November 5, 2023
27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. 30 “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 36 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
Luke 6:27–38 (NASB1995)
The Idea:
There is a journey to a generous life – it must start in the heart.
Growing a Generous Heart
I. All Generosity Begins in a Transformed Heart
27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. 30 “Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
Luke 6:27–31 (NASB1995)
II. A Generous Heart is Affected by an Unspoken Reality.
“The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.”
Psalm 24:1
19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NASB1995)
III. A Generous Heart Grows by the Practice of Faithfulness
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NASB1995)
“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income … “
1 Corinthians 16:2 (NASB1995)
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of your crops …”
Proverbs 3:9 (NASB1995)
IV. A Generous Heart Has Been Overwhelmed by Something
“… see that you also excel in this grace of giving. […] For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:7, 9 (NIV)
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