Your Personal Grow-Pray-Study (GPS) Guide

This week’s message focused on these three perspectives:

1. All we give (and all we keep) comes from God.
2. As you give, follow through with God’s plan.
3. Listen to Jesus on every step of your Journey of Generosity.

Monday: Read 1 Chronicles 29:12. What is your idea of generosity? What has surprised you the last five weeks on our journey of generosity?

Tuesday: Read 1 Chronicles 29:14. Why is God concerned with what we give? With what we keep?

Wednesday: Read 2 Corinthians 9:8. God gives to us, so that we can give to others. Teachers teach, so students can learn. Chefs cook so hungry people can be fed and nourished. Health care providers help those who are sick to be well again. How might the talents, abilities, work you do, finances you receive, be used to meet the needs of others?

Thursday: Read 2 Corinthians 9:11. Notice Paul’s order – God makes us rich so we can be generous – that will lead people to thank God. What have others done or given you that led you to thank and praise God? What might God be calling you to give or do so that others will thank and praise God?

Friday: Read Matthew 17:4. A great temptation in life is when you have a holy moment, an incredible moment where you experienced God at work in your life, you build a monument and stay there like Peter, instead of recognizing the holy moment as part of God’s movement in your life’s journey. What are some great moments in your life where you have experienced God’s grace? How have you been tempted to build a monument and stay there? How has the Holy Spirit led you to leverage that moment to follow the movement of God at work in your life?

Saturday: Read Matthew 17:5. In the midst of Peter’s monument building plan, God the Father speaks telling Peter, and us, to listen to Jesus. What has Jesus been saying to you recently in your prayer time, Bible reading time, and amid the holy moments of your life?

You can GO DEEPER this week by:

• Read the following book: "Love Does" by Bob Goff
• Reflect on our Journey of Generosity over the last five weeks:
  
  • Start with the heart – give and live with gratitude.
  • Sacrifice – I give up something I love for something I love even more.
  • Live by faith – Jesus teaches me where my treasure is, my heart will be also.
  • Live to bless others – Plant seeds of generosity and watch the harvest God gives.
  • Give – Commit to give.
• Download the YouVersion Bible Application on your smartphone or tablet.

 You can also listen to this week's message or read the full PDF of the message & GPS

Monday: Read 1 Chronicles 29:9. At Christ Lutheran Church Ministries, we want people to know that God is abundantly generous and wants to equip each of us to a lifestyle of generosity. As you think about your own life of generosity and passing that on to bless others you influence, what do you want for the people you model generosity?

Tuesday: Read 1 Chronicles 29:5. Next weekend is our commitment weekend for our journey of generosity called, “Create for Community”. The end of today’s verse provides a great question, “Who is willing to consecrate himself to the LORD?” As you prayerfully consider your sacrificial gift, what has God been saying about how He wants you to respond? What will you do?

Wednesday: Read Matthew 5:3. The first beatitude speaks of our need to be aware of our sin and repent. One definition of repentance is, “God wants you to fall on your knees and take your future back while you still have the chance.” Where do you need to come to God in repentance? Where do you need to come home to God?

Thursday: Read Numbers 6:22-27. Dallas Willard defined blessing as “the projection of good into the life of another.” As you pray through these verses, pray specifically for God to send His good and protection to that person, for God’s radiant love to flow through their life, and for them to sense God’s presence and “shalom” peace that brings wholeness, meaning, and purpose to their lives.

Friday: Read 2 Corinthians 9:1-2. When do you find yourself eager to be generous? Why is it difficult to be generous? Why the difference between eager and difficult in generosity?

Saturday: Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. As you prayerfully consider your sacrificial gift to Create for Community, how has God led you to plan your response? Are you ready to give your sacrificial gift with great joy?

You can GO DEEPER this week by:

• Read the following book: "I Like Giving: The Transforming Power of a Generous Life" by Brad Forsma
• Check out the Create for Community Informational Website.
• Download the YouVersion Bible Application on your smartphone or tablet.

 You can also listen to this week's message or read the full PDF of the message & GPS

This week we examine F.A.I.T.H. (Forward Action Inspired Through Him) with:

• Attitude before action
• Believing before seeing
• Seeking God before God’s reward

As we continue to pray and discuss Create for Community you can deep-dive each day of the week with the following devotions.

Monday: Read 1 Chronicles 28:20. If faith is Forward Action Inspired Through Him (FAITH), then where is God leading you forward? Where is God calling you to be strong and courageous?

Tuesday: Read Hebrews 11:1-2. Martin Luther said, “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. It is so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.” As you think about your faith, how does your faith influence your attitudes and actions as you live each day?

Wednesday: Read Hebrews 11:4. How does your faith influence how you give and live each day? Is your giving and living based on reason or revelation?

Thursday: Read Hebrews 11:3. The eyes of faith are like seeing how the pieces of life’s puzzle fit together. As you look at your life today, what do you see? Where is God calling you to believe so that you can see more clearly?

Friday: Read Hebrews 11:6. What you are seeking, what you are looking at, determines where you will go and what you will do. How can you keep your eyes on God? What pulls you away from seeking God?

Saturday: Read Luke 12:34. I like the paraphrase that says, “Where your treasure goes, your heart flows.” What keeps your treasure flow headed towards God? What can keep your treasure flow away from God?

You can GO DEEPER this week by:

• Read the following book: "Plastic Donuts: Giving that Delights the Heart of the Father" by Jeff Anderson.
• Check out the Create for Community Informational Website.
• Download the YouVersion Bible Application on your smartphone or tablet.

 You can also listen to this week's message or read the full PDF of the message & GPS

To make the swap you need to:

• Trade my plans for God’s ultimate purpose.
• Trade my stuff to serve others.
• Trade my worry for a daily life of worship (worth-ship) of God.

Monday: Read 2 Corinthians 8:9. Sacrifice can be defined as: I give up something I love for something I love even more. What examples of sacrifice have you seen in your life? When have you made such sacrifices? Where might God be calling you to make a sacrifice?

Tuesday: Read 1 Chronicles 28:2 and 28:11-12. Solomon is known as the great builder of the temple. David trades his heart and his plans so that Solomon can build the temple. When have you had your heart set on a plan and God showed up with a much bigger sense of purpose for your life?

Wednesday: Read 2 Corinthians 8:12. When does your stuff get in the way of serving others with generosity?

Thursday: Read 2 Corinthians 8:13. What prevents people from giving a fair portion of their money to the Lord for His work? How crucial do you think it is for Christians to give their money to the church?

Friday: Read Luke 12:22-23. What leads you to worry these days? How can you flip that worry into a prayer that worships God?

Saturday: Read Luke 12:31. How do you know you are seeking God’s kingdom first? What leads you to move God’s kingdom from first place in your life? Where do you most need to seek God’s kingdom first today?

You can GO DEEPER this week by:

• Read the book: The Genius of Generosity: Lessons from a Secret Pact between Two Friends by Chip Ingram.
• Check out the Create for Community Informational Website
• Download the YouVersion Bible Application on your smartphone or tablet.

 You can also listen to this week's message or read the full PDF of the message & GPS.