29 Feb “a fool and his money” | part two ‘the Supernatural side of giving’

Key Verse: psalms proverbs corinthians

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FIRST TUESDAY IN MARCH WILL BE ON THE SECOND TUESDAY, MARCH 10 WITH CHILDCARE. NO FIRST TUESDAY IN APRIL.

WOONSOCKET: Construction is underway!

Waters Church Facebook Page now has groups set up for each campus and a group set up for Life Groups.

To join the groups, just go to the Waters Church FB page and go to groups and join the ones you want. Make sure you join the Life Group (group) so we can get people interested in joining a Life group. The Heach Coaches and I will be moderating the group and adding topics for discussion.

CLASSES; Baptism class is every 4th Sunday of the Month. at 11:30 / Growth Track runs the first 3 Sundays every month at 11:30 – this is a one and done registrants only need to attend one session / Starting Point runs every 1st and 3rd Sunday at 11:30 – details and descriptions can be found on the registrations which are located under Events on the HUB.

PRAY FOR THE PREVIEW SERVICE IN GUATEMALA THAT WILL BE HAPPING ON MARCH 1ST!

Supernatural – An event attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.

HOW DO WE GIVE AND GIVE SUPERNATURALLY

Psalms 139: 1, 7-14  – God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient.

Sixteen out of the thirty-eight parables in the Gospels deal with money. Five hundred verses talk about prayer and 2,350 talk about money. Why did God see this so important?  Martin Luther once said that there are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, mind and purse. Of these three the conversion of the purse is the most difficult. When people get saved, their hearts get saved but when it comes to their money, that takes longer.

Q. How long after your salvation did it take you to realize that your money was not really your money?

1. 1.Supernatural Giving is Prepared and Passionate.

2 Corinthians 8:1-2

They wanted to help Paul and they were overjoyed to do that.

2 Corinthians 9:1-3

Paul needed the Corinthians to be prepared and when he shows up they should be ready.  Our giving should be prepared in advance and we should give prayerfully and with expectation.  It is not just money, but it is time, talent and resources.

Proverbs 3:9

It is not how much can we keep but how much can we give?

Q1. How do you prepare for giving of your time, talent and resources (example: do you pray over your tithe, do you expect God to use you mightily as you use your gifts etc.)?

Q2. Are you passionate about your give and if not, why?

2.Supernatural Giving is Executed and Assured.

2 Corinthians 9: 4-5

Paul warns them to have their gift ready. He wants to be sure they execute what they promised.

2 Corinthians 8: 3-5

We are to follow through.  We should follow through because we want to and it’s our Christian duty to be reliable.

Matthew 5:33

We need to be people others can trust, people they can rely on.  If we promise to show up and don’t show up, it is a reflection on the Church. 

Q. What are some repercussions of not following through as Christians? Do you have a personal example?

3. Supernatural Giving is Charitable and Cheerful.

2 Corinthians 9: 6-7

Jesus expects the best from us, because He has given us his best. He gave us eternity and we can never pay Him back, but we can give back our best.  In everything we do, we should do it unto the Lord. If we understand what we have been given, then giving back should be easy.

Proverbs 17:22

Give back cheerfully.  A joyful heart is good medicine but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Romans 8:32

Sparingly doesn’t mean small – it means not holding back.  It’s the heart of the person that matters and it’s not just giving money. The supernatural doesn’t need money.  A generous person wants to give because they know what has been given to them.

Q1. Why is it important for us to give joyfully and not hold back?

Q2. Do you give with a spirit of generosity and if not, why?

4. Supernatural Giving Brings About God’s Grace and Glory.

2 Corinthians 9:8-14

Giving supernaturally brings about the grace of God. Giving our time, ourselves, our minds.  This is so God’s glory can be seen. Natural giving is now, generational giving is the future, but supernatural giving is eternal.  God makes things possible when we step out in faith.

Q1. How has God’s glory been shown through a specific instance in your life through the giving of your time, talent or resources (this could be you giving or someone giving to you)?

Q2. How has God show up supernaturally when you have stepped out in faith through giving (Jody’s example of how he adopted his child, due to their generosity and faithfulness, they received it back)?

5. Supernatural giving is Exemplified by a Supernatural God.

2 Corinthians 9:15  

God prepared the arrival of his son, he assured us our salvation through him, He gave cheerfully to an underserving people and he showed his grace and glory to us.

Q. Knowing that we are undeserving but still God showed us his grace and glory, how much more do you desire to be a cheerful giver?

CHALLENGE: This week give your time, talent and resources beyond what you normally do (this could be doing something for someone that would not expect it, giving to a local charity beyond what you would normally do etc…) DO IT WITH A CHEERFUL HEART 🙂