Hundreds of years ago when people mainly lived near the oceans, the word opportunity was coined.
It came from when ships needed to wait until the tide was in before heading out to sea, otherwise the ship would run aground. In the Latin language, the word “ob portu” described the perfect moment when time and tide converged for a ship to get underway.
Into every person’s life come some God-ordained opportunities.
You’ll know it’s the right time when an urgent, life changing need – something that has eternal and significant value - - converges with your ability. At just the right moment, urgency and ability come together. And at that exact moment, you have the opportunity to fulfill a divine purpose God intended for you.
Is it time for you and your congregation to move forward in some special way?
As you reflect back on this 40 day journey you’ve been on, how is God working in your heart and the lives of others to move out into new waters of faith and service for His glory?
Adapted from material by Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, IL
Phil 4:17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.
Luke 14:13-14 When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
Matt 6:19-21 (Jesus said) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Lu 12:33-34 (Jesus said) “Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Lu 16:9 (Jesus said) “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”
If you ask people what they can “afford to give” to the Lord’s work or a special project, they will usually come up with a small amount the they feel they can handle. But if you ask people to determine what God is prompting their heart to give, there is no telling what God will lead them and provide for them to do.
God will often speak a financial amount into a person’s heart that is far bigger than their mind can at first grasp. It often takes the mind time to catch up to the amount that God has spoken into a person’s heart to give.
SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY
Hundreds of years ago when people mainly lived near the oceans, the word opportunity was coined.
It came from when ships needed to wait until the tide was in before heading out to sea, otherwise the ship would run aground. In the Latin language, the word “ob portu” described the perfect moment when time and tide converged for a ship to get underway.
Into every person’s life come some God-ordained opportunities.
You’ll know it’s the right time when an urgent, life changing need – something that has eternal and significant value - - converges with your ability. At just the right moment, urgency and ability come together. And at that exact moment, you have the opportunity to fulfill a divine purpose God intended for you.
Is it time for you and your congregation to move forward in some special way?
As you reflect back on this 40 day journey you’ve been on, how is God working in your heart and the lives of others to move out into new waters of faith and service for His glory?
Adapted from material by Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, IL
5th WEEK PROJECT
FOCUSING ON YOUR RESPONSE
(Now what?)
Identify: “What do you feel God is calling you to do in order to be more generous to His work?”
Please review your weekly projects and determine:
WEEK #5
MAKING $ENSE:
Possible questions to think
about or discuss…
1. When you started this 40-day journey, were you excited, skeptical, or dreading it? How do you feel now?
2. What is one of the biggest things you’ve learned about wealth and generosity while going through this journey?
3. When you filled out the worksheet for this week’s project, “Focusing on Your Response”, what surprised you or caught your attention in doing this exercise?
4. How do you think this journey will influence your giving to your church? To other ministries? To special needs?
5. What truth or Bible verse from the past 7 days of reading stood out to you the most?
6. Have you begun to see God work in your life in fresh ways because of any changes you’ve begun to make in your finances and giving?
7. Have you experienced any unusual or unexpected financial provisions or blessings in your life since you started this journey? If yes, what have they been?
8. What do you feel God is calling you to do with the opportunity that was introduced in the beginning of this workbook?
9. Can you think of anyone else you know who might benefit from going through this workbook?
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