0:00:00.000,0:00:01.000 - 0:00:05.473,0:00:07.619 Welcome to the Deeper Wider[br]group study, 0:00:07.619,0:00:10.772 and thank you so much for interrupting[br]whatever you were discussing 0:00:10.772,0:00:15.099 to spend a few weeks talking[br]about money, specifically stewardship. 0:00:15.100,0:00:18.632 One reason I wanted[br]our entire network of churches 0:00:18.633,0:00:20.769 to get on the same page[br]in their small group 0:00:20.769,0:00:22.816 is because of an experience[br]Sandra and I had 0:00:22.816,0:00:24.799 early on in our marriage. 0:00:24.800,0:00:27.699 You may be familiar[br]with Crown financial study. 0:00:27.700,0:00:31.392 Crown is a group curriculum[br]that covers much of what your group 0:00:31.392,0:00:34.166 is going to be discussing[br]for the next few weeks. 0:00:34.167,0:00:37.499 In year two of our marriage,[br]a couple invited us 0:00:37.500,0:00:40.272 to participate in a Crown group[br]in their home. 0:00:41.438,0:00:43.666 Sandra and I were both[br]raised in church. 0:00:43.667,0:00:46.166 We were both taught[br]to tithe as children, 0:00:46.167,0:00:49.732 so giving 10% of our income[br]to the church was a childhood habit 0:00:49.733,0:00:53.332 that carried on into adulthood[br]and into our marriage. 0:00:53.333,0:00:56.222 But neither of us had ever done[br]a really deep dive 0:00:56.222,0:00:58.102 into what the New Testament 0:00:58.102,0:01:01.632 and Jesus, in particular,[br]taught about generosity. 0:01:01.633,0:01:03.679 Of course I had heard[br]dozens of sermons 0:01:03.679,0:01:06.205 related to God and money and giving. 0:01:06.205,0:01:08.436 And, again, since I was a giver, 0:01:08.436,0:01:12.266 those messages were more affirming[br]than maybe challenging. 0:01:12.267,0:01:13.799 But those Monday nights 0:01:13.800,0:01:15.999 with that group[br]shifted our thinking. 0:01:16.000,0:01:17.932 It was so impactful[br]that Sandra and I 0:01:17.933,0:01:21.999 went on to lead three groups[br]through that Crown curriculum. 0:01:22.000,0:01:24.299 Of course there were several takeaways, 0:01:24.300,0:01:29.799 but perhaps the biggest takeaway is[br]actually the focus of this first session. 0:01:29.800,0:01:32.566 It’s summarized in 1 Chronicles 29. 0:01:32.567,0:01:36.699 The author writes, “Everything[br]in heaven and earth is yours. 0:01:36.700,0:01:41.232 Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;[br]you are exalted as head over all. 0:01:41.233,0:01:46.599 Wealth and honor come from you;[br]you are the ruler of all things.” 0:01:46.600,0:01:50.599 It says, [br]“everything” and “all things”. 0:01:50.600,0:01:51.866 That was a game changer. 0:01:51.867,0:01:55.059 As I said, I was raised[br]to give a portion of my income 0:01:55.059,0:01:58.499 to God’s work in the world[br]through my local church. 0:01:58.500,0:02:01.599 But, honestly, I had never[br]really considered the fact 0:02:01.600,0:02:03.599 that everything belongs to God, 0:02:03.600,0:02:07.299 not just a percentage[br]of my income that I chose to give. 0:02:07.300,0:02:09.966 Another surprising takeaway[br]from that study was this: 0:02:09.967,0:02:12.932 How contagious generosity can be. 0:02:12.933,0:02:14.832 There were two couples in our group 0:02:14.833,0:02:18.766 whose generosity stories[br]were challenging and inspiring. 0:02:18.767,0:02:22.699 We already considered ourselves[br]to be generous Christians, 0:02:22.700,0:02:25.105 but in that group, [br]we discovered the difference 0:02:25.105,0:02:28.899 between giving[br]and living a generous life. 0:02:28.900,0:02:32.166 One of the things I hope you’ll do[br]over the next few sessions 0:02:32.167,0:02:35.366 is share your personal[br]generosity story. 0:02:35.367,0:02:37.932 If you don’t have one,[br]my hunch is, 0:02:37.933,0:02:41.599 when you hear others in your group talk[br]about how they learned to be generous, 0:02:41.600,0:02:45.699 it’s going to inspire you[br]to become, well, more generous. 0:02:45.700,0:02:48.332 And if you fear that,[br]fear not. 0:02:48.333,0:02:50.532 Generous people are happy people. 0:02:50.533,0:02:51.802 In fact, some would argue 0:02:51.802,0:02:54.699 that generous people[br]are the happiest people. 0:02:54.700,0:02:59.432 If you grew up attending church, you may[br]push back on this level of transparency 0:02:59.433,0:03:02.166 in light of something that Jesus said. 0:03:02.167,0:03:03.866 On one occasion, Jesus said 0:03:03.867,0:03:06.399 - in relationship[br]to giving and making donations - 0:03:06.400,0:03:10.356 he said, “don’t let your left hand[br]know what your right hand is doing”. 0:03:10.356,0:03:13.712 And many Christians, unfortunately,[br]have taken that to mean 0:03:13.712,0:03:16.632 that we should never[br]talk about our generosity. 0:03:16.633,0:03:17.932 But that was not his point. 0:03:17.933,0:03:21.269 His point was that we shouldn’t[br]brag about our generosity, 0:03:21.269,0:03:23.932 which, of course, you don’t do. 0:03:23.933,0:03:26.699 For the next few weeks,[br]in the safety of your circle, 0:03:26.700,0:03:28.699 I want to challenge you[br]or encourage you 0:03:28.700,0:03:31.999 to open up about[br]your personal generosity. 0:03:32.000,0:03:35.499 How did you learn to be generous?[br]Or maybe why you’re not generous. 0:03:35.500,0:03:38.099 Perhaps why the topic[br]of generosity scares you, 0:03:38.100,0:03:41.398 or why it used to scare you[br]but it doesn’t anymore. 0:03:41.398,0:03:43.644 Talk about how[br]your childhood experiences 0:03:43.644,0:03:45.475 impacted your view of money. 0:03:45.475,0:03:47.932 In other words, [br]just put it out there. 0:03:47.933,0:03:50.599 That’s what small group[br]is all about, right? 0:03:50.600,0:03:54.167 The other thing is this - throughout[br]this series, we’re going to circle back 0:03:54.167,0:03:57.232 to the difference between[br]average American generosity 0:03:57.233,0:03:59.932 and generosity as taught[br]in the New Testament. 0:03:59.933,0:04:02.899 My hunch is this -[br]you’re already a generous person 0:04:02.900,0:04:06.232 the way that the average American[br]defines generosity, 0:04:06.233,0:04:08.499 but over the course[br]of the next five weeks, 0:04:08.500,0:04:12.166 you’ll be challenged to rethink[br]your definition of generosity. 0:04:12.167,0:04:14.066 And not only generosity. 0:04:14.067,0:04:17.366 You’ll be challenged to adopt [br]a different perspective on your income, 0:04:17.367,0:04:19.632 your legacy, and your opportunity 0:04:19.633,0:04:23.632 to participate with your Savior[br]in expanding his kingdom. 0:04:23.633,0:04:25.366 So, this is a big deal. 0:04:25.367,0:04:29.432 And it’s a bit emotional because,[br]well, of course money is emotional. 0:04:29.433,0:04:32.899 Jesus knew that, and he knew[br]that we would all be tempted 0:04:32.900,0:04:37.880 to place our trust in riches rather[br]than in the One who richly provides, 0:04:37.880,0:04:40.990 which is the perfect place[br]to begin your discussion 0:04:40.990,0:04:44.666 with the question I introduced[br]in Week 1 of the message series: 0:04:44.667,0:04:46.666 Whose is it anyway? 0:04:46.667,0:04:47.799 Here’s the thing - 0:04:47.800,0:04:52.999 if you embrace the paradigm-shifting[br]idea that God owns it all 0:04:53.000,0:04:57.466 and that you are merely a manager,[br]it will truly change your life. 0:04:57.467,0:04:59.932 And not just the way[br]you view and manage your money. 0:04:59.933,0:05:04.766 This shift in thinking will impact[br]just about every facet of your life. 0:05:04.767,0:05:06.766 Again, thanks for participating. 0:05:06.767,0:05:10.273 And now I will turn it over[br]to your more than capable leader.