01/02/2022 - Relationship
Big Idea: Godly generosity flows from our relationship with God
Part of A Generous Life
January 2, 2022

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DATE: January 2, 2022
SERIES: A Generous Life
TITLE: Relationship
TEXT: Luke 15:11-32; John 17:20-21; 1 John 3:1; Colossians 4:2; Psalm 27:4; Matthew 4:4
BIG IDEA: Godly generosity flows from our relationship with God

Luke 15:11-32
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’


BIG IDEA: Godly generosity flows from our relationship with God.

Two lies that we believe
- If I have stuff and freedom I will be happy.


- If I’m a good person I deserve more.

Luke 15:31-32
‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’


The sons were concerned with stuff. The Father desired relationship with his children.

John 17:20-21
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.


1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.


Jesus transforms us from spiritual orphans into children of God.

Next Step: Start following Jesus.

We need to seek God for who he is, not what he can give us.

Seeking God for who he is, is our primary investment in our relationship with him.

Invest in your relationship with God through prayer.

Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.


Next Step: memorize Colossians 4:2

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Invest in your relationship with God through worship.

Psalm 27:4
One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.


Next Step: memorize Psalm 27:4

Invest in your relationship with God through Bible reading.

Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”


Next Step: memorize Matthew 4:4

Next Step: I will Invest in my relationship with God through
- Prayer
- Worship
- Bible Reading