The New Testament paints a beautiful picture of the lavish generosity of the early Church.

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

-Acts 4:32-35 (NLT)

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. Proverbs 11:24 (NIV)

The Proverbs are general principles not promises.

Money is not bad. Money is not good. It's how you choose to use it.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously... God loves a cheerful giver.

-2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)

Cheerful: HILARIOS (Greek)

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of your crops.

-Proverbs 3:9 (NIV)

An open heart cannot maintain a closed hand.

-Warren Wiersbe, Bible Exposition Commentary, 1989

A generous person will prosper... Proverbs 11:25A (NIV)

Take the spotlight off of yourself and start giving to the Lord and sharing with others.

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.

-1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NIV)

Ninety percent with God will always go further than one hundred percent on my own.

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.

-Proverbs 22:9 (NIV)

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

-Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

...and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

-Isaiah 58:10 (NIV)

We don’t give to get; we live to give.

...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

-Acts 20:35B (ESV)

Your greatest joy will come through giving rather than keeping.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

-2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

The Greek word used here for cheerful: hilarios.

You’ve been blessed to bless. You can make an eternal difference.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

-Romans 5:8 (NIV)

Generosity is ultimately a test of obedience and of trust.

An open heart cannot maintain a closed fist.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

-2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)

G.R.A.C.E.

God’s

Riches

At

Christ’s

Expense

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

-John 3:16 (NIV)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

-1 John 3:1 (NIV)

Make a Difference