Outlive Your Life Living a Generous Life

Koinonia (Fellowship) can be translated:

Community (Phil. 2:1 Mes)    Participation (1 Cor. 10:16 NIV)

Contribution (Rom. 15:26 NIV)  Generosity (2 Cor. 9:13 GW)

WHY BE GENEROUS?

1. It Creates Community

“Your generosity... not only provides for the needs of God's

people, but also produces prayers of thanksgiving to God.”

2 Corinthians 9:11-12 (GW)

“Your heart will be wherever your treasure is.”  Mt. 6:21 (NCV)

“The community of believers… shared everything in common.” Acts 4:32 (NAB)

2. It Defeats Materialism

“You cannot serve both God and money.”   Matthew 6:24 (NIV)

3. It Strengthens My Faith

“Your giving proves the reality of your faith...”  2 Cor. 9:13 (Ph)

“Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”   2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)

“God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you

need and… plenty left over to give joyfully to others.”   2 Cor. 9:8

4. It’s an Investment for Eternity

“     .” Luke 16:9  NLT

“Tell the rich to use their money to do good… giving happily to

those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever

God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real

treasure for themselves in heaven--the only safe investment for

for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.”  1 Timothy 6:18-19 (LB)

5. It Blesses Me in Return

“Give generously ... 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.”  Deut. 15:10 (NIV)

Luke 6:38, Proverbs 3:9-10; 11:25, Psalm 112:5-6

6. It Produces Joy

“There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”  Acts 20:35

7. It Makes Me More Like God

 “We all live off God’s generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.”

John 1:16 (Message)

“Everything we have has come from you Lord, and we can only give you what is yours already!”  1 Chron. 29:14 (LB)

 “You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts”

2 Corinthians 9:13 (NLT)

HOW CAN I PRACTICE GENEROSITY?

“If you’re really eager to give, it isn't important how much you

 are able to give.”  2 Corinthians. 8:12 (NLT)

“You must make up your own mind as to how much you should

give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.”  2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT)

Give Thoughtfully           Give Voluntarily

Give Enthusiastically               Give Cheerfully

“Celebrate the Harvest Festival, to honor the Lord, by bringing

him a freewill offering in proportion to the blessing he has

given you.” Deuteronomy 16:10 (GN)

“Remember the generosity of Jesus Christ, the Lord of us all. He was rich beyond our telling, yet he became poor for your

sake so that his poverty might make you rich.”    2 Cor. 8:9 (Ph)

“…We are saved because Jesus… out of sheer generosity moved to save us…”    Acts 15:11 (Message)