 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:05.279 Like every God owns it all, He gave it all. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:06.720 This is grace. 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:10.000 I'm indebted into the grace of God. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:14.159 And so my response instead of entitled, like, God, you owe me. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:17.919 Like I deserve X, Y, and Z. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:19.120 Why didn't you? 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:20.960 God, you gave it all for me. 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:27.440 I'm indebted, so I'm just living from a place of gratitude towards you and all that you've done towards me. 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:32.960 My life is simply gratitude saying thank you to the God who gave it all for me. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:35.919 God owns it all. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:37.600 God gave it all. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:42.559 Now, this third one is one, especially Americans, we struggle with. 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:46.000 God expects our all. 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:49.840 God owns it all, God gave it all. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:51.519 God expects our all. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:56.799 Jesus, when he's explaining what it means to be a disciple, he said this. 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:01.679 If anyone come after me, they must what? 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:06.799 Deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:14.080 For the person who wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will save it. 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:26.000 It's the upside-down paradox of the gospel of kingdom living that as long as you keep trying to live for yourself, as long as you keep trying to give for yourself, you're gonna miss out on life itself. 00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:35.120 But the minute you give it all and entrust it all to him, all of a sudden life starts knocking at your door and springing up in your life. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.919 God actually expects our all. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:55.919 The apostle Paul, think about this when he's talking about um sexuality back into the church in Corinth, and he says, You are not your own. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:02.960 You are bought with a price, therefore honor God with your bodies. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:11.919 So the perspective is everything versus some things, and we land in the world of our discipleship of some things. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:13.519 God, you know what? 00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:14.960 I'll give you that time on Sunday. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:17.200 God, I'll give you some of this time over here. 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:21.200 Uh, you know, it's been a busy week, so but I I know I should pray. 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:22.799 I'll give you some of these sort of things. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:27.279 But I but when it comes to my sexuality, God, I want to hold on to that. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:33.519 When it comes to my future, uh I want to hold on to that. 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:39.759 When it comes to my finances, I want to hold on to that. 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:45.840 And a theology of generosity, when we understand, is God already owns everything. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.720 He doesn't need it. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:49.759 You fundamentally and I fundamentally, we're a steward. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:50.720 He gave it all. 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:59.519 We are indebted by the grace of God, and as a result, we simply bring it back to him and say, How do you want me to use what you've entrusted to me? 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:00.639 And thank you. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:02.240 Thank you for salvation. 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:05.120 That's a theology of generosity. 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:12.159 And the chances, chances are most of us, or many of us, we we're familiar with some of this. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:16.080 And yet we struggle, don't we, with generosity. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:20.720 Even some of the most mature people still struggle with generosity. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:25.200 America, as wealthy as we are, we struggle with generosity. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:32.879 You know, on average in America, uh, the average American gives just about 2% of their wealth to charity annually. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:40.000 The average Christian in America gives 2.5% of their wealth away. 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:48.000 Like we said, we believe the church should unleash extravagant generosity, but we're not even that much different than everybody else. 00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:50.080 And did you know this? 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:59.039 During the Great Depression, the average American gave 3.3% of their wealth away. 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:06.480 We're less generous than those who were going in through the Great Depression. 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.279 Why do we struggle with this? 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:13.679 I think it's because we buy into really five big myths. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:16.480 Five big myths when it comes to generosity. 00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:20.399 The first one is I need to be wealthy, to be generous. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:23.600 And none of us feels wealthy, do we? 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.960 Who's wealthy? 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:27.519 Always the person ahead of you. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:28.159 Right? 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:35.679 I mean, if we took wealth in the grand scheme of the um world, every single person is wealthy. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:43.840 But then we start to compare, I'm like, well, you know, I can't own a home, or I don't have that nice of a home, or I can't drive X, or I can't wear this. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:49.200 But we believe I need to be wealthy in order to be generous. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:52.320 Jesus made this incredible observation. 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:59.120 He sits down at the temple across from where they would do the tithes and offering. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:14:59.919 Now think about this. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:06.799 We don't do it like this, but uh there was these big horns, like um, think of like a yeah, a horn. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:09.120 Uh and it was made out of brass. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:23.759 And so you would drop your ties into there, and you'd have gold coins, and you just think about how loud that would sound and reverberate around you know the temple, and you'd have these wealthy people bring in their bags and they would drop it and make this ruckus right. 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:26.240 And he's sitting watching this. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:29.519 And this widow shows up. 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:33.759 She comes and she has two copper coins. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:38.559 She throws those in there, it doesn't even make a noise. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:39.600 Nobody noticed. 00:15:39.759 --> 00:15:40.720 She was passed by. 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:47.600 And Jesus calls over his disciples and says, Do you see that woman there? 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:56.879 They're like, What do you mean? 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:03.200 She gave out of her poverty, they gave out of their excess. 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:10.879 They gave as a sign to make everybody else think how generous they are, but it cost them nothing. 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:21.840 There was no sacrifice, it didn't hurt, they didn't think about it, they didn't blink about it, but she gave and it cost her so much. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:28.960 And the truth is, is generosity, it's it's not about the size, but the sacrifice. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:38.960 In fact, there's college students, you are some of the most generous people because you're giving significantly. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:42.240 And you're like, it's only it's only a few dollars. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:45.679 But it makes up so much of a sacrifice. 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:56.399 And there's those that honestly, by the way, if you make$75,000 or more annually, you tend to be less generous than those who make less. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:04.240 Statistically, and this builds into the second myth. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:06.799 Oh, wait, let me just at least read the verse for you. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.160 Another one here. 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.440 The Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:17.599 He says, And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know about the grace that God has given to the Macedonian churches. 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.720 They're very poor. 00:17:18.960 --> 00:17:26.000 In the midst of their severe trial, their overflowing joy, and their extreme poverty, welled up in rich generosity. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:30.640 I testify they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:33.519 You don't need to be wealthy to be generous. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:37.839 I'll be generous, though, myth number two, when I have more. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:42.000 I don't have a lot. 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:45.119 When I get more, then I'll give more. 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:50.240 Unfortunately, statistically, that is not true. 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:59.119 What happens is the more you get, statistically, is people become less generous, not more generous. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:03.759 My buddy, he's a financial planner, and he was confirming the stat. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:13.599 He said, Yeah, I work with all these individuals and the people of modest income that are on a fixed budget, they're far more generous. 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:17.519 In fact, the people who are uber wealthy, they're not generous at all. 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:21.440 Because it doesn't make enough tax sense for them to be generous. 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:23.759 Because what do I get out of it? 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:27.519 I'll be more generous when I have more. 00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:34.319 And the reality is, is if we're not generous with a little, we'll never be generous with a lot. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:38.079 Jesus would say it this way, Luke 16, 10. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:41.920 Whoever can be trusted with very little will also be trusted with much. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:46.480 And whoever's dishonest or unfaithful, that's that stewardship term, by the way. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:47.839 This is a stewardship term. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:50.960 You're unfaithful, and we hear dishonest like deceitful. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:55.200 No, this is like you just haven't been a good steward of what was trusted with you. 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:59.119 Whoever's dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:06.400 So if you've not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.319 It's the principle of the little. 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:18.160 Jesus says it like the little thing in your life feels like the big thing for most of you. 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:21.920 The little thing in the kingdom of God is your finances. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:23.359 God's like, I own it all. 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.960 It's not a big deal for me. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.799 And I can provide it all. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:28.240 We'll get there in a second. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:32.480 But he says, those are little things. 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:38.400 I want to be able to entrust you with true riches, spiritual impact, life change. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:43.119 But you can't even trust me for the little stuff. 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.799 Generosity. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.880 When I get more, then I'll give more. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:49.440 The reality is it starts now. 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:53.039 Third myth is generosity is only about money. 00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:56.000 We know it's not. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:20:00.400 It's about your time, it's your attention, your words, acts of kindness. 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:12.240 And yet, here's something that financially giving acts like a catalyst in our lives for every area, other area of generosity. 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:16.000 Another myth, generosity requires grand gestures. 00:20:16.640 --> 00:20:23.200 Like it's not really extravagantly generous if unless I'm like helping to build an orphanage. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:28.640 Have my name on that wing of the hospital. 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:31.759 Like those are the extravagantly generous. 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:38.400 And Jesus, in teaching his disciples, he'd say, Don't let your left hand know what your right hand's doing. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:44.319 Like, give in a way that isn't like grandiose. 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:52.400 And so much of extravagant generosity is the way of life in which we live as stewards. 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:59.359 Living out this gratitude life for all that He's given, indebted, and got everything I have. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.359 And so you just point me in the right direction. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:07.759 It happens in the little, and generosity happens in the consistent, the habitual. 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:17.119 The fourth fifth and final myth that we buy into, and I think it's probably one of the biggest ones for us, is generosity will leave me with less. 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:19.680 Why do we struggle to be generous? 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:24.079 Because we we believe that it will just leave us with less, don't we? 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:31.039 Like if I give money to you, that's less money. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:32.960 So I have a couple bucks in my pocket. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:34.720 I normally don't have cash. 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:38.319 But I had a fantasy football draft this week. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:41.839 So I have some$10 bills. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.200 I have four of them. 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:45.279 Jeez, rolling. 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.720 Right? 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:49.200 But if I give you, here you can. 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.880 How many dollar bills do I have? 00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:56.799 Three. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.759 So the math adds up, Ryan. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.559 If I'm generous, it leaves me with I only have three. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:04.240 And then if I give you one. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.359 I'm fine, I'll give you one too. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:12.960 I just don't care. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.079 No, I'm left with one. 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:29.119 Frankly, that's just barely a coffee and other things nowadays, right? 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:32.240 Isn't that why we struggle with generosity? 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:36.880 Is if I give it, then what am I left with? 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:41.200 I'm gonna be left with less. 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:44.480 And it's the scarcity mindset, like, you know what? 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:46.880 I'm not sure if we're gonna be able to make it. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:49.519 And if I really give it, what's gonna happen? 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:53.920 Jesus said, and we know this, it's more blessed to give than receive. 00:22:54.079 --> 00:23:00.960 Like something happens when you give, and when he gives it away, that activates a blessing of God. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:08.319 And we got to be careful because there's the health, wealth people that say every time you bless, sow a seed, and God's gonna give you abundantly back a ton of money. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:10.240 That's not how it works. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:13.839 But he does bless you and he does move. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:18.000 Notice what the apostle Paul said in Corinthians again. 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:22.480 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:25.839 Whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:31.279 That when we give, it's not losing its sowing, it's investing. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:37.519 It's actually producing something beyond the initial giving of that. 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:40.799 And then he says, here's how we should give. 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:44.000 Each of you should give what you've decided in your heart. 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:46.880 So there's there's thought and there's consideration. 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.640 It's not an impulse. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:51.440 Not reluctantly or under compulsion. 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:59.519 It shouldn't be like, well, I kind of don't really want to do it, I didn't really want to give you the$10, but I feel like it's not that. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:04.400 And it's not like this whole idea of feeling manipulated. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:11.680 This is the reason there will be a special offering at the no, there won't be a special offering at the end of this sermon. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:14.240 Because that would feel manipulative, right? 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:18.400 You're like, oh no, there's no like feeling this manipulative. 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:21.680 And then he says this God loves. 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:24.480 You want to know what one of the things that God loves? 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:26.799 Like, what does God love? 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:29.519 Well, he loves a cheerful giver. 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:32.640 He loves a like, gosh, you know what? 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:36.799 I have four of these, and here's the ten, and here's one, here's one. 00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:40.799 Like, that's not and I gotta be a part of someone's life, I gotta help someone. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:43.920 I the word cheerful is literally hilarious. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:51.119 I was a part of a church for years that every time they took the offering, the church cheered. 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:57.200 Literally, for years, they don't do it anymore, but for every time it said it's time for the offering. 00:24:57.359 --> 00:25:00.079 And if you're new, they're like, this is weird, what's going on? 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:04.640 But it came from this verse of like, God loves a cheerful giver, and we just want to be cheerful. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:07.440 Like, thank God that we get to be a part of this. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:12.880 You own it all, you gave it all, and I'm bringing my all to you, and I can't believe I get to be a part of it. 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:14.880 So let's just try, let's just cheer just for now. 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:31.279 We won't, I don't think we'll probably incorporate this all the way, but but let me just say it's time for the offering, and let's just cheer, like you know, like Taylor Swift just stepped onto the stage, or I mean, okay, like Cold Play just dropped a new album, and I'm pretty big fans of them. 00:25:31.680 --> 00:25:36.319 So, like uh, anyways, I didn't know that was gonna go so wrong. 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:42.480 Um let me just say time for the offering, and let's cheer. 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:44.000 It's time for the offering. 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:52.799 Like, what would change in our heart if we said, man, this is something that I get to be a part of? 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.680 What a privilege. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:56.319 I get to be involved in what God's doing. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.599 He invites me in. 00:25:57.759 --> 00:26:04.480 I'm a steward, indebted, entrusted, and everything I have is his, and whatever you want me to use it, I'll use it. 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:05.839 Then notice what he says. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:15.440 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good. 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:22.799 So, even as you give, I'm gonna fill up your tank, I'm gonna fill up your cup, I'm gonna take care of your needs. 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:30.400 One of the things that I learned early on, we learned, my wife and I learned early on, was that you can't outgive God. 00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:35.759 How can you actually trust that He has your very best? 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:42.480 Um story I've told many times, but uh it's where we first learned this. 00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:45.359 And it's fun recently it came full circle. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:27:02.400 17 years ago, uh we're moving from Georgia back to the Bay Area, San Jose, and we were excited, but we my job no longer had a job, and so I I was um didn't have income. 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:20.160 I was away with uh high school students on a mission to Mexico trip, and uh we were gonna sell one of our cars to be able to provide for moving costs and pay for you know all the the cost of our house and whatnot. 00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:26.640 And our income just was steadily going down, not income, but our bank account was steadily going down. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:32.640 And so I asked one of um the parents in our youth group, his neighbor, they had four teenage kids. 00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:37.680 He said, Would you help me sell this car while we're you know while I'm away on the missions trip? 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:39.599 And his kids were on the trip with me. 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:45.519 And he said, Absolutely, and he was trying, working it, and my hope was to sell this car for$5,000. 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:55.279 And and during that time in Mexico, I just sensed like God was asking me, hey Ryan, I think you should give that car. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:58.079 I want you to give that car to that family. 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:07.359 Okay, but if I give that car, that was how I was planning to pay for our move and cost. 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:11.519 I have two, I mean, two little ones, a baby and a toddler. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:13.039 How are we gonna do this? 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:16.960 And I talked to Jenny, I said, This is what a sense in, and she said, Absolutely, I think we should. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:19.200 And I I told uh his name's Dell. 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:23.200 I said, Dale, I you know, I feel like God told me to give you this car. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.640 And it's like, oh, I could never do that. 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:26.160 I said, No, you gotta take that up with God. 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.200 It's not me, honestly. 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:28.480 I I argued. 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:36.720 Um we gave him that car, and a couple weeks later, the bank account is almost on zero. 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:40.960 Don't know, like, literally, don't know what's gonna happen, how we're gonna do it. 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:50.240 And I get a knock on the door, and there's a courier, and he drops off uh a letter, and we open up this letter, and it's a guy I met once. 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:53.920 And he said this in the letter, I still remember, it's a short letter. 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:57.119 Hey, heard you're moving, sad to see you go. 00:28:57.359 --> 00:29:03.519 Thought you could use some money, uh, moving around money, and in it was a check for$5,000. 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:17.839 Like, like I could tell you story after story of how God's shown up and provided both financially and personally and relationally, and people who just begin to go, you know what? 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:21.759 This is all God's, and when I give, I actually don't end up with less. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:28.480 But often we don't ever get to be a part of the story because we never trust Him to the point where we need God to show up. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:33.599 It was really powerful and special two years ago. 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:44.240 Um had a couple in our church, and I've known them for a long time, a young couple, and they uh said, Hey, we need to meet. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:48.240 It was around Christmas time, and it's like, oh, this is not good. 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:49.599 They're eating well, it's either great. 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:51.200 It's either they're having a baby or they're moving. 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:51.920 It's one of two things. 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:53.039 This one always is what I think. 00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:55.359 I'm like, you're like, oh, we really need it's important. 00:29:55.440 --> 00:30:00.480 I'm like, okay, maybe you're having a baby or you're moving, and I gotta grieve all over again. 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:09.119 And this couple shows up to our door and they're like, you know, I got a new car. 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:13.359 And I was really praying about what are we to do with the old car? 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:24.880 And he's like, You're I've brought your home, your boys home after basketball, they love the car, and you know, we had three drivers at the time, now we have four drivers. 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:30.640 He's like, I just felt like God wanted us to give you our car. 00:30:31.119 --> 00:30:36.640 And now I was on the receiving end of that, and something that we couldn't afford. 00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:41.359 And to have a third car, which is such a gift and such a blessing. 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:43.599 Generosity. 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:47.440 The lie the enemy wants is it will leave us with less. 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:52.400 And the reality is, is we cannot outgive God. 00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:55.519 So, how do we practice generosity? 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:57.759 Let me give you some practical application here. 00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:15.279 Generosity is not an event, it's not a one-time event that we do, it is a habit, it's a lifestyle, it's a muscle that you strengthen, it's a skill that we develop. 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:21.200 Generosity then is developed in the practice of the tithe. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:24.559 The tithe is an Old Testament concept. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.200 What is it? 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:27.680 It literally means a tenth. 00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:37.119 Leviticus 27, 30 says, a tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord. 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:39.440 It is holy to the Lord. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:49.279 As a church, when we started 12 years ago, we said we're gonna give at least 10% outside the walls of our church annually. 00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:50.960 We've done that every single year. 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:57.200 This year we gave 12%, a little over a quarter of a million dollars, outside the walls of our church. 00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:01.359 So we do ministry within the walls and we do ministry outside of those things. 00:32:01.519 --> 00:32:06.319 We'll never ask people to do something we are not doing. 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:15.039 And you go, well, the Old Testament, it it really talked about a tithe attempt, and it's actually a good benchmark to begin with generosity. 00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:19.039 And the New Testament moves from that percentage to proportional giving. 00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:21.359 Irenaeus, the church father, said this. 00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:24.319 The Jews were constrained to a regular payment of tithes. 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:33.519 Christians who have liberty assigned all their possessions to the Lord, bestowing freely, not the lesser portions, of all their property, since they have the hope of greater things. 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:35.680 God, since you gave it all, it's all yours. 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:39.119 You just show me how you want to use it. 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:41.599 Well, why do we tithe? 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:43.119 This is important. 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:47.599 Tithing trains our heart to trust God. 00:32:48.640 --> 00:33:06.240 Like we need something that constantly breaks the tyranny of consumerism, the ongoing demand and the tide of greed that pulls us in the currents of our culture. 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:10.240 We need something that fights against that. 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:17.680 Tithing trains our heart, it puts us in position. 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:23.680 It's that like someone going to the gym to work out that we're just going to trust him. 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:36.480 Jesus would say, Don't store up for yourself treasures on earth where moth and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourself treasures in heaven where moth and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:40.079 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:46.319 Jesus spoke more than any other subject about money and wealth. 00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:50.079 15% of all of his teaching was around this subject. 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:53.839 He spoke more about it than heaven and hell combined. 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:55.359 Why? 00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:59.599 Because he understood something about you and me. 00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:03.920 That wherever our treasure goes, our heart follows. 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:09.519 That, like our bank account, is one of the most spiritual documents we have. 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:20.239 And until we learn to trust him with our stuff, our possessions, our finances, he doesn't have your heart. 00:34:20.960 --> 00:34:23.519 You say it this way: no one can serve two masters. 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:28.639 Either you will hate one or love the other, or you'll be devoted to one and despise the other. 00:34:28.719 --> 00:34:30.960 You cannot serve both God and money. 00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:37.679 Tithing reminds us that we are stewards and releases us from the grip of greed and consumerism. 00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:38.880 What is the tithe? 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:40.000 It's literally a tenth. 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.800 Why do we do it? 00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:42.719 It trains our heart to trust God. 00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:43.840 How are we to tithe? 00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:46.559 We are to give to God first, not last. 00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:51.599 Proverbs 3.9 says, honor the Lord with the first fruits of all your crop. 00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:55.519 Then your barns will be filled to overflow and your vats will brim over with new wine. 00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:57.840 First fruits, honor God first. 00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:02.320 It does not take faith to give to God last or what's left over. 00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:04.400 Give to him first. 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:06.559 And often that's how we do it. 00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:07.199 I get it. 00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:14.239 You're like, well, I'm gonna live and I've got to pay these sort of things, and I gotta, at the end of the month, if there's any left over, then I'll maybe give to God. 00:35:14.719 --> 00:35:19.519 Unfortunately, the average American lives on about 110% of their income. 00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:22.079 There's not anything left over. 00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:25.039 Here's how we do it. 00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:31.440 I get paid twice a month, and I have it on the automatic withdrawal. 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:34.400 Right on that payday, I just take 10%. 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:41.119 Now we give to other places, but we give 10% to our church first, and then we give to other places above and beyond that. 00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:44.239 And just have it on an automatic withdrawal. 00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:48.880 So that the very first thing that happens is that goes straight out. 00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:52.559 It's not even a question, it's not a thought, we're not even deliberating about it. 00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:54.239 My wife's a real estate agent. 00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:59.199 She doesn't get paid on a consistent basis, she gets paid when a house closes. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:09.199 The very first thing she does, she sits down and writes down on a check 10% of whatever that payment was. 00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:10.719 Why? 00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:12.880 Tithing trains our heart to trust God. 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:17.920 It builds that muscle on where to give to God first and not last. 00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:23.199 And so the reality is for many of us, this is scary. 00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:25.679 This is hard. 00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:31.119 It's like I'm not sure how to do that. 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:40.079 And what I'm so grateful for is that God actually asks us to test him, to find him trustworthy. 00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:43.280 It's the only place in scripture God invites us to test him. 00:36:43.679 --> 00:36:48.320 Malachi 3.10, bring the whole tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:56.719 Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will be not room enough to store it. 00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:58.719 Jesus says, give and it'll be given to you. 00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:05.199 Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured in your lap, for the measure you use, it'll be measured to you. 00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:11.360 God wants you to take him up on this, to find that he is the source of life. 00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:17.280 He is the source of security, the source of your future, instead of putting it into your stuff. 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:19.840 And he says, test me on this. 00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:25.280 And as you test me, I'll show myself trustworthy. 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:29.840 And your notes, you have a little commitment. 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:32.639 No one's gonna see this. 00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:35.199 This is just between you and God. 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:37.599 But where are you at? 00:37:37.760 --> 00:37:39.920 What's your step that you need to take? 00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:48.400 And it says I, and then you fill in your name, Ryan Ingram, choose to take God up on his invitation to trust him to meet all my needs. 00:37:48.639 --> 00:37:50.800 God, will you really meet all my needs? 00:37:51.519 --> 00:38:02.880 I take the step by committing the first, and the reality is I left that blank because I think some of us 10% just is not realistic at this stage. 00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:06.639 Where you go, you know what, I'm gonna the first 4%. 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:08.880 First six percent. 00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:12.559 Maybe you are like at six or seven percent, up first ten percent. 00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:17.920 In fact, I know of a couple people, as they've gone on in life, here's amazing. 00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:20.079 They've decided to reverse tithe. 00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:31.360 And they started in their 20s and just added a percentage each year, and they've been able to make some jumps, and now they live off of 10% and they give 90% of what they make away. 00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:39.280 And they love it, and they love being a part of it, and like the they're the most joy-filled people on the planet. 00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:41.199 What's your percent? 00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:44.079 Would you take that step? 00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:51.519 And if there's anything in you where, like, oh man, I don't know if I trust Ryan, give somewhere else. 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:59.599 I think awakening is one of the greatest places to leverage and steward what God's doing and invest. 00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:08.960 But if there's any sense in there, give somewhere else for your heart's sake, for what God wants to do in you. 00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:10.559 I want to invite up my friend Andre. 00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:11.599 He's one of my dearest. 00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:15.920 Andre and Judy are some of our dearest friends, some of our favorite people on the planet. 00:39:16.079 --> 00:39:25.199 And I just want to share his story because we've been friends for a decade or so now and done a lot of life together, and I've gotten to hear his story. 00:39:25.440 --> 00:39:27.039 There you go, you gotta turn that on. 00:39:27.280 --> 00:39:28.079 Perfect. 00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:33.039 And I just wanted, you know, it's one thing to hear from a pastor, and like, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:39:33.199 --> 00:39:39.280 Uh, what's your story and journey of generosity, and how has that shifted and changed over the years? 00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:42.639 And yeah, I mean, all the stuff that you've wrestled with. 00:39:42.960 --> 00:39:48.639 Yeah, um, well, first of all, let me just say uh um I'm a I'm a warrior. 00:39:48.719 --> 00:39:50.000 Um, I worry. 00:39:50.159 --> 00:39:58.480 I um I think my default is probably a sense, uh, a mindset of uh is there gonna be enough uh for the future? 00:39:58.559 --> 00:40:06.000 You know, uh when when we got married, we had a young family, um, and and and to this very day I still I still I still worry with that. 00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:09.840 Um, you know, Ryan was saying over here, being a cheerful giver. 00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:11.840 Um I'm gonna be totally totally honest. 00:40:11.920 --> 00:40:21.119 Um a lot of the time I'm giving it is it is not with cheer, it is it is with uh a sense of uh you know um of worry, like am I gonna have enough after doing this? 00:40:21.199 --> 00:40:25.199 After you go with those$10 bills, my anxiety levels are were rising over there. 00:40:25.280 --> 00:40:26.639 It just uh creates it. 00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:42.880 But um I I will say this, I'm maybe not always a cheerful giver when I give, but I I have learned that I'm always gonna be a cheerful giver later, um, after that, when I when I just see the benefit and I see how how trustworthy God is. 00:40:43.039 --> 00:40:55.760 So now my mindset is yeah, this is gonna be a little painful now, but experience has taught me that I'm gonna become a cheerful giver because of this particular giving act down the road. 00:40:56.000 --> 00:41:10.960 Uh the you know, my um God gave me a great gift in my wife, who is just generous and a giver, and was really uh influenced me and encouraged us as a unit uh to give. 00:41:11.039 --> 00:41:21.280 And there may be maybe couples over here today who you you know you you might wrestle with that in your relationship where one of you wants to give everything away and the other one's a worrier about the future and financial planning. 00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:31.440 Um but I I would say to those couples, um, you know, be led by the generous one, because uh my my my story is that that's just been such a blessing to me. 00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:40.719 And you know, we've since when we got married, we we started giving at a church, and I'll be totally honest again, we weren't giving 10%, but we started giving a little bit. 00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:48.480 And um over time, I I just learned uh what Ryan pointed out on over there, which is trust, the T. 00:41:48.960 --> 00:41:58.400 Um we just learned that as as we as we gave more, uh we could we could trust God that we would have enough for whatever we needed. 00:41:58.559 --> 00:42:04.639 Um and uh you know my testimony also is that God was just uh you know faithful in actually giving us more. 00:42:04.800 --> 00:42:09.840 The more we gave, you mentioned you can't outgive God, the more the more we gave, the more we had to give. 00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:17.840 And so it was just this really positive, uh, you know, just just uh a feedback loop that we we we experienced uh you know over the years. 00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:18.079 Yeah. 00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:19.039 No, thank you. 00:42:19.199 --> 00:42:22.880 What was maybe a shift for you in generosity? 00:42:23.519 --> 00:42:28.159 You know, how did your perspective you started giving, how did that evolve and change for you? 00:42:28.480 --> 00:42:44.159 Yeah, as I say, I think initially it maybe started out of as a duty, um, but I I I think uh just the act of giving itself actually brought home to me that uh you mentioned stewardship, but this stuff is really not ours. 00:42:44.239 --> 00:42:53.280 It's uh when I when I think of generosity, I almost think of an open hand that is holding things very lightly and that actually gives away things uh you know freely. 00:42:53.360 --> 00:43:00.800 And I think the it's it's interesting, the act of giving actually in and of itself evolved my my mindset. 00:43:00.880 --> 00:43:05.760 Um it built trust and uh I just got to experience the joy in in giving, yeah. 00:43:06.239 --> 00:43:07.039 That's amazing. 00:43:07.199 --> 00:43:12.400 And then just like we're we're all we're all human, we're all struggling in the same boat. 00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:19.599 Uh someone that wants to take that step of like, you know what, I don't know what percentage or something, but I want to begin to do that. 00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:21.440 What advice would you give to somebody? 00:43:21.599 --> 00:43:30.400 Just yeah, uh I would say um number one, uh I I strongly believe in giving to the local church. 00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:41.199 Um and over there, wait, I'd basically go back to the T's, uh, you know, which might be um you know, test, uh tithe, and trust. 00:43:41.360 --> 00:43:48.320 And I think those things will so what I'd encourage anyone to do uh is really you know the the pledge that you've got over here, test it. 00:43:48.559 --> 00:43:57.920 Uh you know, begin to begin to give, and um you will you will see that your trust will uh you know grow as a result of that. 00:43:58.480 --> 00:44:05.119 And you know, we that's talking about giving to the church, but also just think a generous mindset more generally. 00:44:05.199 --> 00:44:07.840 Uh be open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. 00:44:08.000 --> 00:44:11.199 My my wife again hears a lot more from the Holy Spirit than I do. 00:44:11.360 --> 00:44:14.800 Um, but you know, when you hear that prompting, react to it. 00:44:14.880 --> 00:44:27.199 Uh we were we were in New York two weeks ago and we were in a coffee shop and we walked out and my my wife just said, I I just you know feel prompted that we should give all the baristers over there, you know, a certain amount. 00:44:27.360 --> 00:44:30.159 Uh, you know, I can't remember what it was,$50,$100. 00:44:30.639 --> 00:44:32.960 And I was like, what why no? 00:44:33.039 --> 00:44:34.079 That's crazy. 00:44:34.400 --> 00:44:39.360 Um and and uh but then you know I thought about it and we left, and then I was like, no, no, let's go back. 00:44:39.440 --> 00:44:41.119 She's normally right, and we did it. 00:44:41.280 --> 00:44:50.480 And on our trip in New York, I think that money that we spent at that coffee shop doing that was probably the spend that I derived the most joy and happiness from. 00:44:50.639 --> 00:44:53.360 They were so excited, we got an email afterwards thanking us. 00:44:53.519 --> 00:44:55.599 It is it is just a wonderful thing to do. 00:44:55.679 --> 00:45:08.159 So I'd say another thing, you know, in in addition to just taking steps and testing and trusting is also just to be open to prompts from the Holy Spirit and listen to that. 00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:09.039 Oh, amazing. 00:45:09.199 --> 00:45:09.920 Thank you, Andre. 00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:11.199 Can we thank Andre so much? 00:45:11.519 --> 00:45:12.639 Appreciate that. 00:45:14.480 --> 00:45:19.280 I'm gonna invite the band on up and just I want you to take a moment. 00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:22.480 Where has God been speaking to you? 00:45:22.880 --> 00:45:26.000 And what specifically does He want you to do with that? 00:45:26.559 --> 00:45:27.519 What trust? 00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:29.679 Clean it. 00:45:30.880 --> 00:45:32.320 I'm gonna invite these guys. 00:45:33.360 --> 00:45:36.079 Why don't you stand on up and let me pray for you? 00:45:41.599 --> 00:45:44.639 Jesus, we were reminded that you already own it all. 00:45:47.599 --> 00:45:51.599 We're grateful that we come to an extravagantly generous God. 00:45:52.800 --> 00:46:03.360 And would you help us respond and act more and more as your kids, trusting you have us every step of the way. 00:46:04.639 --> 00:46:06.880 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:46:07.039 --> 00:46:11.519 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:46:11.679 --> 00:46:13.760 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:46:13.920 --> 00:46:19.840 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.