What Is God-Centered Generosity?

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What Is God-Centered Generosity?

ROOTED (Part Five)

March 21, 2021 • Jonathan Parnell

In this sermon, part five of our ROOTED series, Pastor Jonathan examines 2 Corinthians 9 highlighting the Apostle Paul's exhortation for them to be generous. Pastor Jonathan gives clear biblical principles around giving and generosity, helping us clearly see what "God-centered" generosity looks like.

The God who made everything and who needs nothing, this God, our heavenly Father, he loves cheerful givers because he himself is the cheerfullest of all givers, and he gives according to his ability. God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Our giving is only because of his giving, because of his surpassing grace upon us — which produces thanksgiving to him.

Walk in Him

March 28, 2021 • Jonathan Parnell

This sermon is the sixth and final installment of our ROOTED series. Pastor Jonathan examines passages from the book of Colossians, exhorting our church to be rooted in the faith, to embrace the vision of our congregation, and to commit to investing in the future ministry of our church. Christ has rescued us, therefore we commit to sharing the good news with others—the good news that Jesus saves sinners! In addition, Pastor Jonathan reminds us that thanksgiving is our response to any gift that comes from outside of us. We say thank you because we recognize that this is not from me, it’s for me—and I don’t deserve it. Thank you! And if we’re abounding in thanksgiving, it means that at every angle of the Christian life, in every direction we look in Christ, it’s only thanks, and it’s thanks that overflows. This sermons ends with a unique moment where many members of Cities Church made financial pledges toward the ROOTED initiative.

Getting to the Heart of (Not) Giving

March 14, 2021 • Jonathan Parnell

In this sermon, part four of our ROOTED series, Pastor Jonathan looks at Matthew 6 and asks the question, "Could it be that anxiety is the real cause of greed?" Pastor Jonathan Parnell examines the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 6:25–34 and its connection to money in the previous passage (vv. 19–24). The reason we don’t give more to God is because we are anxious it will make us miserable. The remedy? To remember that God is our heavenly Father and he cares for us.

Rooted in the Cities

March 7, 2021 • David Mathis

In this sermon, part three of our ROOTED series, Pastor David Mathis gives us a clear vision for our calling to serve the Twin Cities. He exhorts our congregation to not fear the Cities, but instead be committed to loving the Cities. He preaches from Jeremiah 29:4–14 and highlights several lessons we can learn from the Jewish people being dragged off to Babylon as exiles more than 2,600 years ago. If God’s people could build there, in Babylon–if they could put down roots there–then why could we not we do so today? Pastor David exhorts us to remember afresh our calling as a city church, and now to put down our roots as a church. In a rootless time, in a restless city, we’re putting down roots. Our call is to be a gospel presence in these Cities. Let’s multiply, not decrease. Let's not wait and see. Let’s put down roots now, together, as a church. Let’s be the best citizens of the Twin Cities, who love this place, and its people, all the more, when it’s hard. Being Rooted in the Cities is a significant part of our transition from having been a church planted to becoming a church rooted.