Practicing Service and Generosity
“The disciplines are activities of mind and body purposely undertaken, to bring our personality and total being into effective cooperation with the divine order. They enable us more and more to live in a power that is, strictly speaking, beyond us, deriving from the spiritual realm itself, as we “yield ourselves to God…” —Dallas Willard
Spiritual practices access not just our own power but also
Practicing Service - Luke 14:7-14
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. —John 13:13-15
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus… he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.” —Philippians 2:5,7
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” —Mark 10:45
The call to Christ is the call to
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” —Matthew 5:16
Good
Practicing Generosity - Luke 18:18-30
“A ruler questioned Him, saying, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’” —Luke 8:18
“Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time, and in the age to come, eternal life.” —Luke 18:29-30
Generosity always begins with
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” —John 3:16
Generosity is a visible expression of our
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” —Matthew 6:21
For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. —Mt. 23:23
Generous living begins with money and possessions, but it applies to
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” —Luke 6:38