GIVE
November 23, 2025
Giving isn't about obligation but about gratitude; believers need to examine how they use their time, talents, and treasure. Financial giving reveals what we truly worship. The church's singular mission is to seek and save the lost, and when believers withhold their tithes, they rob both God and those in need of care. True generosity begins with obedient tithing (10%) and flows from a grateful heart that trusts God to provide abundantly.
Malachi 3:8-10 - "Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me. But you ask, 'What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?' You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me... Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my temple. If you do, says the Lord of heaven's armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in."
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your abundant provision in our lives. Forgive us for the times we've held back what belongs to You—not just our money, but our time, talents, and hearts. Help us shift from asking "What do I have to give?" to "What can I give?" Teach us to live with open hands and grateful hearts, trusting that You will always provide for our needs as we seek first Your kingdom. Give us the courage to step out in faith, to tithe obediently, and to give generously so that others may come to know the hope of Jesus Christ. May our lives reflect genuine gratitude for all You've done for us. In Jesus' name, Amen
Giving isn't about obligation but about gratitude; believers need to examine how they use their time, talents, and treasure. Financial giving reveals what we truly worship. The church's singular mission is to seek and save the lost, and when believers withhold their tithes, they rob both God and those in need of care. True generosity begins with obedient tithing (10%) and flows from a grateful heart that trusts God to provide abundantly.
Malachi 3:8-10 - "Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me. But you ask, 'What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?' You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me... Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my temple. If you do, says the Lord of heaven's armies, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in."
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your abundant provision in our lives. Forgive us for the times we've held back what belongs to You—not just our money, but our time, talents, and hearts. Help us shift from asking "What do I have to give?" to "What can I give?" Teach us to live with open hands and grateful hearts, trusting that You will always provide for our needs as we seek first Your kingdom. Give us the courage to step out in faith, to tithe obediently, and to give generously so that others may come to know the hope of Jesus Christ. May our lives reflect genuine gratitude for all You've done for us. In Jesus' name, Amen
GIVE
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice, the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." (Romans 12:1-2)
God has created each person uniquely with specific gifts and abilities, and you are not a mistake. These gifts are meant to be given away as acts of worship, returned to God to join Him in His good work. We are called to surrender our whole selves to God as living sacrifices, offering our physical bodies, emotions, desires, and souls.
It's important not to think too highly of ourselves, remembering that our gifts come from God's grace, not our own merit. Like the human body, we are many parts of one body in Christ, with unity in diversity, where every role is equally important.
God has created each person uniquely with specific gifts and abilities, and you are not a mistake. These gifts are meant to be given away as acts of worship, returned to God to join Him in His good work. We are called to surrender our whole selves to God as living sacrifices, offering our physical bodies, emotions, desires, and souls.
It's important not to think too highly of ourselves, remembering that our gifts come from God's grace, not our own merit. Like the human body, we are many parts of one body in Christ, with unity in diversity, where every role is equally important.
Often, like Moses, the real issue isn't our inability but our unwillingness to say yes to God. Moses doubted himself and argued with God, but when he finally surrendered and became willing, he became one of the greatest leaders in Scripture.
We can discover our gifts through practical steps: starting with prayer, serving in different areas of ministry, talking to others who can see gifts in us, taking spiritual gifts inventories, and reflecting on our life patterns and natural abilities. The challenge is to give God your next "yes"—even in doubt and fear, take that step of faith and trust that He will equip you for what He's calling you to do.
Closing Prayer:
Closing Prayer:
Father, thank you for creating us uniquely with specific gifts and purposes. We pray for anyone who doesn't yet know who you've created them to be or hasn't surrendered their life to you. Help us all to give you our next yes, whether that's in salvation, baptism, or service. We're excited for all you're doing in our lives. In your holy name we pray. Amen.
GIVE
November 9, 2025
"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well." Romans 12:4-8
God Has Gifted Each of Us Uniquely:
God Has Gifted Each of Us Uniquely:
- We often think talents mean performing on stage or working with children, but God has given each person different abilities to serve His kingdom
- Your talent might be fixing things, showing kindness, encouraging others, or serving behind the scenes
- We need people serving in all areas—greeters, café workers, handymen, prayer warriors—not everyone has the same calling
The Story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
- Martha was distracted by making everything perfect while Mary sat at Jesus' feet
- We can become so focused on looking like we have it all together that we forget the purpose: spending time in Jesus' presence
- God doesn't ask for perfection; He asks for our presence
Making Time for God Daily
- We have 16+ waking hours each day—can we give God 10 minutes?
- Simple ways to connect: prayer while getting ready, listening to worship music in the car, audio Bible while commuting, praying before meals
There's a difference between not being perfect and not trying
What We Give Is What We Get
- The more we remain distant from God, the more distant He will feel from us
- We can't expect miracles while running away from relationship with Him
- Jesus never leaves us; we are the ones who walk away
Surrendering What Holds Us Back
- Phones, people, fear of the unknown—whatever keeps us from fully committing to God
- To truly give to God is to truly trust Him
- Surrender creates space for God to do something new in our lives
Challenge for This Week
Give God at least 10 minutes every day this week. Whether through prayer, reading Scripture, worship music, or simply talking to Him—be intentional about spending time in His presence.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for creating each of us uniquely and for giving us gifts, abilities, and time to serve You and Your people. Forgive us for the moments we've held back from fully surrendering to You—whether out of fear, distraction, or feelings of unworthiness.
Lord, help us to be like Mary, sitting at Your feet and making time with You our priority. Remind us that You never leave us; we are the ones who walk away. Give us the courage to lay down whatever is holding us back from fully trusting You. We surrender our phones, our need for control, our fears of the unknown, and anything else that creates barriers between us and You. Help us to give You our time, our talents, and our whole hearts—not because we're perfect, but because You are worthy of all we have.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for creating each of us uniquely and for giving us gifts, abilities, and time to serve You and Your people. Forgive us for the moments we've held back from fully surrendering to You—whether out of fear, distraction, or feelings of unworthiness.
Lord, help us to be like Mary, sitting at Your feet and making time with You our priority. Remind us that You never leave us; we are the ones who walk away. Give us the courage to lay down whatever is holding us back from fully trusting You. We surrender our phones, our need for control, our fears of the unknown, and anything else that creates barriers between us and You. Help us to give You our time, our talents, and our whole hearts—not because we're perfect, but because You are worthy of all we have.
Thank You for Your unconditional love, Your endless grace, and the gift of eternal life. May we serve Your kingdom faithfully with the unique gifts You've placed within each of us.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
GIVE
November 2, 2025
The church is in decline because Christians have misplaced their priorities, investing in temporary things rather than eternal Kingdom work through faithful stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
Transparency on Giving - While preaching on FINANCES/MONEY can be controversial, especially in the topic of tithing, we should be more generous with our finances when it comes to the church.
Sobering Statistics - Only 38% of Huntington's population attends church, with 28% identifying as uninterested in religion. Nationally, 80% of churches average less than 50 attendees, and the church has declined 3% annually since 2019.
The Parable (Matthew 25:14-30) - God entrusts each believer with time, talents, and treasure. Those who invest faithfully receive the same reward regardless of the amount given. The servant who buried his talent represents those who hoard God's blessings rather than using them for Kingdom purposes.
Biblical Tithing - God commands 10% giving (storehouse tithing) so the church can bless the poor, orphan, widow, and foreigner. Most church attenders only offer 2-3%.
Living Example - The sermon concludes with the baptism of a new believer named Chris, illustrating that winning souls is the ultimate return on investment in the Kingdom.
The church is in decline because Christians have misplaced their priorities, investing in temporary things rather than eternal Kingdom work through faithful stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
Transparency on Giving - While preaching on FINANCES/MONEY can be controversial, especially in the topic of tithing, we should be more generous with our finances when it comes to the church.
Sobering Statistics - Only 38% of Huntington's population attends church, with 28% identifying as uninterested in religion. Nationally, 80% of churches average less than 50 attendees, and the church has declined 3% annually since 2019.
The Parable (Matthew 25:14-30) - God entrusts each believer with time, talents, and treasure. Those who invest faithfully receive the same reward regardless of the amount given. The servant who buried his talent represents those who hoard God's blessings rather than using them for Kingdom purposes.
Biblical Tithing - God commands 10% giving (storehouse tithing) so the church can bless the poor, orphan, widow, and foreigner. Most church attenders only offer 2-3%.
Living Example - The sermon concludes with the baptism of a new believer named Chris, illustrating that winning souls is the ultimate return on investment in the Kingdom.
Call to Action: Christians must prioritize eternal investments over temporary comfort and possessions, using their God-given resources to expand His kingdom.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for all the blessings that you have given us. Holy Spirit, enable us to open our hands to give it al back to you so that you may be glorified. We love you and want to please you. Help us to keep a grateful heart. In your name we pray AMEN.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for all the blessings that you have given us. Holy Spirit, enable us to open our hands to give it al back to you so that you may be glorified. We love you and want to please you. Help us to keep a grateful heart. In your name we pray AMEN.