Next Steps Session 4 Handout

Rescue

Recap of Previous Sessions

  • Session 1: We are committed to bringing hope to the broken and purpose for everyone.
  • Session 2: Our gifting fills the universe with the glory of Jesus.
  • Session 3: Generosity powers the engine of the church.

What is the Purpose of the Move?

Pursue the

James 5:19-20 (NLT)
“If someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death.”

Reach the

Luke 19:10 (NLT):
“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Three Parables of Rescue

1. The Lost Sheep
Luke 15:4-6 (NLT):
“Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?”

Hope City Church is always and never .

2. The Lost Coin
Luke 15:8-9 (NLT):
“Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?”

Hope City Church is always and never .

3. The Lost Son
Luke 15:20-24 (NLT):
“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”

Hope City Church is always and never .

Your Work: The Rescue
Who do you know who is wondering?
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Who do you know who is lost?
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Next Steps Session 1

Matthew 16:13–18 (NIV)

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
16:13–16pp—Mk 8:27–29; Lk 9:18–20
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”a  15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”  16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”b 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.d 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, 18b and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

 

Ephesians 2:20–22 (NLT)

20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

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The church is built on the of Jesus

    18b and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

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    The church was designed to

    Matthew 28:18–20

    18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,* baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”


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    HERE AT HOPE CITY CHURCH WE BELIEVE THAT THIS HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE COMMITTED TO BRING HOPE TO THE BROKEN AND PURPOSE TO EVERYONE.

    Hope for the

    Hope comes when people discover life in Jesus. 

    Matthew 5:14–16 (NLT)

    14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

     

    James 5:19–20 (NLT)

    19 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.


    Luke 19:10 (NLT)

    10 For the Son of Man* came to seek and save those who are lost.”


    Hope  comes when people discover a community to belong to. 


    Galatians 6:2–3 (NLT)

    2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.


    Ephesians 4:11–12 (NLT)

    11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.


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    Purpose for


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    Welcome to Session 2!
    In our last session, we talked about:

    • The Position of the Church: The church is built on the cornerstone of Jesus.
    • The Posture of the Church: The church was designed to move.
    • The Purpose of the Church: The church’s purpose is to make disciples.

    And here at Hope City, we believe disciples are made when we bring Hope to the broken and Purpose for everyone.

    Bible Passages for Today’s Session

    Ephesians 4:7-10 (NLT)

    7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

     

    Value 2: God’s Glory is our Purpose

    The aim of Hope City Church is to help people discover His purpose. We believe that each of us have been uniquely gifted to showcase His glory.

    The Gifts Christ Gave to the Church

    Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT)

    11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

    • Apostle
    • Prophet
    • Evangelist
    • Shepherd
    • Teacher

    1. Apostle:

    • Role: Establishes, dreams, and starts new things to expand the Kingdom of God.
    • Jesus as the Apostle: Jesus was sent to establish and expand God’s Kingdom.
      • Hebrews 3:1 (NLT)
        “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.”
    • Biblical Example: Paul
    • Recent Example: Jon and Maritza Hernandez – Started homes for children in Bolivia, Chile, and Honduras.

    Ponder: How can God use what you have built to expand His Kingdom?

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    2. Prophet:

    • Role: Speaks God’s truth to the world, hearing from God and communicating His will.
    • Jesus as the Prophet: Jesus did nothing apart from what He saw the Father doing.
      • John 5:19 (NLT)
        19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
    • Biblical Example: John the Baptist, Anna
    • Recent Example: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Ponder: Do you see what others don’t see? How are you communicating God’s truth?

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    3. Evangelist:

    • Role: Communicates, inspires, and recruits others to the Kingdom of God.
    • Jesus as the Evangelist: Jesus called people to follow Him and learn to make disciples.
      • Matthew 4:19 (NLT)
        19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
    • Biblical Example: Phillip, Andrew, the woman at the well
    • Recent Example: Christine Caine

    Ponder: How are you using your influence to expand the Kingdom of God?

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    4. Shepherd:

    • Role: Cares for others, creating and maintaining a healthy, nurturing culture.
    • Jesus as the Shepherd: Jesus deeply cares for and feeds His sheep.
      • John 21:15 (NLT)
        15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?*”
        “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
        “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 
    • Biblical Example: Elizabeth, Timothy
    • Recent Example: Mother Teresa

    Ponder: How are you connecting others to a right relationship with Jesus?

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    5. Teacher:

    • Role: Mediates wisdom and knowledge, making the complicated simple.
    • Jesus as the Teacher: Jesus was the embodiment of wisdom and knowledge.
      • Colossians 2:2-3 (NLT)
        2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 
    • Biblical Example: Solomon, James
    • Recent Example: Mr. Rogers

    Ponder: Are you teaching others about the Kingdom of God? How can you further equip others to learn?

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    Your Work: Understanding Your Gift

    • How have you been gifted?
    • Discuss your gifting with a friend and see if they agree.
    • When you have identified your gift, ponder the question offered in the study.
    • Where can your gifting best be used in the Kingdom of God?

    Welcome to Session 5!

    “People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    Jesus Understood the of a Table

    Luke 22:8 (NLT)
    “Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.’”

    Who Was at the Table?

    1. James and John – The Hotheads
    1. Peter – The Deserter
    1. Judas – The Betrayer

    What Happens at Jesus’ Table?

    1. At His Table, There Is

    Matthew 16:18 (NIV)

    18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it.

    1. At His Table, There Is
    2. At His Table, There Is

    Hope City Church will always together.

    Your Work: Your Place at the Table

    • Who will you bring to the table?
    • Fill out the Next Steps form (available on the app.)

    Session 3: Generosity

    Matthew 16:17-18 

    Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood,c but by my Father in heaven.d 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,b e and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.


    Session 1:
    As a church we are committed to bring Hope to the broken and purpose for everyone.
    Session 2: We have learned how our gifting fill the universe with the glory of Jesus

    Bible Passages for Today’s Session

    John 6:5-7 (NLT)

    5 Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money* to feed them!” 

    Scarcity says We don’t have

     John 6:8–9 (NLT)

    8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

    John 6:11–13 (NLT): 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves. 

    Generosity says in God’s hand it is more than

    Mark 6:35–37 (NLT)

    35 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. 36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.” 

    Scarcity says them away

    John 6:10 (NLT)

    10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.)


    Generosity says we will
    them 

    John 6:14 (NLT)

    14 When the people saw him* do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!”* 


    Scarcity points to the

    Generosity points people to


    Scarcity feeds off

    Generosity creates

    Malachi 3:10 (NLT)

    10 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! Try it! Put me to the test!

    The engine of Hope City Church is powered by

    John 6:26–27 (NLT)

    26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. 27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man* can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” 

    Scarcity invests in the

    Generosity invests in the

     

    Your Work: Understanding Generosity

    • Do you have a mindset of generosity of scarcity?
    • On a scale from 1 to 10 how much of a rhythm of you have in your finances?
    • If you have do not have a rhythm of tithing consider doing the 90 tithing challenge.

    Luke 2:8-14

    8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 

    13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 

    14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, 

    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 

     

    Matthew 24:14

    And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

     

    To share hope with everyone, we must


    Luke 2:10-11

    10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

     

    Matthew 26:53 (NIV)
    Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

     

    Luke 2:15-16

    15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

    16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

     

    Revelation 3:20

    20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

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    Luke 2:17-18

    17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished

    To share hope with everyone, we must

    Romans 10:14–15 (NLT)

    14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”* 

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    To share hope with everyone, we must

    1 Peter 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

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    Luke 2:8-14

    8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 

    13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 

    14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, 

    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 

     

    Matthew 24:14

    And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

     

    To share hope with everyone, we must


    Luke 2:10-11

    10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

     

    Matthew 26:53 (NIV)
    Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

     

    Luke 2:15-16

    15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

    16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

     

    Revelation 3:20

    20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

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    Luke 2:17-18

    17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished

    To share hope with everyone, we must

    Romans 10:14–15 (NLT)

    14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”* 

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    Luke 2:20

    The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

    To share hope with everyone, we must

    1 Peter 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

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    Hope is Here

    LK.2:22-38

    22 Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so His parents took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. 23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” 24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous & devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come & rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary & Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms & praised God, saying, 29 “Sovereign Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, as You have promised. 30 I have seen Your salvation, 31 which You have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel!” 

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    HOPE CHANGES YOU. (22-33)

      Luke 2:34 (NLT)

      34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.

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      HOPE CHANGES theWORLD. (34)

      “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.” Luke 2:34 NLT

      Luke 2:36–38 (NLT)

      36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four.* She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. 

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        DON’T LOSE HOPE. (27-32, 36-38)

        “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.” Hebrews 10:23 NLT

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        Luke 1:26–33 (NLT)

        The Birth of Jesus Foretold

        26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings,* favored woman! The Lord is with you!*” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel* forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 1

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        Hope is in

        Luke 1:30

         “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.


        Matthew 1:21 (NLT)

        21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,* for he will save his people from their sins.”

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        Hope is in

        Luke 1:32 

        He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.

         

        Isaiah 45:22–23 (NLT)

            22 Let all the world look to me for salvation! 

              For I am God; there is no other. 

            23 I have sworn by my own name; 

              I have spoken the truth, 

              and I will never go back on my word: 

            Every knee will bend to me, 

              and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.*” 1

        Chess piece at eye level Chess board from aerial view

        Philippians 2:9–11 (NLT)

            9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor 

              and gave him the name above all other names, 

            10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 

              in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

            11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

              to the glory of God the Father. 1

         

        John 10:30 (NLT)

        30 The Father and I are one.”

         

        Romans 8:28 (NLT)

        28 And we know that God causes everything to work together* for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

         

        Philippians 2:9–11 (NLT)

            9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor 

              and gave him the name above all other names, 

         

        Isaiah 55:9 (NLT)

            9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

              so my ways are higher than your ways 

              and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

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        Hope is in His

        Luke 1:33

        33 And he will reign over Israel* forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 1

         

        John 3:16 (NLT)

        16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave* his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

         

        1 Corinthians 15:51–57 (NIV)

        51 Listen, I tell you a mystery:d We will not all sleep,e but we will all be changedf—52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable,j and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
        55 “Where, O death, is your victory? 

        Where, O death, is your sting?”i l 

        56 The sting of death is sin,m and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ

         

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        Give Like A Young Church

         

        2 Corinthians 8:1-5

        1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

        3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

        Generosity comes from joy, not wealth

         

        Habakkuk 3:17-18 

        Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,

            and there are no grapes on the vines;

        even though the olive crop fails,

            and the fields lie empty and barren;

        even though the flocks die in the fields,

            and the cattle barns are empty,

        yet I will rejoice in the Lord!

            I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

         

        2 Corinthians 7:5 When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.

         

        2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. 3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.

         

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        Generosity is an act of worship.

         

        5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do

         

        1 Chronicles 29:2-9

        2 Using every resource at my command, I have gathered as much as I could for building the Temple of my God. Now there is enough gold, silver, bronze, iron, and wood, as well as great quantities of onyx, other precious stones, costly jewels, and all kinds of fine stone and marble. 3 “And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for his holy Temple. 4 I am donating more than 112 tons of gold from Ophir and 262 tons of refined silver to be used for overlaying the walls of the buildings 5 and for the other gold and silver work to be done by the craftsmen. Now then, who will follow my example and give offerings to the Lord today?”6 Then the family leaders, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the generals and captains of the army, and the king’s administrative officers all gave willingly. 7 For the construction of the Temple of God, they gave about 188 tons of gold, 10,000 gold coins, 375 tons of silver 675 tons of bronze and 3,750 tons of iron. 8 They also contributed numerous precious stones, which were deposited in the treasury of the house of the Lord under the care of Jehiel, a descendant of Gershon. 9 The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy. 10 Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: “O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever!

         

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        Generosity builds God’s kingdom.

         
        Philippians 4:15-18 15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. 18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

         

        Romans 15:26 For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.

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