Stewardship

Generous Stewardship

Sunday October 26, 2025 - Pastor Richard Reaves

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

KEY THOUGHT:

Generosity flows from God's grace not worldly wealth

Heart disease is a major problem in our country today.

1. As bad as this is, there are many more people, probably all of us here who suffer from a diseased inner heart, one that is stingy, fearful, self-oriented, even uncaring.
2. The inner enemy here is Greed- that insidious monster trying to destroy our hearts.
3. One place in scripture where this subject is discussed is 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

The Key to Generous Stewardship

1. 2 Corinthians 8:1 (NIV)
   And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
2. The Macedonians had realized that God was the giver of every marvelous and many-faceted gift of grace.
3. The message of Christianity is that we can give out of love, the highest and best motivation. Romans 5:8 (NIV)
   But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Generous Stewardship: A response to God's gracious nature

1. Matthew 10:8b (NIV)
   Freely you received, freely give.
2. 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
   We love because he first loved us.

Generous Stewardship: Grows through intentional steps

1. The healthy heart is a heart growing in generosity.
2. John Wesley,
   The question is not "How much can I keep for myself?" but "How much can I give away?"

Generous Stewardship: What does it look like?

Generosity can be demonstrated in many areas of our lives:

1. Generosity at Home
2. Generosity at Church
3. Generosity in Mission

How is your heart today? The divine doctor is present.