Grace Bomb Reloaded - Kingdom Returns
We took Grace Bomb on as an initiative of ours around this time last year - this was right before everything with COVID-19 hit! In light of everything that has been going on and especially those who have continued to embody the spirit of Grace Bombing, we are coming back at it with a fresh perspective and fresh motivation to see Jesus’ name be made great through this awesome discipleship tool!
A Grace Bomb is an intentional act of love motivated by Jesus. For the recipient, it’s a surprising gift meant to brighten their day. There are so many great stories associated with Grace Bomb - we encourage you to get inspired by going to gracebomb.org and read some of the many stories! Also, check them out on their social media platforms at grace.bomb!
This week we want to focus on what it really means to invest in the Kingdom of God. All investments come with consequences, some positive and some negative, however, when it comes to the Kingdom, ultimately all things will be worked out for the Good of those who Love God. Having a properly oriented mind towards investing in the Kingdom of God is a driving factor in our willingness and desire to go with the prompting(s) of the Holy Spirit - as we saw last week.
Let me ask you a question, church - Why do we give? Why do these people in these stories go out of their way to give to others, in many cases people that they don’t even know! We believe that Disciples of Jesus become generous when we have a changed heart born out of these five factors:
Gratitude for what We have Received: We have received the ultimate generous gift of salvation from Christ. Do you understand church, that God has unleashed an absolute bounty of blessings on us in Jesus?! How can we not have a heart of gratitude, after God reached into the muck and mire and pulled us out of our own sin? (Eph. 1:3)
Remembering our Identity: We are created in God’s Image; Our generosity is simply a reflection of His generous character – I mean, He gave so freely that He didn’t even withhold His only Son. (Gen. 1:27; Matt. 20:28)
Recognizing what We Have has Purpose: What we have, what we own, our skills and talents, all of these things have a purpose, and God can use them for his glory, honor, and for the blessing of others if we would simply hold it all with an open hand. God impacts others through us!
Resting in God’s Provision: When it comes to God’s Work, if it’s done God’s Way, it does not lack God’s provision. (2 Cor. 9:6-8)
Growing Through Practice: Just like anything in life, we get better with practice. We get stronger when we work out, we get faster when we run, and we stretch this faith muscle by working it out/doing it when we walk in the good works prepared for us. (Eph. 2:10)
Now, with all of this talk about generosity, there comes the Biblical idea of stewardship. In order to live a lifestyle of generous Grace Bombing, we have to be good stewards. We have to manage our time, treasure, and talent well. If we don’t, there won’t be anything for us to give. This means, of course, that we have to manage our finances. We have to steward what God has given us so that we can grow in generosity.
The context here is stewardship of the gospel ministry, but the principle is common sense – do well with what you have been entrusted. This is how we honor God with our resources:
Invest in the Kingdom first: By investing in the Kingdom First, your ROI (Return on Investment), will yield the greatest returns, but requires the most patience.
Invest in your future second: Investing in your future isn’t very glamorous - it requires discipline and a vision for what could be. After you give and you save, then you live on the rest. By taking care of the first two steps, living now means living within your means.
Invest in your everyday living third: Good stewardship isn’t about how much we have, but what we do with what we have.
Simply put: Give, Save, Live: One approach to consider is to Give 10 percent, store 10 percent in savings, and live contentedly on the remaining 80 percent; give it a try, it may surprise you!
This requires great discipline in reducing spending. Part of taking a more Kingdom-minded approach to finances is to pay off existing debt and avoid new debt. Not to sound overly spiritual, but when making big purchases, always consult the Owner, which we established was God – PRAY before making financial decisions. The decisions that you make about your finances, your resources, and even your time can either hinder or enhance your ability to provide for those who come along in your life. Trust God for provision, invest your time, finances/resources, and talents wisely, and live with abandon for the sake of the Kingdom of God!
SOME KEY TAKE-AWAYS
Grace Bomb Reloaded - Kingdom Returns: Investments mature into something, how we manage what God has blessed us with i.e. how we engage with our time, finances/resources, and talent(s) matter; the health of these aspects of our lives affect our ability to impact the lives of those we come in contact with.
The Source: We believe that God is the provider and sustainer of His People; we are stewards of every aspect of our lives - we must honor and praise God for what we have been blessed with!
The Plan of Action: To impact the Kingdom well, we should desire to be wise about what God has provided us with; to be able to Grace Bomb well, we should not only seek to be obedient, but we must also be able and willing to manage that which God has entrusted us with.
The Purpose: Above all, the honor and glory of God, by loving our neighbors as ourselves is what we are after here. Biblical stewardship certainly doesn’t speak to becoming wealthy (in-fact, the NT steers us away from wealth). God’s blessings should be honored for what they are, however, we must always guard ourselves against the temptation(s) of the flesh. Stewardship, true and righteous Biblically informed stewardship is about God and His Kingdom.
If this summary piques your interest or if you would enjoy listening to this sermon in more depth, check out our archived Live-streams here!
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Join us next Sunday as we continue to meet at the Premiere Cinema 10 You can also join us on our Live-stream here or on our Facebook page at 10 am!
We hope that you and your family are well—know that You Are Loved!