Life Reimagined - Financing the Mission (Lite)
Copyright - South Bay Community Church
Sermon Preamble:
Pastor Tammy, basking in the refrain from the song “You Deserve It”, asked us to think back over our lives and recall a time when our backs were against the wall, and God met us at the point of our deepest need. She then asked, “How can this song translate into our lives?” and implored us to embrace our role as stewards in light of our response and give our lives fully back to God. Indeed, God deserves it. Pastor Tammy then restated the definition of stewardship along with a brief recap of previous messages in this series and emphasized the foundation of God’s promises and our being in mission with God. For the rest of this series will take a closer look at some of the resources which God has provided for us to accomplish God’s mission through us. She noted that today’s topic would be a touchy one. Everyone has a money story that has shaped our relationship with money, and they are nuanced and underpinned by our experience, culture, upbringing, societal pressures, and much more. She noted that this is nothing new, for even in Jesus’ time this was true.
Stewardship Defined
Trusting in the Promises of God, to deploy the Resources of God, to accomplish the Mission of God, for the Glory of God
We must place an emphasis on the importance of trusting in the promises
We must remember that we are in partnership with God in His mission; therefore, we must live it and do so no matter our age
Jesus and Money, Luke 12:13-16
Jesus, in His response to the ask in Luke 12:13, declared the life was more than money (riches)
While not addressing the question head-on, Jesus did not miss the opportunity to use this as a teachable moment, and Jesus’ response left His hearers then and now (us) with several questions
Was/is He talking to me?
Am I greedy?
What would our response be to Jesus’ discourse here? Do I have ears to hear (can I discern) what He was saying and make the proper application?
A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth and not be rich towards God
Jesus hit them with a Plot Twist, Luke 12:16-19
Read Luke 12:16-19 aloud
The ear-tickling story of a lottery winner or perhaps, prosperity, “a name it and claim it” story which leads us to another set of questions
How many of us today are trusting in “our plenty”?
How many of us are not truly preparing for “our future” (not talking about 401k’s here)?
Where is God in our future planning?
“My and I” are poor elements of a “future story.” Our future goals should be based on our having a rich relationship with God.
What tension are you experiencing with the need for “more”
Jesus looks at money; differently. He invites us to think bigger and remember that tomorrow is not promised. He allows us to see life reimagined.
Jesus Cuts to the Chase Luke 12:22-30
Luke tells this story from the one most of us are familiar with in Matthew from the Sermon on the Mount
Are we living like “In money, we trust” or are we living “In God we trust”?
Jesus was telling them, and He is telling us, “Don’t worry,” and don’t hyper-focus on money
Worry spans a multitude of topics from tuition for our children to planning for retirement, our health, inflation, our financial realities, and the list goes on. Yet, Jesus’ response remains the same, Don’t Worry!
There is a difference between worry and concern, worry is a form of self-torment or “what if” thinking, whereas concern is a calculated consideration (Worry is worshipping the problem)
Luke 12:31-32
The anecdote to worry… Seek first the kingdom of God, and all of the things we NEED will be provided; we are to live differently nonbelievers
Do not fear little flock, trade worry for trust & faith; if Jireh (God) watches over a raven (a spiritually unclean bird) you know God (Jireh) has us
Build faith muscles. God is our sustainer. He provides for us in a myriad of ways.
Luke 12:31-34
Seek Him first and trust His promises
Invest to fund the mission of God for money is a tool; It might not seem like much but, our little in God’s hand equals much.
Luke 6:38; Malachi 3:10
Take our focus off of ourselves and focus on the mission of God
Not a return on investment mindset, but the opportunity to see more of God’s character, God’s generous nature, God’s abundant faithfulness
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
ADULT
Head
What is your money story? How has it shaped your response to money and its role in your life? Have you considered the generational impact of your money story?
Jesus warned the crowd to be on guard against all greed. What is greed? According to 1 Timothy 6:9-10, what is so dangerous about greed?
How might your life be reimagined if you lived on one percent less and trusted God to provide?
When it comes to your future, are you trusting in “your plenty”? Are you truly preparing for “your future” (not talking about 401k’s here)? Where is God in your future planning?
What must we believe about God, heaven, and possessions in order to be “rich toward God” instead of storing up treasure for ourselves in this life?
What are the top 3-5 things you tend to worry/be anxious about and why?
How is God faithfully providing for you today? How has He been faithful to provide in the past?
What is the difference between being tempted to worry, and actually falling into the sin of worry?
Heart
How will you know if your plans are for God’s glory or your own? How will you respond if God reveals that you have plans for selfish gain?
In what ways can worry blind us to the needs of others, the character of God, and the very act of worrying itself?
How does identifying what we worry about help us to understand what our heart is fixed on?
What do you have to look forward to as a citizen of the kingdom of God?
Pay close attention to Luke 12:34 and notice: which comes first and leads the other - the heart, or the treasure? How does this differ from conventional wisdom? What does this teach you about what to do if you want your heart to be more fixed on the kingdom of God?
Hands
Meditate on how God finds pleasure in giving us God’s Kingdom. How does this motivate you to loosen your grip on the things of this world? Create an action plan to live on 1 or more percent less and where you will invest it in the Kingdom of God. Then do it!
YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT
Head
What is your money story? How has it shaped your response to money and its role in your life? Have you considered the generational impact of your money story?
Jesus warned the crowd to be on guard against all greed. What is greed? According to 1 Timothy 6:9-10, what is so dangerous about greed?
How might your life be reimagined if you lived on one percent less and trusted God to provide?
When it comes to your future, are you trusting in “your plenty”? Are you truly preparing for “your future” (not talking about 401k’s here)? Where is God in your future planning?
What must we believe about God, heaven, and possessions in order to be “rich toward God” instead of storing up treasure for ourselves in this life?
What are the top 3-5 things you tend to worry/be anxious about and why?
How is God faithfully providing for you today? How has He been faithful to provide in the past?
What is the difference between being tempted to worry, and actually falling into the sin of worry?
Heart
How will you know if your plans are for God’s glory or your own? How will you respond if God reveals that you have plans for selfish gain?
In what ways can worry blind us to the needs of others, the character of God, and the very act of worrying itself?
How does identifying what we worry about help us to understand what our heart is fixed on?
What do you have to look forward to as a citizen of the kingdom of God?
Pay close attention to Luke 12:34 and notice: which comes first and leads the other - the heart, or the treasure? How does this differ from conventional wisdom? What does this teach you about what to do if you want your heart to be more fixed on the kingdom of God?
Hands
Meditate on how God finds pleasure in giving us God’s Kingdom. How does this motivate you to loosen your grip on the things of this world? Create an action plan to live on 1 or more percent less and where you will invest it in the Kingdom of God. Then do it!
CHILDREN
Head
Parents, discuss the critical points of this sermon with your children in an age-appropriate manner as a means of training them up.
Heart
Share with your child your money story and be honest with them if it differs from the story you want for them.
Hands
As a family, create an action plan to live on one (or more) percent less and where you will invest in the kingdom of God. Then do it!
Sermon Preamble:
Pastor Tammy, basking in the refrain from the song “You Deserve It”, asked us to think back over our lives and recall a time when our backs were against the wall, and God met us at the point of our deepest need. She then asked, “How can this song translate into our lives?” and implored us to embrace our role as stewards in light of our response and give our lives fully back to God. Indeed, God deserves it. Pastor Tammy then restated the definition of stewardship along with a brief recap of previous messages in this series and emphasized the foundation of God’s promises and our being in mission with God. For the rest of this series will take a closer look at some of the resources which God has provided for us to accomplish God’s mission through us. She noted that today’s topic would be a touchy one. Everyone has a money story that has shaped our relationship with money, and they are nuanced and underpinned by our experience, culture, upbringing, societal pressures, and much more. She noted that this is nothing new, for even in Jesus’ time this was true.
Stewardship Defined
Trusting in the Promises of God, to deploy the Resources of God, to accomplish the Mission of God, for the Glory of God
We must place an emphasis on the importance of trusting in the promises
We must remember that we are in partnership with God in His mission; therefore, we must live it and do so no matter our age
Jesus and Money, Luke 12:13-16
Jesus, in His response to the ask in Luke 12:13, declared the life was more than money (riches)
While not addressing the question head-on, Jesus did not miss the opportunity to use this as a teachable moment, and Jesus’ response left His hearers then and now (us) with several questions
Was/is He talking to me?
Am I greedy?
What would our response be to Jesus’ discourse here? Do I have ears to hear (can I discern) what He was saying and make the proper application?
A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth and not be rich towards God
Jesus hit them with a Plot Twist, Luke 12:16-19
Read Luke 12:16-19 aloud
The ear-tickling story of a lottery winner or perhaps, prosperity, “a name it and claim it” story which leads us to another set of questions
How many of us today are trusting in “our plenty”?
How many of us are not truly preparing for “our future” (not talking about 401k’s here)?
Where is God in our future planning?
“My and I” are poor elements of a “future story.” Our future goals should be based on our having a rich relationship with God.
What tension are you experiencing with the need for “more”
Jesus looks at money; differently. He invites us to think bigger and remember that tomorrow is not promised. He allows us to see life reimagined.
Jesus Cuts to the Chase Luke 12:22-30
Luke tells this story from the one most of us are familiar with in Matthew from the Sermon on the Mount
Are we living like “In money, we trust” or are we living “In God we trust”?
Jesus was telling them, and He is telling us, “Don’t worry,” and don’t hyper-focus on money
Worry spans a multitude of topics from tuition for our children to planning for retirement, our health, inflation, our financial realities, and the list goes on. Yet, Jesus’ response remains the same, Don’t Worry!
There is a difference between worry and concern, worry is a form of self-torment or “what if” thinking, whereas concern is a calculated consideration (Worry is worshipping the problem)
Luke 12:31-32
The anecdote to worry… Seek first the kingdom of God, and all of the things we NEED will be provided; we are to live differently nonbelievers
Do not fear little flock, trade worry for trust & faith; if Jireh (God) watches over a raven (a spiritually unclean bird) you know God (Jireh) has us
Build faith muscles. God is our sustainer. He provides for us in a myriad of ways.
Luke 12:31-34
Seek Him first and trust His promises
Invest to fund the mission of God for money is a tool; It might not seem like much but, our little in God’s hand equals much.
Luke 6:38; Malachi 3:10
Take our focus off of ourselves and focus on the mission of God
Not a return on investment mindset, but the opportunity to see more of God’s character, God’s generous nature, God’s abundant faithfulness
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
ADULT
Head
What is your money story? How has it shaped your response to money and its role in your life? Have you considered the generational impact of your money story?
Jesus warned the crowd to be on guard against all greed. What is greed? According to 1 Timothy 6:9-10, what is so dangerous about greed?
How might your life be reimagined if you lived on one percent less and trusted God to provide?
When it comes to your future, are you trusting in “your plenty”? Are you truly preparing for “your future” (not talking about 401k’s here)? Where is God in your future planning?
What must we believe about God, heaven, and possessions in order to be “rich toward God” instead of storing up treasure for ourselves in this life?
What are the top 3-5 things you tend to worry/be anxious about and why?
How is God faithfully providing for you today? How has He been faithful to provide in the past?
What is the difference between being tempted to worry, and actually falling into the sin of worry?
Heart
How will you know if your plans are for God’s glory or your own? How will you respond if God reveals that you have plans for selfish gain?
In what ways can worry blind us to the needs of others, the character of God, and the very act of worrying itself?
How does identifying what we worry about help us to understand what our heart is fixed on?
What do you have to look forward to as a citizen of the kingdom of God?
Pay close attention to Luke 12:34 and notice: which comes first and leads the other - the heart, or the treasure? How does this differ from conventional wisdom? What does this teach you about what to do if you want your heart to be more fixed on the kingdom of God?
Hands
Meditate on how God finds pleasure in giving us God’s Kingdom. How does this motivate you to loosen your grip on the things of this world? Create an action plan to live on 1 or more percent less and where you will invest it in the Kingdom of God. Then do it!
YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT
Head
What is your money story? How has it shaped your response to money and its role in your life? Have you considered the generational impact of your money story?
Jesus warned the crowd to be on guard against all greed. What is greed? According to 1 Timothy 6:9-10, what is so dangerous about greed?
How might your life be reimagined if you lived on one percent less and trusted God to provide?
When it comes to your future, are you trusting in “your plenty”? Are you truly preparing for “your future” (not talking about 401k’s here)? Where is God in your future planning?
What must we believe about God, heaven, and possessions in order to be “rich toward God” instead of storing up treasure for ourselves in this life?
What are the top 3-5 things you tend to worry/be anxious about and why?
How is God faithfully providing for you today? How has He been faithful to provide in the past?
What is the difference between being tempted to worry, and actually falling into the sin of worry?
Heart
How will you know if your plans are for God’s glory or your own? How will you respond if God reveals that you have plans for selfish gain?
In what ways can worry blind us to the needs of others, the character of God, and the very act of worrying itself?
How does identifying what we worry about help us to understand what our heart is fixed on?
What do you have to look forward to as a citizen of the kingdom of God?
Pay close attention to Luke 12:34 and notice: which comes first and leads the other - the heart, or the treasure? How does this differ from conventional wisdom? What does this teach you about what to do if you want your heart to be more fixed on the kingdom of God?
Hands
Meditate on how God finds pleasure in giving us God’s Kingdom. How does this motivate you to loosen your grip on the things of this world? Create an action plan to live on 1 or more percent less and where you will invest it in the Kingdom of God. Then do it!
CHILDREN
Head
Parents, discuss the critical points of this sermon with your children in an age-appropriate manner as a means of training them up.
Heart
Share with your child your money story and be honest with them if it differs from the story you want for them.
Hands
As a family, create an action plan to live on one (or more) percent less and where you will invest in the kingdom of God. Then do it!
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