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Open Hands | ECW Online | 26 July 2026 — Transcript

by East City Wesleyan Church · 10,820 words · 1,730 segments · language en · Watch on YouTube

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19:44G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
19:52and Z.
19:56One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
19:59eight, nine, ten. Sporadic,
20:03particular,
20:06indigmatic.
20:08Lots of different sounding syllables in
20:12this sentence with s's to make it sound
20:15like
20:17I'm really talking and whispering.
20:20Check. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
20:2615 16 What's after 16 17 18 Just
20:30kidding. 19 20 Excellent. Thank you.
32:45Good morning, church.
32:47Can you please stand as I just read to
32:49you from Psalm 63 this morning?
32:56Anyone else battling a cold this winter
32:58that just is not going away because me
33:00too. Um so please [music] bear with this
33:03morning. [laughter]
33:04Psalm 63 verse1 says, "You God are my
33:07God. Earnestly I seek you. I thirst for
33:11you. My whole being longs for you.
33:16As I was preparing the songs for this
33:19week, I had this image of everyone on
33:21their knees. And I know that's not
33:22extremely possible for a lot of us these
33:25days. Um,
33:27but
33:29I just saw us
33:31begging for Jesus to just fill us. Um,
33:37so as we sing our first song this
33:39morning, I just invite you to close your
33:41eyes. Um,
33:44and make this your prayer for the
33:46morning.
33:57Spirit
33:58of the living
34:03God
34:05[singing]
34:09on me.
34:16of the [singing]
34:20go
34:25Fresh
34:33me.
34:49Sing
35:02that one more time.
35:07Spirit
35:09of the [music and singing]
35:15[singing] fall
35:17[music]
35:19on me.
35:23Spirit [music]
35:25of the living
35:29God
35:32[music and singing]
35:34for me.
35:41me.
35:44[music]
35:47Build
35:49me
35:53[music]
35:57of the [music and singing]
36:03fall
36:05fresh on [singing]
36:16There's [singing] nothing worth more
36:19that will ever come close.
36:23No [music] compare.
36:27You're [singing] leaving
36:30home.
36:34>> [singing]
36:45>> I've tasted and seen
36:49the [singing] sweetest of
36:52my heart becomes
36:56and my share is undone [music]
37:03in your [singing and music] presence,
37:06Lord,
37:12and holy [singing]
37:14[music] spirit you all
37:20[music]
37:22[singing]
37:23the atmosphere.
37:25[music]
37:26Your glory, [singing]
37:29God is what our hearts [music] long for.
37:33To be overcome [singing]
37:37by your presence, [music]
37:40[singing]
37:46your presence.
37:53There's nothing worth more.
37:57There's nothing [music and singing]
37:59more
38:01that will ever come close.
38:04Nothing can compare
38:08your [music]
38:09living.
38:15Your presence
38:26I've tasted [singing and music]
38:27and seen
38:29how the sweetest
38:33where my heart becomes free [music]
38:36and my shame is undone.
38:44your presence [singing]
38:46[music] Lord
38:53and Holy [music and singing]
38:54Spirit do.
39:00The flood is placed and clean the
39:03[singing]
39:04mercy.
39:07Your glory [music] God is what I
39:13to be [music and singing]
39:14overcome
39:17by your presence
39:19Lord. [music and singing]
39:26your presence.
39:28[music]
39:36Let us become more aware of
39:40[music and singing] your presence.
39:43Let us experience
39:45the glory [singing] of [music] your
39:48goodness.
39:50Let us become
39:52more aware of your presence. [music]
39:57Let us [singing]
39:58experience
40:00the glory of your goodness.
40:04Let us become more aware of your
40:09presence.
40:12Let us feast the glory [music] of your
40:16goodness. [singing]
40:19Let us become more aware [music]
40:22of your presence.
40:26Let us experience
40:28the [music] glory of your goodness
40:32love.
40:39[music] Holy [singing]
40:41Spirit you are
40:44near.
40:46Come flood this [music] place [singing]
40:49and fill the atmosphere.
40:53Your glory, [music]
40:56God, is what [singing] our hearts long
40:59for. To be overcome
41:04by your presence, [singing]
41:07love.
41:14your [music] presence.
41:39God of Abraham, God of Isaac,
41:44You are the creator of
41:51Jesus.
42:10Thank you for your presence in this
42:12place.
42:14I pray God that you will move in your
42:17own way in your own time
42:22that we will acknowledge you God as our
42:25Lord and our Savior.
42:28Thank you Lord for this moment.
42:31We commit this service to you, God. Let
42:33the name of Jesus be glorified in it.
42:36Let the Holy Spirit teach us
42:40in the way that you want us to be
42:43connecting our hearts, connecting our
42:45hearts and lives,
42:48God together. But we know God by your
42:52loved
42:54us together. Father, we thank you for
42:57this moment. We thank you Lord [music]
42:59and pray for everything that's in the
43:02hearts of your children as we gather
43:04together today. Their [music] desires of
43:08their hearts God. I pray that you will
43:10minister to it. Whether it's for [music]
43:13healing, whether it's for investments or
43:16whether it's for anything that they
43:18desire. Lord, I pray that you will
43:21minister. Thank you, Father, that you
43:23are our God that listens [music] to us.
43:25God, let us draw closer to you, Lord, in
43:29the time and space [music]
43:31that you want us to be, God. That we
43:34will not be driven away from what you
43:36have [music] in stored in place for us,
43:38God. Father, to you be the praise and to
43:41you be the glory as we glorify and
43:43[music] continue to glorify your
43:44presence. In the name of Jesus, we pray.
44:17Let's just sing that chorus [music] one
44:18more time.
44:21Holy Spirit, you are welcome
44:26here.
44:27Come [singing] fly this place [music]
44:30and fill the
44:33tear. Your glory [singing]
44:37God is what our hearts long for. to be
44:43overcome
44:46by your presence,
44:49Lord.
45:06Good morning. What a beautiful moment of
45:10worship we've had this morning. It's so
45:12lovely to be with you. My name is
45:14Kristen and I'm one of the pastors here
45:16at East City Wesian.
45:19And uh if you are just getting to know
45:21us, we would love to get you to know you
45:24better. And if you would like to keep in
45:25touch with what we've got going on here
45:28at the church, there is a connection
45:30card out at the connections table and we
45:33have a we gift for you that we would
45:35love to share with you. So come see us.
45:40Now, we don't um take up an offering. We
45:43give mainly online throughout the week.
45:45So, we will pray for our tithes and our
45:47offerings later on in our service. But
45:50if you would like to give as an act of
45:52worship today, that box is at the back,
45:55and we thank you for that. Right. Well,
45:59we have some things. We have some big
46:01dates happening.
46:08I actually have any idea when the next
46:10All Black game is. Don't tell my husband
46:13that. Um,
46:16yeah. So, coming up,
46:21>> what
46:28[laughter]
46:30it is,
46:33what are you doing? It is
46:37the last Sunday of July
46:42and so that means that we have three
46:45very busy weeks coming up into August
46:48beginning with
46:52I'm sorry about him. Next Sunday tell us
46:56about next Sunday. What's happening next
46:58Sunday? So, next Sunday uh in addition
47:00to our shared lunch together, uh we also
47:02have the opportunity to come to our
47:04church uh plant uh uh uh information uh
47:08day. So, straight after the service,
47:09we'll be grabbing some food. And if you
47:11want someone who wants to find out more,
47:13maybe learn how you might pray, uh work
47:16out how you could get connected to
47:17what's happening, uh we're really
47:19excited uh to be sharing with you what
47:21God is stirring up in a number of
47:24different places. So that's next Sunday
47:26straight after the service.
47:29>> And then the following Sunday, August
47:32the 9th, we have what we call a taste
47:35and see. In Psalms, we have the verse,
47:38taste and see that the Lord is good. And
47:42so this night is a night of worship and
47:45prayer. And so, but we begin with food
47:49because all good things begin with food.
47:52Yes. So bring a plate to share and we
47:55will come together at 6 to eat and then
47:586:30 we will have a night of praise and
48:01worship and prayer to God. So come and
48:05join us. That will be a lovely night of
48:07worship. Um and I'm sorry. What is this
48:12cultural appropriation that you've got
48:15going on?
48:16>> Well for the who knows when the next All
48:18Blacks game is. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Thank
48:21you, Luke. You can be my friend. We need
48:24There needs to be some education at
48:26home. I can see uh Sunday the 15th is
48:28our international uh food night.
48:30Saturday the 15th is our international
48:32everything happens on Sunday. Saturday
48:34the 15th is our international food
48:36night. Uh and uh there are so many ways
48:38you can get involved and there's still
48:40opportunities to be involved as part of
48:42one of our tables representing your part
48:44of the world where you uh celebrate
48:46culture from. But also our real big need
48:49at the moment is to continue to get the
48:51word out. Now there are different ways
48:53that you can do this. Number one, there
48:56is a Facebook event that you can share.
48:59So we'll make sure that's really
49:00prominent on the Facebook page uh this
49:02week for those that are on Facebook.
49:04That's one way. Secondly, you'll be
49:06getting an email this week that will be
49:08set up so that you can just forward it
49:10on as an email invitation. So that will
49:12be what you can you can just make it
49:14personal and and send it on. Also, uh
49:18there's going to be a video that will be
49:20released. Uh the premier video for uh
49:23International Food Night will be coming
49:25out this week. And if you if you think
49:26people might pay more attention to a
49:28video, then that's also an opportunity.
49:30We also need for you to not only invite
49:33people, but make sure you've bought your
49:34own tickets. Uh whether you're buying
49:36them uh for yourselves or buying them uh
49:39for family and friends, uh we'd love for
49:41you to do that. You can take advantage
49:42of that straight after the service or
49:44you can do that by emailing uh office
49:46ecw.org.n.
49:49Uh it's going to be uh a great time. Uh
49:51you may notice um the article that's
49:53coming out in the paper in the next week
49:55or so. Uh so you can share that as well,
49:56but you know that's a matter for prayer
49:59uh that they'll actually that they'll
50:00actually publish it.
50:03>> All right, it is time for Where are you?
50:07You ready, Liam? Here we go. Alpha Spot.
50:13>> So, most of you know that Alpha kicked
50:14off this past uh Wednesday trying a
50:16midweek uh slot so that more people can
50:19be connected who who can't make it on
50:21the weekends. Uh really meaningful time
50:23as we gathered. Uh and but there is
50:26still opportunity uh for people to come.
50:28Uh week one is a great introduction, but
50:30week two is when we really get into it.
50:32So, if you thought, "Oh man, I wish I'
50:34wish I'd followed up that invite or I
50:36wish I'd asked that person." It's really
50:38not too late. Uh last uh two weeks ago,
50:41Joey called us to prayer for the one
50:44person that we're praying for as part of
50:46Living Scent. Uh I prayed for the family
50:48that uh we've been inviting since Alpha
50:51started this year and uh they contacted
50:54us out of the blue that afternoon
50:57because prayer is powerful. Like don't
51:00don't pray if you don't want to like
51:01join God and what he's doing with these
51:03people that you know. Uh so we just said
51:05come for dinner that night. Come for
51:07dinner. And so they came and then we're
51:09able to invite them to Alpha um and uh
51:13the youngest uh the the the son um came
51:16to youth on Friday night as a part of
51:18this engagement. So you prayer really
51:20works. So I really encourage you to pray
51:23for the one the one that God has laid on
51:25your heart. And if he lays two or three
51:27or four, you know, you can you can pray
51:29for more than one, but let's pray for
51:31the one that God is laying on our heart.
51:35Speaking of prayer, it is time for our
51:37kids to head up to their program. So,
51:39I'm going to pray for them very soon.
51:41So, we have our zero to two year olds in
51:43the back room. We have our two to four
51:45year olds upstairs and then our year
51:48ones to sixes upstairs as well. So, let
51:52me pray for you. God, I thank you that
51:55you are faithful to all generations. I
51:58thank you that we are not just
52:00multicultural church but a
52:02multi-generational church. And would you
52:04please be with our youngest members and
52:07their teachers as they learn about you?
52:11Today, would you lead, guide, and direct
52:14their steps? In your name, I pray all
52:16these things. Amen.
52:17>> Saturday, 8th of August
52:20is the next All Blacks game.
52:24>> The night before Taste and Sea.
52:27So you can
52:30go watch the All Blacks game and then
52:33come and celebrate
52:35God's victory.
52:44The first reading today comes from
52:46Paul's first letter to the Corinthians
52:49chapter 16:es 1 to4.
52:53Now about the collection for the Lord's
52:55people. Do what I told the Galatian
52:58churches to do. On the first day of
53:01every week, each one of you should set
53:04aside a sum of money in keeping with
53:07your income. Saving it up so that when I
53:11come, no collections will have to be
53:13made. Then when I arrive, I will give
53:17letters of introduction to the men you
53:20approve and send them with your gift to
53:23Jerusalem.
53:25If it seems advisable for me to go also,
53:28they will accompany me.
53:32And now reading from Paul's second
53:34letter to Corinthians chapter 9 6 to8.
53:38Remember this, whoever sws sparingly
53:42will also reap sparingly.
53:45And whoever sws generously will also
53:48reap generously.
53:51Each of you should give what you have
53:53decided in your heart to give, not
53:56reluctantly or under compulsion.
54:00For God loves a cheerful giver. And God
54:04is able to bless you abundantly so that
54:07in all things at all times having all
54:11that you need you will abound in every
54:14good work.
54:18God loves a cheerful giver and God is
54:21able to bless you abundantly so that in
54:23all things and all times remember this.
54:26Having all that you need you will abound
54:29in every good work. May the Lord add his
54:32blessing to these readings.
54:43So, so one of the more challenging uh
54:46stories within our Wesleyan tradition is
54:49that of John Wesley's approach to money.
54:52Uh it's pretty radical. It's pretty
54:54extreme. It always challenges me and
54:56it's always good to have real world
54:58examples of how people deal with their
55:00resources and deal with money because
55:02it's it's good to get biblical
55:04principles and see what is happening
55:05within the Bible and that's good but
55:06it's like what does this actually look
55:08like in a grounded real life situation
55:10and experience. So back in 17, no yes,
55:141731,
55:16John Wesley, he was a student at Oxford
55:19and he was living off of 28 pounds a
55:22year
55:24before the days of inflation. Am I
55:25right? 28 pounds a year. And he was
55:29earning 30 pounds a year. So you can do
55:31the math real quick. Two pounds a year
55:33surplus. So what he had resolved at that
55:35point in time with his group of people
55:37he was discipling with, he decided, I'm
55:40not going to move my living expenses
55:42beyond 28 years for as long as I
55:45possibly can. 28 pounds for as long as I
55:47possibly can. So as he grows and as he
55:51matures, as he begins to write and to
55:54publish, he begins to make considerably
55:57more money. Sometimes some people think
56:00in the thousands if not 10 upwards
56:02of10,000 pounds a year which in the
56:041700s is a significant significant
56:08amount of money but he kept his living
56:11expenses at 28 pounds a year. He was
56:14traveling on horseback uh preaching in
56:17fields and mines doing ministry across
56:19England at the time for the vast
56:21majority of his life. He lived a very
56:23simple life actually. He gave so much of
56:27his money away and had very little
56:29expenses. The whatever the tax revenue
56:31agency in England was called at the time
56:33was very suspicious of him. They thought
56:36that he was just buying up a bunch of
56:37silver and hoarding it in his house and
56:39he that's how he's dodging taxes. So
56:41they investigated and they realized, oh,
56:43he only has two silver spoons in London
56:46and he only has two silver spoons in
56:48Bristol, which were the two main hubs of
56:50his ministry. And that was it. By the
56:54end of his life, he lived into, I think,
56:56his 90s, which is pretty incredible for
56:57the time. By the end of his life, he was
57:01giving away 98% of his income because he
57:05purposefully wanted to live on as little
57:07as possible. He thought from what he
57:10could ascertain from the Bible and
57:12through scripture that if he wasn't
57:14giving that amount, he was stealing from
57:16God. That was his conviction, his heart
57:19around generosity was that. And by the
57:22time he died and you know his will and
57:23testament was read with his relatives,
57:26they realized he only had a few coins to
57:28his name and that was about it. He had
57:31nothing beyond just his copyright of his
57:33publications to pass on and that was it.
57:37When I hear of a story like that, it's
57:40really challenging.
57:42It's really challenging, especially
57:43around money. So, if you haven't guessed
57:45it, guess what we're going to talk about
57:47today?
57:49Open hands. Yes, open hands. Money.
57:51We're going to talk about generosity.
57:54And it's really important to speak of
57:57generosity and to speak of money, I
57:59think, quite often because we're dealing
58:02with it all the time, are we not? Every
58:04single day. You don't have to think
58:05about. You grab your wallet out. You
58:07just grab your card. Nice thin wallet,
58:09by the way. Grab your card and you slide
58:12it. You don't even think about the
58:13purchases you're making. Maybe if you
58:16like to have cash on hand, you get to
58:17see the tactile, you know, the physical
58:19actual giving passing of the money you
58:21have. But we're dealing with money every
58:23single day. And and money is
58:27money is tough, but it's really
58:29important to talk about generosity and
58:31money for a number of reasons. And the
58:32first reason is this. These aren't my
58:34points in the sermon. We're still in the
58:35introduction. Okay? The first reason is
58:37this.
58:39We worship a generous God. If you had to
58:43summarize the gospel, the good news of
58:45Jesus, it is one of generosity. That God
58:50so loved the world that he gave of his
58:52one and only son that whoever should
58:54believe in him will not perish but have
58:56eternal life. That Jesus gave his entire
59:00self for the sake of the world for the
59:02salvation of us of the world upon the
59:06cross to the fullest extent. He lived.
59:09He was the epitome of the generous life.
59:12Why? For the sake of others, for the
59:15sake of the world. The call of the
59:18gospel, the the the hard edge, the
59:20practical nature of the gospel, of the
59:21good news of Jesus is one of generosity,
59:24which then challenges us. If we worship
59:26a God who is incredibly generous to the
59:29fullest extent to death on a cross, then
59:32what does that mean for for me? What
59:35does that mean for you? Generosity is
59:39not just something over there. It's core
59:41to what we believe.
59:44The second thing is money has this kind
59:48of aura around it. Not a good kind of
59:51aura like uh like it's
59:55the ability for money and for resources
59:58to be turned into an idol is uh
1:00:02incredibly likely is incredibly
1:00:05powerful. the the the ability for money
1:00:08to have a control on you rather than you
1:00:12have a control of money
1:00:15is very likely to happen even from day
1:00:17to day, week to week, month to month,
1:00:20year to year. We are always having to
1:00:22check ourselves with how we approach
1:00:25money. Is it actually the God that I
1:00:27serve or is it serving me? That's always
1:00:31a question around money. The Bible has a
1:00:33lot to speak about that. And it's
1:00:36important to talk about money because to
1:00:38be honest, we like to have black and
1:00:41white rules when it comes to money,
1:00:43don't we? We want black and white rules.
1:00:45We want just clear yes and no answers
1:00:48when it comes to many things in life.
1:00:50But unfortunately, when it comes to
1:00:51money, sometimes there aren't a lot of
1:00:54yes and no, right or wrong answers.
1:00:56Because you can be somebody with an
1:00:58abundance of money and it doesn't have a
1:01:01hold on your heart. You can be somebody
1:01:03with in living in poverty and money is
1:01:06an idol in your heart. The amount of
1:01:08money that you have isn't always the
1:01:10problem. It's the posture and it's the
1:01:13heart towards it that is actually the
1:01:16problem. You just being in poverty
1:01:17doesn't make you a spiritually a
1:01:19spiritually wonderful person. You being
1:01:21wealthy doesn't make you a spiritually
1:01:23wonderful person.
1:01:25So money isn't simple, but what we can
1:01:30see within the Corinthian church's
1:01:31example of its its approach to money is
1:01:35some clear ideas and principles that we
1:01:38can hopefully apply to our own lives.
1:01:40All right. So if you're with me today,
1:01:42if you're with me today, we're going to
1:01:44read three passages, three simple
1:01:46passages out of first and second
1:01:47Corinthians. And I would encourage you,
1:01:49there's Bibles at the back. We're going
1:01:50to have semi- longer passages of
1:01:53scripture to be read. Two of them have
1:01:54already been read. We got one, you know,
1:01:57one uh wait and see passage to read. So
1:02:00stay tuned for that. Bibles at the back,
1:02:02but here's some background on the
1:02:04Corinthian church. Brett did a wonderful
1:02:06job the last two Sundays talking about
1:02:08the dysfunction of the Corinthian
1:02:09church. It is not a model church by any
1:02:11extent or any exaggeration. It is a it
1:02:14is a church with social
1:02:17um classism distinctions wanting to be
1:02:21more like their Greco Roman neighbors
1:02:23rather than create this new body of
1:02:25believers which is centered on Jesus and
1:02:27egalitarian in the sense of the rich and
1:02:28the poor enter in to the church at the
1:02:32same level. There's nobody greater,
1:02:34nobody worse.
1:02:37And I I I remember thinking about
1:02:38actually last week, Brett, when you're
1:02:39talking about the context of of the
1:02:41Corinthians. I I wonder what those
1:02:42churches in the modern day area of
1:02:45Corinth think when they read the letter
1:02:46to the Corinthians. You know, you ever
1:02:48wonder about that? I know there's
1:02:49probably churches in Greece in Corinth
1:02:50that are actually probably reading these
1:02:52letters. This is the letter to us 2,000
1:02:53years ago. It's not looking good. Maybe
1:02:57we should try and not be like them. And
1:02:58they have become the example
1:03:01of the church not to be. You don't want
1:03:04to be like the Corinthians. So, in what
1:03:07ways should we not be like the
1:03:09Corinthians? Should we not be like the
1:03:12Corinthians
1:03:13today? Well, before we get there, I want
1:03:16to frame up two passages of scripture.
1:03:18So, when it comes to money, Jesus says
1:03:20in Mark uh 6:24
1:03:23that no one can serve two masters.
1:03:25Either you will hate the one and love
1:03:28the other, or you will be devoted to the
1:03:30one and despise the other. You cannot
1:03:33serve both money and God. Jesus seems to
1:03:36create this this dichotomy between money
1:03:39and God that it has this potential to be
1:03:41on the level of God within our hearts.
1:03:43That's clear. The second passage is Mark
1:03:46uh 12:41-44
1:03:49where Jesus says, "He sat down opposite
1:03:52the place where the offerings were put
1:03:54in the temple and watched the crowd
1:03:56putting their money into the temple
1:03:58treasury. Many rich people threw in
1:04:00large amounts. But a poor widow came and
1:04:03put in two very small copper coins worth
1:04:06only a few pence. Calling his disciples
1:04:09to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you,
1:04:12this poor widow has put more into the
1:04:14treasury than all the others." They all
1:04:17gave out of their wealth, but out of her
1:04:20poverty, but in everything, all she had
1:04:24to live on.
1:04:26These are just two passages of a few
1:04:29more that Jesus how Jesus approaches
1:04:32money. He saw that the widow giving more
1:04:35displayed more of the heart of God than
1:04:37those who had a lot giving a little of a
1:04:39lot. And this is what how I want to
1:04:42frame this. Okay, this is easy. It's
1:04:44easy for us to listen to a sermon like
1:04:47I'm going to deliver today with some
1:04:48clear action steps and points and to
1:04:51begin to feel judgment. Maybe
1:04:54appropriately so, maybe not. Hey, it's
1:04:57between you and your heart and God,
1:04:59right?
1:05:01But the Christian life from beginning to
1:05:03end is one of invitation,
1:05:06is one of participation.
1:05:08We don't enter into the Christian life
1:05:11first through having our life together
1:05:14and having everything figured out and
1:05:16then Jesus is like, "All right, check,
1:05:18check, check, check, check, check. Come
1:05:19dine with me at my table." That's that's
1:05:22the wrong order. The order is no, come,
1:05:25come sit with me and then let me lead
1:05:29you. And we are all on that journey of
1:05:33being invited by Jesus to come sit with
1:05:36him, to come follow him, to come eat at
1:05:38his table. The imperfect people that we
1:05:41are today, honestly, myself included.
1:05:44I'm preaching to myself just as much as
1:05:46to anyone else here. So, the Christian
1:05:48life is one of invitation. What would it
1:05:51look like for you to continually say yes
1:05:55to Jesus? Not just in this area of your
1:05:57life, not just that area of your life.
1:05:59Not just over here. Well, Jesus can't
1:06:02touch this. I'd like him to touch 95% of
1:06:04this, but not that. No. What would it
1:06:06look like for you to accept the
1:06:09invitation of saying yes to Jesus in
1:06:10every single aspect of your life? And
1:06:12today, the aspect we're going to touch
1:06:14on is money.
1:06:17The one that we deal with the most
1:06:19daytoday, what we probably don't like to
1:06:21talk about often. There's what there's a
1:06:24few things you don't talk about at
1:06:25dinner. Religion, politics,
1:06:29is it money? The third one it feel it
1:06:32can be. It feels like it, doesn't it?
1:06:34You don't disclose how much you make to
1:06:35somebody because oh why judgment
1:06:37judgment upon what you've done with what
1:06:39you have is right in your face. So don't
1:06:42be hard on yourself. Don't be hard on
1:06:44another this morning. Just look at what
1:06:48the scriptures are teaching and then ask
1:06:51Jesus, Lord, what will you what do you
1:06:54want me to do today? This is the a
1:06:57posture. This is what it looks like for
1:06:59the Christian faith to be an invitation.
1:07:00Lord, how can I say yes to you today?
1:07:03All right, let's open up a few passages
1:07:06as we continue on.
1:07:092 Corinthians 8 1-15. It's on the screen
1:07:12today. You're welcome. It's on the
1:07:14screen, but 2 Corinthians 8 1-15. If you
1:07:17have your Bibles with you, I encourage
1:07:18you to open it up. I'm going to open it
1:07:20up as well. I haven't found it ahead of
1:07:22time, just so you don't feel like you're
1:07:23behind. All right, here we go. Let's
1:07:25find it together, shall we? 2
1:07:26Corinthians
1:07:288 1-15.
1:07:31If you're like, "Where is that?"
1:07:33It's about here.
1:07:35It's right about there. All right, cool.
1:07:41Excellent. I'm very impressed with my
1:07:42eyesight. I can see the font back there.
1:07:44Maybe in 10 years I won't be as
1:07:46impressed, but I'm feeling pretty good
1:07:47about myself today.
1:07:50And now, brothers and sisters, we want
1:07:51you to know about the grace that God has
1:07:53given the Macedonian churches. All
1:07:55right. So, Paul is talking to the
1:07:58Corinthian church about giving in this
1:08:01particular passage. But he brings up
1:08:02another church.
1:08:04I want you to feel the tone a little bit
1:08:06of of Paul in this. He's talking about
1:08:08another church for a second to this
1:08:10church
1:08:12in the midst of a very serious trial
1:08:15that this Macedonian church is
1:08:16experiencing. Their overflowing joy and
1:08:19their extreme poverty welled up in rich
1:08:22generosity. For I testify that they gave
1:08:25as much as they were able and even
1:08:27beyond their ability entirely on their
1:08:31own. They urgently pleaded with us for
1:08:34the privilege of sharing in this
1:08:36service. Can you kind of hear? Can you
1:08:39hear the tone? He's trying to convince
1:08:41the Corinthians to give of their out of
1:08:44their generosity. And he's using this
1:08:46Macedonian example of these churches
1:08:48that were giving out of what? Their
1:08:50generosity. No, their poverty.
1:08:54He's trying to inspire generosity here.
1:08:57Protestify. Where did I leave off? Okay.
1:08:59Entirely Yes. beyond their ability,
1:09:02entirely on their own. They urgently
1:09:04pleaded with us for the privilege of
1:09:05sharing in this service to the Lord's
1:09:07people. And they exceeded our
1:09:09expectations. They gave themselves first
1:09:11of all to the Lord and then by the will
1:09:14of God also to us. So I urge Titus just
1:09:17[snorts] as he had earlier made a
1:09:20beginning uh to bring also to completion
1:09:23this act of grace on their part on your
1:09:25part. But since you excel in everything,
1:09:28you can kind of hear this, right? in
1:09:30faith, in speech, in knowledge, in
1:09:32complete earnestness, in the love we
1:09:34have kindled in you. See that you also
1:09:38excel in this grace of giving. You can
1:09:41kind of hear this. You are you have so
1:09:42many great qualities about you. You're
1:09:44so abundantly amazing. But how about you
1:09:47also be amazing here, too? You kind You
1:09:49hear it, right? I'm not commanding you.
1:09:51You What, Paul? It kind of sounds like
1:09:54you It sounds like you're almost
1:09:56commanding. Like it's super close. I'm
1:09:58not commanding you, but I want to test
1:10:01the sincerity of your love by comparing
1:10:03it with the earnestness of others. Okay?
1:10:07For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus
1:10:08Christ that though he was rich,
1:10:12not materially. What's he talking about
1:10:14here? Yet for your sake he became poor.
1:10:17Oh, he was rich. He He's God, but he
1:10:20limited himself and became one of us.
1:10:24He's above everything, but he entered
1:10:26into our experience.
1:10:28this. All right. So that through his
1:10:31poverty might become rich. So what is
1:10:34Paul cryptically saying here?
1:10:37God came and incarnate into the world,
1:10:41died, suffered, died on a cross, then
1:10:44resurrected, and is now seated sitting
1:10:46at the right hand of God the Father. He
1:10:48went through this whole journey
1:10:51back up.
1:10:53And that's an example of generosity.
1:10:55Okay. And here is my judgment about what
1:10:57is best for you in this matter. All
1:10:59right. So here's Paul being very clear.
1:11:02Last year you were the first not only to
1:11:04give but also to give the desire to do
1:11:06so. Now finish the work. So Paul said
1:11:08you already gave a little bit. We need
1:11:10some more please. [snorts] So that your
1:11:12eager willingness to do it may be
1:11:14matched by your completion of it
1:11:16according to your means. For if the
1:11:18willingness is there, the gift is
1:11:20acceptable according to what one has,
1:11:22not according to what one does not have.
1:11:24So basically you have the money to give.
1:11:27Let's see the giving please. Our desire
1:11:30is not that others might be relieved
1:11:31while you are hardpressed but that there
1:11:34might be equality. At the present time
1:11:36your plenty will supply what they need
1:11:39so that in turn your plenty will supply
1:11:42what you need. The goal is equality. As
1:11:44it is written, the one who gathered much
1:11:46did not have too much and the one who
1:11:49gathered little did not have too little.
1:11:51[snorts] So what's going on here with
1:11:53this passage? is one of the more
1:11:54entertaining passages. Second
1:11:55Corinthians is is a really good letter
1:11:57to read because you get the full weight
1:11:59of Paul's rhetoric and sarcasm
1:12:02and also smoozing a little bit too which
1:12:04is funny and he's hard in one area but
1:12:06then like really complimentary in
1:12:08another but you're like what's going on
1:12:09here? I feel like chapter 8 is like the
1:12:12nexus of that. So
1:12:15what I think Paul's expressing here is
1:12:18he's using the Macedonian church for the
1:12:19Corinthians church as an example. They
1:12:21gave out of their poverty. They gave
1:12:22when it was hard and they didn't see it
1:12:26as a burden. They saw it as pure joy.
1:12:31Now I want to look at this for myself.
1:12:33When I read a passage like that, I am
1:12:36just
1:12:38I don't know, maybe it's just the grace
1:12:39of God working in me. I want to be like
1:12:42that. I want to be like that. I want
1:12:45when life is hard, when things are
1:12:48difficult, I've got too many things on
1:12:50my mind to have another thing on my
1:12:52mind.
1:12:54When life is like that and somebody asks
1:12:57for me to meet a need that I think, wow,
1:13:01what an amazing opportunity for me to
1:13:04exercise generosity and love towards
1:13:06another even
1:13:09in the difficulty that I find myself in,
1:13:11which is the Macedonian church. What a
1:13:13wonderful example. Why? Not because I
1:13:16don't I don't want to be looked
1:13:17favorably upon by others. Simply because
1:13:20I know that God is inviting me to share
1:13:22in his suffering
1:13:24and in that suffering to extend myself
1:13:27to others even further. That's what
1:13:30Jesus did on the cross and that's what
1:13:32Jesus is calling us to do. Not just in
1:13:33the money conversation but in all
1:13:35aspects of our life. It's a wonderful
1:13:39invitation. You see, as a Christian, if
1:13:41given the choice between being
1:13:42closedhanded and being open-handed,
1:13:45which one would you like to be known by
1:13:46and be? Would you like to be somebody
1:13:49who likes to count your coins and to
1:13:51keep them over here and to not? And when
1:13:54moments of generosity come, you're
1:13:55thinking, well, how little can I
1:13:57actually give? Or do you want to be
1:14:00somebody like within your heart, you
1:14:01look deep in your heart. Do you want to
1:14:03be somebody
1:14:05who is joyfully generous? Who when the
1:14:10opportunity comes, you are so ready,
1:14:13you're so excited to say yes to an
1:14:16opportunity to be generous.
1:14:20I don't think we want to be people known
1:14:21for our lack of generosity. If you just
1:14:23think about your own life now in my own
1:14:25life, I don't want to be that. when a
1:14:28when some when say a missionary comes
1:14:29around say to the church to talk about
1:14:31this or that that they're doing over in
1:14:34say Papa New Guinea or somewhere and
1:14:36they're saying well here's how you can
1:14:38support me. I'm like I don't shrink down
1:14:40in my chair a little bit and I'm like
1:14:41God don't look at me directly in my eyes
1:14:43please. No I want to be someone to be
1:14:44like yes give me the card I want to give
1:14:46the money to help you out in what you're
1:14:48doing. I want to be that kind of person.
1:14:50Right? This is what Paul is trying to
1:14:52inspire in the Corinthian church. He
1:14:54wants them to be just like that, too.
1:14:58Second passage, 1 Corinthians 16 1-4.
1:15:02I'll find it with you. All right. Look,
1:15:03I've even lost my bookmark. We can find
1:15:05it together.
1:15:09I'm really happy. Are you happy this
1:15:11morning? I am so happy I'm preaching on
1:15:14money today. I'm not being facitious at
1:15:16all. I am genuinely, genuinely happy.
1:15:18Brett asked me today uh last Friday, you
1:15:22got the tough uh sermon this week. I
1:15:23said, "No, last week you had the tough
1:15:25sermon. This one's really easy. This
1:15:28one's easy." I'm like, "We all want to
1:15:30be generous people, right? So, let's be
1:15:31generous people together." Am I right?
1:15:33Amen. This is an easy sermon to preach.
1:15:35It's incredibly easy.
1:15:39Yours was tough. 1 Corinthians 16 1-4.
1:15:44It's right about here. Same spot
1:15:45roughly, just one one book behind. I'm
1:15:47getting a bit too loose at the moment.
1:15:49Here we go.
1:15:51Now about the collection for the Lord's
1:15:53people. All right. So Paul is talking
1:15:55about what? The same problem, the same
1:15:57situation. There's a Jerusalem church
1:16:00that is needing some m need in need of
1:16:02some money. There's a famine going
1:16:04through the land. Not only that, they're
1:16:06being persecuted because Jerusalem is
1:16:08like the center of persecution at the
1:16:09time in the Roman Empire because of uh
1:16:13the Jewish people who still worshiped at
1:16:15the temple saw the Christians as a
1:16:18heretical sect and cult and they were
1:16:21not happy that they existed at all in
1:16:23Jerusalem. So, not only is there scarce
1:16:25food, uh there's scarce mobility and
1:16:28they're suffering through persecution.
1:16:29And so, the Jerusalem church needs
1:16:32money. They need support. They need
1:16:34help. So part of what Paul is doing in
1:16:36his missionary work going throughout
1:16:38modern day Turkey and Greece and that
1:16:40area at this time is he is collecting
1:16:44money practically trying to meet the
1:16:46needs of the Jerusalem church. All
1:16:47right, here we go now about the
1:16:49collection for the Lord's people. Do
1:16:51what I told the Galatian churches to do.
1:16:53And this is what he said. On the first
1:16:55day of every week, each one of you
1:16:57should set aside a sum of money in
1:16:59keeping with your income, saving it up
1:17:01so that when [snorts] I come, no
1:17:03collections will have to be made. Then
1:17:06when I arrive, I will give le letters of
1:17:08introduction to the men you approve and
1:17:10send them with your gift to Jerusalem.
1:17:12If it seems advisable for me to also go,
1:17:15they will accompany me, too. This is a
1:17:18pretty straightforward passage. It's
1:17:20pretty simple. Paul is basically saying,
1:17:24"Yes, we have a need here. The need is
1:17:26in Jerusalem,
1:17:28but I think he's trying to instill
1:17:30something beyond Jerusalem in their
1:17:32hearts." He's trying to say, "You should
1:17:36always be anticipating the needs. You
1:17:39should always be ready to give. You
1:17:42should always be thinking of others." So
1:17:46in the spirit of that, every single week
1:17:50when you gather, you should put set
1:17:52aside a lump sum of money every week in
1:17:55a collection. This is practical stuff.
1:17:56This is like rubber meets the road kind
1:17:58of stuff. So that when I arrive, I don't
1:18:02have to ask you for anything. Then all
1:18:05of a sudden, there's probably a much
1:18:07larger collection of money for me to
1:18:09give the Jerusalem church because of
1:18:12your anticipatory
1:18:14giving. You're anticipating the needs.
1:18:16You're anticipating um responding.
1:18:19You're anticipating generosity every
1:18:22single week. Third passage because I'm
1:18:25noticing the time real quick. Third uh
1:18:29no, you know what? Time out. Don't want
1:18:31to go too far ahead. This is important.
1:18:36Giving every week isn't just a practical
1:18:38thing. All right. It isn't just
1:18:39practical. It's formational.
1:18:42You are changing
1:18:45your posture, your grip, your uh
1:18:48attitude towards money shifts through
1:18:52the practice of giving. You don't just
1:18:55wake up one morning and decide to be a
1:18:57generous person necessarily. Sometimes
1:19:00yes, but most for most people and most
1:19:03times no. What do you do? You practice
1:19:06generosity. You practice it. It becomes
1:19:09a habit so that when the generous
1:19:12moments come up, it is so much easier
1:19:14for you to become a generous person.
1:19:16I'll give you an example.
1:19:19The reason why I think to be honest,
1:19:22many people, especially beyond the age
1:19:23of 30, because that's when your body
1:19:25starts to break down a little bit. I
1:19:26feel it. [laughter]
1:19:29When your body begins to break down a
1:19:31little bit, let's be honest. All right?
1:19:33I feel it. I got to stretch a little bit
1:19:34more. Ice hockey, I feel it for two
1:19:36days. It happens.
1:19:39You stay physically fit. Why? Or at
1:19:41least you you stay physically mobile.
1:19:44Why? So that when the opportunity comes
1:19:48to get on the ground with your
1:19:49grandchildren or to have to carry
1:19:53somebody to safety or you know, you
1:19:55know, some men, you know, fantasize of
1:19:57being the hero, right? It's this thing.
1:19:59I can't wait to pick people up and just
1:20:00go save the day. But sometimes it
1:20:02requires some physical some physical,
1:20:04you know, you actually need to be strong
1:20:05to do some of these things. or what else
1:20:07did I write down or uh getting you know
1:20:10someone says let's play a game a
1:20:12physical game of football or field
1:20:14hockey or whatever that you don't have
1:20:15to think twice about it why because
1:20:17you've been preparing every single week
1:20:20you've been doing your morning exercises
1:20:22you've been doing runs here and there
1:20:23you stretch every day you know you do
1:20:25these things why so when the moment
1:20:27calls for you to be the hero in the game
1:20:30of baseball or you know to score that
1:20:32try as a 55year-old in the you know with
1:20:34the teenagers I I'm thinking of you
1:20:37Brett. [laughter]
1:20:41This is Do you see the comparison here?
1:20:44You're prepared for the moment. Why?
1:20:47Because your body has is is prepared. In
1:20:50the same way, when moments of generosity
1:20:52present themselves, you've been already
1:20:55preparing in your heart the ability to
1:20:58be generous. Why? Through already being
1:21:01somebody who consistently gives.
1:21:04It's loose. I'll tell you what. Uh, this
1:21:09is the thing. How much of your own
1:21:10personal life should you talk about when
1:21:11it comes to money on a Sunday morning?
1:21:13[snorts]
1:21:14Thinking in real time right now. Uh,
1:21:17>> no. [laughter]
1:21:20No. You can come to me oneonone. I'll
1:21:22talk I'll tell you anything. Um, but
1:21:25it's easy for us. Here we go. It's easy
1:21:27for us to look at the tithe or the
1:21:30amount of money we give on a weekly
1:21:31basis to the church and then see that
1:21:33IRD statement at the end of the year
1:21:35through charitable giving and see did I
1:21:38really give that much okay what could
1:21:42and then then the temptation comes into
1:21:43your head right what could I have done
1:21:46with that money
1:21:48that's a dangerous thought right but
1:21:51because of that consistent giving that
1:21:55amount of money doesn't look as big as
1:21:58if you never gave in the first place. So
1:22:01that when a moment comes and a moment
1:22:04arises of real need in the church and
1:22:05we've had these moments in the church
1:22:07where we've had people had serious need
1:22:10and we spontaneously gave towards a
1:22:12serious need. You don't even get to you
1:22:14don't think twice about writing down a
1:22:16significant number because you've
1:22:18already been practicing giving your
1:22:21entire life that this is this is
1:22:23nothing.
1:22:25But then the question is, if giving is
1:22:27between you and God, it's like, well,
1:22:29what is money doing to me if this is
1:22:30nothing?
1:22:33Should I make it something? That's
1:22:35between you and God. I'm not here to
1:22:36judge. I'm not the judge. God loves a
1:22:39cheerful giver, which is the next
1:22:41passage we're going to read. 2
1:22:43Corinthians 9 6-11.
1:22:462 Corinthians 9 6-11. This is the last
1:22:49passage for this morning.
1:22:52>> [snorts]
1:22:55>> 2 Corinthians 9. Uh oh, I'm already out
1:22:58of place. There we go. 9 6 through 11.
1:23:04Remember this. Whoever sws sparingly
1:23:06will also reap sparingly. And whoever
1:23:07sws generously will also reap
1:23:09generously. Each of you should give what
1:23:12you have decided in your heart to give,
1:23:14not reluctantly under compulsion. See,
1:23:16this is where the money conversation
1:23:17gets difficult because it's like you
1:23:18want to compare yourself to others and
1:23:20then well is that is that a lot? Do I
1:23:22feel pressure to give? Do I feel like
1:23:24I'm under compulsion to give? What is
1:23:25Paul saying here? No, don't feel like
1:23:29you're under compulsion to give. Why?
1:23:32For God loves a cheerful giver. If
1:23:36you're giving, give because you want to
1:23:38give or give because you want to become
1:23:41somebody who wants to give. You give
1:23:45cheerfully and God is able to bless you
1:23:48abundantly so that all things at all
1:23:49times having all that you need you will
1:23:51abound in every good work. As it is
1:23:53written, they have freely scattered
1:23:55their gifts to the poor. Their
1:23:56righteousness endures forever. Now he
1:23:59who supplies seed to the sewer and bread
1:24:02for food will also supply and increase
1:24:04your store of seed and will enlarge the
1:24:06harvest of your righteousness. You will
1:24:08be enriched in every way so that you can
1:24:11be generous on every occasion and
1:24:12through your generosity will result in
1:24:15thanksgiving to God. Is this like a
1:24:17cause and effect thing like God if I
1:24:18give you this much then you're going to
1:24:19give me back like threefold? Is that I
1:24:22don't think this is what he's talking
1:24:23about
1:24:24when it comes to money. I think in our
1:24:26modern society, we whenever I listen to
1:24:28any financial podcasts or or watch
1:24:31something on YouTube about finances or,
1:24:34you know, you go to the bank or you go
1:24:35to your private your investment per uh
1:24:38financial advisor, what's the what's the
1:24:41favorite phrase that uh that's always
1:24:43out there in Kiwi land?
1:24:46>> Sure. Yes. Um but this is for your
1:24:51safety net. It's good to have a safety
1:24:53net. Don't you have a financial safety
1:24:56net? You don't have a financial safety
1:24:58net. You know, when I hear that term,
1:25:01when I hear that phrase, I'm thinking
1:25:04that's practical sense. That does make
1:25:05sense. Like that it is reasonable. But
1:25:07then I'm thinking to myself, and I think
1:25:08what Paul's talking here, saying here,
1:25:11isn't God our safety net?
1:25:14If I'm making money my safety net, then
1:25:18is money God at that point?
1:25:21This is where it gets tough. That's
1:25:24where it gets difficult. So, I don't
1:25:25think Paul is saying if you give, then
1:25:26God's going to give you threefold of
1:25:28what you've given. I think he's going to
1:25:29say that God's going to provide for your
1:25:31needs even as you give generously. Even
1:25:34if you give as the Macedonians did, they
1:25:36gave out of their poverty. I think he's
1:25:38saying that no, God is the one who
1:25:40provides for you. He's the one who
1:25:42provides and he's going to give you what
1:25:45you need. So, what are we doing here?
1:25:48There's two sides to this given coin,
1:25:50though, right? We emphasize the one
1:25:52side, the giving, but then there's also
1:25:56the receiving,
1:25:58right? You can't give to nothing. You
1:26:00give to something. You give to someone.
1:26:02You give to a circumstance. You give to
1:26:03a situation. And we're all in very
1:26:05different circumstances. we are
1:26:09um
1:26:10so in different seasons of our life,
1:26:14God has just blessed us and giving is
1:26:18just is something that flows out of us
1:26:19because of the blessing that God has
1:26:21given. And in other seasons of our life,
1:26:24maybe we're really up against it. or
1:26:27we're or paycheck to paycheck or, you
1:26:29know, heaven forbid going into debt
1:26:31every single week and and receiving
1:26:35cheerfully and joyfully, I think, is
1:26:37just as important as giving. Cheerfully
1:26:40and joyfully. So, it's easy for us to be
1:26:43like, well, I if I if I make $10 a week,
1:26:45Joey, how much should I be giving? I'm
1:26:47like, that's that's we should have a
1:26:49one-on-one conversation, you know, with
1:26:50somebody who's very financially literate
1:26:52here in the church and maybe pastoral
1:26:53conversation about that. If you want to
1:26:56begin the journey of giving in some way,
1:26:58but I would say when people give, say,
1:27:01thank you. Say thank you Lord. Thank you
1:27:03to this person. It's important to
1:27:05receive receive well too. It's okay. I
1:27:10remember in my life I as uh you know
1:27:13different times in my late teens and
1:27:15early 20s you know net zero income I
1:27:18don't think I made any consistent income
1:27:20till I was 22
1:27:22people gave money and I you all you can
1:27:25do is just receive and it was such a
1:27:26blessing and you know what in that
1:27:28receiving and that person giving God was
1:27:30doing a work in their heart and God was
1:27:31doing a work in my heart through this
1:27:33through the giving and receiving
1:27:35relationship and it's a good thing if
1:27:37somebody gives you money helps you out,
1:27:40receive it joyfully. If God's calling
1:27:42you to give, give joyfully. Give
1:27:45joyfully.
1:27:48So, what's the practical edge here as
1:27:50we're coming to the hour? What's the
1:27:52practical edge here? Well, this week in
1:27:53our sermon reflection guide, and it's
1:27:55not just for small groups. If you want
1:27:57to look at your sermon, the sermon
1:27:59reflection guide this week, just email
1:28:00the church office.
1:28:03There's three practical steps. I think
1:28:05three practical steps. I think there's a
1:28:07lot more that people do. And and this is
1:28:10within the lens of of knowing that this
1:28:14is an incredibly generous church like an
1:28:17abundantly generous. There's people here
1:28:19who give anonymously for projects like
1:28:22we have seen here that just you know my
1:28:25jaw is on the floor. I'm just like wow
1:28:28you are that is so amazing. There's
1:28:30people who who have been giving to the
1:28:31church for decades and I'm just like the
1:28:34generosity is just oozing out of this
1:28:36church when needs arise. I can think of
1:28:39I'm not going to name names but I can
1:28:40think of needs in the past five years of
1:28:42genuine crisis needs and how much money
1:28:45was raised in supporting these genuine
1:28:47crisis needs. I am just I'm in awe of
1:28:50how God how good God is through the
1:28:52ministry of this church. So in in some
1:28:55level like I'm talking we're talking
1:28:56about money in a sermon and generosity
1:28:58with something that all with so many of
1:29:00us are already practicing and I think
1:29:03God is like yes that's amazing thank you
1:29:06for saying yes to the call of generosity
1:29:08and I do think that this is our church
1:29:10is an incredibly generous church. So I
1:29:12hope that you don't hear any judgment on
1:29:15that level from me. If anything I'm
1:29:17preaching to myself
1:29:20the entire time. Right.
1:29:23So what are some next steps I think?
1:29:25Well, here's the first one. Really
1:29:27practical. [snorts]
1:29:29Begin consistently giving. Honestly,
1:29:32just begin consistently giving if you if
1:29:35you have not begun the pattern and the
1:29:37practice of consistently giving. I think
1:29:40it's really important to consistently
1:29:42give to the church and to the ministry
1:29:44of the church. Genuinely the ministry of
1:29:47the church supports you know obviously
1:29:50small groups alpha opshop uh midweek
1:29:54ministries like um playgroup uh so many
1:29:59other things Brett can list off like a
1:30:00dozen other things but it's I'm blanking
1:30:02at the moment there are so many
1:30:04wonderful things the church does
1:30:06community events uh the church gives as
1:30:09a tithe missionally to other
1:30:11organizations as well um see this is the
1:30:14thing when you start like thanking
1:30:16individual people, you run into the
1:30:17problem of forgetting someone. When you
1:30:18start listing ministries, you end up in
1:30:20the problem of forgetting ministries.
1:30:21Okay. So, the ministry of the church is
1:30:24important. Oh, obviously the pastoral
1:30:26care ministry of the church for caring
1:30:28for everybody here. The ministry of
1:30:31preaching and freeing up part-time and
1:30:34full-time pastors.
1:30:38Freeing up full-time and part-time
1:30:40pastors to not have to work uh other
1:30:42jobs.
1:30:57So what's the first thing? It's what
1:30:58that uh passage in Corinthians says to
1:31:00give every week. Assume practice the
1:31:03posture of giving. And if you want to
1:31:05begin that journey of giving, then you
1:31:07can go on the website ecw.org.nz.
1:31:09There's a giving tab that can walk you
1:31:11through how to actually begin to do
1:31:12that. because we live in a country that
1:31:14actually gives charitable um tax rebate
1:31:17and deductions and all that good stuff.
1:31:19So yes, I think that's a very clear next
1:31:22step. Second is if you've been giving
1:31:25for a long time, and this is something
1:31:26that Lauren and I do is reassess.
1:31:29Reassess your giving. Things change,
1:31:31circumstances change. Reassess. What
1:31:34does it look like if if you've been
1:31:35giving like a fixed number every single
1:31:38week?
1:31:39Then what does it look like for that to
1:31:42shift in this season of life? What is
1:31:43God calling you to? What is God asking
1:31:46you to do? Who is God asking you to be
1:31:49generous within generosity? And the
1:31:52third is this plan for spontaneous
1:31:55giving. I think this is all within the
1:31:57three passages. And so I think this is
1:31:59like this is beyond just the ministry of
1:32:02the church. Like there there's serious
1:32:04needs that arise uh at work, in the
1:32:08community, uh in your families
1:32:11within your savings, within what you how
1:32:13you um save money in whatever financial
1:32:15planning that you have. What does it
1:32:17look like to have like a folder here and
1:32:20x amount of dollars a week just for the
1:32:22freedom to give away beyond what's going
1:32:24to the church beyond what you're
1:32:26supporting through different you know
1:32:27sponsored children or other
1:32:29organizations like the cancer society
1:32:31that you might be supporting? What does
1:32:33it look like to put money away? prepare
1:32:35for giving as the needs arise. And then
1:32:40because so for example,
1:32:43like say someone like you know like you
1:32:45immediately know uh somebody needs
1:32:47$1,000 and you're like that's a lot of
1:32:49money. $1,000 is a lot of money. But
1:32:51imagine if you've had a folder put away
1:32:53where you put money away and then you
1:32:54don't have to think twice about it.
1:32:56You're like boom, gone. How cool is
1:33:00that? that you don't have to think twice
1:33:02about being generous because you've
1:33:03already prepared to be generous.
1:33:06I want to be that kind of person. You
1:33:07know, I want to be that kind of person.
1:33:10My family wants to be that kind of
1:33:11family.
1:33:13So, as I conclude, here we go. John
1:33:16Wesley's example
1:33:18is a phenomenal example. I think it's
1:33:21phenomenal and and radical because it
1:33:24goes against so much of what we receive
1:33:26through through just through media,
1:33:29through society, through wise financial
1:33:31planning. It goes against all of it.
1:33:34What do you mean cap your living at such
1:33:37a small amount of a small budget? What
1:33:40does it mean giving away so much money?
1:33:43That doesn't make any sense, Joey.
1:33:45Shouldn't you have x amount of dollars
1:33:46saved up by the time you're 65, 75, 85?
1:33:51You're not John Wesley. I'm not John
1:33:54Wesley. God had called, I think at a
1:33:57very young age, John Wesley to set this
1:33:59up in his life. John Wesley isn't the
1:34:02rule. He isn't the law, right? He isn't
1:34:06the compulsion that you should feel if
1:34:08we're talking about uh sec first
1:34:09Corinthians.
1:34:12But it still begs the question, right?
1:34:16What is God asking me to do with the
1:34:20money he's entrusted to me?
1:34:23We all have to deal with this question.
1:34:26What is he what is he asking me to do?
1:34:28And how can I say yes? Because can you
1:34:32imagine what it would look like
1:34:36for a group of people like this church
1:34:40who are just so ready to say yes to God
1:34:44in any financial circumstance
1:34:48collectively asking God
1:34:51what do you want me to do with my money
1:34:53and it's a scary prayer it's a scary ask
1:34:56you know why you know why because if I
1:34:59pray that prayer or Lauren prays that
1:35:00prayer or you know Brett prays that
1:35:02prayer. You know what? You know what's
1:35:04probably going to happen.
1:35:06God's probably going to say, "Yeah, you
1:35:07should be more generous that honestly."
1:35:09And I'm like, "Maybe I shouldn't pray
1:35:11that
1:35:13to be honest, right? Let's be honest
1:35:15here."
1:35:17So, how is God calling you to be
1:35:19generous?
1:35:20How is he calling you to be generous?
1:35:22Because we worship a God who gave his
1:35:25entire self
1:35:29was born in a impoverished circumstance
1:35:32in a manger in Bethlehem to a teenage
1:35:36mother
1:35:39who then lived as a bluecollar carpenter
1:35:41for the vast majority of his life.
1:35:45But then because of the call given to
1:35:49him through the spirit on this baptism
1:35:51moment from that moment on saw his
1:35:54entire life as a generous offering to
1:35:57you and to me on the cross for our
1:36:01salvation.
1:36:02So how can I be more like Christ in
1:36:06generosity? There's other generous
1:36:08aspects of our time you know our talents
1:36:10and this is one aspect of our resources
1:36:12but resources is very important. So
1:36:14let's pray this morning as we ask God
1:36:17what he would ask us and have us to do.
1:36:19Let's pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you are
1:36:23above above everything. You're above
1:36:25all. You're over all, Lord. And the
1:36:28amazing mystery of you, of your good
1:36:31news, is that even though you're so
1:36:33beyond our comprehension, that you're
1:36:34with us right now, even as we speak,
1:36:37that you're in us.
1:36:39Lord, we just ask humbly in this moment
1:36:44for you to reveal to us what our next
1:36:48yes is towards you.
1:36:50It might not even be money. It might not
1:36:52be money, Lord. But if it is around
1:36:54resources and around what you've
1:36:56entrusted to us, Lord, please be clear.
1:36:59Show us the needs around us. Give us a
1:37:01heart of generosity towards others,
1:37:03Lord, because of the heart of generosity
1:37:05that you've given to us.
1:37:07Jesus, we we just say yes to you before
1:37:10you even ask.
1:37:12We want you to change us. We want to be
1:37:14different. We want to be living in your
1:37:16kingdom in a way that looks very
1:37:18different to the world around us. So
1:37:20that when people look at our lives that
1:37:22they can say that this person or this
1:37:23group of people or this church,
1:37:26they're different in a good way. They're
1:37:28different in a way that makes me want to
1:37:30see who Jesus is. They're different in a
1:37:33way that makes me want to
1:37:35makes me want to begin to know who this
1:37:38God might be that they worship. So Lord,
1:37:40we just ask for your spirit to come to
1:37:44illuminate into our hearts what you
1:37:47would have us to do today. In Jesus name
1:37:50we pray. Amen.
1:37:53Would
1:37:54>> you stand with me?
1:38:10I love you, Lord.
1:38:15Oh, your mercy [singing]
1:38:17fails me.
1:38:21All my days
1:38:24I've been held in your hands. From
1:38:29the moment that I wake [singing]
1:38:32up
1:38:33until I lay my head,
1:38:38I will sing of the [singing] goodness
1:38:43of God.
1:38:44>> I love you, Lord. I love you, Lord.
1:38:51>> For your mercy [singing]
1:38:53fails me.
1:38:57All my days
1:38:59I've been [singing] held in your hands.
1:39:04From the moment that I wake up
1:39:09until I lay my head,
1:39:13I will sing of the good.
1:39:24All my life [singing]
1:39:25you have been faithful.
1:39:32All my [singing] life you have been so
1:39:36so good.
1:39:40With every breath that I am,
1:39:46I will sing of the goodness [singing]
1:39:51of God.
1:39:53I love your voice. I love your voice.
1:39:56[singing]
1:39:59>> You have led me through the fire
1:40:05in darkest [singing and music]
1:40:06night.
1:40:08You are close like no other.
1:40:13I've known you as a father.
1:40:17I've known you as a [singing and music]
1:40:19friend.
1:40:21And I have lived in the goodness [music]
1:40:26of God.
1:40:31And all my life you have been
1:40:34[music and singing] faithful.
1:40:39And all my life you have been so
1:40:43[music and singing] so good.
1:40:47With every bread that I [music] am,
1:40:54I will sing
1:40:56the goodness [music]
1:40:59of God.
1:41:04>> Your goodness is [singing] running
1:41:06after. [music] It's running after me.
1:41:12Your [music] goodness is running after
1:41:15is running after me.
1:41:19With my life [singing] laid down, I
1:41:21surrender [music]
1:41:22now. I give you everything.
1:41:28Your [singing] goodness is running
1:41:30after. It's running after me. [music]
1:41:36Your goodness is running after. is
1:41:40running [music] after me.
1:41:44And your goodness is running after.
1:41:47[singing]
1:41:48It's running after me.
1:41:51With my life [music and singing] laid
1:41:53down, I surrender now. I give you
1:41:57everything. [music]
1:42:01Your goodness [singing]
1:42:02is running after. [music] It's running
1:42:05after me.
1:42:13It is
1:42:15well
1:42:21with my [music]
1:42:24soul.
1:42:30It is
1:42:34[music]
1:42:38with my [music]
1:42:40soul.
1:42:46It is well [music]
1:42:54with my [singing]
1:42:56soul. [music]
1:43:02And it [music]
1:43:03is well. [singing]
1:43:06It is well
1:43:10with [music]
1:43:12my soul.
1:43:18It is well [music]
1:43:26with my
1:43:29soul [music]
1:43:34and it [music] is well
1:43:42with my [music]
1:43:44soul.
1:43:49And it is well [singing]
1:43:58with my
1:44:00soul. [singing and music]
1:44:06It is [music and singing] well.
1:44:10It is well
1:44:13with
1:44:15my [singing and music]
1:44:16soul.
1:44:18It is well.
1:44:21[singing] It is [music] well
1:44:29with my [music]
1:44:31soul.
1:44:37It is [music] well
1:44:44with my soul.
1:44:49[music]
1:44:52It is well [singing]
1:44:59with my [music and singing]
1:45:02soul.
1:45:07And it [music]
1:45:08is well.
1:45:11It is [music] well
1:45:15with my [singing] soul.
1:45:26All my life
1:45:29faithful.
1:45:34All my life have been so so [music]
1:45:39good.
1:45:42The very breath [music] that I am,
1:45:48I will sing of the goodness
1:45:53of God.
1:45:56I will sing
1:45:59of the goodness
1:46:01of God. Abundant
1:46:14God,
1:46:17we acknowledge you are the giver of all
1:46:19things.
1:47:17What gift of grace
1:47:20is Jesus?
1:47:25There is [singing] no more
1:47:28for heaven now to
1:47:33he
1:47:36my rightous and
1:47:41my [music and singing] son
1:47:44my boundless peace
1:47:49to this I [singing] hold my hope is only
1:47:54[music]
1:47:54Jesus
1:47:57For my life
1:48:00is [music and singing] wholly bound to
1:48:02his.
1:48:05Oh, [music] how strange and [singing]
1:48:08divine I can sing. All is mighty [music]
1:48:13and not.
1:48:15through Christ
1:48:17in me. [music]
1:48:24Night is [music] dark, but I am not
1:48:28forsaken.
1:48:31For by [music and singing]
1:48:32my side the Savior He will stay.
1:48:39I [singing] labor on in weakness and
1:48:43rejoicing. [music]
1:48:46For [singing] in my need,
1:48:49his power is displayed. [music]
1:48:53To this [singing] I hold. My sheep will
1:48:58defend me
1:49:01through the deepest [music] valley. He
1:49:04[singing] will lead.
1:49:08Oh my has been one [music and singing]
1:49:12and I shall overcome
1:49:15yet not I but through Christ
1:49:20in me.
1:49:26No [music] dread
1:49:31for
1:49:34the future. [music]
1:49:35Sure.
1:49:37The price it has been paid. [music]
1:49:40Amen. For [singing] Jesus fled
1:49:44and suffered [music]
1:49:46for my [singing] pardon.
1:49:49And he was raised to Overthrow
1:49:53[music and singing]
1:49:54the grave.
1:49:56To this I hold. My [singing] sin has
1:50:01been defeated. [music]
1:50:04Jesus now
1:50:07and never is my flee.
1:50:12Oh the [music] chains are [singing]
1:50:14released. I can sing I am free and not
1:50:20I. through [singing and music] Christ
1:50:23in me.
1:50:30With every breath
1:50:32I long to [music and singing] follow
1:50:35Jesus,
1:50:37for he has said that he will bring me
1:50:42[singing] home.
1:50:44And day by day
1:50:47I know he will renew me [music]
1:50:52until I stand with [singing] joy before
1:50:56the throne. [music]
1:50:59To this I [singing] hold my hope is
1:51:02[music] only Jesus.
1:51:06All their [singing] glory
1:51:09ever more to him.
1:51:14When the race is complete,
1:51:16[music and singing]
1:51:17still my lips shall repeat. Yet not I,
1:51:23but through Christ
1:51:25and me.
1:51:28When the race is [music] complete, still
1:51:32my shall
1:51:36[music]
1:51:36not I, but through Christ [singing]
1:51:41in me.
1:51:47>> [music]
1:51:56>> I don't think Paul has favorites, but if
1:51:58there was a favorite church compared to
1:51:59the Corinthians, it might be the
1:52:00Philippians. All right, that's a good
1:52:02guess because he writes this at the end
1:52:04of his letter to the Philippians about
1:52:05him traveling and doing his missionary
1:52:07work. It was good of you, Philippians,
1:52:11to share in my troubles. Moreover, as
1:52:14you Philippians know, in the early days
1:52:16of your acquaintance with the gospel,
1:52:18when I set out from Macedonia, not one
1:52:21church shared with me in the matter of
1:52:23giving and receiving, except you only.
1:52:25For even when I was in Thessalonica, you
1:52:28sent me aid more than once when I was in
1:52:31need. Not that I desire your gifts. What
1:52:34I desire is that more be credited to
1:52:37your account. I have received full
1:52:39payment and have more than enough. I am
1:52:42amply supplied now that I have received
1:52:45from Epaphroditis the gifts you sent.
1:52:47They are fragrant offering, an
1:52:49acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God.
1:52:52And my God will meet all your needs
1:52:54according to the riches of his glory
1:52:56[music] in Christ Jesus. To our God and
1:52:58Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
1:53:01Go with God today.
1:53:17that he will bring me home.
1:53:22And by day
1:53:24I [music] know he will renew me
1:53:29until I
1:53:32joy before the Lord.
1:53:36To this [singing] I hope my hope is only
1:53:41Jesus.
1:53:44All the glory
1:53:47ever.
1:53:51And the race [music] is complete. Still
1:53:55my lips shall be in
1:54:00the but through Christ in me.
1:54:06When the race is complete, [singing]
1:54:09still my lips shall repeat. And not I
1:54:15but through Christ
1:54:18and me. [music]
1:54:23through Christ
1:54:25in me.

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This page contains the full transcript of Open Hands | ECW Online | 26 July 2026 by East City Wesleyan Church, generated from the public captions YouTube serves with the video. The transcript has 10,820 words across 1,730 segments, with the original timestamps preserved so you can click any line to jump to that moment in the embedded player.

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