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Developing generosity. Over the last few weeks. ‘Developing generosity’. The importance of generosity Recognising and breaking a poverty spirit Tithing and radical generosity Living a generous life. Who?. Roy Plomley. The inventor of ‘Desert Island Discs’
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Over the last few weeks ‘Developing generosity’ • The importance of generosity • Recognising and breaking a poverty spirit • Tithing and radical generosity • Living a generous life
Roy Plomley The inventor of ‘Desert Island Discs’ first broadcast in January 1942!
A ‘desert island’ verse that really teaches us about our God…
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ Luke 6:38
We can only live a generous life as we live a devotional life
Living a generous life means seeing right into the heart of God
True generosity comes from the Father…(Ephesians 1:3-14) He chose us He adopted us He redeemed us He revealed his way to us He included us by His Spirit
1. If we are generous we shall be like him Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)
2. If we are generous we shall please him “Give, and it will be given to you” Luke 6:38
3. As we are generous he always gives more “A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap”. Luke 6:38
A reminder to us all - we are not defined by: • Our employment or lack of it • Our belongings • Our wealth • Our poverty • Our illness • Our family situation • Our past history • Our failure • Our character flaws
We are defined by one thing alone Our relationship to God, our loving heavenly Father, from whom all good things come and in whom we are to grow…
“I have tried to keep things in my hands and lost them all, but what I have given into God's hands I still possess.” Martin Luther 16th Century Reformer
Adopt generosity as a lifestyle! • Start somewhere… • Each week practice…. • Until we become really proficient at it!
…and so for tomorrow Remember TWO things: • the ‘lesson of generosity’ is a fundamental key to living the life of Christ • our astounding calling as disciples…
"The command ‘Be ye perfect’ is not idealistic gas...If we let Him—for we can prevent Him, if we choose—He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, dazzling, radiant immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said.“ C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
“God became man that man might become God” Athanasius (298–373)