Generosity
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Tim Chang
Sermon Series: Proverbs
Proverbs 11:24-28 (ESV)
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
26 The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
Sermon Outline
1. The difficulty of generosity
Proverbs 11:28 - Whoever trusts in his riches will fall…
Proverbs 11:24 - One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Proverbs 11:26 - The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
2. A renewed vision of generosity
Proverbs 11:24 - One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Proverbs 11:25 - Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 11:28 - Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
Proverbs 11:27 - Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
3. The freedom to be generous
2 Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
Prayer of Confession
Our Heavenly Father, every good and perfect gift comes from you. Generosity is central to your character. But we confess that we struggle to be generous. We do not give freely, but we hold tightly. We place far too much trust in our riches believing they will provide comfort and security. Forgive us. May your Spirit renew our vision for generosity. Help us to see that giving leads to flourishing for all. Remind us of the gift of Jesus’ generosity to us, that though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that we by his poverty might become rich. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What connected with you from the sermon or the passage?
Proverbs 11:28 warns about trusting in riches. What are some ways money and possessions can give us a sense of security, control, or independence?
What fears can make us hold tightly to what we have?
How do the Proverbs challenge our assumptions about generosity?
If you really believed that generosity produces flourishing, how might that change the way you use your money, time, possessions, or abilities?
Reflect on 2 Corinthians 8:9. What does Jesus’ becoming “poor” for our sake teach us about the character of God and his generosity towards us?
How does the gospel give us a different source of security?
What do you sense God calling you to do from this passage?