A Good Return
Week 02: A Generous Life

It’s more blessed to give than to receive. 

3 Levels of Generosity

Step 01. Giving 

Step 02. Giving 

(Isaiah 32:8 NLT) But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.

(Leviticus 27:30) A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

(Proverbs 3:9-10) Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

(Matthew 6:21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Malachi 3:6-12) “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ 8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 

Myth #1: Tithing is Old Testament law
Truth: Tithing communicates God is . 

(Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God…

(Deuteronomy 14:23 LB) The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God in first place in your life.

Myth #2: The church doesn’t need my money.
Truth: Tithing allows the church to do the  of the Lord.

(Malachi 3:10a) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house…

Myth #3: I can’t afford to tithe.
Truth: Tithing is a test of .

(Malachi 3:10b-12) … Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

Step 03. Giving 

A generous life begins with a heart. 

(Ephesians 2:1;4-5) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins … 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions …

(John 12:7-8) “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”