1 00:00:02,010 --> 00:00:04,554 Thanks for tuning in to the Sandals church podcast. 2 00:00:04,682 --> 00:00:08,542 Our vision as a church is to be real with ourselves, God and others. 3 00:00:08,676 --> 00:00:11,360 We're glad you're here and we hope you enjoy this message. 4 00:00:14,050 --> 00:00:15,866 Hi, guys, and welcome to Sandals Church. 5 00:00:15,898 --> 00:00:19,034 We are wrapping up our series on generosity. 6 00:00:19,082 --> 00:00:21,066 It's called generous, like Jesus. 7 00:00:21,098 --> 00:00:24,414 And some of you came to church today and you're like, oh my gosh, of course they're talking 8 00:00:24,452 --> 00:00:25,014 about money. 9 00:00:25,092 --> 00:00:26,502 Look, I hate talking about money. 10 00:00:26,556 --> 00:00:27,574 I couldn't sleep last night. 11 00:00:27,612 --> 00:00:31,526 I was up all night as I was stressing out, just like you do for the bills that you have to 12 00:00:31,548 --> 00:00:33,490 pay, the money that you have to raise. 13 00:00:33,570 --> 00:00:34,722 And that's just the reality. 14 00:00:34,786 --> 00:00:39,574 Money is a tough, tough issue to talk about, and it's difficult times and it's difficult to 15 00:00:39,612 --> 00:00:40,278 raise money. 16 00:00:40,364 --> 00:00:44,058 But if it's your first Sunday with us or you're watching online for the first time, or 17 00:00:44,064 --> 00:00:47,350 you're at Saturday night for the first time, maybe you missed some steps. 18 00:00:47,430 --> 00:00:48,890 Anybody ever missed a step? 19 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,310 Okay, I did last week at our minafe campus. 20 00:00:52,470 --> 00:00:54,382 Literally missed a step. 21 00:00:54,436 --> 00:00:55,770 They brought me up on stage. 22 00:00:55,850 --> 00:00:58,954 Let's put the face to the whole vision. 23 00:00:59,002 --> 00:01:02,794 And I was up there to encourage people about my leadership and my wisdom. 24 00:01:02,922 --> 00:01:06,306 Walked off stage, missed a step in front of everybody. 25 00:01:06,488 --> 00:01:10,482 And if you wonder what it was like, just think of a grown man crashing into a wall. 26 00:01:10,616 --> 00:01:12,660 And everyone on stage just went. 27 00:01:13,990 --> 00:01:15,762 And I jumped up and I was like, I'm okay. 28 00:01:15,816 --> 00:01:17,720 And then I was like, am I okay? 29 00:01:18,890 --> 00:01:24,520 Because his body's 52, kind of like Taylor Swift, 22, but add 30. 30 00:01:25,930 --> 00:01:28,226 And I told my wife, she said, she said, were you embarrassed? 31 00:01:28,258 --> 00:01:31,900 I said, I would be embarrassed if I wasn't so grateful that I was okay. 32 00:01:32,670 --> 00:01:34,502 So it's conflicting emotions. 33 00:01:34,646 --> 00:01:40,620 So maybe you missed some steps and you don't realize how much Jesus talks about money. 34 00:01:40,990 --> 00:01:43,034 I've said this over and over in this series. 35 00:01:43,082 --> 00:01:47,614 But if you missed it, if you took the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and you 36 00:01:47,652 --> 00:01:55,326 numbered the verses every 6th verse, 123456 every 6th verse. 37 00:01:55,438 --> 00:02:00,690 Jesus is talking about money because he knows what our struggle is. 38 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:05,538 And it doesn't matter where you are in your faith, some of you are probably struggling with 39 00:02:05,544 --> 00:02:05,762 money. 40 00:02:05,816 --> 00:02:06,906 Okay, God, what's mine? 41 00:02:06,958 --> 00:02:07,970 What's yours? 42 00:02:08,130 --> 00:02:09,270 What do I give? 43 00:02:09,420 --> 00:02:10,710 What is generous? 44 00:02:11,050 --> 00:02:12,358 What does that look like? 45 00:02:12,444 --> 00:02:17,542 And so today we're going to wrap up this series talking about what Jesus taught about 46 00:02:17,596 --> 00:02:18,290 generosity. 47 00:02:18,370 --> 00:02:19,634 What did he teach about it? 48 00:02:19,692 --> 00:02:24,074 Because we need to understand, if I'm a Christian following Jesus, I don't need to 49 00:02:24,112 --> 00:02:26,890 understand what I think is generous. 50 00:02:27,470 --> 00:02:30,170 I need to understand what he thinks is generous. 51 00:02:30,670 --> 00:02:33,162 Hey, guys, thank you so much for joining our service today. 52 00:02:33,216 --> 00:02:36,158 I want to take this quick opportunity to invite you to give. 53 00:02:36,244 --> 00:02:38,138 You can do so by going to donate. 54 00:02:38,234 --> 00:02:41,550 Se for now, let's get back into the message with Pastor Matt. 55 00:02:41,970 --> 00:02:43,354 So let's talk about this. 56 00:02:43,412 --> 00:02:45,374 Jesus taught that generosity. 57 00:02:45,502 --> 00:02:46,770 This is so important. 58 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:49,380 It's about the heart and not the amount. 59 00:02:49,750 --> 00:02:50,946 This is so important. 60 00:02:51,048 --> 00:02:57,166 We began this message today with a video of our students, our kids making an offering. 61 00:02:57,198 --> 00:02:59,854 They're generous like Jesus offerings. 62 00:02:59,982 --> 00:03:01,622 Now, I'm going to guess, I don't know. 63 00:03:01,676 --> 00:03:05,462 We haven't tallied it, but I'm going to guess there wasn't a million dollar check in there. 64 00:03:05,596 --> 00:03:07,778 Okay, I'm just going to go out on a limb. 65 00:03:07,874 --> 00:03:09,126 Not a prophet or anything. 66 00:03:09,228 --> 00:03:13,626 I'm just saying probably we didn't get a million bucks from a four year old. 67 00:03:13,648 --> 00:03:14,410 Amen. 68 00:03:14,750 --> 00:03:17,850 I'm kind of curious to see what was in those offerings. 69 00:03:18,910 --> 00:03:24,714 You know, a couple of weeks ago, I told you I paid 32 50 for salsa and mexican rice. 70 00:03:24,762 --> 00:03:30,298 I just want to thank all of our Hispanics for all the recipes for rice. 71 00:03:30,394 --> 00:03:31,646 Thank you so much. 72 00:03:31,828 --> 00:03:36,110 You might have missed the point of the sermon, but I'm very, very grateful. 73 00:03:36,190 --> 00:03:40,290 You helped this gringo make mexican rice. 74 00:03:41,270 --> 00:03:43,166 Somebody actually put that in the offering. 75 00:03:43,198 --> 00:03:46,050 A recipe for rice. 76 00:03:46,790 --> 00:03:47,780 Come on. 77 00:03:49,350 --> 00:03:51,750 You never know what you're going to get at Sandals church. 78 00:03:52,410 --> 00:03:55,106 And I'm not going to say which campus it was, but it was Anaheim. 79 00:03:55,138 --> 00:03:56,038 That's all I'm going to say. 80 00:03:56,124 --> 00:03:57,398 That's all I'm going to say. 81 00:03:57,564 --> 00:03:58,950 It was Anaheim. 82 00:04:01,530 --> 00:04:04,674 I told Pastor Moy we'll pay his salary out of that recipe. 83 00:04:04,722 --> 00:04:05,538 Amen. 84 00:04:05,714 --> 00:04:06,440 Yeah. 85 00:04:06,890 --> 00:04:09,174 So it's not about the amount, it's about the heart. 86 00:04:09,212 --> 00:04:12,638 And that's why it's so important for us as a church to have our kids give. 87 00:04:12,804 --> 00:04:15,658 Because if we don't teach them to give when they're little, they won't give when they're 88 00:04:15,674 --> 00:04:15,854 old. 89 00:04:15,892 --> 00:04:16,782 And this is so important. 90 00:04:16,836 --> 00:04:18,730 If your parent, you're like, oh, my gosh, I forgot. 91 00:04:18,810 --> 00:04:19,518 That's okay. 92 00:04:19,604 --> 00:04:22,814 You can give all through the year and just have your kid give that in. 93 00:04:22,852 --> 00:04:25,870 And I think it's important that we teach our children, hey, this is what we do. 94 00:04:26,020 --> 00:04:30,706 My mom and I were talking and she was just sharing some of the difficulties she felt as a 95 00:04:30,728 --> 00:04:31,298 mom. 96 00:04:31,464 --> 00:04:35,746 And I had family members where they made a lot more money and they didn't go to church and 97 00:04:35,768 --> 00:04:37,070 they weren't tithers. 98 00:04:37,230 --> 00:04:42,966 And my mom said, I just felt so bad as a mom that we gave 10% to God, and sometimes we 99 00:04:42,988 --> 00:04:44,054 couldn't give you the things you want. 100 00:04:44,092 --> 00:04:45,398 And I just stopped her. 101 00:04:45,564 --> 00:04:50,258 I said, mom, I'm so grateful that you taught me as a young man to give to the Lord what's 102 00:04:50,274 --> 00:04:53,190 the Lord's, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. 103 00:04:53,340 --> 00:04:58,294 And I just told her, I'm so thankful that you taught me as a young child to give to God 104 00:04:58,332 --> 00:04:59,158 what's his. 105 00:04:59,324 --> 00:04:59,966 That's right. 106 00:05:00,028 --> 00:05:01,294 And so we're going to have an offering today. 107 00:05:01,332 --> 00:05:03,594 We're going to end the service with an offering. 108 00:05:03,642 --> 00:05:07,374 If you're watching online, you can do whatever you need to do on the app or whatever God 109 00:05:07,412 --> 00:05:08,030 leads you. 110 00:05:08,100 --> 00:05:11,978 But there's actually a story in the Bible where Jesus watches an offering just like we're 111 00:05:11,994 --> 00:05:12,654 going to take. 112 00:05:12,772 --> 00:05:13,840 He's watching. 113 00:05:14,770 --> 00:05:17,746 And so the Bible says in Luke, chapter 21, verses one through four. 114 00:05:17,768 --> 00:05:19,250 And here's the thing you need to remember. 115 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:22,850 The gospel of Luke is written primarily to non jews. 116 00:05:23,350 --> 00:05:28,406 Luke's wanting people who weren't raised with the Torah, who weren't raised going to 117 00:05:28,428 --> 00:05:30,646 synagogue, who weren't raised knowing God. 118 00:05:30,748 --> 00:05:35,574 He's teaching gentiles, who are as far from God as they possibly can be, what it looks like 119 00:05:35,612 --> 00:05:36,978 to give generously. 120 00:05:37,154 --> 00:05:39,686 And so Luke tells us this story. 121 00:05:39,868 --> 00:05:45,638 So Jesus looked up and he saw the rich putting all of their gifts into the offering. 122 00:05:45,814 --> 00:05:46,250 Okay? 123 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:47,446 Now, we don't have a box of sandals. 124 00:05:47,478 --> 00:05:50,106 We have a bucket, or you give on the app, okay? 125 00:05:50,208 --> 00:05:51,534 But they had an offering box. 126 00:05:51,652 --> 00:05:56,910 And he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 127 00:05:57,410 --> 00:06:03,906 And he said, listen, truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all of them 128 00:06:04,008 --> 00:06:04,930 combined. 129 00:06:05,750 --> 00:06:07,490 For they listen to this. 130 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:14,834 They contributed out of their abundance, but she, she gave out of her poverty, and she put 131 00:06:14,872 --> 00:06:17,698 in all she had to live on. 132 00:06:17,864 --> 00:06:20,786 Now, if you're broke today, don't put all your money in because you're going to call me 133 00:06:20,808 --> 00:06:22,566 next week to help pay your bills, okay? 134 00:06:22,668 --> 00:06:24,038 That's not the point of the story. 135 00:06:24,124 --> 00:06:28,234 The point of the story is a lot of us feel good when we give big amounts, but it's not 136 00:06:28,272 --> 00:06:29,740 sacrificial at all. 137 00:06:30,110 --> 00:06:31,146 It's just not. 138 00:06:31,248 --> 00:06:33,238 It's out of our abundance. 139 00:06:33,414 --> 00:06:38,774 And so a lot of us think we're generous because of the dollar amount Jesus defines. 140 00:06:38,822 --> 00:06:41,040 Generosity is from the heart. 141 00:06:41,490 --> 00:06:42,894 She gave the least. 142 00:06:43,012 --> 00:06:44,910 But according to Jesus, listen to this. 143 00:06:44,980 --> 00:06:46,160 She gave the most. 144 00:06:46,930 --> 00:06:49,770 It was the most important offering. 145 00:06:49,850 --> 00:06:52,240 And Jesus is teaching us something here. 146 00:06:52,690 --> 00:06:56,014 He's teaching that God doesn't care about your money. 147 00:06:56,212 --> 00:06:58,000 God cares about your heart. 148 00:06:58,450 --> 00:07:02,978 And this Poor old widow who didn't have a husband, who had no one to look after her. 149 00:07:03,064 --> 00:07:05,154 She only had God to look after her. 150 00:07:05,192 --> 00:07:09,170 And isn't it interesting that God was the one who noticed her offering? 151 00:07:09,330 --> 00:07:10,854 He was right there. 152 00:07:11,052 --> 00:07:17,974 You see, it's so easy to focus on the amount and miss the meaning and miss the meaning, as 153 00:07:18,012 --> 00:07:19,026 Tammy and I, we've been praying. 154 00:07:19,058 --> 00:07:20,994 So we're in this series called generous, like Jesus. 155 00:07:21,122 --> 00:07:25,226 And if you don't know, we have a general budget, and I want to thank everyone who gives to 156 00:07:25,248 --> 00:07:25,674 that. 157 00:07:25,792 --> 00:07:29,510 We're trying to raise an extra $2 million over and above. 158 00:07:29,590 --> 00:07:33,566 So what this means is families in our church, like Tammy and I, we're going to make a 159 00:07:33,588 --> 00:07:37,614 special offering that's over and above what we normally give to help us do some really, 160 00:07:37,652 --> 00:07:39,978 really exciting things, like pave parking lots. 161 00:07:40,154 --> 00:07:41,120 Isn't that. 162 00:07:42,370 --> 00:07:45,486 You know, as I drove in here today to Hunter Park, I looked at our new parking lot. 163 00:07:45,508 --> 00:07:47,026 I was like, I can't even look at it yet. 164 00:07:47,128 --> 00:07:48,162 Can't even look at it yet. 165 00:07:48,216 --> 00:07:48,866 It's brand new. 166 00:07:48,888 --> 00:07:50,180 But I know how much it cost. 167 00:07:51,110 --> 00:07:53,902 But oftentimes we just miss the meaning. 168 00:07:54,046 --> 00:07:55,490 We miss the purpose. 169 00:07:56,010 --> 00:07:59,058 And really, these moments are heart checks. 170 00:07:59,234 --> 00:08:00,694 Where is my heart? 171 00:08:00,892 --> 00:08:02,120 Where's my heart? 172 00:08:02,730 --> 00:08:07,474 I have gotten so many questions on the debrief about tithing, tithing, tithing, tithing. 173 00:08:07,522 --> 00:08:10,346 And here's what most christians in our church want to know. 174 00:08:10,448 --> 00:08:12,746 How much should I be giving? 175 00:08:12,928 --> 00:08:14,380 And it's the wrong question. 176 00:08:14,990 --> 00:08:17,260 The right question is, where's your heart? 177 00:08:17,870 --> 00:08:20,614 And I've met people who say, well, Jesus never said you should tithe. 178 00:08:20,662 --> 00:08:25,214 Well, they haven't read the Bible, and I'm going to read to you what he said, matthew 23 179 00:08:25,252 --> 00:08:26,206 23. 180 00:08:26,388 --> 00:08:30,062 He said, what sorrow awaits you, teachers of religious law. 181 00:08:30,196 --> 00:08:31,098 Hypocrites. 182 00:08:31,194 --> 00:08:33,038 You see, here's what Jesus is saying. 183 00:08:33,124 --> 00:08:36,162 There can be a difference between what we profess and how we live. 184 00:08:36,216 --> 00:08:38,180 Anybody ever met someone like that? 185 00:08:39,270 --> 00:08:41,570 Jesus couldn't stand hypocrites. 186 00:08:42,630 --> 00:08:48,258 For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens. 187 00:08:48,434 --> 00:08:49,160 Okay? 188 00:08:49,610 --> 00:08:50,834 Some of you sell an herb. 189 00:08:50,882 --> 00:08:53,160 Listen up, listen up. 190 00:08:53,530 --> 00:09:01,274 You probably should double tithe for what you sell, but you ignore the more important 191 00:09:01,392 --> 00:09:02,650 aspects of the law. 192 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:03,146 Okay? 193 00:09:03,248 --> 00:09:04,778 What's more important than giving? 194 00:09:04,864 --> 00:09:06,666 Jesus gives us a couple things. 195 00:09:06,768 --> 00:09:09,370 Justice, mercy. 196 00:09:09,890 --> 00:09:12,270 And here's one that people miss, faith. 197 00:09:13,570 --> 00:09:15,518 And Jesus follows it up with. 198 00:09:15,604 --> 00:09:17,082 You should tithe. 199 00:09:17,226 --> 00:09:17,920 Yes. 200 00:09:18,690 --> 00:09:21,520 But do not neglect the more important things. 201 00:09:22,210 --> 00:09:25,946 Here's one of the things that I wrestle with as a pastor and as a christian. 202 00:09:26,138 --> 00:09:27,650 Am I generous? 203 00:09:28,710 --> 00:09:30,194 Now, here's the thing you need to know. 204 00:09:30,232 --> 00:09:31,198 I am a tither. 205 00:09:31,294 --> 00:09:32,782 I don't think you have to tithe. 206 00:09:32,846 --> 00:09:34,734 I think as Christians, we get to tithe. 207 00:09:34,782 --> 00:09:37,030 That's a totally different perspective. 208 00:09:38,570 --> 00:09:40,134 But here's the thing. 209 00:09:40,332 --> 00:09:42,630 Am I generous because I'm a tither? 210 00:09:44,410 --> 00:09:51,978 Jesus seems to indicate that we can be very specific in our giving, but we can be very 211 00:09:52,064 --> 00:09:54,170 bankrupt in our hearts. 212 00:09:54,750 --> 00:09:57,446 You're so, so careful to tithe. 213 00:09:57,638 --> 00:10:00,326 I mean, you should see some of the questions I've got on the debrief. 214 00:10:00,438 --> 00:10:01,718 Does this count as my tithe? 215 00:10:01,734 --> 00:10:02,914 Does this count as my tithe? 216 00:10:02,982 --> 00:10:05,358 I mean, people are asking very, very specific questions. 217 00:10:05,444 --> 00:10:08,942 And what I keep going back and saying is, God doesn't care about the amount. 218 00:10:08,996 --> 00:10:10,240 He cares about your heart. 219 00:10:12,050 --> 00:10:14,026 Now, here's what you need to know about tithing. 220 00:10:14,138 --> 00:10:15,450 Sandals church. 221 00:10:15,610 --> 00:10:17,486 Not by ourselves, but by outsiders. 222 00:10:17,518 --> 00:10:20,142 We are considered what's called an evangelical church. 223 00:10:20,286 --> 00:10:21,294 We're evangelical. 224 00:10:21,342 --> 00:10:22,910 What that means is we believe the Bible. 225 00:10:22,990 --> 00:10:24,290 We believe it's God's word. 226 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,054 We believe you have to be saved only through Jesus. 227 00:10:27,102 --> 00:10:30,786 So we're considered, like, crazy conservative when it comes to our understanding of 228 00:10:30,808 --> 00:10:31,086 scripture. 229 00:10:31,118 --> 00:10:31,974 And I don't want to change that. 230 00:10:32,012 --> 00:10:32,662 That's who we are. 231 00:10:32,716 --> 00:10:34,262 The world can call us whatever they want. 232 00:10:34,316 --> 00:10:35,478 That's who we are. 233 00:10:35,644 --> 00:10:38,230 But here's the thing you need to know about evangelicals. 234 00:10:38,310 --> 00:10:45,802 They give the most to the church, more than Catholics, more than orthodox, more than any 235 00:10:45,856 --> 00:10:47,178 other religious group. 236 00:10:47,344 --> 00:10:51,626 Evangelicals lead the way in generosity to their local church. 237 00:10:51,658 --> 00:10:55,326 Do you want to know what the average amount of an evangelical Christian gives to their 238 00:10:55,348 --> 00:10:56,106 church? 239 00:10:56,298 --> 00:10:57,600 It's 2%. 240 00:10:59,490 --> 00:11:03,810 2% is number one amongst Christians. 241 00:11:04,710 --> 00:11:06,130 Amongst Christians. 242 00:11:08,550 --> 00:11:09,966 And the church that gets ripped. 243 00:11:09,998 --> 00:11:12,414 The most Catholics, right, because they're so rich. 244 00:11:12,462 --> 00:11:13,442 Catholics give the least. 245 00:11:13,496 --> 00:11:15,214 They're at the bottom of generosity. 246 00:11:15,262 --> 00:11:16,974 And that's not to put you down as a Catholic. 247 00:11:17,022 --> 00:11:17,762 These are just numbers. 248 00:11:17,816 --> 00:11:19,202 These are just the statistics. 249 00:11:19,266 --> 00:11:22,680 And if you feel bad, look, we're at number one at 2%. 250 00:11:23,210 --> 00:11:25,160 So we're not all that great either. 251 00:11:25,530 --> 00:11:30,246 But there's this huge problem out there that says I'm super generous, but the reality is 252 00:11:30,268 --> 00:11:32,700 we're super hypocrites when it comes to this. 253 00:11:33,710 --> 00:11:37,354 And so many people say, well, pastor, why do you have to talk about this week after week 254 00:11:37,392 --> 00:11:38,298 after week? 255 00:11:38,464 --> 00:11:43,040 Well, one of the challenges is since COVID people only attend church about once a month. 256 00:11:43,810 --> 00:11:49,290 So if I don't preach on it four times, the majority of our church never hears stewardship 257 00:11:49,370 --> 00:11:50,240 about giving. 258 00:11:52,850 --> 00:11:57,486 So if you say, well, pastor, that's one verse Luke also puts the same teaching in Luke 259 00:11:57,518 --> 00:11:58,194 1142. 260 00:11:58,232 --> 00:12:01,042 It's the exact same teaching, the exact same words. 261 00:12:01,176 --> 00:12:01,966 You should tithe. 262 00:12:01,998 --> 00:12:02,674 Yes. 263 00:12:02,872 --> 00:12:05,166 Now, this is not to pressure you to tithe. 264 00:12:05,198 --> 00:12:09,480 It's to pressure you to say, lord, am I generous to ask God? 265 00:12:10,250 --> 00:12:12,390 Because generosity is not about the amount. 266 00:12:12,460 --> 00:12:14,326 It's about the heart. 267 00:12:14,508 --> 00:12:18,150 And Jesus points this out so powerfully. 268 00:12:18,970 --> 00:12:24,794 Look, my executive pastor told me we have about 35,000 people that watch sandals church a 269 00:12:24,832 --> 00:12:25,514 week. 270 00:12:25,712 --> 00:12:29,820 If everybody gave $100, we'd raise $3.5 million extra. 271 00:12:30,590 --> 00:12:34,000 That's how easy it is if we all just get on board. 272 00:12:35,570 --> 00:12:38,830 Now, some of you, if you give $100, that's a stretch. 273 00:12:39,330 --> 00:12:42,030 For some of you, that would be an insult to the Lord. 274 00:12:42,450 --> 00:12:43,760 See what I'm saying? 275 00:12:45,090 --> 00:12:47,826 And a lot of times, all the rich people say, oh, we all need to do our part. 276 00:12:47,848 --> 00:12:50,260 I'm like, you need to do a little more than your part. 277 00:12:51,430 --> 00:12:53,250 You need to put in some parts. 278 00:12:53,590 --> 00:12:54,558 Amen. 279 00:12:54,734 --> 00:12:56,690 Your offering should be plural. 280 00:12:58,790 --> 00:12:59,298 Next. 281 00:12:59,384 --> 00:13:02,342 Jesus taught that generosity, and this is huge. 282 00:13:02,396 --> 00:13:04,086 If you got kids, I want you to listen to this. 283 00:13:04,108 --> 00:13:08,454 This is so important for how you raise your children because this is an epidemic amongst 284 00:13:08,502 --> 00:13:09,820 many young people today. 285 00:13:10,350 --> 00:13:16,540 Jesus taught that generosity is believing that giving is better than getting. 286 00:13:18,190 --> 00:13:21,630 What are all the political discussions about nowadays? 287 00:13:22,050 --> 00:13:23,102 What you should get? 288 00:13:23,156 --> 00:13:24,430 We don't call them gets. 289 00:13:24,500 --> 00:13:26,190 We call them rights. 290 00:13:27,090 --> 00:13:32,158 We don't use the language like, health care should be a right. 291 00:13:32,324 --> 00:13:32,846 Okay? 292 00:13:32,948 --> 00:13:34,750 Do you know how much health care costs? 293 00:13:35,270 --> 00:13:36,898 College should be a right. 294 00:13:36,984 --> 00:13:39,230 Does anybody know how much college costs? 295 00:13:39,390 --> 00:13:41,762 Like, these are extraordinarily expensive things. 296 00:13:41,896 --> 00:13:46,806 And we just throw these things around here because what we believe as a culture is the most 297 00:13:46,828 --> 00:13:48,920 important thing is what I get. 298 00:13:49,690 --> 00:13:52,230 Jesus said the exact opposite. 299 00:13:53,290 --> 00:13:55,014 It's about what you give. 300 00:13:55,212 --> 00:13:56,200 Come on. 301 00:13:56,890 --> 00:14:02,662 In acts 2035, the apostle Paul reminds us of a teaching that didn't make it in the gospels. 302 00:14:02,726 --> 00:14:07,510 And John tells us that there were so many things that weren't put in his gospel. 303 00:14:07,590 --> 00:14:08,314 He says this. 304 00:14:08,352 --> 00:14:11,786 If I wrote down everything Jesus said, he said, there's not enough books in the world to 305 00:14:11,808 --> 00:14:12,780 contain it. 306 00:14:13,630 --> 00:14:20,046 I mean, when Jesus said, that's the word of God, that's the word of God, and he didn't put 307 00:14:20,068 --> 00:14:21,054 it in there. 308 00:14:21,252 --> 00:14:24,138 Here's what the apostle Paul said in the book of acts. 309 00:14:24,234 --> 00:14:27,918 He said, you should remember the words of the Lord Jesus. 310 00:14:28,094 --> 00:14:31,826 If you call yourself a Christian, this is something that you should pray about every day. 311 00:14:32,008 --> 00:14:34,690 Am I remembering the words of the Lord Jesus? 312 00:14:35,270 --> 00:14:36,526 Here's what Jesus said. 313 00:14:36,568 --> 00:14:40,070 It is more blessed to give than to receive. 314 00:14:41,610 --> 00:14:44,642 We have Christmas coming up, and I love Christmas. 315 00:14:44,706 --> 00:14:48,786 And one of the discussions my wife and I, we've been having is, what's your favorite 316 00:14:48,818 --> 00:14:49,586 memory? 317 00:14:49,778 --> 00:14:51,722 Like, my wife lost her dad years ago. 318 00:14:51,776 --> 00:14:53,034 He died way too young. 319 00:14:53,152 --> 00:14:54,154 He was a wonderful man. 320 00:14:54,192 --> 00:14:54,726 I'm blessed. 321 00:14:54,758 --> 00:14:56,246 I still have my parents. 322 00:14:56,438 --> 00:14:59,386 My wife lost her dad when she was 27. 323 00:14:59,568 --> 00:15:00,554 It's really, really hard. 324 00:15:00,592 --> 00:15:02,186 We had just planted this church. 325 00:15:02,298 --> 00:15:04,350 It was a very, very tough time for us. 326 00:15:04,500 --> 00:15:06,190 And her dad was wonderful. 327 00:15:06,770 --> 00:15:10,270 And we just said, we were just talking about what's your favorite memory? 328 00:15:11,410 --> 00:15:12,526 But here's the thing. 329 00:15:12,628 --> 00:15:17,380 Christmas for me when I was a child was only about what I was going to get. 330 00:15:18,070 --> 00:15:20,340 Anybody remember not being able to sleep at night? 331 00:15:21,190 --> 00:15:24,180 It wasn't because I was so excited for what I gave. 332 00:15:24,870 --> 00:15:28,518 It's because I just was so excited for what I was going to get. 333 00:15:28,604 --> 00:15:29,830 Here's the switch. 334 00:15:30,170 --> 00:15:36,966 Now as a parent, now as a husband, I'm not excited for Christmas morning for what I'm going 335 00:15:36,988 --> 00:15:37,720 to get. 336 00:15:38,250 --> 00:15:43,580 I'm excited to see the look on faces when they see what I gave them. 337 00:15:44,270 --> 00:15:45,574 Listen to me, Christians. 338 00:15:45,622 --> 00:15:50,010 This is the difference between being a christian child and a christian adult. 339 00:15:51,090 --> 00:15:55,854 Some of you are still babies, craving milk, never growing up. 340 00:15:55,892 --> 00:15:58,686 And unfortunately, most christians are in this place. 341 00:15:58,788 --> 00:16:01,360 They think church is all about me. 342 00:16:03,010 --> 00:16:06,194 What do I need now? 343 00:16:06,232 --> 00:16:08,510 Hopefully, you are blessed when you come to sandals church. 344 00:16:08,590 --> 00:16:12,660 But if you're going to become an adult, it's what can I give? 345 00:16:13,830 --> 00:16:15,934 And if you don't agree with me, wrestle with Jesus. 346 00:16:15,982 --> 00:16:16,646 Don't wrestle with me. 347 00:16:16,668 --> 00:16:17,750 Wrestle with Jesus. 348 00:16:18,410 --> 00:16:20,230 And just so you know, you're going to lose. 349 00:16:21,130 --> 00:16:23,110 He said, not me. 350 00:16:23,260 --> 00:16:26,230 He said, it's more blessed to give than to receive. 351 00:16:27,770 --> 00:16:31,514 Jesus went on to teach this in Luke 638. 352 00:16:31,712 --> 00:16:35,260 Give, he said, and it will be given to you. 353 00:16:35,950 --> 00:16:38,394 Good measure pressed down. 354 00:16:38,592 --> 00:16:39,002 Right? 355 00:16:39,056 --> 00:16:40,214 Not like our bag of chips. 356 00:16:40,262 --> 00:16:44,526 Anybody noticed the bags are getting bigger and there's just like, there's three chips in 357 00:16:44,548 --> 00:16:45,120 there. 358 00:16:45,890 --> 00:16:47,310 There's three chips. 359 00:16:48,290 --> 00:16:50,750 My daughter helped me wrap my. 360 00:16:50,820 --> 00:16:51,630 I shouldn't say help. 361 00:16:51,700 --> 00:16:57,550 She wrapped my wife's Christmas presents because I want them to look like I care, okay? 362 00:16:57,620 --> 00:16:59,540 That's why I didn't wrap them. 363 00:17:00,070 --> 00:17:01,266 But you know what she told me? 364 00:17:01,288 --> 00:17:02,882 She said, oh, I bought all the wrapping paper. 365 00:17:02,936 --> 00:17:04,050 She said it was this amount. 366 00:17:04,120 --> 00:17:05,266 And then she went to wrap them. 367 00:17:05,288 --> 00:17:05,954 And you know what they did? 368 00:17:05,992 --> 00:17:11,400 They increased the size of the cardboard in the middle, and they put less paper on it. 369 00:17:12,330 --> 00:17:17,558 She had to buy three times as much paper as she thought the world. 370 00:17:17,724 --> 00:17:19,066 They put a lot of air in there. 371 00:17:19,088 --> 00:17:21,354 They're pumping air in that bag of says, no. 372 00:17:21,472 --> 00:17:23,146 When you give, there's no air in there. 373 00:17:23,168 --> 00:17:27,482 It's pressed down, shaken together. 374 00:17:27,616 --> 00:17:28,506 Listen to me. 375 00:17:28,608 --> 00:17:31,386 Running over it will be put into your lap. 376 00:17:31,418 --> 00:17:33,290 It won't even fit in the container. 377 00:17:33,450 --> 00:17:38,494 When you choose to give to Jesus, listen to what he says. 378 00:17:38,612 --> 00:17:44,580 For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 379 00:17:45,030 --> 00:17:45,780 What? 380 00:17:47,110 --> 00:17:48,526 I thought jesus was a communist. 381 00:17:48,558 --> 00:17:48,718 Nope. 382 00:17:48,734 --> 00:17:50,050 You haven't read the gospels. 383 00:17:51,350 --> 00:17:56,500 He rewards us with what we're faithful with. 384 00:17:57,830 --> 00:17:59,220 He rewards us. 385 00:18:00,150 --> 00:18:02,994 And I gotta tell you, rewards come in all shapes and all sizes. 386 00:18:03,042 --> 00:18:06,406 Last week, or actually two weeks ago, I was preaching at Salles Church, Hunter park, and I 387 00:18:06,428 --> 00:18:10,054 came out in the lobby, and I just got to tell you, here's why I love giving to our church. 388 00:18:10,102 --> 00:18:13,014 There are a bunch of great churches in Riverside. 389 00:18:13,142 --> 00:18:16,102 There are amazing churches in southern California. 390 00:18:16,166 --> 00:18:18,780 But I want to ask you, how many churches are like this? 391 00:18:20,030 --> 00:18:24,602 Two weeks ago, I ended the sermon with work hard to keep money in its place because Jesus 392 00:18:24,666 --> 00:18:27,440 said, you cannot serve both God and money. 393 00:18:28,050 --> 00:18:32,218 I was in the lobby at Hunter park, and a young woman came up to me with tears in her eyes, 394 00:18:32,404 --> 00:18:34,260 and she said, can I hug you? 395 00:18:35,510 --> 00:18:36,402 I said, sure. 396 00:18:36,456 --> 00:18:37,058 Why? 397 00:18:37,224 --> 00:18:39,300 She said, you changed my life today. 398 00:18:40,950 --> 00:18:43,140 She said, you saved my life today. 399 00:18:44,550 --> 00:18:46,178 And she gave me a hug. 400 00:18:46,354 --> 00:18:52,006 Security was pressing in, and I said, how did I save your life? 401 00:18:52,108 --> 00:18:53,190 What changed today? 402 00:18:53,340 --> 00:18:55,560 She said, I worship money. 403 00:18:57,130 --> 00:18:58,950 She said, that's my sin. 404 00:18:59,930 --> 00:19:01,786 I said, what do you do for a living? 405 00:19:01,968 --> 00:19:04,650 With tears in her eyes, she said, I'm a stripper. 406 00:19:05,630 --> 00:19:07,082 She said, I hate it. 407 00:19:07,216 --> 00:19:09,322 She said, hey, I hate everything I do. 408 00:19:09,456 --> 00:19:12,220 She said, but I love the money. 409 00:19:12,830 --> 00:19:17,354 And she looked at me and she said, I've been worshiping the wrong God, and this church 410 00:19:17,402 --> 00:19:17,966 saved my life. 411 00:19:17,988 --> 00:19:23,626 Now let me ask you, how many churches, not just in Riverside, not just in southern 412 00:19:23,658 --> 00:19:28,226 California, not just in the world, would a woman walk up to the senior pastor and say, I 413 00:19:28,248 --> 00:19:30,914 was a stripper, but I've been changed today. 414 00:19:31,032 --> 00:19:32,670 That's sandals church. 415 00:19:32,750 --> 00:19:33,454 Amen. 416 00:19:33,582 --> 00:19:34,660 That's us. 417 00:19:38,890 --> 00:19:42,840 We welcome the people that fit nowhere else. 418 00:19:44,010 --> 00:19:48,550 What I tell people is sandals church is the last bus stop in a thing called Christianity. 419 00:19:50,190 --> 00:19:51,820 We're like the last one. 420 00:19:55,790 --> 00:19:58,540 One of my favorite stories is a guy in my small group. 421 00:19:59,150 --> 00:20:03,946 His dad was a meth addict, and he said, I want to go to church. 422 00:20:04,058 --> 00:20:06,074 And his son Adam said, go to sandals. 423 00:20:06,122 --> 00:20:07,120 They take anybody. 424 00:20:10,050 --> 00:20:10,878 And we did. 425 00:20:10,964 --> 00:20:12,542 And his dad gave his life to Christ. 426 00:20:12,596 --> 00:20:13,600 Isn't that amazing? 427 00:20:14,050 --> 00:20:15,198 That's why I give. 428 00:20:15,284 --> 00:20:15,966 And here's the thing. 429 00:20:15,988 --> 00:20:20,158 A lot of times we think about rewards just as this transaction. 430 00:20:20,254 --> 00:20:25,038 And by the way, anybody who gives money to God to get more money to God is missing the 431 00:20:25,064 --> 00:20:25,640 point. 432 00:20:28,170 --> 00:20:30,310 The rewards are not just financial. 433 00:20:31,610 --> 00:20:37,266 I don't know what you did with your week, but I got to look into the eyes of a young woman 434 00:20:37,298 --> 00:20:38,730 whose life was changed. 435 00:20:39,790 --> 00:20:41,178 She's a single mom. 436 00:20:41,344 --> 00:20:48,026 It's not just going to affect her life, but her kids life because she was confronted with 437 00:20:48,048 --> 00:20:50,300 the fact that she worships a false God. 438 00:20:52,130 --> 00:20:56,046 I don't know if you've been confronted, but maybe you're worshiping a false God during this 439 00:20:56,068 --> 00:20:56,750 series. 440 00:20:57,650 --> 00:20:59,514 So jesus taught that generosity. 441 00:20:59,562 --> 00:21:00,190 Listen to this. 442 00:21:00,260 --> 00:21:02,350 Doesn't crave attention. 443 00:21:03,270 --> 00:21:04,420 This is key. 444 00:21:05,750 --> 00:21:07,140 This is so key. 445 00:21:07,830 --> 00:21:09,186 Jesus taught this. 446 00:21:09,288 --> 00:21:13,390 He said, thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet. 447 00:21:13,550 --> 00:21:15,540 Don't put it on social media. 448 00:21:16,150 --> 00:21:16,900 Right. 449 00:21:17,430 --> 00:21:18,174 Oh, my gosh. 450 00:21:18,222 --> 00:21:23,334 I mean, everybody on social media is this know person that's trying to get attention for 451 00:21:23,372 --> 00:21:25,080 all the things that they do. 452 00:21:25,770 --> 00:21:28,070 He says, don't make a big deal about what you do. 453 00:21:28,140 --> 00:21:29,766 And here's one of the things I got to confess to you. 454 00:21:29,788 --> 00:21:34,314 I've been struggling with this because last week on social media, I got slammed by an ex 455 00:21:34,352 --> 00:21:38,602 church member who literally cussed me out on social media. 456 00:21:38,656 --> 00:21:41,974 Some of you guys have seen this because I'm trying to raise money so we can have parking 457 00:21:42,022 --> 00:21:42,810 lots. 458 00:21:43,550 --> 00:21:44,746 How dare you? 459 00:21:44,848 --> 00:21:49,198 This person said, came at me, told me to f off and our church to f off. 460 00:21:49,204 --> 00:21:50,202 And I was just like, oh, my gosh. 461 00:21:50,266 --> 00:21:53,006 And it's because of all the things going on in the world, you're raising money for 462 00:21:53,028 --> 00:21:53,262 yourself. 463 00:21:53,316 --> 00:21:54,480 And I just thought, oh. 464 00:21:55,010 --> 00:21:58,434 And I told our team, our executive team, I said, we got to do a better job letting people 465 00:21:58,472 --> 00:21:58,626 know. 466 00:21:58,648 --> 00:21:59,970 But here's the tension. 467 00:22:00,390 --> 00:22:02,850 I don't want to be sounding our horn. 468 00:22:03,190 --> 00:22:04,626 Look at all the good things that we do. 469 00:22:04,648 --> 00:22:07,318 But I got to let you guys know, hey, here's some of the things that we're doing with the 470 00:22:07,324 --> 00:22:08,440 money that you're given. 471 00:22:08,970 --> 00:22:15,126 And so in the next couple of weeks, I'm going to show you some videos of me touring a 472 00:22:15,148 --> 00:22:19,106 quadplex condo complex that we're building for our missionaries. 473 00:22:19,138 --> 00:22:24,186 When they come home, it can be a studio apartment, two bedroom, three bedroom, or four 474 00:22:24,208 --> 00:22:26,106 bedroom with kitchens and everything you say. 475 00:22:26,128 --> 00:22:26,682 Why is that important? 476 00:22:26,736 --> 00:22:29,660 Because missionaries come in all shapes, sizes, and families and numbers. 477 00:22:30,270 --> 00:22:34,154 And when they come back, we want to be able to meet the needs of them. 478 00:22:34,192 --> 00:22:34,854 They're our goers. 479 00:22:34,902 --> 00:22:37,022 And when they come back, we want to welcome them. 480 00:22:37,156 --> 00:22:38,814 And we were able to do that. 481 00:22:38,932 --> 00:22:42,990 I'm going to show you a video of a laundry facility that we finished in San Bernardino. 482 00:22:43,650 --> 00:22:48,226 The number one reason kids in San Bernardino give for missing school is they don't have 483 00:22:48,248 --> 00:22:50,414 clean clothes and sandals. 484 00:22:50,462 --> 00:22:51,662 Church has built a laundry facility. 485 00:22:51,726 --> 00:22:52,366 It's fantastic. 486 00:22:52,398 --> 00:22:53,714 You're going to see it. 487 00:22:53,912 --> 00:22:56,802 And kids get to come in and use the facility for free. 488 00:22:56,856 --> 00:22:59,478 All they got to do is sign up for it and kids are coming every day. 489 00:22:59,644 --> 00:23:03,442 I saw the list of names of the kids that use it the night before I filmed. 490 00:23:03,506 --> 00:23:04,760 We're doing that. 491 00:23:05,690 --> 00:23:07,778 We're not just raising money for parking lots. 492 00:23:07,874 --> 00:23:09,398 We're not just raising money for raises. 493 00:23:09,494 --> 00:23:12,730 We gave almost $250,000 to Ukraine. 494 00:23:15,470 --> 00:23:16,486 We're not paying for bombs. 495 00:23:16,518 --> 00:23:17,286 We're paying for souls. 496 00:23:17,318 --> 00:23:19,100 We're trying to save people's lives. 497 00:23:20,990 --> 00:23:25,790 We gave another couple hundred thousand dollars to Turkey, to primarily a muslim community 498 00:23:25,860 --> 00:23:27,226 that's been rocked by an earthquake. 499 00:23:27,258 --> 00:23:31,518 And I know the world is forgotten, but those people still need houses and our ministry and 500 00:23:31,524 --> 00:23:33,038 our dollars are still working there. 501 00:23:33,124 --> 00:23:36,898 And just so you know, when the time is right and we're able to minister to the people in 502 00:23:36,904 --> 00:23:40,500 Gaza, we will do that at Sandals church because that is who we are. 503 00:23:41,590 --> 00:23:44,466 But we live in this world where everything is. 504 00:23:44,648 --> 00:23:47,306 I've made a post and so therefore I'm generous. 505 00:23:47,358 --> 00:23:48,002 I'm woke. 506 00:23:48,066 --> 00:23:49,160 I am amazing. 507 00:23:50,890 --> 00:23:52,310 Jesus says, don't do that. 508 00:23:52,380 --> 00:23:55,154 It's not who you are on social media that matters. 509 00:23:55,202 --> 00:23:57,750 It's who you are in your real life that matters. 510 00:23:58,090 --> 00:23:59,814 And so when you give. 511 00:24:00,012 --> 00:24:01,830 Don't sound a trumpet. 512 00:24:02,330 --> 00:24:03,560 Don't do that. 513 00:24:04,590 --> 00:24:07,498 It always makes me feel so weird, you know when you're at the grocery store and you want to 514 00:24:07,504 --> 00:24:10,346 give money to kids, cancer or whatever, and they ring the bell. 515 00:24:10,378 --> 00:24:11,674 It's so embarrassing. 516 00:24:11,802 --> 00:24:12,826 Bing, bing, bing, bing, bing. 517 00:24:12,858 --> 00:24:15,054 I'm like, can you just not do that? 518 00:24:15,252 --> 00:24:18,000 Can I give extra for you not to do that? 519 00:24:20,290 --> 00:24:22,510 It's so embarrassing. 520 00:24:23,410 --> 00:24:25,140 But some people love that. 521 00:24:26,070 --> 00:24:28,210 And you just rounded up $0.02. 522 00:24:28,630 --> 00:24:30,050 Do you want to round up for children? 523 00:24:30,120 --> 00:24:31,166 Oh, it's $0.99. 524 00:24:31,198 --> 00:24:33,490 I'll do it because I'm generous. 525 00:24:36,570 --> 00:24:43,190 Jesus says, don't do it like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets. 526 00:24:44,810 --> 00:24:48,678 A lot of churches when you go there, and I don't want to shame these churches, I just don't 527 00:24:48,684 --> 00:24:49,126 agree with it. 528 00:24:49,148 --> 00:24:50,854 You see people's names on the buildings. 529 00:24:50,902 --> 00:24:52,220 I just don't like that. 530 00:24:53,150 --> 00:24:54,460 I don't like that. 531 00:24:56,030 --> 00:24:57,098 Listen to what he says. 532 00:24:57,184 --> 00:24:59,820 They do it so that they may be praised by others. 533 00:25:00,770 --> 00:25:02,910 Now this teaching is powerful. 534 00:25:04,290 --> 00:25:06,718 Truly, I say to you, this is Jesus speaking. 535 00:25:06,804 --> 00:25:09,280 He says, they have received their reward in full. 536 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:18,696 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is 537 00:25:18,718 --> 00:25:19,192 doing. 538 00:25:19,326 --> 00:25:20,600 Isn't that incredible? 539 00:25:23,020 --> 00:25:26,440 So that your giving may be in secret. 540 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:27,790 Wow. 541 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:33,212 One of the reasons it's so important that we do that at this church is that we don't treat 542 00:25:33,266 --> 00:25:34,460 people differently. 543 00:25:35,360 --> 00:25:36,430 It's important. 544 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:44,530 And he says this, and your father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 545 00:25:45,540 --> 00:25:49,330 Man, this is so, so important. 546 00:25:50,420 --> 00:25:55,584 Years ago, I was talking with one of our campus pastors, and he's been with us a long time, 547 00:25:55,622 --> 00:25:58,564 and he said, oh, you remember that time we were trying to raise money? 548 00:25:58,602 --> 00:26:02,480 It was called 24/7 it was our first giving campaign to buy the Hunter park facility. 549 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:04,448 And I preached on Noah's ark. 550 00:26:04,464 --> 00:26:07,696 And I literally said, this is back in my younger days, it was a little offensive. 551 00:26:07,888 --> 00:26:09,176 You guys think I'm offensive now? 552 00:26:09,198 --> 00:26:11,770 You should have come to church, like 20 years ago. 553 00:26:12,300 --> 00:26:14,772 And my whole sermon was, everybody got on the ark. 554 00:26:14,836 --> 00:26:17,740 It was people or animals, and only the people contributed. 555 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:20,830 So are you an animal or a person? 556 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:24,380 I don't. 557 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:26,844 Okay. 558 00:26:26,882 --> 00:26:27,928 It was a little rough. 559 00:26:28,024 --> 00:26:29,420 It was a little rough. 560 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:39,480 But here's what I did, is I told the Church how much I was giving, and this young leader, 561 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:40,028 he loved that. 562 00:26:40,034 --> 00:26:44,084 And I wrestled with whether or not to tell you guys what Tammy and I are going to do. 563 00:26:44,122 --> 00:26:46,132 And I told the number, amount. 564 00:26:46,186 --> 00:26:49,748 And at the time, I think it inspired a bunch of young people to give, and I'm not going to 565 00:26:49,754 --> 00:26:53,364 tell you what I'm giving because I think that you just need to know that I am. 566 00:26:53,482 --> 00:26:57,160 That I'm going to give over and above, and I'm going to give sacrificially. 567 00:26:57,580 --> 00:27:00,920 But I think it's important that I don't sound the trumpet. 568 00:27:01,420 --> 00:27:02,872 But I want you to know this. 569 00:27:02,926 --> 00:27:06,490 I never ask you to do something that I don't do. 570 00:27:07,900 --> 00:27:09,316 I ask you to serve the church. 571 00:27:09,348 --> 00:27:10,036 I serve the church. 572 00:27:10,068 --> 00:27:11,380 I ask you to give to the church. 573 00:27:11,460 --> 00:27:12,296 I give to the church. 574 00:27:12,328 --> 00:27:13,532 I ask you to be in a small group. 575 00:27:13,586 --> 00:27:14,830 I'm in a small group. 576 00:27:17,450 --> 00:27:20,200 I would never ask you to do something I wouldn't do myself. 577 00:27:22,430 --> 00:27:26,940 Jesus says it's so important to not make a big deal. 578 00:27:29,070 --> 00:27:31,562 There's a lot of ways to show off in your life. 579 00:27:31,696 --> 00:27:36,494 I don't think any of them are good, but it's especially not good to show off with what you 580 00:27:36,532 --> 00:27:41,902 give and make sure that you understand this. 581 00:27:42,036 --> 00:27:46,126 So we're going to work harder to let you guys know what we're doing, just so that you can 582 00:27:46,148 --> 00:27:47,306 know, because I think we're all curious. 583 00:27:47,338 --> 00:27:49,022 Okay, well, where is all this money going? 584 00:27:49,156 --> 00:27:50,866 What happens with all of this? 585 00:27:51,048 --> 00:27:52,242 One of the most exciting things. 586 00:27:52,296 --> 00:27:54,930 Remember last week when I was a menafee and I fell off the stage? 587 00:27:55,910 --> 00:27:56,642 That was awesome. 588 00:27:56,696 --> 00:28:00,760 I told my wife, when we look back and we say, when was the day we became old? 589 00:28:02,490 --> 00:28:03,606 That was the day. 590 00:28:03,708 --> 00:28:05,880 That was the day when I cross over. 591 00:28:06,490 --> 00:28:12,380 When stairs are your enemy, you are now old man. 592 00:28:12,910 --> 00:28:14,246 So it was so embarrassing. 593 00:28:14,278 --> 00:28:20,330 Next service, they put lights on it for me right here, Pastor Matt. 594 00:28:22,350 --> 00:28:24,250 Lastly, stay focused. 595 00:28:25,870 --> 00:28:29,022 Jesus taught that generosity, this is so important. 596 00:28:29,156 --> 00:28:33,886 And some of you have been christians for a long time, and what I'm going to say in this 597 00:28:33,908 --> 00:28:35,620 last point is going to rock you. 598 00:28:37,030 --> 00:28:41,010 Jesus taught that generosity helps to keep me spiritually sharp. 599 00:28:43,110 --> 00:28:46,766 You see, a relationship with Jesus is like all relationships. 600 00:28:46,958 --> 00:28:49,670 There are ups and there are downs. 601 00:28:50,810 --> 00:28:52,530 There are ups and there are downs. 602 00:28:52,690 --> 00:28:56,354 When you first start dating guys, you're all about the gifts. 603 00:28:56,482 --> 00:28:57,654 Then you're married ten years. 604 00:28:57,692 --> 00:29:01,030 Like, was I supposed to get a gift? 605 00:29:01,710 --> 00:29:04,890 Yes, go get a gift. 606 00:29:07,470 --> 00:29:13,466 But, you know, you can tell how you feel about a relationship based upon the gifts that you 607 00:29:13,488 --> 00:29:14,058 want to give. 608 00:29:14,144 --> 00:29:15,180 It's just true. 609 00:29:16,350 --> 00:29:18,522 Jesus understands there are ups and downs. 610 00:29:18,586 --> 00:29:21,280 He doesn't expect you to be on fire all the time. 611 00:29:22,050 --> 00:29:24,110 People that are like that are liars. 612 00:29:24,870 --> 00:29:25,890 They're not on fire. 613 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:27,250 They're shouters. 614 00:29:28,710 --> 00:29:30,062 Jesus understands. 615 00:29:30,126 --> 00:29:31,230 He understands. 616 00:29:31,310 --> 00:29:32,878 He knows what it's like to be tired. 617 00:29:32,974 --> 00:29:34,210 He was bored. 618 00:29:34,550 --> 00:29:37,422 He gets the mundane aspects of life. 619 00:29:37,496 --> 00:29:38,600 He was a human. 620 00:29:40,010 --> 00:29:43,426 Jesus understands that relationships have ups and downs. 621 00:29:43,458 --> 00:29:45,560 He just doesn't want a dead relationship. 622 00:29:47,370 --> 00:29:54,714 And so in the book of revelation, it begins with a letter to churches who've let their 623 00:29:54,752 --> 00:29:56,890 relationship with God slip. 624 00:29:58,110 --> 00:30:01,450 And there's a particular letter to the church at Laodicea. 625 00:30:01,790 --> 00:30:03,034 And here's the thing you need to know. 626 00:30:03,072 --> 00:30:08,094 This church doesn't exist anymore, but the letter does because Jesus said, my words will 627 00:30:08,132 --> 00:30:08,346 remain. 628 00:30:08,378 --> 00:30:09,150 And he was true. 629 00:30:09,220 --> 00:30:10,286 He was right. 630 00:30:10,468 --> 00:30:14,974 Thousands of years later, we have to excavate where this church was, and it's just 631 00:30:15,012 --> 00:30:20,994 literally stones and dirt and not a lot of life. 632 00:30:21,032 --> 00:30:24,434 But at one time, there was a lot of life there, and there was a lot of people there who had 633 00:30:24,472 --> 00:30:26,020 done really, really well. 634 00:30:27,690 --> 00:30:34,806 And Jesus says to this church at Leodicea, in revelation, chapter three, verses 15 through 635 00:30:34,828 --> 00:30:36,710 18, he says, I know your deeds. 636 00:30:38,650 --> 00:30:40,150 I know your deeds. 637 00:30:41,450 --> 00:30:45,098 My wife and I, man, whenever I go on a vacation, she's always, like, worried about what I'm 638 00:30:45,104 --> 00:30:46,540 going to do when she's not around. 639 00:30:47,470 --> 00:30:49,260 And you know what I just told her one time? 640 00:30:50,030 --> 00:30:52,054 I said, you're scary. 641 00:30:52,182 --> 00:30:53,340 Let's just say that. 642 00:30:54,590 --> 00:30:56,974 But I don't live a righteous life because I fear you. 643 00:30:57,012 --> 00:30:58,270 I fear the Lord. 644 00:30:58,930 --> 00:31:00,880 There's no hiding from God. 645 00:31:01,890 --> 00:31:03,582 And some of you think you can. 646 00:31:03,716 --> 00:31:07,540 That's why the psalmist says, even in the darkness, you are there. 647 00:31:09,990 --> 00:31:11,570 I know your deeds. 648 00:31:12,470 --> 00:31:16,900 And this is Jesus speaking to a christian church 2000 years ago. 649 00:31:17,590 --> 00:31:21,160 He says that you are neither cold nor hot. 650 00:31:23,610 --> 00:31:25,990 You're not on fire, and you're not falling away. 651 00:31:26,060 --> 00:31:27,222 Listen to what Jesus says. 652 00:31:27,276 --> 00:31:29,400 I wish you were either one or the other. 653 00:31:30,830 --> 00:31:31,580 Wow. 654 00:31:33,710 --> 00:31:40,170 So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I'm about to spit you out of my mouth. 655 00:31:41,470 --> 00:31:43,360 Now, you've all heard this. 656 00:31:44,930 --> 00:31:49,230 You've all heard this, but many of you have never read it in context. 657 00:31:49,890 --> 00:31:51,200 What's their problem? 658 00:31:51,890 --> 00:31:53,038 Why aren't they hot? 659 00:31:53,124 --> 00:31:54,282 Why aren't they cold? 660 00:31:54,346 --> 00:31:56,290 Because they've been blessed. 661 00:31:57,670 --> 00:31:59,586 And Jesus calls them out. 662 00:31:59,688 --> 00:32:01,970 He says, you say, I'm rich. 663 00:32:02,950 --> 00:32:04,446 I have acquired wealth. 664 00:32:04,478 --> 00:32:07,634 I don't need a thing, man. 665 00:32:07,832 --> 00:32:11,826 For some of you, the worst thing that could ever happen to you is you win the lottery. 666 00:32:12,018 --> 00:32:14,166 It could destroy your life. 667 00:32:14,348 --> 00:32:20,314 You say, I'm rich, but you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and, 668 00:32:20,352 --> 00:32:22,090 oh, by the way, naked. 669 00:32:23,950 --> 00:32:31,020 Jesus says, I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire. 670 00:32:31,710 --> 00:32:36,750 Listen to this so you can become rich. 671 00:32:39,330 --> 00:32:42,810 I have seen this over and over again in our church. 672 00:32:42,970 --> 00:32:46,366 You know how I know when a person is slipping from sandals? 673 00:32:46,558 --> 00:32:48,130 When their giving slips? 674 00:32:49,830 --> 00:32:53,460 The best way to take your spiritual temperature is to look at your giving. 675 00:32:55,910 --> 00:32:57,140 It just is. 676 00:32:58,330 --> 00:33:00,962 And here's what happened to the church at Laodicea. 677 00:33:01,106 --> 00:33:05,510 They were wealthy, they were blessed, and they were just kind of cruising. 678 00:33:07,370 --> 00:33:11,240 Your financial comfort may be your greatest enemy to Christ. 679 00:33:13,530 --> 00:33:14,938 And here's what Jesus said. 680 00:33:15,024 --> 00:33:16,746 If you don't change, I'm going to spit you out. 681 00:33:16,768 --> 00:33:17,258 And listen to me. 682 00:33:17,264 --> 00:33:18,470 There's no one there anymore. 683 00:33:18,550 --> 00:33:20,540 We don't know what happened, but we can guess. 684 00:33:21,870 --> 00:33:24,160 But his words are still here. 685 00:33:26,050 --> 00:33:31,486 And then here I'm going to finish with one of the most misused texts in the history of 686 00:33:31,508 --> 00:33:32,270 scripture. 687 00:33:33,090 --> 00:33:36,366 I wish that you were hot and or cold, but you are not either, because you've fallen in love 688 00:33:36,388 --> 00:33:36,894 with your money. 689 00:33:36,932 --> 00:33:39,054 And some of you say, well, thank God I'm not rich. 690 00:33:39,182 --> 00:33:39,826 Listen to me. 691 00:33:39,848 --> 00:33:48,626 If you make $32,000 more or more, $32,000 a year or more, you are in the top 1% of income 692 00:33:48,658 --> 00:33:50,200 earners in the world. 693 00:33:51,370 --> 00:33:52,440 In the world. 694 00:33:54,010 --> 00:33:59,206 And the only reason you think you're poor is because you haven't gotten out and seen what 695 00:33:59,228 --> 00:34:00,540 poverty is. 696 00:34:03,260 --> 00:34:04,776 You haven't seen it. 697 00:34:04,958 --> 00:34:07,690 You have no idea how blessed you are. 698 00:34:10,460 --> 00:34:14,170 America has many problems, but you are blessed to live here. 699 00:34:15,980 --> 00:34:19,928 And we know this because every day there are thousands upon thousands of people crossing 700 00:34:19,944 --> 00:34:24,824 our border illegally because they would rather be a criminal here than a citizen somewhere 701 00:34:24,872 --> 00:34:25,470 else. 702 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:27,810 Because they know. 703 00:34:28,340 --> 00:34:29,410 They know. 704 00:34:31,380 --> 00:34:33,184 And we're all upset at what we don't have. 705 00:34:33,222 --> 00:34:35,040 And we haven't thanked God for what we do have. 706 00:34:35,110 --> 00:34:37,440 And here's how this passage ends. 707 00:34:38,420 --> 00:34:39,712 I wish that you were hot. 708 00:34:39,766 --> 00:34:40,944 I wish that you were cold. 709 00:34:40,992 --> 00:34:41,712 But you're neither. 710 00:34:41,776 --> 00:34:43,700 You're just lukewarm. 711 00:34:44,680 --> 00:34:46,400 He says, I'm going to spit you out of my mouth. 712 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:49,216 And then the passages ends with this verse. 713 00:34:49,328 --> 00:34:52,600 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. 714 00:34:54,780 --> 00:35:00,970 If anyone would answer that door and let me in, I would sit down and eat with them. 715 00:35:02,860 --> 00:35:06,792 We all use this as an invitation for people to accept Christ in their hearts. 716 00:35:06,856 --> 00:35:10,510 This is an invitation for the church and christians to let him back in. 717 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:13,470 And what happened? 718 00:35:14,080 --> 00:35:16,140 They fell in love with their comfort. 719 00:35:18,340 --> 00:35:20,850 They fell in love with their own money. 720 00:35:21,620 --> 00:35:26,160 They thought they were rich, but according to Jesus, they were broke. 721 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:33,380 Generosity is the best way I know to keep me spiritually sharp. 722 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:37,510 It's not the only way, but it's a great way. 723 00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:42,496 And so let's just end as we prepare to take an offering. 724 00:35:42,528 --> 00:35:46,170 And by the way, if you're not ready to give today, you can give throughout the year. 725 00:35:46,700 --> 00:35:47,844 There's two calls. 726 00:35:47,972 --> 00:35:49,976 If you're not a regular giver yet, step up. 727 00:35:49,998 --> 00:35:50,836 Become a regular giver. 728 00:35:50,868 --> 00:35:54,916 If you are a regular giver, pray about giving above and beyond, because that's what we're 729 00:35:54,948 --> 00:35:55,770 trying to do. 730 00:35:56,460 --> 00:35:58,808 We still need to raise a couple of million bucks. 731 00:35:58,984 --> 00:36:00,044 We got a long way to go. 732 00:36:00,082 --> 00:36:00,588 Just pray about it. 733 00:36:00,594 --> 00:36:02,844 Say, lord, what do you want me to do? 734 00:36:03,042 --> 00:36:05,070 And whatever God says, do it. 735 00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:10,512 But generosity is a great way to invite Jesus back into our hearts, back into our lives, 736 00:36:10,566 --> 00:36:13,120 and think about that illustration back into our homes. 737 00:36:14,420 --> 00:36:16,960 How sad would that be for us as christians? 738 00:36:17,540 --> 00:36:22,228 You're all offended that it's all about Santa everywhere else, but Jesus saying, is it 739 00:36:22,234 --> 00:36:23,430 about me in your home? 740 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:29,110 And he's knocking at the door and he's saying, I want to come in. 741 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:31,860 So let me close by saying this. 742 00:36:32,010 --> 00:36:34,228 I'm just so grateful for those of you who give. 743 00:36:34,394 --> 00:36:35,184 I am. 744 00:36:35,322 --> 00:36:37,480 There is no ministry without your giving. 745 00:36:37,550 --> 00:36:38,612 It doesn't exist. 746 00:36:38,756 --> 00:36:42,388 And I'm so grateful, and I'm looking forward to see what we do as a church. 747 00:36:42,484 --> 00:36:44,520 And just know this, I'm in this with you. 748 00:36:44,590 --> 00:36:47,132 Tammy and I are giving, and I look forward to what we give. 749 00:36:47,266 --> 00:36:53,992 So let's close and pray and ask God to move in our hearts and then to bless and multiply 750 00:36:54,056 --> 00:36:56,140 this offering, okay? 751 00:36:56,290 --> 00:36:57,324 Because God can do that. 752 00:36:57,362 --> 00:36:58,444 He can multiply things. 753 00:36:58,482 --> 00:36:59,584 So let's ask him to do that. 754 00:36:59,622 --> 00:37:00,124 Let's pray. 755 00:37:00,172 --> 00:37:05,952 Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, we pray, Lord, that we would give whatever amount 756 00:37:06,006 --> 00:37:10,144 that you're calling us to give for this special offering, Lord, that we would feel good 757 00:37:10,182 --> 00:37:12,796 about it, and that we would give cheerfully, Lord. 758 00:37:12,828 --> 00:37:14,736 And that we would give generously, Lord. 759 00:37:14,768 --> 00:37:16,388 Whatever it is, I pray that we give it. 760 00:37:16,474 --> 00:37:22,516 God, I just ask that as this money comes in, Lord, from online, from our campuses, and from 761 00:37:22,538 --> 00:37:26,720 our friends, from other churches that watch sandals, as well as attend their own church, 762 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:32,004 God, I just pray that you would bless this and multiply it, just like you did when a young 763 00:37:32,042 --> 00:37:33,340 boy brought some. 764 00:37:33,370 --> 00:37:36,088 Some fishes and loaves of bread. 765 00:37:36,264 --> 00:37:41,784 And God, as you used it to feed the 50,000, Lord, I pray that you would use this offering 766 00:37:41,832 --> 00:37:48,888 to meet the needs that we have as a church so that we can charge in to 2024, Lord, leading 767 00:37:48,984 --> 00:37:50,204 people to Christ. 768 00:37:50,322 --> 00:37:52,172 We pray this in Jesus name. 769 00:37:52,306 --> 00:37:53,048 Amen. 770 00:37:53,144 --> 00:37:53,480 Amen.