1. It’s a Wonderful Life

2. Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

3. Genesis 12:1-3 Blessed to be a Blessing

4. 7 Guidelines for Generosity 2 Corinthians 9:5-15

5. 7 Guidelines for Generosity 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 1.God wants us to plan our giving so we can give with a positive attitude and keep our commitments. v. 5 “So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.”

6. 7 Guidelines for Generosity 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 1.God wants us to plan our giving so we can give with a positive attitude and keep our commitments. 2.God wants us to give material gifts generously so that He can bless us generously, often in non-material ways. v. 6 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

7. 7 Guidelines for Generosity 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 1.God wants us to plan our giving so we can give with a positive attitude and keep our commitments. 2.God wants us to give material gifts generously so that He can bless us generously, often in non-material ways. 3.God wants each of us to be cheerful givers. v. 7 “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

8. 7 Guidelines for Generosity 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 1.God wants us to plan our giving so we can give with a positive attitude and keep our commitments. 2.God wants us to give material gifts generously so that He can bless us generously, often in non-material ways. 3.God wants each of us to be cheerful givers. 4.God desires to meet our material needs, not necessarily our wants, when we are generous givers. v. 8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed”

9. 7 Guidelines for Generosity 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 1.God wants us to plan our giving so we can give with a positive attitude and keep our commitments. 2.God wants us to give material gifts generously so that He can bless us generously, often in non-material ways. 3.God wants each of us to be cheerful givers. 4.God desires to meet our material needs, not necessarily our wants, when we are generous givers. 5.When we are generous, we will cause other believers to praise, thank, and glorify God. v. 12-13 “For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all”

10. 7 Guidelines for Generosity 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 1.God wants us to plan our giving so we can give with a positive attitude and keep our commitments. 2.God wants us to give material gifts generously so that He can bless us generously, often in non-material ways. 3.God wants each of us to be cheerful givers. 4.God desires to meet our material needs, not necessarily our wants, when we are generous givers. 5.When we are generous, we will cause other believers to praise, thank, and glorify God. 6.When we are generous, other Christians will respect & love us. v. 14 “while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.”

11. 7 Guidelines for Generosity 2 Corinthians 9:5-15 1.God wants us to plan our giving so we can give with a positive attitude and keep our commitments. 2.God wants us to give material gifts generously so that He can bless us generously, often in non-material ways. 3.God wants each of us to be cheerful givers. 4.God desires to meet our material needs, not necessarily our wants, when we are generous givers. 5.When we are generous, we will cause other believers to praise, thank, and glorify God. 6.When we are generous, other Christians will respect & love us. 7.The primary motivating factor for being generous should be God’s generosity toward us. v. 15 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

12. It’s a Wonderful Life