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liturgy
Inspired by John 4:10
When Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman at the well, he told her, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water” (MSG... -
liturgy
Gracious God, in Christ Jesus, you
Gracious God, in Christ Jesus, you teach us to love our neighbors but instead we build dividing walls of hostility. You show us how to love one another as sisters and brothers but instead we hide from... -
liturgy
Jesus: You gave us Your love at a high
Jesus: You gave us Your love at a high price – Your own death on the cross in our place! By Your grace you give us eternal life and entrust to us Your creation. Thank You, Lord! We come today as Y... -
liturgy
God of grace and God of glory on your
God of grace and God of glory on your people pour your power...Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the facing of this hour. Lord—we need You...today, tomorrow and forever. We need you to heal those ... -
illustration
The Giving Society
I attended a gathering of givers where we took turns telling our stories. The words fun, joy, exciting, and wonderful kept surfacing. There were lots of smiles, laughter, and tears of joy. One older c... -
blog
Giving Matters: A Biblical Approach to Stewardship
Giving Matters In 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Paul provides us with four crucial lessons on Christian giving: 1) How we give; 2) What we give; 3) What happens when we give; and 4) Why we give. How We Give... -
illustration
A Nice Theory
Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than receive.” “Well,” you say “that is a nice theory—but is it really true?” There is really only one way to find out: Give! Give generously and consistently, ... -
liturgy
God of grace, love, and hope: Your
God of grace, love, and hope: Your grace comes when we least expect and don’t deserve it. Your love comes when we can’t comprehend why but we need it the most. Your hope comes at just the right time t... -
illustration
Biblical Economics
In his extremely helpful book, The Economics of Neighborly Love , Tom Nelson argues that the church has an important part to play in helping Christians understand the value and place of economics i... -
liturgy
God—We’d like to have had a Hallmark
God—We’d like to have had a Hallmark card kind of week: gentle, quiet and serene, but it’s been anything but that. People died this week—and families and friends grieve. A man got bad news about cance... -
liturgy
A Prayer for the Future
Disturb us, Lord, when we are too pleased with ourselves; when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little; when we arrived safely because we sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lo... -
Quote
For what good would their prosperity do them if it did not provide them with the opportunity for good works? -
liturgy
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, and his mercy and truth endure forever. Thank the God of heaven, because his goodness endures forever. Let Israel now say that his mercy endures forever. ... -
Quote
People are usually better in adversity, than prosperity. A prosperous condition is not always so safe. True, it is more pleasing to the flesh - but it is not always best. In a prosperous state, there ... -
liturgy
Adapted from Psalm 112
Leader: Praise the Lord! Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commands. People: their offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. ... -
illustration
Rising GNP and Lowering GNH
There has been a paradigm shift going on in neighborhoods in the United States since the end of WWII. For decades before the 1940s, neighborhoods were places where people were known and were active. W... -
liturgy
Ubi Caritas
The Love of Christ has gathered us as one. Let us rejoice and be glad in him. Let us fear and love the living God And in purity of heart let us love one another. Where charity and love are, there is... -
liturgy
Adapted from Proverbs 3:13-18
Leader: Happy are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding. People: For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold. Leader: She is more preci... -
liturgy
Spirit of the Living God—Fall afresh on
Spirit of the Living God—Fall afresh on us this day. Spirit of God present and powerful, Spirit of God fruitful and faithful, Spirit of God filling and fulfilling us as children of the Father and foll... -
liturgy
Adapted from Psalm 1 (WEB)
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord. On his law he medita... -
Quote
Persecution has never hurt the church ... only prosperity. -
liturgy
God welcomes all who come to him
God welcomes all who come to him. In weakness or strength. With much, or with little. Seek the Lord, while he can be found Call on him while he is near And be confident that Jesus will look upon you w... -
liturgy
The Magnificat, Luke 1:46b-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty ha... -
illustration
Generosity Is Paradoxical (Part 2)
In recent years, I (Smith) have been leading a study called the “Science of Generosity Initiative” at the University of Notre Dame, in which I (Davidson) have been deeply involved. In that study, we h... -
illustration
A Transfer of Funds
When Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on Earth, it’s not because wealth might be lost; it’s because wealth will always be lost. Either it leaves us while we live, or we leave it when we die. N... -
illustration
Giving Away Lobsters
My friend James Crocker, a successful entrepreneur, recently shared a story with me…James and a few of his friends went out on a boat trip to fish for lobsters and had succeeded in gathering a massive... -
Quote
We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God. -
illustration
The Crucial Importance of Stewarding the Gift
The story is well known in the family: my grandparents had driven up from California the evening before. Stopping at a gas station along the Oregon border, they purchased some snacks, gas, and, as the... -
Quote
We may say that in the possession of the Spirit we who are in Christ have a foretaste of the blessings of the age to come, and a pledge and guarantee of the resurrection of the body. Yet we have only ... -
blog
Biblical Economics in a Pandemic: Thoughts from the Founder's Desk
The economy has probably been on a lot of people's minds lately as the COVID pandemic and rapid inflation continue to grab headlines and dampen enthusiasm in the markets. Many folks are worried ab...
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A
- Abandonment
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B
- Babies
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C
- Called by God
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D
- Darkness
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E
- Earning
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- Emotions
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- Energy
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- Evangelism
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- Evil
- Example
- Exploitation
- Eyes
- The Early Church
- The Earth
- The Epiphany
F
- Face of God
- Face of Jesus
- Failure
- Faith
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- Fame
- Father's Day
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- Fathers
- Favor of God
- Fear
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- Fire
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- Flourishing
- Food
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- Foretaste
- Forgetfulness
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- Foundations
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- Friend of God
- Friend of Sinners
- Frugality
- Fruit
- Fruit of the Spirit
- Fruitfulness
- Frustration
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- Fullness of Life
- Future
- The Fear of God
G
- Gardening
- Gathering
- Generations
- Generosity
- Genesis
- Gentleness
- Gifts
- Giving
- Giving and Receiving
- Giving Freely
- Giving God the Glory
- Giving Things Away
- Giving to the Poor
- Global Church
- Glorifying God
- Glory
- God the Father
- God's Absence
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- God's Faithfulness
- God's Gifts
- God's Goodness
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- God's Love
- God's Plans
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- Godliness
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H
- Hands
- Happiness
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- Hatred
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- Hearing What We Want to Hear
- Heart
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I
J
L
- Labor
- Labor Day
- Lack of Faith
- Lack of Trust
- Law (Torah)
- Leaders
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- Lent
- Liberation
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- Life is Short
- Life Satisfaction
- Light
- Light of the World
- Limitations
- Listening to God
- Living Water
- Loans
- Longing
- Love
- Love of Money
- Loving Other Christians
- Loving your Neighbor
- Lust
- The Lamb of God
- The Lord's Prayer
- The Lordship of Christ
M
- Magnificat
- Mammon
- Manipulation
- Marital Problems
- Marriage
- Mary the Mother of Jesus
- Materialism
- Maturity
- Meals
- Meaninglessness
- Meditation
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- Mind
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- Misunderstanding
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- Mockers
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- Money
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- Mother's Day
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- Mothers
- Mountains
- Mourning
- Multiculturalism
- Music
- The Material World
- The Messiah
N
O
P
- Pain
- Palm Sunday
- Parables
- Paradox
- Parents
- Partiality
- Partisanship
- Passion
- Pastor Search Process
- Pastors
- Paths
- Patience
- Paying it Forward
- Payment
- Peace
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- Performance
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- Pleasure
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- Political Leaders
- Politics
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- Poor
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- Possessions
- Poverty
- Power
- Praise
- Prayer
- Presidents
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- Price
- Pride
- Priorities
- Privilege
- Problems
- Prosperity
- Prosperity Gospel
- Protection
- Proud
- Provision
- Publicity
- Punishment
- Punishment for Sin
- Purity Of Heart
- Putting God First
- The People of God
- The Prophets
Q
R
- Race
- Race and Reconciliation
- Racial Reconciliation
- Racism
- Real Estate
- Receiving
- Receiving Forgiveness
- Receiving Gifts
- Receiving the Word
- Reconciliation
- Redeemer
- Redemption
- Redemptive Act
- Reflection
- Refugees
- Relationship with God
- Relationships
- Relaxation
- Religion
- Renewal
- Renewing our Minds
- Repentance
- Resentment
- Resources
- Respect
- Respectability
- Responsibility
- Rest
- Resurrection of the Dead
- Revelation
- Revival
- Rich and Poor
- Riches
- Righteousness
- Risks
- Rivers
- Romantic Relationships
- Royalty
- The Rich
- The Risen Lord
S
- Sabbath
- Sacrifice
- Sacrificial Giving
- Sacrificial Love
- Safety
- Salvation
- Sanctification
- Satisfaction
- Saving Faith
- Savior
- Scarcity
- Schedules
- School
- Science
- Sea
- Searching
- Second Chances
- Secrets
- Security
- Seeds
- Seeking God
- Seeking the Kingdom
- Self-Care
- Self-Centeredness
- Self-Control
- Self-Examination
- Self-Gratification
- Self-Love
- Self-Reliance
- Selfishness
- Sense of Smell
- Separation
- Servanthood
- Service
- Settling
- Sex
- Shame
- Sharing
- Shopping
- Shortcomings
- Sight
- Simplicity
- Sin
- Sinfulness
- Singing
- Sinners
- Sins of the Church
- Slander
- Slavery
- Sleep
- Social Class
- Social Justice
- Social Status
- Soil
- Solitude
- Solving Problems
- Sorrow
- Sowing Seeds
- Speaking Truth to Power
- Spending Money
- Spiritual Gifts
- Spiritual Growth
- Spiritual Health
- Spiritual Poverty
- Spiritual Thirst
- Sports
- Stars
- Steadfast Love
- Stealing
- Stewardship
- Stipulations
- Stories
- Storms
- Stranger
- Strength
- Stress
- Strings Attached
- Struggles
- Stubbornness
- Stuff
- Suburbs
- Success
- Suffering
- Superficiality
- Supply and Demand
- Surplus
- Sustainability
- Sweetness
- The Saints
T
W
Y
Top_level_categories by Reference