Trail Post 7: Be a Generous Giver (from the Trailhead Series)

We are now at our last stop in our Trailhead Series.  Our pastor has led us through 7 stops along the guided journey of the Christ follower.  Trail post 1 (Baptism), trail post 2 (the Word of God), trail post 3 (Prayer), trail post 4 (Making Disciples), trail post 5 (Love Others), trail post 6 (The Lord's Supper), and now trail post 7 (Be a Generous Giver).

The following post is based on my pastor's sermon titled Trail Post 7:  Be a Generous Giver.  You are invited to watch the entire sermon here.

Trailhead - Giving Generously - April 28, 2019 (Message) from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.

 Be a Generous Giver

It is abnormal to be a Christ follower and not be a giver. 

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. - Acts 2:44-47

The first church was making disciples.

Of all the trail post stops we've made through this series, if you are a Christ follower, you will be doing these things.

1.  You will put Jesus first.
2.  You will be banded together as Christ followers.
3.  You will want to lead others to Jesus.
4.  You will want to change the world's view to one that follows Jesus.

Image Credit:  Felix Russell Saw - Public Domain Image via Freely Photos

Let's look at number 1.  If you are a Christ follower, you will put Jesus first.  We cannot say that Christ is first in our lives unless we are completely surrendered to Him.  We cannot control our future, our health, our families, or our families.  We must give it all to the Lord.  

All we have has been given to us.  We are not self made.  Not really.  Yes, we work hard for what we have, but all we have are blessings from God; therefore we should give generously. 


I'm not saying we should be subject to a socialist environment.  I'm say we should live with the spirit of a generous giver.  The people in the book of Acts mentioned above were not forced to give of what they had.  They gave because they wanted to give.  They were filled with the Holy Spirit and they were acting on the Holy Spirit's leadership.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.  All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. - Acts 4:31-32

 The people in Acts were unified with one heart and one soul.

Giving Principles

1.  Christ followers understand rightful ownership.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 We are not our own.  We belong to God.

2.  Christ followers are joyfully generous.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  - 2 Corinthians 9:7

3.  Christ followers band together in their giving.  

4.  Christ's church must have proper distribution.

5.  Christ followers receive great blessings when they give.  

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase. - Acts 9:31

Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” - Luke 6:38

 You'll find all posts in the Trailhead series here.