As the New Year approaches, many pastors and church leaders are considering the upcoming sermon series for their congregations. One of the most powerful sermons that can be preached is on generosity. Generosity is a spiritual discipline that plays a significant role in our individual and collective growth. Teaching a sermon series on it during the New Year can help foster a spirit of generosity within your church.
(Download the first 3 chapters FREE of my book "Lord Of The Fries," a book on living and teaching about generosity.)
The Spiritual Wisdom of Generosity
Generosity is essential in anyone's spiritual growth as a servant of God. But, unfortunately, we make the mistake of thinking that all God cares about, or all the church cares about, is money. The truth is all that God cares about is our hearts. And money is one of the biggest competitors to God for our hearts. That's why Jesus spoke so much about money; that is why we, as pastors and church leaders, should do the same. But, as we do so, we must speak circumspectly to ensure that we are always focused on the heart and relationship with God and not on raising money.
Generosity not only helps individuals to develop spiritually, but it also helps to create an environment of trust and acceptance among members of the congregation. Research has shown that churches with more generous members are more likely to have higher attendance levels and greater financial stability, making them better equipped to reach out to their local communities. In addition, studies have found that people with high levels of generosity tend to live longer, healthier lives due to the stress-relieving effects kindness and giving have on our physical health.
Teaching Generosity Through Scripture and Life Stories
One way pastors can teach generosity during the New Year is through stories from Scripture. For example, Jesus said in Matthew 5:42: "Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow." This verse shows how important it is for Christians to practice generosity even when they don't get anything in return. It also serves as an example of how we should be generous with our resources—no matter how small or insignificant—to bless others in need.
Another effective way of teaching generosity is by looking at stories from your own life. I'm sure most of you can relate to one of my favorites from my life: buying my kid's french fries and taking a few for myself. After all, as their dad, I'm the one who purchased them. I could buy my own, but I want them to have the heart to share with me as their father, who gave them their fries, to begin with. And they should know that I don't need their fries; if I wanted to, I could buy so many fries that I could bury them in fries. I wrote about this in a teaching on generosity in my book called Lord of the Fries (Download your copy of the first 3 chapters FREE).
Empower Your Congregation
When we teach on generosity, we are living out a part of the great commission of "teach these disciples to obey all the commands I have given you." (Matthew 28:20). Jesus taught us that we are to be like the Father and to give. "For God loved the world so much that He gave..." (John 3:16) and Jesus tell us that we are to "Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back." (Luke 6:30, NLT) You can not disciple someone or a church without discussing generosity in a healthy biblical fashion as Jesus did. Yet, many of us as Pastors don't like talking about it.
Teaching generosity during the New Year can serve as an opportunity for you as a Pastor to invite your members into deeper conversations about money management and financial responsibility. By discussing financial stewardship within a spirit of giving openly, pastors can guide biblical principles related to tithing or offering financially sacrificial gifts for charitable causes outside of the church walls. In addition, doing so helps members understand why being generous is beneficial spiritually and practically, too—allowing them access to new opportunities they may not have had before while simultaneously providing others with much-needed support and resources they would otherwise lack access to.
Generosity is an essential part of spiritual growth and a crucial element in the life of any church. It is a way to express our love for God and others and an opportunity to be used by Him to bring about change in the lives of those we serve. As Pastors and church leaders, we are responsible for teaching our congregations how generosity can impact their spiritual journey and encourage them to give generously. This article will explore ways pastors and church leaders can help foster generous spirits within their congregations. We'll discuss the power of giving, how it brings us closer to God, why it should be encouraged in churches, and some practical tips on teaching generosity within your church community.
A Tool For Spiritual Growth
Generosity is a powerful tool to help us grow closer to God in our spiritual journey. By giving generously, we demonstrate our faith in Him and trust Him to provide for us. Generosity is more than just putting money in an offering - it's about changing lives. Generosity always positively affects spiritual growth.
Generosity is an essential part of any church community. As pastors and church leaders, we must equip our congregations with practical tips for personally living a life of generosity within their church community and the greater community. As we do, we are helping those in need while deepening their relationship with Christ simultaneously. It is clear from Jesus' teaching that generosity impacts those who receive it and those who give it - directly impacting one's spiritual journey and the overall health of any church community when appropriately practiced. Therefore, as pastors and church leaders dedicated to the cause of Christ, let us always strive to encourage generous living among members so that we can continue fulfilling God's plan.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff
P.S. I hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful in helping to equip your congregation for generous living through practical tips and spiritual growth. Check out the all-new sermon series "Lord Of The Fries" to help you make an impact regarding generosity in your church. It's on sale to kick off the New Year!