WHY WE PRACTICE
GENEROSITY
“This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.”
The Apostle Paul
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 MSG
OUR MONEY DOES SOMETHING TO US
When we put ourselves first, we come in last.
We were created to put our Creator first.
When things get out of order, we become disordered.
It’s very easy to lose our way when it comes to money.
Luke 12:15; Matthew 6:21, 24, 33
IT’S BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE
This isn’t how culture works. It’s how Jesus works.
Perhaps more than any other are of life, generosity is where Jesus’ upside down kingdom is expressed.
Culture says: Live Save Give, in that order.
Jesus says: Give Save Live, in that order.
1 Timothy 1:16-19; Acts 20:35
OUR MONEY IS A TOOL
Money can add meaning to your life, but money is not the meaning of life.
Money is a mean, but money is never to be the end.
We can turn our stuff into stories.
Practicing generosity is about investment. Generosity is about legacy.
Parable of the Shrewd Manager - Luke 16:1-15
Nothing To Lose
Consumer culture teaches us that bigger, better, and more are the secret to happiness. Is that really true? The authors of scripture make a different claim: a generous lifestyle is the key to experiencing true human flourishing. In our series Nothing to Lose, we’ll look at the biblical theme of generosity, exploring some of the common obstacles we often face. Together, we’ll see that cultivating contentment, embracing gratitude, and trusting God are crucial if we're going to live like Jesus. When it comes to living a lifestyle of radical generosity, we truly have nothing to lose.
GENEROSITY PATHWAY
We realize people are at different stages of life and giving capacity. That’s why we’ve created our Generosity Pathway, a helpful tool that shows how you can scale your giving over time.
EXTRAVAGANT
I am choosing to give more than 10% of my income. I continue to grow in my generosity by going above and beyond in my giving. I know NC has a vision that exceeds the budget’s capacity to fund. Extravagant giving helps that vision become a reality.
PERCENTAGE
I am choosing to give a percentage. I am growing in my generosity by regularly increasing my percentage.
CONSISTENT
I am choosing to give regularly. I am becoming a consistent giver. Having a plan to support NC financially allows us to plan and dream responsibly.
FIRST TIME
I am choosing to give for the first time. I am just beginning on my journey as a generous giver to Neighborhood Church.
BIBLE PROJECT RESOURCES
THEME VIDEO
Generosity is one of those things we’d probably all say we value, but how that practically works out in our lives may be a different story.
PODCAST SERIES
Generosity is important in the biblical story, as well as a vital part of everyday lived experience. How is it connected to scarcity, abundance, anxiety, and trust?
OTHER RESOURCES
ASK AN EXPERT: TIM DEATRICK
Tim Deatrick has joined our team to help your generosity work for you. He has broad experience in helping people reduce ordinary income tax, capital gains tax, and estate tax challenges through charitable giving from assets. With Tim being part of our team, his advisory services are available to you without fees or commissions.
RESET: Practicing Generosity
In this August 2021 message, hear from Forrest Jenan as he talks about practicing gratitude as an antidote to greed.
IF MONEY TALKED
If you invited money to pull up a chair and give you its best advice, you might be surprised that what it would say is pretty close to what Jesus did say two thousand years ago. In this four-session study, Andy Stanley offers an approach to money management that will make your life better and make you better at life. Whether you have a lot or a little, are a spender or a saver, you'll find Andy's insights challenging, refreshing, and extraordinarily practical.