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Cultivating Generosity: Encouraging Heart-Felt Giving

Explore the reasons behind Christians' lack of generosity in giving and learn how to encourage their hearts to grow in grace, love, and commitment to Christ and His church. Discover the characteristics of heart-felt giving through 2 Corinthians 8:1-9.

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Cultivating Generosity: Encouraging Heart-Felt Giving

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  1. Guide (C) 2002 The Stewardship Development Association

  2. Scripture Theme. What causes Christians to lack generosity in their Giving? For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Christians will be generous givers when their hearts are encouraged to grow in grace, love and commitment to Christ and His church.

  3. Scripture Theme. Characteristics of heart-felt giving - 2 Cor. 8:1-9  They gave out of their own affliction and poverty. (8:2)  They gave of their own free will. (8:3)  They gave themselves, not just their money. (9:5)  They gave out of joy. (8:3)

  4. Scripture Theme. Characteristics of heart-felt giving - 2 Cor. 8:1-9 Continued  They gave according to their means. (8:3)  They gave because He first gave. (9:9)

  5. Mission of stewardship leaders A vital mission is to encourage giver’s hearts.  You encourage givers’ hearts by facilitating growth in their Christian faith.  You allow God in worship and service to work in their hearts.  Allow believers to feel the meaning of generosity.

  6. Paul’s Purpose Paul was concerned about motives.  He was inspired by the heart-felt sacrificial giving of the Macedonians.  He now wanted the Corinthians to experience God’s grace working in their hearts. (8:6)  Paul was leading from his heart as he encouraged the Corinthians.

  7. Contemporary Applications.  God wants us to first give ourselves. (8:5)  Giving is a Christian grace. (8:1,7)  If we truly want to tithe/give, God will provide a way (8:1,3)  Giving is at the heart of the Christian faith and church’s ministries today.

  8. Contemporary Applications. Continued  Giving lets you see and experience God’s purposes and will for you.  “The mind grows by what it takes in; the heart grows by what it gives out.” Warren Wiersbe

  9. Overview

  10. Scripture Theme. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 2 Cor. 8:5

  11. Advance Preparation Three months ahead  Enrichment idea! Conduct a family money management conference for church families.

  12. Advance Preparation One month ahead  Order materials from your state stewardship department or print them from CD.  Select dates for Encouraging the Heart emphasis

  13. Advance Preparation Three weeks ahead  Plan sermons  Enlist persons to share testimonies  Choose a Bible Study teacher to present an overview of the lesson to all youth/adult teachers

  14. Three Sunday Activities Sunday 1: Encouraging Giver’s Hearts  Distribute Sunday School lesson leaflets and offering envelopes  Announce plans for Encouraging the Heart  Hear testimonies  Preach sermon on 2 Cor. 8:1

  15. Three Sunday Activities Sunday 1: Encouraging Giver’s Hearts Continued  Worship handouts  Drama in worship service  Mail Giving from the Heart offering letters

  16. Three Sunday Activities Sunday 2: Inspiring Christians to Give  Teach the Sunday School lesson  Hear testimonies  Preach sermon on 2 Cor. 8:3  Receive the Giving from the Heart offering.  Mail letters about consecration service

  17. Three Sunday Activities Sunday 3: Giving from the Heart  Hear testimonies  Preach sermon on 2 Cor. 8:5  Conduct a consecration service  Receive commitment cards  Announce the results of the Giving from the Heart offering.

  18. Worship Suggestions Sermons  Find sermon suggestions in the Pastor’s Leadership Resource Manual Drama  Find a drama in Pastor’s Leadership Resource Manual

  19. Worship Suggestions Continued Share Blessings - Testimony suggestions  How giving has changed my heart.  Why I give sacrificially to my church.  Why I believe God loves a cheerful giver.

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