Packing List: Sacrificial Generosity

PACKING LIST

Sacrificial Generosity and The God of Re-supply
Pastor Brandon Berg  

Sermon Scripture:
1 Kings 17:8-16 (CEB) "The Lord’s word came to Elijah: Get up and go to Zarephath near Sidon and stay there. I have ordered a widow there to take care of you. Elijah left and went to Zarephath. As he came to the town gate, he saw a widow collecting sticks. He called out to her, 'Please get a little water for me in this cup so I can drink.' She went to get some water. He then said to her, 'Please get me a piece of bread.' 'As surely as the Lord your God lives,' she replied, 'I don’t have any food; only a handful of flour in a jar and a bit of oil in a bottle. Look at me. I’m collecting two sticks so that I can make some food for myself and my son. We’ll eat the last of the food and then die.' Elijah said to her, 'Don’t be afraid! Go and do what you said. Only make a little loaf of bread for me first. Then bring it to me. You can make something for yourself and your son after that. This is what Israel’s God, the Lord, says: The jar of flour won’t decrease and the bottle of oil won’t run out until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.' The widow went and did what Elijah said. So the widow, Elijah, and the widow’s household ate for many days. The jar of flour didn’t decrease nor did the bottle of oil run out, just as the Lord spoke through Elijah."

Some anchor points about Sacrificial Generosity...

• At no time do we look more like Jesus than when we're living generously
• We believe generosity is downstream from ownership, and ownership is downstream from trust
• Generosity is not a salvation issue, it's a discipleship issue
• God doesn't want something from you, he desires something for you

 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you ever wrestled with this idea of re-supply? Explain
2. Is it hard for you to trust that God will re-supply your supply when you’re generous? Why? If not, why not?
3. Can you think of a story when you gave in faith and God resupplied you in some way?
4. What is one small step you can take in response to this message?