The Mark of a Christian

Different Types of Givers:

New Giver:

In Debt Giver:

• young or new to the faith or new to church
• Ask what's giving all about?
• start small...test the Lord and grow in generosity
• teach you about financial discipleship

• Should I give or get out of debt?
• Have a plan to do both
• Test God over these 99 days and start tithing or giving 10% to test Him and see what happens

Reluctant Giver

Faithful/Joyful Giver

Series Theme:

• my money=my business
• Ask why should I give?
• Have a soft heart and listen to God's Word on this
• Take the 99 day tithing challenge see what God will do!

• give because you want to and as an act of worship
• ask how much of God's money should I keep?
• challenge to take the next step in trysting God
• Consider mentoring new/young/reluctant givers...share your story!

Casual Giver

I give because God

is a Giving God

• give when you remember or to a good cause
• Ask how much to give?
• Know God is on the move
• Value in regularly giving
• Recurring giving options now available!

Theme Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:7

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. (NLT)

Big Idea:

Theology of Money

Guessing Game:

Living generously is giving my entire self to the Lord

• God gave it to us because He's a giver and He loves us
• We are stewards/managers not the owner=not yo money!
• So build His kingdom with His money, not your own!

• What is...spoken about more than faith and prayer combined in the bible?
• What has more than 2000 verses dedicated to it?
• What is dealt with in 1 out of every 10 verses in the gospels?
• What does Jesus spend 15% of all his teachings on and almost half his parables on?
• What does Jesus talk about more than heaven and hell combined?

God gives us money for 4 main Reasons

Acts 20:35

...remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Living generously means giving with humility--vs.19

• attitude that says I'm no longer building my own kingdom but God's kingdom here and now

Living generously means following the Holy Spirit--vs.22-24

Living generously means giving of my time--vs.18

• be regularly in the Word and listen to his still small voice in times of quiet reflection

Living generously means my heart isn't set on stuff--vs.33

• engage your neighbour with gospel conversations
• spend time with family in God's creation
• Serve your church in a ministry
• Read your Bible
• Spend more time praying

Living generously means not holding back--vs.20

• don't live for stuff
• stuff breaks, rusts, get stolen and you can't take it with you--Matt.6:19-21

• we give it our all recognizing all we have isn't ours
• let loose on what's helpful, not on what isn't!

Living generously means being all in--vs.27

• not going into fetal position
• no turning back, no retreat, no surrender!

Living generously means working hard--vs.34-35

What about here at home?

• with the time I have I work hard
• giving my entire self to the Lord

• To honour Him--Prov.3:9
• To provide for our family--1 Tim.5:8
• To Support our country--Rom.13:7
• To enjoy it--1 Tim.6:17

• 103 givers...THANKYOU!
• over 50% of our regular givers give less than average Canadian believer or less than 2.43%
• Over 2/3rds give less than what one person living at the poverty line would give if they were tithing or giving 10%
• In total about 30% of our regular givers tithe.

Average Canadian Christian??

• Give away 2.43% or about $1210 per year on average income
• Equals $23 per week
• Or less than what someone on disability would give if they were giving 10%
• or $300 less than what one person in Canada will spend at Christmas time
• or .9% less than what average Christian gave to their church during Great Depression.

Average Canadian is Generous EH?

• Average Canadian gives away .56% of their income
• Less than 1%
• Average Canadian income is $50,000 which means give away about $250/yr
• That's 125 Tim Horton's Coffees