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Christmas Expectations:

Giving Without Expectation 

Pastor Terry Fulks

Sunday, December 22, 2024 

Here are four reasons for giving without expecting back.

• God is kind.

 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 

Luke 6:32–36 ESV 

• The righteous are generous.                                                                                                         

21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; 

Psalm 37:21 ESV 

• To love is to give. 

13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love. 

1 Corinthians 16:13–14 ESV 

• God sacrificed His Son for sinners. 

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16–17 ESV 

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6–8 ESV

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”— John Bunyan  

“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.”
— John Wesley, Letters of John Wesley 

Points to ponder: 

• Generosity is more about character than anything else.
• Generosity is much more than giving money, it is about giving away yourself. 
• God sets the bar very high for giving. 
• Being generous is a very good thing for the individual that is being generous. 
• One of the best ways to become generous is to follow Jesus. 

Connection Prayer:  Lord, I thank you that you have been so generous with me. I now, with what faith I have, confess that you Jesus died on the cross for my sins, were buried, and rose from the dead on the third day. I take you as my Savior, Lord, and Leader. Please forgive me of my sins and thank you for your forgiveness. Help me to follow you all the days of my life. Amen.  

Next steps for the new believer: 

1. If you prayed the connection prayer with me:

1. Pick up a new believer pack as you leave.
2. Read John 3, three times before you go to bed tonight. 
3. Read the gospel of John all the way through by reading about ten verses a day. 

Next steps for the believer:

1. This week review the sermon at least twice. 
2. Who can you be generous with this week? 
3. Do an honest review of your generosity. 
4. Ask God who you should bring this month to church and especially Christmas Eve. 
5. Work on being more generous your whole life. 

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If you prayed the Connection Prayer today let us know! We would love to connect with you and get you a new believer pack. You can send your information to info@thirstwi.com