As we approach what
we all hope and pray
will be the end of the
“Great Recession,”
how can we financially
prepare ourselves for
what may lie ahead?
Aren’t you ready for a
Fresh Financial Start?
Message Series Overview
Nov. 7: “Your Spiritual EKG”
Nov. 14: “To Tithe or Not to Tithe”
Nov. 21: “Giving Thanks in Tough Times”
Nov. 28: “Commitment Sunday”
Join us for this encouraging look at
God Word as it relates to your finances!
“Your Spiritual EKG” Luke 12:13-34
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the
inheritance with me." Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an
arbiter between you?" Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard
against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his
possessions." And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man
produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to
store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and
build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to
myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy;
eat, drink and be merry." ' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life
will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for
yourself?' "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things
for himself but is not rich toward God."
“Spiritual EKG” Luke 12:13-34
Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry
about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will
wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no
storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more
valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single
hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you
worry about the rest? "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not
labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was
dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the
field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how
much more will he clothe you,
“Spiritual EKG” Luke 12:13-34
O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or
drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such
things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his
kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. "Do not be
afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the
kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses
for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not
be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys…
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“Spiritual EKG” Luke 12:13-34
According to Jesus,
one of the best measures
of your spiritual heart health is
generosity.
_________
What is your current
“Spiritual Heart Health”
status?
How can you
improve upon it?
Let’s look to God’s Word
for His plan for a
healthier heart.
Wage
1. “Act Your _____”
Proverbs 15:16 “Better a little with the fear
of the LORD than great wealth with
turmoil.”
Proverbs 17:1 “Better a dry crust with
peace and quiet than a house full of
feasting, with strife.”
1. “Act Your Wage”
1 Timothy 6:6-9 “But godliness with
contentment is great gain. For we brought
nothing into the world, and we can take
nothing out of it. … People who want to
get rich fall into temptation and a trap and
into many foolish and harmful desires that
plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds
of evil.”
1. “Act Your Wage”
Sadly, poorly managed finances are
the second leading cause of marital
strife and divorce.
“If you can’t control your spending well,
lose the plastic before your marriage goes to… heck!”
2. “Increase Your
Giving
Standard of ______”
Deuteronomy 15:10 “Give generously to
him and do so without a grudging heart;
then because of this the LORD your God
will bless you in all your work and in
everything you put your hand to.”
2. “Increase Your
Standard of Giving”
Proverbs 11:24-25 “One man gives freely,
yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly,
but comes to poverty.
A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others
will himself be refreshed.”
3. “Treasure ______
Eternal Wealth”
1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Command 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. Command them to
do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be
generous and willing to share. 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.”
Heart Healthy Exercise
Find someone this week
to anonymously bless
with an unexpected gift
or payment of a bill.
Rejoice in the feeling it brings you to be
secretly generous toward another person
even as God has been generous to you.
Next Sunday!
Guest Speaker:
Pastor Paige Young “To Tithe or Not To Tithe”