THE BEST LIFE: WEEK 1

We want to share God’s love and God’s grace and be over the top generous. Our mission is to connect as many people with Jesus as quickly as we can. To do that, we share the good news of Jesus. The Connection Church is all about what we can give and what we can do for others. One of the fuels that makes the church go is generosity.

Would say you are blessed? That’s a great thing!

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

The BIG IDEA today is this: We live our best life when we unleash generosity.

At The Connection Church, we unleash generosity!

Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper;  those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 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.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-7

The Greek word for “cheerful” is hilaros where we get the word Hilarious!

God loves a hilarious giver! …but He also receives from a stingy grouch!

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11

This is not just about our money. It could also be in your relationships, your marriage, your physical health, or any other area God wants to bless so people will give thanks to God for what you have done.

4 Money Mentalities

1) The Bag Mentality: I don’t have enough.

You harvest less than you plant, you never have enough to eat or drink, your clothes don’t keep you warm, and your wages are stored in bags full of holes. Haggai 1:6 (CEV)

Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, had a bag mentality.

2) The Bin Mentality: I have just enough.

So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah. 1 Kings 17:12, 14-15 (NKJV)

When you obey what God says to do, He meets your needs.

You can never outgive God.

3) The Basket Mentality: I have more than enough.

So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:13

Little is much when God is in it.  

4) The Barn Mentality: I have infinitely more than enough.

The Lord your God will bless you with full barns, and He will bless everything you do. He will bless the land He is giving you. Deuteronomy 28:8 (NCV)

When Joseph, in the book of Genesis, was faithful, God brought him from the pit to a prison to a palace. One day, when there was a terrible famine, Joseph was able to save the whole nation and his own family because his barns were overflowing. God can do the same thing with your life too.

Your mindset largely sets the level of God’s blessing in your life (at least the way you perceive how much God is blessing you). Are you a bag person, a bin person, a basket person, or a barn person?

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? Luke 16:10-11

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

TALK IT OVER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  • Have you ever found yourself saying, “Either God needs to perform a miracle or I need to win the Lottery”? How is this not putting all of your trust in God? Can money truly fix all our problems? Have you ever seen someone who won the lottery live a blessed life?
  • Share some of the blessings in your life. How aware of God’s blessing are you on a day-to-day basis?
  • Describe your generosity mindset. Is it in the bag, in the bin, in the basket, or in the barn? How is this the key to how blessed your life feels?
  • Read Luke 6:35. Do you have trouble giving and expecting nothing in return? How can trusting God to care for your needs and remembering that everything you have is a gift from Him help you overcome fear in giving and help you to become a more generous giver?
  • How serious are you about obeying God in your finances? What keeps you from obeying when things are already tough financially and your car needs repairs or you have a leak in your roof? Does tithing ever make sense?
  • What steps will you take this week to act on how God is leading you?