Generosity Helps Me Grow Like Christ

Posted on May 17, 2016 by dkoop

ThriveHave you ever benefited from the generosity of someone else?   As I think about Christ, I can’t help but think about ALL that he gave for me.  He gave his life as a sacrifice on the cross that I might have forgiveness.

As I think about an American flag, it reminds me of how much others have given for me that I might have freedom.  Even the colors, the red reminds me of the blood of those who died to secure our freedom.  We live in a great country today because of the sacrifice of others.   It’s easy to forget the sacrifice of others. I know I take so much for granted.  It’s also difficult to develop an attitude that is willing to not only give but to sacrifice for others.

We just celebrated Mother’s Day, which reminds us of all that our moms have given!  We give cards and presents.   If you are have a mom or are married to a mom, for your own well-being, I hope you gave something to the one you love!  Maybe you have been like me and thought something crazy like, “What if I didn’t get anything for Niki on Mother’s Day?”  How would that go over?  You already know the answer.  Not well!

One thing about love that I have learned is, I cannot love and NOT give.  The most loving thing I do is give my time away, give my life away, give my money away, give myself away.  That’s what love is all about.  Life is not about just getting by with as little as possible.

Let’s say I come to Niki for her birthday and say, “Honey, I love you!  I love you so much!  I love you so much I’m going to buy you a gold necklace.  I understand there is a bargain basement sale down at Wal-Mart and I want you to go down there. They’re going to have a half off sale on factory rejects that were damaged by the fire and water.  I want you to go down there (I don’t want to spend too much!!) so I want you to pick up the cheapest one you can find. Do you understand? The cheapest!! And I want to show my love for you.” Do you think that would take the joy out of the gift?  How would Niki feel?  How does God feel when you treat him that same way?

How little can I give and still call myself married?  Wrong question to ask!  How little can I give to God and still claim to be a Christian?   Giving is not about how little you can give.  It is about how much.  This is generosity.  Generosity is what God is about.  Generosity proves the sincerity of my love.  And I will never be like Christ until I learn to be generous in every area of my life.  Christ gave it all for me and for you.

 Did you know?

  •      The word believe, or believer, or believing is used 285 times in the bible.
  •      The word pray, or prayer, or praying is used 375 times.
  •      The word love, or lover, loves, or loving is used 731 times.
  •      The word give, giver or giving is used 1,638 times in the bible!

 So my question is, where does the Bible put the most emphasis? Giving!  The Bible is a book about giving.  It’s not something that’s just tacked on to the Christian life.  It is the essence of Christian living.  Jesus was the ultimate giver.  We need to be givers.  We need to learn to not only give but to give generously and sacrificially.

 Why Should I Be Generous?  Generosity helps me grow like Christ

 Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians  5:2 (NIV)

 Our mission statement at The Ridge Fellowship is to “Know Christ and Grow to be like Him.”  One of the best ways to be like Christ is to give.  He gave.  God is a giver.  Everything you have is a gift from God.  God made everything and everything to give.  We have to learn it!

  •           God made the sun – it gives
  •           God made the moon – it gives
  •           God made the stars – they give
  •           God made the air– it gives
  •           God made the clouds – they give.
  •           God made the earth – it gives
  •           God made the ocean – it gives
  •           God made the fish – they give
  •           God made the trees  – they give
  •           God made the grass – it gives
  •           God made the flowers – they give
  •           God made the birds – they give
  •           God made the animals – they give
  •           God made you –  you….?  Do you give?

If we want to GROW as a Christ follower we have to learn how to give.   If someone says, “I am not growing as a Christian.”  A response I often have, “Are you giving?”

God uses dollars to test our faith and to strengthen our faith.  I believe that giving is the number one way we demonstrate our faith in our Christian life.   Sooner or later we’ve got to decide, “Can God be trusted with my finances?  Can He be counted on to keep His promises?”

There are lots of promises in the Bible and there are more promises regarding giving than anything else in the Bible.

We often say, “God, you bless me and then I’ll give.”  God says, “No, you first.”  Why? Because that requires faith.  Giving tests my faith and strengthens it.

The last day of school before the Christmas holidays, children were bringing gifts to their teacher. The florist’s son brought the teacher a bouquet. The candy store owner’s son brought the teacher a pretty box of candy. Then the liquor store owner’s son brought a big, heavy box. The teacher lifted it up and noticed that it was leaking a little bit. She touched a drop of the liquid with her finger and tasted it. “Is it wine?” She guessed. “No,” said the boy. She tasted another drop and asked, “Champagne?” She tasted another drop and asked, “sour mash whiskey? “No,” said the little boy. “It’s a stray puppy we don’t want!”  Needless to say the teacher wasn’t very PLEASED!

What does it take to please God?  Some people think that the way you please God is through ritual, that you chant certain prayers, you light some candles, go to church and go through the motions, just do some religious stuff to please God.  That’s not what the Bible says pleases God.

He’s interested in a RELATIONSHIP with you.  He wants you to learn to trust Him.  The Bible says that it is impossible to please God unless you have one thing.

Hebrews 11:6 “Without faith it is impossible to please God

I believe that giving is the number one way we demonstrate our faith in our Christian life.   For us as Americans it is a test of who is really God.  Our God is materialism.  The first of the Ten Commandments is “Have no other God before me”   Giving is a faith test, God even says in Malachi 3:10, “test me in this”

An atheist can give what they think they can afford,  you don’t have to believe in God for that.   Many of us are practical atheists; we talk a good game, “I believe in God”  but practically in what we do it shows our faith.  We give only what we have left over.  I won’t even call it a tip!  A tip at a restaurant is 15% George Barna’s surveys reveal the average Christian gives only 2%!   That’s not faith.  And besides who wants to be average?  I want to be generous!

Twenty years ago when Niki and I got married one of the first things we decided on as a couple was God was always going to be first in our finances.  We said we’re going to practice tithing which is the Biblical concept of the first ten percent of everything we make we give back to God in gratitude for what He’s done in the past and as an example of faith saying, We know You’re going to provide for us in the future.  We said no matter if nobody else gets paid, God gets paid first.  The first check we write off our income is right back to God, ten percent back to Him.  There have been times in our lives when it was that financially tight.  But we’ve never missed a meal and God has provided for us all the time — many times in miraculous ways, unusual ways and God has seen us through.  I don’t say to brag but as your leader to encourage you.  We’ve seen so many blessings.   Niki and I have learned, we can’t out give God. And every time we make that commitment to give even beyond our 10% and we follow through on it, God always blesses us in return.  It’s exciting to see what He does.  We have a long way to go, but we’ve experienced God’s faithfulness.

I hope and pray that you can be generous and grow like Christ.

Darrell

www.RidgeFellowship.com

https://www.facebook.com/RidgeFellowship

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Thriving Kids Family Devotion

Posted on May 14, 2016 by dkoop

thrive family devotion guideRidge family, don’t forget to have your family devotion this week!  If you didn’t already, you can pick up a hard copy of the Family Devotion Guide and tent fold Prayer Card at church this week (at any location).

Here’s this week’s devotion,

THRIVING KIDS

 3   I will pour out my spirit on your children and my blessing on your descendants.
4  They will THRIVE like well-watered grass, like willows by streams of running water.
Isaiah 44:3-4 (TEV)

Background Information and Explanation

 Isaiah is a prophet in the Old Testament. He writes to a people that had been in carried off from their homeland as prisoners of war.   They are now being released and God is using the prophet to tell the people that he will pour out His spirit on their children and blessing upon their descendants.  Though the parents had experienced hardship, God would now bless their children and their descendants.  God’s spirit and blessing would cause these children to thrive like green grass that gets plenty of water and like trees that are planted by streams.  God loves children and has plans to move in them spiritually and bless them.

 Discussion Questions:   

What would it look like for God to pour out His spirit on your family?   In what ways are kids are more open to God than adults?  At what age did you commit your life to Christ?  In what ways would we like to see our family thrive?  Relationally, Spiritually, Financially?

THRIVE CHALLENGE: Get outside with friends or family this week. “Take a breath” and explore God’s creation and enjoy cultivating THRIVING relationships with those you love.

THRIVE CHALLENGE: Disconnect from culture one day this week by avoiding technology (TV, computers, video games, etc.) and use that time to pray, listen to God and do something special with your friends or family.

 Prayer:

 

Until next week,

Darrell

https://www.facebook.com/RidgeFellowship

http://www.RidgeFellowship.com

 

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Thrive Family Devotion Guide Introduction

Posted on May 14, 2016 by dkoop

ThriveDear Ridge Fellowship Family,

Our family devotion guide is designed especially for your use during our Thrive emphasis.  There is one devotion each week for the next five weeks. The subjects for each week parallel the subject of the messages I will be sharing.

I am convinced that our THRIVE campaign will be a time of incredible spiritual growth for us as individuals and as a church.  When we begin to pray, fast, seek God, desire a better future and give we will thrive.  These devotions are an important part of that opportunity for maturity in each of our lives.  We want God’s word to be at the center of our faith and prayers.  We want God’s direction to be the single motivation for our future and our giving.  These devotions will help you, as an individual or as a family, to personally discover God’s direction in His word and begin to Thrive.

You’ll see that we have included a verse of scripture, background information and explanation, discussion questions and two Thrive challenges each week.  You’ll find that the discussion questions are designed for elementary kids and above.  If you’re doing this devotion by yourself you can use these as thought questions.  The best way to be consistent in these devotions is to find the same time each week to do them.  Here are some other suggestions for reading through our weekly devotions:

 

SUGGESTIONS FOR FAMILY DEVOTIONS

 Family devotions can often seem chaotic or awkward.  Remember: your goal is not perfection.  You might think of your goal as “let’s try to make it through this once each week for the next five weeks.”   Taking some time in your busy household for scripture, family discussion and dreaming together will have a lasting impact.   Here are a few simple suggestions:

  1. Choose a consistent time and place. Whether it’s at dinner around the table or in your children’s rooms just before bedtime, having devotions at the same time and same place is the best way to be consistent.  Choose the best time for your family and stick to it.  It’s only five weeks.
  1. Have different family members read the Scripture, explanation and discussion questions week. This will give everyone a feeling that they’re a part of deciding to have family devotions.
  1. After reading the scripture, explanation, discussion questions, and Thrive Challenge; take a minute to pray together. Talk to God about the needs in your family… the church…the world… your friends… those who need to find Christ… your work… your school…etc.
  1. Be yourselves! It’s O.K. to laugh.  Noise is not only allowable during devotions… it is probable.  If you allow your children to be themselves during times of devotion it’s amazing how much more they learn.  What you think is bouncing off of them is actually sinking deeply into their souls.

Excited about our future,

Darrell

http://www.RidgeFellowship.com

https://www.facebook.com/RidgeFellowship

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Jesus Wants Kids to Thrive

Posted on May 11, 2016 by dkoop

Thrive“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!”  Did you learn that song as a child?  I did and those lovely sentiments are based on clear biblical truth. Jesus does love little children, as this text from Matthew attests. The parents of these children wanted Jesus to touch them and bless them, and He was more than willing to accommodate that desire.

Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” And after laying His hands on them, He departed from there. Matthew 19:13-15

When word spread that Jesus was in the area, parents were drawn to this Teacher whose love of children had become known throughout Palestine.

Children are referring to young children from infancy through elementary age. But the disciples resented the intrusion into their private time with Jesus, and they rebuked the parents. As more and more parents brought their children to Jesus, the disciples continued to try to repulse them.

In the first century, Jewish households were patriarchal—men came first, followed by women and children. Adult men were the key members of society, women quite secondary, and children were to be seen but not heard. The disciples apparently viewed these parents and children as an intrusion and a drain of time and energy. Obviously the Twelve, who had spent the better part of two years living with Jesus and hearing every word He spoke and observing everything He did, did not yet fully share His mind and heartbeat.

Only a few days earlier Jesus had taken a young child in His arms in the disciples’ presence. Specifically for the sake of the disciples, who were in the midst of a dispute about who was the greatest in the kingdom, He had declared, “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” Matt. 18:1-4. No doubt at countless other times the Twelve had witnessed similar expressions of Jesus’ tenderness and gentleness and His great patience with those who came to Him for help. They had seen His compassion pour out in an endless flow of healing, encouragement, and comfort.

They also knew that the Talmud taught Jewish parents to bring their children to respected rabbis for blessings and prayer. A father would customarily bring his infant child to the synagogue and pray for the child himself. He would then hand it to the elders, who would each hold it and pray for God’s blessing on the young life.  Today our church follows a somewhat similar pattern in prayerfully dedicating small children to the Lord.

When Jesus saw his disciples rebuking the people for bringing their children, he spoke to his disciples, telling them in a double command to let the little children come and do not forbid them.   From Mark’s account we learn that Jesus was greatly indignant with the disciples (Mark 10:14). They frequently frustrated and disappointed the Lord by their insensitivity and selfishness, but this is one of only two or three occasions on which He actually became angry with them.

The implicit command is that the disciples should never forbid anyone from coming to Jesus, especially children. Why? Because, Jesus explained, of such is the kingdom of heaven. The disciples must have forgotten what Jesus had said about children earlier (see Matthew 18:4-6). Jesus wanted little children to come because he loves them and because they have the kind of attitude needed to approach God. He didn’t mean that heaven is only for children but that people need childlike attitudes of trust in God.

The receptiveness of little children was a great contrast to the stubbornness of the religious leaders who let their education and sophistication stand in the way of the simple faith needed to believe in Jesus. Anyone of any age who exhibits such faith and trust is promised access to Jesus and to the kingdom. The kingdom of God is God’s universal, dynamic rule over his people. The trust displayed by children represents the trust that all true disciples need to have. The children came to Jesus in humility and received his blessing as a gift. They had no authority or rights, but they came to him in trust and love.

Those who share the mind of Christ share His concern and love for children. No church or Christian movement has prospered spiritually that has disregarded or neglected the care and training of its children. When our hearts are warm toward the Lord we will inevitably be warm toward children.

One writer has made this beautiful observation:

As the flower in the garden stretches toward the light of the sun, so there is in the child a mysterious inclination toward the eternal light. Have you ever noticed this mysterious thing that, when you tell the smallest child about God, it never asks with strangeness and wonder, “What or who is God? I have never seen Him “—but listens with shining face to the words as though they were soft loving sounds from the land of home? Or when you teach a child to fold its little bands in prayer, it does this as though it were a matter of course, as though there were opening for it that world of which it had been dreaming with longing and anticipation. Or tell them, these little ones, the stories of the Savior, show them the pictures with scenes and personages of the Bible [and] see how their pure eyes shine, how their little hearts beat.”  R. C. H. Lenski

Just as Jesus took time for the sick, the poor, and the hungry, so he also took time for little children. Jesus clearly enjoyed the company of the weak. We never read of him courting the favor of the powerful.
With whom do you like to spend time?
Without idealizing children who are not always perfect company, we need to give them time and focus.

Let’s hold them, hug them and tell them we love them. Today.

Darrell

www.RidgeFellowship.com

Sources:  Life Application Bible Commentary
The – MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 16-23.
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