A Grace People

•

  Subscribe
  Connection Card
  Give
  Share
X
X

Subscribe on YouTube

Subscribe to our podcast

  Podcasts
overcast

More from Ekklesia

more Sermons

Teaching Notes

What does a beautiful church look like?

And what if the American Church got it wrong?

 

A GRACE PEOPLE

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.  In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 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.

2 Corinthians 8:1-9

 

  • Grace EMPOWERS you to live a JOY-FILLED GENEROUS life.

Severe TRIAL + Overflowing JOY

Extreme POVERTY + Rich GENEROSITY

 

The Myth of More:  

  • When I get MORE then I’ll be CONTENT.
  • If some is GOOD, then more is BETTER.
  • More is the key to LIFE, HAPPINESS & SAFETY.

 

If American’s 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. The scientific evidence shows clearly that more generous people are doing significantly better in their lives in many important ways.

- Christian Smith & Hilary Davidson, The Paradox of Generosity

 

  • Generosity is the natural OVERFLOW of a life MARKED by grace.

Grace is HELP given to the NEEDY.

“God's enabling power, acting in our lives to accomplish what we cannot do on our own.”

- Dallas Willard

5 Lies We Believe About Generosity:

  • I need to be WEALTHY to be generous.
  • I’ll be generous when I HAVE MORE.
  • Generosity is only about MONEY.
  • Generosity requires GRAND GESTURES.
  • Generosity will LEAVE me with LESS.

 

How difficult is it for you to give consistently, systematically, and significantly?

 

  • Grace REDEFINES how we see the WORLD.

 

“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.”

 

American Mindset – NEVER Enough

Grace Mindset – MORE THAN Enough

 

We believe the church should unleash extravagant generosity to a hurting and broken world because we have an extravagantly generous God.

 

Grace PEOPLE, Grace PEOPLE.

But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.