Next Steps: Part 6 - Generous Steps

MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
April 2, 2023
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Easter is Coming, April 9 - Time to Invite!

Did you know that Easter is one of the best and easiest times to invite people to come experience Jesus with you at your campus? More people come on Easter Sunday than any other Sunday of the year. Because of that, we are challenging every OneLifer to invite someone with them as a part of our “Easter on Mission!” So be on the lookout for people where you live, work, and play and let’s make this an unforgettable Easter!

3 Services at the North Campus - 8:30, 10 & 11:30am
2 Services at East - 9 & 10:45am

MyOneLife - Starts April 23

MyOneLife is a 4-week small group experience that takes place on Sunday mornings during the 10:45am service in the Meeting Room at each of our campuses beginning April 23. You’ll learn about the history, vision & values of our church, discover your personal mission and spiritual gifts, and have opportunities to get involved. For more information or to sign up, check the “MyOneLife” box on your Connection Card.

IF Gathering: A Women’s Event, April 29
Ladies, you’re invited to a weekend event called the IF Gathering. There will be a time of worship, incredible teaching from some of the top speakers in the country, and time to share and connect with other ladies. The event will take place from 9am to 4pm on Saturday, April 29 at our North Campus. The cost is $20 per person and a light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration is now open, so click here to get registered.

Baptism
If you’ve given your life to Jesus but haven’t gone public with your story through baptism then it’s time to take that step! Click here, fill out a  Connection Card and we’ll help you get started.
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GIVE BACK
Give Jesus your best! Make a one-time tithe or offering or to set up a recurring tithe or offering: Click Here To Give Online.
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Bottom Line: The definition of generosity grows with each step.

2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT

7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

1. My level of generosity should always be taking steps.

2 Corinthians 8:1NLT

1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.

2 Corinthians 8:2 NLT
2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

2. Generosity starts with joy.

2 Corinthians 8:3 NLT

3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

3. Genersity is rooted in desire.

2 Corinthians 8:4 NLT

4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.

4. Generosity is proactive.

2 Corinthians 8:5 NLT

5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

2 Corinthians 8:6 NLT
6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.

5. Generosity keeps growing.

2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT

7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

2 Corinthians 8:8 NLT
8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT
9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

6. Growing generosity grows me to be more like Jesus.

START TALKING
When have you received something small from someone, but it meant a lot to you because it was incredibly generous considering their age or the season of life that they were in? Even though it was small to you, it was big to them!

What examples come to mind from your own life and experience where what was a big sacrifice for you at a time in your life wouldn't be a sacrifice for you now because you are in a different place?

START THINKING
Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-2.
What does this verse teach about joy since they have an abundance of joy even though they are being tested and are poor? What does this teach about the difference between happiness and joy? How would you explain the difference?

Read 2 Corinthians 8:3-5.
How does this take away the argument that we can't afford to give? What are we really saying if we say we can't afford to give?

Read 2 Corinthians 8:8-9.
What does Paul, the writer of this passage, tell us is really the basis of generosity? How does he connect the generosity of Jesus to our growing generosity in this passage?

START SHARING
Read 2 Corinthians 8:7.
This verse challenges us to excel (increase, abound) in our generosity. How have you seen your generosity grow throughout your spiritual journey? What was the first step you took to be generous and how have you grown in that since then? How was it hard or challenging then and is it different now?

Read Luke 21:1-4.
Who was Jesus most impressed with? Why? How have you been like each of the characters in this story? What does this story show us that God is looking for when and how we give?

How have you experienced the benefit of someone else's generosity to the local church and to the ministry? How have others experienced this because of you?

START DOING
What is the next step of generosity that you can take? Thinking through the points of this message, is your next step to...

1. Identify what I think brings me joy by looking at what I give to.
2. Identify if my giving now is really generosity out of desire or if it is an obligation.
3. Identify if I am proactive in looking for ways to increase my generosity or have I gotten stuck.
4. Identify when I last took a step to be more generous and what my next step of generosity should be.

START PRAYING

Pray for each person's next step that they shared above. Pray that we each experience more and more what it is like to be like Jesus as we give more generously. Pray that just like the Jerusalem church experienced the benefit of the Macedonian church's generosity that there would be people all over Knoxville, East Tennessee and the rest of the world that would experience the benefit of our increased generosity.
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CONNECTION CARDS
Be sure to fill out the online Connection Card to let us know next steps, prayer requests, or other information you'd like to share, Click Here.
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MULTIPLICATION
Share spiritual/missional conversations you've had where you live, work, and play:
  - Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
  - What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
  - How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
  - How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
  - Who in your life do you think could be disciple-able or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
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WHAT'S NEXT?
  - Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?/giveback/giveback
  - Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?/if

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