Today we are kicking off a brand new 3-week series, called \u201cBE RICH\u201d.\xa0
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\n(I know what you\u2019re thinking! \u2013 \u201cYou should give more\u201d talk that churches are notorious for.)
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\nAnd these assumptions and fears (that are legitimate at times) reflect that WE need to have a better understanding about the role money plays in our lives and how to have the right perspective when it comes to handling it. \xa0
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\nThis series isn\u2019t necessarily about money\u2026 but about a mindset. \xa0A mindset that reveals how \u201cRICH\u201d we really are. \xa0 It\u2019s about having a spirit of radical generosity.
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\nGenerosity is something we as a church strive for\u2026 (Coffee, donuts, T-shirts, etc)
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\nThe hallmark of Christianity is radical generosity.\xa0
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\n\u2026Let\u2019s not just talk about love; let\u2019s practice real love. This is the only way we\u2019ll know we\u2019re living truly, living in God\u2019s reality. 1 John 3:18 (MSG)
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\n(Costco Samples)
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\nThat\u2019s our job\u2026 in everything we do, to give people a sample of how GOOD God is!
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\nRadical Generosity communicates something beyond meeting needs\u2026 it demonstrates LOVE in a tangible way. \xa0
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\n(\u201cI don\u2019t know about them\u2026 I may not agree with them\u2026 but that group, they are the most generous people I know\u2026 They know how to love people and are making a difference!\u201d)
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\nTransition: \xa0It\u2019s clear that generosity is something God wants us to be known for\u2026but generosity is not first an action, but a mindset. \xa0So, before we can truly live right, we have to think right\u2026 because the way we think, affects the way we behave.
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\nFor as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)
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\nIn fact, real Christianity\u2026 a true follower of Jesus is defined in this way:
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\nDon\u2019t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God\u2019s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)
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\nGod clearly has a different plan for us that we can\u2019t figure out on our own\u2026 thinking our way.\xa0
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\n\u201cThink Right \u2013 Do Right\u201d
\nOver the next 3 weeks we are going to look at an interesting letter the Apostle Paul (church planter) wrote to Timothy (Young Pastor of the church in Ephesus).
\nApplicable to your life / But it was directed to Timothy as a Pastored his church.\xa0
\nCommand those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.\xa0
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\n18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)
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\n(Instructions about what NOT to do AND what TO do\u2026)
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\nWhy do we need this? \xa0Because generally rich people aren\u2019t very good at it\u2026
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\nStatistically it\u2019s proven\u2026 that the more money American\u2019s make, the less we give.\xa0
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\nPaul is teaching Timothy\u2026 As a pastor, teach your people who are rich\u2026 to be good at it. \xa0To understand you have the resources you do, for a reason! \xa0(The government\u2026)\xa0
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\nTransition: This is about a perspective shift\u2026 to change the way we look out our money and to learn how to live with radical generosity.\xa0
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\nWe are going to learn\u2026 that we all are richer than we think and we have to learn to be good at it!
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\nWhy is this such a big deal? \xa0Why does this need to be talked about? (3 reasons)
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\n1.Rich people don\u2019t like to admit they are rich.
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\nTall People = \u201cI\u2019m tall.\u201d
\nAthletes = \u201cI\u2019m athletic.\u201d
\nSingers = \u201cI sing.\u201d
\nVegetarian = \u201cI don\u2019t eat meet.\u201d
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\nBut being rich\u2026 is not something we don\u2019t admit.
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\nGallup pole: How much money would you have to make to be considered rich?
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\nRich = $150,000
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\nThey asked those who make $30-34,000\u2026
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\nRich = $75,000
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\nThey asked the subscribers of money magazine\u2026
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\nRich = $5,000,000
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\nConclusion: \xa0Nobody is rich but everybody knows somebody who is.
\nWhat does this have to do with me?
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\nIf you make between $44k \u2013 $48k in combined household income\u2026 you are in the top 1% of wage earners in the world!
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\nNot at the $44k mark? \xa0You have running water\u2026 You don\u2019t have to worry about running out. \xa0We spray it on the ground!
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\nTransition: \xa0Here\u2019s the point\u2026 we are blessed! \xa0We have more than we need. \xa0We are rich!
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\nNOT so we can obtain more stuff\u2026 or provide more comfort\u2026 but so we can do something with it!
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\nYou know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)
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\nYou will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous in every way... 2 Corinthians 9:11 (CEB)
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\n2.Rich people are plagued with discontentment.
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\nSimply put\u2026 The more you have, the more you want. \xa0(Appetite\u2026 clothes)
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\nThose who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! 11 The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth\u2014except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers 12 People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night\u2019s sleep. Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 (NLT)
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\nOur wealth (however excessive), is not about us. \xa0\xa0
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\nObtaining wealth just to keep it is a horrible way to live and just perpetuates the human condition of discontentment. \xa0(kids \u2013 toys \u2013 box / UPGRADES \u2013 iphone)
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\nHaving and enjoying stuff isn\u2019t bad\u2026 but it\u2019s not the end goal.\xa0
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\nWe just need reminded out that.
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\n3.Rich people live with a false sense of security.
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\nWe believe we can build our way to safety\u2026 financial security. \xa0(As if that were such a thing)
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\n\u201cIf I save enough\u2026I can protect myself from anything bad that could happen.\u201d
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\nThe truth is\u2026 \u201cHow much would you need to become financially secure against anything? \xa0More than you currently have.\u201d
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\nThe wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. Proverbs 18:11 (NIV)
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\nI\u2019m not saying don\u2019t save or live foolishly\u2026 But to ask the question: \xa0\u201cWhere is my hope?\u201d
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\nYour HOPE will migrate to your money.\xa0
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\nAgain this is not\u2026 \u201cYOU SHOULDN\u2019T HAVE ANYTHING!\u201d (Gnostic Gospels)
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\nTransition: \xa0SO how do we change this? \xa0
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\n(Your expectations of what I\u2019m going to say\u2026 guilt...)
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\nWe just need to change our thinking\u2026 to THINK RIGHT
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\n1. \xa0I will be grateful.
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\nDavid praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying \u201cPraise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 (NIV)
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\nGratitude keeps our perspective in the right place. \xa0
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\n(No room for pride\u2026 selfishness\u2026 discontentment.)
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\nGratitude makes you more generous\u2026 that\u2019s our goal as a church!
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\nEverything we have and have done\u2026 It\u2019s GOD! \xa0We fight to never take it for granted. \xa0We didn\u2019t earn this\u2026 It\u2019s a privilege!! (Greenroom sign)
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\nResult = Gratitude makes us more generous
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\n2. \xa0I will lead with generosity\xa0
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\nSimply put\u2026 before I spend, I will give.
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\nOur focus shifts from us and stuff\u2026 to others and need!
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\n\u201cDo not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy,and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
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\nSo the question becomes, where do you want your heart?
\n(Your house? Car? \xa0Iphone? Your own success?)
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\nI want my heart\u2026 in a place of Godly peace, not financial security. \xa0
\nI want my heart\u2026 in a place of gratitude, not discontentment.
\nI want my heart\u2026 invested in eternal purpose, not fleeting glory.\xa0
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\nYou\u2019ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, \u2018You\u2019re far happier giving than getting.\u2019\u201d Acts 20:35 (MSG)
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\nResult = Generosity leads, your heart follows.
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\n3. \xa0I will put my hope in God.
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\nKeep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, \u2018Who is the LORD?\u2019 Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:8-9 (NIV)
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\nThe chief competitor of your soul is your stuff.\xa0
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\nWhen He is our Hope\u2026
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\nResult = I will not trust in riches, but in Him who richly provides.
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\nBig Idea: We are rich\u2026 lets be good at it.
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\nChallenge: \xa0It\u2019s easy to migrate away fro God\u2026
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\nSalvation: \xa0God take control of my life\u2026 It\u2019s the easiest thing you will ever do, but I will cost you everything.\xa0
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