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Sam is the Pastor of Banner Hill Church in Framingham, MA. Banner Hill was launched in 2018! As a church plant it strives to saturate the MetroWest with the Gospel of Jesus.
Sam and Emmilee are new parents. Their firstborn, Judson, was born in October 2022.
“I’m so excited to be here at City United today, and I’m very thankful for the love and support of this church.” —Sam Schwanke
Introduction:
A New Year means new beginnings, and even though you desire to move forward, it can sometimes feel like you have fallen short of your goals and expectations. Whether it seems like life’s circumstances are piling up, your mind can’t get through a mental block, or your emotions are paralyzing you, you can pick yourself back up and move forward this year.
God can help you align your focus so that you can take your spiritual growth to the next level.
“The Lord helps all who fall; he raises up all who are oppressed.” —Psalm 145:14
This collection will help you reset your priorities for the new year. This collection of talks will include:
January 5th/8th Lifting Your Prayer Time
January 12th/15th Lifting Your Discipleship (Dr. David Nelms, TTI)
January 19th/22nd Lifting Your Bible Study
January 26th/29th Lifting Your Serving
February 2nd/5th Lifting Your Generosity
February 9th/12th Lifting the Vision: Super Vision Weekend
Text: Luke 19:1-10 (ESV, New Testament)
Today’s Takeaway: It’s only when you grasp the gospel, you become generous.
Week 5 - Lifting Your Generosity
THREE GOSPEL CHANGES
I. HIS
CHANGED
II. HIS
CHANGED
III. HIS
CHANGED
Average “tithe” in America is
Be
“Gospel generosity is not about a percentage, but about a person.” —J. D. Greer
6 “Because I, the Lord, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed. 7 “Since the days of your ancestors, you have turned from my statutes; you have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Armies. Yet you ask, “How can we return?” 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me!” “How do we rob you?” you ask. “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. 9 You are suffering under a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing me. 10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. —Malachi 3:6-10
Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; 10 then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine. —Proverbs 3:9-10
CONCLUSION: Are we a church that shows Gospel Generosity?
What steps do you need to take to LIFT your generosity?
DEEP DIVE QUESTIONS:
Is money your lord? Or have you given God that space?
Do you have joy in generosity?
Do you live life with a closed hand or with an open one?
What can you work on this week to become more generous?
Upcoming Events at City United
1. NEXT 2023 Annual Offering: We are a contagiously generous church! November 1, 2022 - February 28, 2023
Be praying about how you can make an impact locally and globally through our NEXT Annual Offering. As we enter our second year of our church’s 5-year vision, we will be laser-focused on what is NEXT for us, staying outreach-focused and intentional on reaching people for a more significant Gospel impact in our community, New England, and around the world. For more information on our 5-year vision, visit www.cityunited.church/future. Over this next year, we will be focused on enlarging, equipping, encouraging, and executing a flexible plan to make a significant Kingdom impact. For more information on the ministry initiatives that this year’s annual offering will fund, visit www.cityunited.church/next.
2. BCNE Disaster Relief Training – February 10, 5pm & February 11, 2pm: FEMA certification included!
This 2-day training will give you the necessary skills to deploy locally and nationally to bring not only assistance to those experiencing hardship and tragedy but to be a light for Christ in a hurting world. The Event begins on Friday, February 10th at 5pm. Attendees must be 18+ years of age and bring a driver’s license. Basic training and how-to-share-your-faith training will begin at 6pm and run till 9pm. These two Friday night trainings must be attended to participate Saturday. On Saturday, February 11th at 8am, you will receive classroom and hands-on training in whichever of the specific disaster relief trainings you have chosen. Lunch will be provided Saturday and is included in the $25 registration fee. Choose from these trainings: Flood recovery, chainsaw, disaster assessment, shower trailer, and administration. Register online at cityunited.church/events and scroll down to this event.
3. Super Vision Weekend February 9-12 - Wear Your Favorite Sports Jersey to Church
It’s 2023, a new year, a fresh start, a time to refocus on our biblically-focused vision which pushes us to do more with what God has entrusted to us. Come hear the God-given vision for our church as we gather on this Super Bowl Weekend. Wear your favorite sports jersey, and get ready to hear about the BIG things God has ahead for our church.
4. Guatemala 2023 Team Meeting: February 19, 11:45am-12:45pm
If you are part of the 2023 Guatemala team whether in-country or at home, join us for this meeting. We will meet upstairs in Room 1 in Building 3 immediately after the 10:30a.m. gathering. If you have any questions, please email Alyssa Eaton at alyssa@cityunited.church.
5. Night of Prayer & Worship - Let’s prayer over our 2023 vision! February 19, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Join us on the City United Campus in the Chapel of building 1 for a special night of prayer and worship as we get ready to kick off a new year and pray over our God-given vision for 2023. Let’s kick off the new year worshiping our great God together!