NEXTSTEP WEEK 4

What Is My Part?

NextStep_Week 4.mov

Welcome to Week 4 of NextStep. You made it!

Thank you for participating in NextStep. More importantly, thank you for being a part of Manna Church. Thank you for taking your time, your talent, your treasure, who God has called you to be, and adding them to the mix of other great people at Manna.

We are so thankful to God that He chose to put you in our local church, and we can’t wait to see who you become as you march forward on your journey with God.

Your being a part of Manna makes Manna better. Because you’re a part of Manna, we’re going to be able to do some things we couldn’t do without you. You’re a vital part of the Body of Christ, and you’re a vital part of what God is doing here at Manna.

GIVE: The Verb of the Bible

Let’s talk a bit more about the idea of giving of your “time, talent, and treasure”.

We all know that a sentence includes two parts: a subject and a verb. Every sentence has to have a subject and a verb.

So, if the whole Bible were a sentence, Who would the subject be? Jesus, of course.

Now, if the whole Bible is a sentence, and Jesus is the subject, what then, is the verb? We believe the verb of the Bible is “give.”

Consider a very well-known Scripture verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)

In light of this verse, some might think that “love” is really the verb of the Bible. To be sure, “love” is a very important verb in the Bible. But, when you think about it, the essence of genuine love is to give without conditions. (The counterfeit of love is lust—to get and to take). God so loved the world that He (what action?) gave.

Giving is what empowers love. “Give” is the verb of the Bible. “Give” cuts across the root of our sin problem—self (“I want for me”).

When we give, we crucify self, act like God, and set ourselves up to be blessed by Him in powerful and unexpected ways. Look at how this is illustrated by the following passage:

Philippians 2:1-11 (ESV)

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit (self) but in humility (give) count others more significant than yourselves (give). Let each of you look not only to his own interests (self), but also to the interests of others (give). Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped (self), but made himself nothing (give), taking the form of a servant (give), being born in the likeness of men (give). And being found in human form, he humbled himself (give) by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (give). Therefore God has highly exalted him (result) and bestowed on him the name that is above every name (result), so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (result).

What Happens When We Give?

Love

When you give, you demonstrate love. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV 84) When you give somebody your time; when you give them your affection; when you give them forgiveness they don’t deserve; when you give them something financial; when you give them a gift; when you give them your heart; when you give them your undivided attention; when you focus on them and listen to what they say, they feel loved by that. In all these ways and more, you demonstrate love.

Invest

When you give, you invest. We are a church that reaches people all over the world. We do that through outreaches, church planting, and bringing the Kingdom to unreached and unengaged people groups. So, when you give financially, when you get on your knees to pray for other people, when you give of your time and talents to serve others, you’re investing. You’ve got a vital part and a stake in what we are doing.

Store up Treasure

When you give of your time, talent, and treasure to advance the Kingdom of God to help other people—to minister to others—you demonstrate that you are not your own. Our time is not our own, it belongs to God; our lives are not our own, they belong to God; our money is not our own, it belongs to God. Our talents, abilities, and capacities don’t belong to us; they belong to God.

Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV)

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Empower

In the following story, the innkeeper did the ministry, but the Samaritan got the credit—because he gave sacrificially. His giving empowered the innkeeper to serve in ways the Samaritan by himself couldn’t.

Luke 10:29–37 (ESV)

But he, desiring to justify himself (self), said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side (self). So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side (self). But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion (give). He went to him and bound up his wounds (give), pouring on oil and wine (give). Then he set him on his own animal (give) and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you (give) when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy (gave).” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Partnership

At Manna, when we give of our treasure, we are investing in and partnering with people and ministries all across our community, our state, our nation, and the world. We are partnering with Kingdom work that is way beyond what we could do by ourselves.

As Followers of Jesus, We Can Give in Three Ways

Time

Giving of our time means serving. Ask God to show you where you can give of your time, serving others.

Talent

Giving of our talent involves participating in or leading one of Manna’s Small Groups.

Treasure

Giving of our treasure involves finances.

1. Tithe: the first 10% of your increase.

2. Offerings: as God or your heart leads you. We have a special offering every year called the Reach Out Celebration (ROC) Offering. It’s one of the most exciting events of our year!

3. Alms: in service of the poor.

Why Do We Give?

Because we belong to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 6:19b–20 (ESV)

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Which of the Following Action Steps Are You Ready to Take?

We want you on the team! Become a member of Manna Church (if you haven’t done so already)!
Join LeaderStep (must have completed the Manna Membership Process and NextStep).
Attend and participate in one of the many Small Groups at Manna.
Be a part of our SERVE Team!

SO... WHAT’S YOUR NEXT STEP AFTER NEXTSTEP?

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