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Sunday Evening Fall Sermon Series

Sunday Evening Fall Sermon Series. The Treasure Principle. “All your life, you’ve been on a treasure hunt. You’ve been searching for the perfect person … … and a perfect place.” – Randy Alcorn. From Credit Cards: An Owner’s Manual. YOUR FINANCIAL TOOL SHED.

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Sunday Evening Fall Sermon Series

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  1. Sunday Evening Fall Sermon Series The Treasure Principle “All your life, you’ve been on a treasure hunt. You’ve been searching for the perfect person … … and a perfect place.” – Randy Alcorn

  2. From Credit Cards: An Owner’s Manual

  3. YOUR FINANCIAL TOOL SHED • Oct. 24 - The Biblical Financial Tool Shed • Oct. 31 - Materialism and Asceticism • Nov. 7 - Why Bother with Finances? • Nov. 21 - The Treasure Principle

  4. The Treasure Principle • Buried Treasure • Compounding Joy • Eyes on Eternity • Roadblocks to Giving • Getting Started “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”

  5. 1. Buried Treasure The story of a First Century Hebrew

  6. 1. Buried Treasure • Matthew 13:44 • Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. • … and for joy! Jesus appeals to what we “do” treasure, to teach us what we “should” treasure

  7. 1. Buried Treasure • Matthew 6:19-21 • Why not store earthly treasure? • Because they are bad? NO! • Because they won’t last! • This is NOT delayed gratification! • Present joy comes from anticipating future joy! • You can’t take it with you , but you can send it on ahead! Jesus is unreservedly bullish about investing in heaven where every market indicator is eternally bullish

  8. Treasure Key #1 God owns everything. I’m His money manager

  9. The Treasure Principle • Buried Treasure • Compounding Joy • Eyes on Eternity • Roadblocks to Giving • Getting Started

  10. 2. Compounding JoyGod owns Everything – I am his money manager • Randy Alcorn’s lost wages. • Psalm 24:1 • The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. • Haggai 2:8 • The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord • Deuteronomy 8:18 • But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 • ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price • John Wesley’s House As His manager, God trusts us to set our own salaries

  11. 2. Compounding Joy • God loves a cheerful giver - 2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

  12. 2. Compounding Joy • Ray Berryman, CEO (50% giver: JOY) • A young single adult convert • The Macedonians - 2 Corinthians 8:2-4 • 2 Corinthians 8:2: How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. • Trial of affliction & abundance of joy • Deep Poverty & riches of liberality (generosity) • …with much intreaty (They “urgently pleaded”)

  13. 2. Compounding Joy • Giving is a response to grace • As thunder follows lightning • Giving opens our fists so God can bless us Gaze upon Christ long enough and you will give more. Give long enough, and you will become more like Christ

  14. The Physics of Stuff The greater the mass, the greater hold it exerts. The more things we own, the more they grip us, setting us in orbit around them. Like a black hole they suck us in

  15. The Treasure Principle • Buried Treasure • Compounding Joy • Eyes on Eternity • Roadblocks to Giving • Getting Started

  16. 3. Eyes on Eternity (p.34) • William Borden vs. King Tutankamen • Eternal Rewards (Matthew 16:27) • Leadership positions (Matt 25:21) • Rewards for generous giving (Matt 19:21) • Jesus tracking even the smallest kindness (Matt 10:42) • God tracking all our acts for Him (Malachi 3:16) • Is it wrong to be motivated by a reward? • Rewards are His idea not ours • John Wesley’s impression of a large estate As surely as the compass needle follows north, your heart will follow your treasure.

  17. Treasure Key #2 My heart always goes where I put God’s money.

  18. The Treasure Principle • Buried Treasure • Compounding Joy • Eyes on Eternity • Roadblocks to Giving • Getting Started

  19. 4. Roadblocks to Giving • Some Roadblocks • Unbelief, insecurity, pride, idolatry • Desire for power and control • It is “normal” to keep far more than we give • The biggest Road block • The illusion that earth is our home • A three month trip to France

  20. Treasure Key #3 Heaven, not earth, is my home.

  21. Roadblocks to Giving He who dies with the most toys … Still dies – and never takes his toys with him! He who dies with the most toys wins!

  22. Treasure Key #4 I should live not for the dot, but for the line.

  23. Chasing the WindEcclesiastes 5:10-15

  24. Chasing the WindEcclesiastes 5:10-15 • Why do we keep getting fooled? • Because our hearts yearn for treasure here & now.

  25. 4. Roadblocks to giving • If affluenza is the disease, what is the cure? • 1 Timothy 6:17-19 • 17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; • 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; • 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Giving is the antidote to Affluenza

  26. Treasure Key #5 Giving is the only antidote to Materialism.

  27. The Treasure Principle • Buried Treasure • Compounding Joy • Eyes on Eternity • Roadblocks to Giving • Getting Started

  28. 5. Getting Started - Tithing a.Tithe is “holy” to the Lord -Leviticus 27:30,32 b.“Fear of the Lord” - Deuteronomy 14:23 • Beginning of wisdom- Proverbs 9:10 • Wisdom for money management - James 1:5-8 c. First fruits - Proverbs 3:9-10 d. Consequences of neglecting the tithe never have enough! Haggai 1:6-14 (purse w/ Holes) e. Tithe precedes the Law of MosesGenesis 14:17-20

  29. 5. Getting Started • Training Wheels • Tithing is God’s way of getting us on the giving path. • Tithing is not the ceiling. It is the floor. • Tithing is not the finish line. It is the starting blocks. • What about starting with 5%? (Malachi 3:8) • Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

  30. 5. Getting Started • Excellent Giving • Many now give 60, 80 or 95% • Like piano, giving is a skill • Like Macedonians, it means pushing the limits. • Scott Lewis example • Robert Morris, pastor • senior pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas It’s much easier to live on 90% in God’s will than 100% outside it.

  31. Now or Later? How soon do you want God’s blessing? Risk that it won’t go into God’s Kingdom? Economy may change (James 4:13-17) Hearts may change (Luke 19:8) Our lives may end (Luke 12:20) What will we leave to the kids? Only enough to be of modest assistance Not so much as to change their lifestyles Not so much as to undercut their need to pray & plan 5. Getting Started A large inheritance is not only a missed opportunity to give, but is rarely in the children’s best interest

  32. 5. Getting Started • Why has God Entrusted so much to us? • Luke 6:38 • Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. • R.G. LeTourneau • Prosperity Gospel is built on half-truths • Giving is a sacrifice • God’s payoff is real • 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

  33. Treasure Key #6 God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but my standard of giving.

  34. A Giving Covenant

  35. A Final Challenge

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