Podcasts about Generosity

What if generosity could become contagious?Millions of people have watched Bob Schober hand cash to complete strangers, pay rent for families facing eviction, surprise hardworking people with life-changing gifts, and inspire others to perform their own random acts of kindness. But behind every viral video is a man whose own life was transformed by redemption, faith, and second chances.In this inspiring conversation, Jonathan Quick sits down with Bob to explore the journey that took him from addiction, homelessness, and living out of a Volkswagen to building and selling a roofing company for more than $50 million. Instead of chasing more success, Bob discovered a greater purpose: using his resources to restore hope, encourage generosity, and prove that one act of kindness can change the course of someone's life.Together, they discuss the power of giving without expecting anything in return, why authentic kindness resonates with millions, how faith continues to guide Bob's mission, and why generosity has the power to create an unstoppable ripple effect that reaches far beyond the person receiving the gift.This episode is a reminder that changing the world doesn't always require grand gestures. Sometimes it simply starts with seeing another person, extending a helping hand, and choosing kindness when no one expects it.Check him out here: https://linktr.ee/9FigureRoofer

It's easy to assume generosity will grow over time. We tell ourselves we'll give more after we earn more, save more, pay off debt, or reach a certain level of financial security. But what if waiting causes us to miss something God wants to do today? That's the question Cody Hobelmann invites us to consider. Cody is a Certified Financial Planner, a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®), and co-founder of the Finish Line Pledge with his brother, Keelan. He also contributed to FaithFi's new field guide, How Much Money Is Enough?—a resource designed to help believers think biblically about setting financial finish lines. For Cody, this isn't merely a financial planning concept. It's personal. Early in his stewardship journey, he believed the best way to serve the Kingdom was to accumulate substantial wealth and give generously later. But over time, God began to reshape that perspective. “I started to wonder,” Cody shared, “what am I missing by not giving more today?” That question gets to the heart of biblical generosity. Giving is not only about transferring money to a worthy cause. It is also about joy, spiritual formation, trust, and eternal impact. The Joy of Giving Now Acts 20:35 says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” For some believers, generosity begins with the heart. They discover that giving produces a joy that spending and saving cannot replicate. When we give, we step into something larger than ourselves. We participate in the needs, stories, and mission of others. That joy can become contagious. As Cody explained, generosity often draws us into relationships with people and organizations doing meaningful work. We begin to see the impact of our gifts. We share in the purpose of the ministry. We become part of a story God is writing through His people. And the more we experience that joy, the harder it becomes to put generosity off until later. Giving now also allows us to encourage others. Stories of generosity can awaken generosity in someone else. Cody noted that hearing the stories of radically generous givers helped challenge his own assumptions. In the same way, our generosity can become an invitation for others to ask, “What are they experiencing that I'm missing?” Generosity doesn't just meet needs. It multiplies. Generosity as Spiritual Formation Other givers are motivated by what Cody describes as the “soul” dimension of giving. For them, generosity is part of spiritual formation. Giving requires trust. It asks us to surrender something we may feel we have earned, controlled, or secured for ourselves. That first step can be the hardest, because it often exposes what we really believe about God's provision. But like a muscle, generosity grows stronger with practice. At first, giving may feel difficult or like a sacrifice. But as we give consistently, we learn to listen for the Lord's leading and respond with obedience. Over time, generosity becomes less about fearfully letting go and more about joyfully participating in God's work. This is one reason giving now matters. Delayed generosity may preserve our resources, but it can also delay the work God wants to do in our hearts. Through generosity, God loosens our grip on money. He shifts our identity away from what we have, what we earn, or what we can control, and roots it more deeply in Him. Accumulation may give the illusion of safety, but generosity teaches us dependence. Giving becomes a way of saying, “Lord, these resources belong to You. What would You have me do with them?” That kind of prayerful surrender draws us closer to God in a way accumulation never can. The Wisdom of Strategic Giving Generosity is not only emotional or formative. It can also be strategic. Some believers think carefully about impact. They want to steward resources wisely, evaluate outcomes, and give in ways that bear fruit. Cody calls this the “head” dimension of giving. From that perspective, giving now has a practical advantage: it gives us experience. When we give today, we can see what happens. We can learn which ministries are bearing fruit, which need to align with our calling, and where future gifts might have the greatest impact. Cody compares it to planting seeds. Year after year, we learn where the harvest is growing and where to sow next. This kind of giving is not impulsive. It is thoughtful, prayerful, and engaged. Financial planners often talk about the power of compound interest. But Cody points to something even greater: compound impact. A dollar invested may grow over time, but a gift given today may change a life today. And God can do far more with our obedience than we can calculate on a spreadsheet. That doesn't mean every dollar should be given away immediately or that planning for the future is unwise. Scripture commends wisdom, provision, and prudent planning. But it does mean we should be careful not to assume that “later” is always the more faithful option. Sometimes waiting to give can mean delaying the impact God intended for today. Don't Hold Too Tightly Jesus warns in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Earthly resources are temporary. Markets change. Circumstances change. Needs arise. Life is uncertain. Even when we intend to give later, we are not guaranteed we will have the opportunity. That reality is not meant to create fear. It is meant to cultivate a sense of faithful urgency. As Ron Blue has often said, “Do your giving while you're living, so you're knowing where it's going.” There is wisdom in being able to see, participate in, and learn from the impact of generosity while we are still here. Giving now turns temporary resources into lasting Kingdom impact. How Finish Lines Help Us Give Freely One practical way to accelerate generosity is by setting financial finish lines. A lifestyle finish line changes the question from “How much should I give?” to “How much should I keep?” Once we prayerfully define enough for our lifestyle, we are free to ask what God would have us do with the resources beyond that point. A lifetime finish line works similarly. It helps us consider how much is appropriate to accumulate over the course of our lives. When we know what is enough, we can begin dreaming with God about how to deploy His resources for His purposes. Finish lines are not about legalism. They are about freedom. They help us resist the endless pull of accumulation and open our hands to the joy, adventure, and impact of generosity. Take One Step This Week For the person waiting for the “right time” to become more generous, the encouragement is simple: start now. That step does not have to be dramatic. It may be small. It may be quiet. It may be a first act of obedience that stretches your faith just enough to remind you that God can be trusted. But don't wait to be generous. Giving shapes your heart. It deepens your faith. It strengthens your trust in God. And it multiplies Kingdom impact in ways delayed generosity never can. The question is not merely, “How much can I give someday?” The better question may be, “Lord, what would You have me do today?” On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Scripture calls men to provide for their families, but what does that look like today? Is there a minimum income a man should aim for to support a family, and what kind of financial goal or ambition should we encourage young men to pursue? I'm praying about how to advise a friend with over $40,000 in debt. He has small investments and a small business, but the business is declining, and he feels overwhelmed. Would a Christian credit counselor be the right next step? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) 10 Reasons to Give Now Rather Than Later by Cody Hobelmann (Article in Faithful Steward, Issue 6) The Finish Line Pledge Christian Credit Counselors Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What you invest yourself in determines what you reap down the road. That's not a motivational principle — it's a law. It applies to your relationships, your finances, and your faith. And the same law that's been working against you can start working for you the moment you begin training differently.The practical application is less heroic than most people expect. In relationships, training shapes how you treat people — whether you're honest, whether you respect boundaries, whether you can see past your own comfort. In finances, the decisions you're living with today are largely the fruit of choices made years ago — which means the financial life you want in ten years depends on the training you start right now, and the pattern holds across every area: what you allow to build momentum in your life will eventually determine what you experience.The disciplines themselves are straightforward. Prayer — ten minutes a day of honest conversation with God. Scripture — not a program, just a verse you actually sit with. Worship — making Jesus the direct focus of your attention rather than going through motions. Generosity — giving at some level that breaks the cycle of fear-driven accumulation. These aren't heroic acts. They're reps. And over time, the reps produce something no amount of willpower alone ever could: a life that actually looks like the one you were designed to live.Support the mission of the Salty Pastor ministry! Visit our donations page at https://pushpay.com/g/thesaltypastor to help us continue sharing truth with a world in need. Visit thesaltypastor.com to sign up for our weekly email, designed to coach, inspire, and encourage you to a mature faith.Discussion Questions1. Which of the four practices — prayer, Scripture, worship, generosity — is most absent from your daily life right now, and what would it take to start?2. If you project your current habits ten years into the future, what kind of marriage, faith, and finances do they produce? Are you satisfied with that trajectory?3. Where has a sense of "I've already failed at this" kept you from starting again? What would it look like to simply begin tomorrow?

Did you know 92% of donors say giving is part of who they are? And that 94% say they're MORE motivated to give when they know exactly where their money will go?Today I'm doing one of my favorite things – diving into the data and research from Bloomerang's 2026 Giving Signals Report, and sharing the major opportunity gaps every nonprofit should be paying attention to. Generosity isn't disappearing, but it's becoming much more intentional!This episode is packed with several high-impact changes that can help you remove friction, strengthen donor relationships, and increase giving.Resources & LinksCheck out Bloomerang's latest research in their 2026 Giving Signals Report. Bloomerang is the proud presenter of Missions to Movements. See how one team surpassed a $1M match and raised $2.25M for their mission with Penny, Bloomerang's AI-powered fundraising strategist. Learn more at bloomerang.com.The Monthly Giving Builder: Generate your comprehensive monthly giving plan and build your program step by step - with a guided companion working alongside you from start to finish. Let's Connect!Send a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and let us know what you think of the show!My book, The Monthly Giving Mastermind, is here! Grab a copy here and learn my framework to build, grow, and sustain subscriptions for good.Want to book Dana as a speaker for your event? Click here!

  G.K. Chesterton wrote that there are two ways of getting home—stay there, or walk around the entire world until you arrive from the other direction. For graphic novelist Ben Hatke, that line from The Everlasting Man wasn't simply a meditation on returning with fresh eyes: it became a commission. In this episode, Joe Grabowski sits down with Hatke—author of the forthcoming graphic memoir Home/World—to trace how one Chestertonian passage sent him east for 55 days across twelve countries, and how Chesterton's deepest convictions about man, story, and homecoming turned out to be more true the farther from home he traveled. In This Episode: How a single passage from G.K. Chesterton's The Everlasting Man—the two ways of getting home—became the animating vision behind a 55-day circumnavigation of the globe What Chesterton understood about encountering the world with fresh eyes: the generosity of strangers, the power of a story to cross any language barrier, and the world that waits beyond the screen How Ben Hatke wove historical figures—Ibn Battuta, Nellie Bly, Saint Francis—into the narrative as "ghosts," and why the Chestertonian idea of the communion of saints gives this technique its deepest meaning G.K. Chesterton's imagery of the circle and the line—from The Everlasting Man to Orthodoxy to The Man Who Was Thursday—and what it reveals about why a first encounter with any place is irrepeatable Why creating the book proved as life-changing as the journey itself and what Ben discovered about story, memory, and the difference between what is factual and what is true Chapters: 00:00: Welcome and Introduction 02:25: The Everlasting Man Quote Behind the Journey 06:01: Memory, Story, and How a Journey Becomes True 08:05: The Generosity of Strangers 13:37: Turkey and the Moment It Became an Adventure 22:33: Circumnavigating Post-COVID: The When and Why 31:02: "I Admire Your Life—It Looks Like Freedom" 35:03: Making the Book: Falling in Love with Storytelling Again 39:09: Historical Ghosts: Inviting the Past into the Journey 44:58: Circles and Lines: Chesterton's Vision of Coming Home Resources Mentioned: Home/World: A Circumnavigation of Our Shared Earth — Ben Hatke (forthcoming) Ben Hatke's website Ben Hatke on Patreon Ben Hatke on Instagram The Everlasting Man — G.K. Chesterton "Drawing Inspiration from Chesterton, with Ben Hatke" — previous Uncommon Sense appearance 2026 Chesterton Conference FOLLOW US: Instagram Facebook X SUPPORT: Donate Shop Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios

Brad, an Ohio entrepreneur, wanted to help a young church planter get started. So, when Brad learned this pastor had budgeted $5,000 per month for a church facility, Brad bought an old church building that was on the market for $600,000. He leased it to this new church for $5,000 a month. Two years later, ... The post Creative Generosity appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

Welcome into the Young Dad Pod—whether you're running on fumes from night feeds, chasing toddlers, or trying to hold it together at work and home—thanks for being here and tuning in.Today's guest is Tim Thomas, a former Special Forces operator turned wellness coach, mental health advocate, and founder of Breathwork in Bed. Tim's journey from combat zones to calming breathwork has helped transform the lives of veterans, parents, and everyday people by showing them the power of rest, resilience, and connection. He's raised over $1M for mental health research, saved lives, and now he's here to help us sleep better, stress less, and step into our power as men and dads.If today's episode spoke to you, hit up breathworkinbed.com.au to grab your 28-day free trial of the app. Better sleep and less stress are just a breath away.Visit the website for interactive activity guides and everything YDP- ⁠⁠www.youngdadpod.com Click the link for YDP deals (Triad Math, Forefathers, and more) - https://linktr.ee/youngdadpod Interested in being a guest on the Young Dad Podcast? Reach out to Jey Young through PodMatch at this link: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/youngdadLastly,consider making a monetary donation to support the Pod, https://buymeacoffee.com/youngdadpod.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Tim Thomas and His Journey02:38 The Importance of Connection and Communication Among Men05:40 Breaking Isolation: The Power of Shared Experiences08:32 Understanding Pain and Loneliness in Men's Lives11:09 The Role of Authentic Conversations in Healing13:49 The Impact of Parenting on Personal Development16:33 The Cost of Living as an Energetic Pauper18:52 Investing in Yourself for Greater Returns21:41 The Power of Physical Activity in Men's Conversations24:02 Transforming Struggles into Fertilizer for Growth26:40 The Journey of Generosity and Healing29:32 Conclusion: Embracing Growth and Connection36:45 Understanding Energy Drain and Sovereign Skin40:29 The Importance of Sleep and Breathwork46:30 Breathwork Techniques for Couples and Individuals59:08 Practical Breathwork Applications and Final Thoughts

Minimalism isn't about removing the things you love. It's about removing the things that distract you from the things you love. That insight from Joshua Becker gets to the heart of a much deeper issue than messy closets or crowded garages. Clutter competes for more than our space. It competes for our attention, affection, time, energy, and generosity. Joshua Becker, New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and founder of Becoming Minimalist, joined the show today to talk about his book, Uncluttered Faith: Own Less, Love More, and Make an Impact in Your World.  His message is not that every Christian needs bare walls, a tiny home, or a life stripped of beauty and enjoyment. Rather, it's an invitation to ask a better question: Are the things we own helping us live faithfully, or are they quietly distracting us from what matters most? Minimalism Is Not One-Size-Fits-All For many people, the word “minimalism” brings to mind stark white rooms, empty shelves, or getting rid of nearly everything they own. But Becker is quick to point out that minimalism will look different from one person to another. Some may enjoy a simpler aesthetic. Others may not. Some may feel called to live with very little. Others may simply need to become more intentional about what they own and why. Becker defines minimalism as “the intentional promotion of the things we most value by removing anything that distracts us from it.” That definition moves the conversation from rules to purpose. The goal is not to own less for its own sake. The goal is to make room for what God has called us to value most. When Possessions Begin to Possess Us Becker's journey began on an ordinary Saturday morning. He set out to clean his garage while his young son wanted him to play. Hours later, still surrounded by stuff, he realized he had spent his day maintaining possessions instead of investing in his son. That moment became a turning point. He and his wife began removing unnecessary possessions from their home, eventually giving away or discarding 60 to 70 percent of what they owned. With each step, Becker noticed practical benefits. Their home became easier to maintain. Their lifestyle costs less. They had more time and energy. They also found new opportunities for generosity. As a pastor, Becker began to see the connection between simplicity and faith. Jesus had been inviting His followers into this kind of life all along—not as deprivation, but as freedom. He calls us away from storing up treasures on earth and toward a life oriented around the Kingdom of God. Consumerism Shapes Us More Than We Realize We live in a culture that constantly tells us more is better. Advertisements, social media, algorithms, and comparison all work together to convince us that the next purchase will make us happier, more secure, more admired, or more complete. The message is subtle but powerful: your life will be better if you buy what we're selling. Over time, that message shapes our desires. We begin to define success by accumulation. Bigger homes, newer cars, fuller closets, upgraded technology, and constant consumption start to feel normal. But normal is not always wise. And common is not always faithful. Scripture repeatedly warns us that riches and possessions can deceive us. In Luke 8, Jesus describes the seed choked by “the cares and riches and pleasures of life,” keeping it from bearing mature fruit. Possessions are not evil in themselves, but they can become thorns when they crowd out our attention to God, neighbor, and calling. Simplicity Is Not Deprivation Biblical simplicity does not mean rejecting every comfort or refusing to enjoy God's gifts. 1 Timothy 6:17 reminds us that God “richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” Money can be used for celebration, hospitality, beauty, rest, and meaningful experiences with family and friends. Those are good gifts from a generous God. The issue is not whether we enjoy what God provides. The issue is whether those gifts become idols. When possessions begin to promise identity, security, comfort, or joy in ways only God can provide, they no longer serve us. They master us. That is why simplicity can be a path toward abundance. When we own less of what distracts us, we gain more of what matters: time, margin, focus, generosity, relationships, and availability to God's work. Clutter Steals Margin Many people today feel hurried, anxious, and stretched thin. While clutter is not the only reason for that exhaustion, it often contributes more than we realize. The more we own, the more we must clean, organize, protect, repair, insure, store, and pay for. Possessions require attention. They make demands. They quietly add weight to already busy lives. A less cluttered life can create margin—space to pray, rest, serve, listen, give, and be present. It can help us become more attentive to God and to the people He has placed before us. Becker shared the story of a woman named Trish, whose grandmother modeled a simple and faithful life. Her grandmother gardened, gathered eggs, sat on the porch, and lived with a peaceful attentiveness that left a lasting mark. Trish remembered that example as the kind of life she wanted to cultivate in her own family—not disconnected from the world, but less rushed by it. That kind of legacy is often caught more than taught. Owning Less Can Free Us to Give More One of the clearest connections between simplicity and faith is generosity. When we spend less on accumulation, we have more freedom to give. For someone in debt, owning less may create room to pay down what is owed. For someone living paycheck to paycheck, it may provide breathing room. For someone already financially stable, it may open the door to greater generosity. This is not merely a financial principle. It is a spiritual one. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our spending and giving reveal what we value. And as we direct our resources toward God's Kingdom, our hearts are shaped in the process. Generosity helps loosen the grip of materialism. It reminds us that money is not our treasure, our protector, or our purpose. It is a tool entrusted to us by God for His glory and the good of others. A More Faithful Question The goal of an uncluttered faith is not to make everyone's home look the same. It is not to shame people for enjoying good gifts. And it is not to create a new form of legalism around how much a Christian should own. The better question is this: What is God calling me to make room for? Maybe it's more time with your children. Maybe it's more generosity. Maybe it's less anxiety. Maybe it's a greater availability to serve. Maybe it's simply the freedom to stop chasing what the world says you need and begin living more deeply in what Christ has already given. Owning less is not the treasure. Christ is. But when we remove what distracts us, we may find ourselves freer to love Him, love others, and make an impact with what He has entrusted to us. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions: Can I borrow from my 401(k) instead of taking out a loan from the bank? My house is paid off, but I'm considering moving and may need funds available for a bridge loan. As the primary beneficiary of my late husband's IRA, do I have to move the full account into my name, or can I transfer part of it directly to my children since they're listed as contingent beneficiaries? Resources Mentioned: Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner) Uncluttered Faith: Own Less, Love More, and Make an Impact in Your World: A Minimalist Book by Joshua Becker Becoming Minimalist Our Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful Stewardship by Rob West Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and Anxiety Rich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich Fool Find a Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA) FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every weekday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

DescriptionOpening night of the 2026 Tucson Bible Conference, Pastor Harold Warner preaches from 2 Corinthians 3 on the power and glory of the New Covenant.Many Christians spend their lives trapped between legalism and cheap grace. One side says “try harder.” The other says “it doesn't matter.” Neither produces genuine transformation.Pastor Warner reveals Paul's answer: true change happens when believers behold the glory of Jesus Christ. The Christian life is not sustained by rules, guilt, programs, personalities, or emotional experiences. It is sustained by continually fixing our eyes on Christ.This message is a powerful call to remove every veil, abandon spiritual pretense, and rediscover the unfading glory found only in Jesus.Chapters[Offering]00:00 The Importance of Generosity in Giving04:08 Unlocking Inaccessible Wealth07:09 Miracles Triggered by Faithful Giving10:10 The Challenge of Obedience in Giving13:14 The Aftermath of Generosity[Sermon]16:05 The Credentials of Ministry16:33 The New Covenant and Its Glory24:43 The Quality of the Gospel Preached31:27 Legalism vs. Libertinism40:30 Fading Glory vs. Lasting Glory43:22 Capturing the Heart for True Surrender46:38 The Transformative Power of Beholding Glory55:26 The Role of Worship in Transformation58:10 Unveiling the Heart for True Transformation01:05:27 Authenticity in the Christian Life01:13:57 The Call to Behold and Respond to JesusShow NotesALL PROCEEDS GO TO WORLD EVANGELISMLocate a CFM Church near you: https://cfmmap.orgWe need five-star reviews! Tell the world what you think about this podcast at:• Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apple.co/3vy1s5b• Podchaser: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-the-land-cfm-sermon-pod-43369v

In this message, we celebrate fathers and look at how a generous heart is one of the greatest gifts a father can give his children. We look at the life of King David, who refused a free threshing floor and insisted on paying full price for his altar, declaring he would not offer God something that cost him nothing. Life-changing generosity happens when we give at a level that actually changes our hearts. Generosity is the truest expression of agape love — other-centered, self-sacrificing, unconditional, and redemptive. It begins with an open heart that takes responsibility without excuses, and grows into an open hand that prioritizes God first in our finances, our relationships, and our time and talent. Fathers teach their children about love by what they sacrifice. As we practice this kind of generosity, healing and transformation follow — for our families, our community, and our own hearts.

Solomon teaches that while life is often unpredictable and unfair, we are not called to sit still in fear but to live wisely and faithfully. He encourages generous giving, consistent habits, calculated risks, and trusting God with outcomes we cannot control, knowing that faithful choices often bear fruit over time. He also warns against letting anger, bitterness, and vexation take root, comparing them to a poison that slowly shapes the heart. Instead, believers are called to cultivate joy, gratitude, spiritual disciplines, and a heavenly perspective, choosing daily to bless others, reject resentment, and walk in wisdom despite life's uncertainties.

The Believer's True Worship (Part 1)Worship: More Than Music, a Life of WorshipWe give things up all the time. Marriage involves giving up certain comforts and conveniences to care for another person. Parenting requires giving up sleep, time, and personal space for the sake of a child. Generosity implies giving up money and possessions to meet the needs of others. But Scripture invites us into something far deeper than giving up things. It calls us to give up ourselves. This is the heart of worship. Webster's dictionary defines worship as “to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion” which is helpful, but incomplete. True worship is not just admiration. It is the offering of not only our songs, but our priorities, our desires, our decisions, and our very identity. Join us this Sunday as we discover what genuine worship looks like and how it becomes a joyful giving of ourselves to the God who gave up everything for us. 

In week seven of The Return, Pastor Leonard Davis explores how generosity reveals what has truly taken root in our hearts. Discover how the grace and sacrifice of Jesus can fill us with a joy that transforms the way we view our resources, our church, and the needs of others. Use the Sermon Reflection Guide to continue the conversation and consider your next step toward grace-shaped generosity.   The Return Week 7: The Generosity Test Sermon Reflection Guide

Generosity sounds simple until you actually try to live it. Will digs into what it meant for the early church to give everything away, and what it costs us today to do the same. This isn't about writing a bigger check. It's about where your heart is pointed and who you trust with what you've been given.

Jun 21st - Generosity, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski. Series: More Than You Think: Discovering the Parables of Jesus A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: Mark 4:1-9.Ever feel like the world is meaner, more judgmental, and it makes you shrink a little inside? This week we're talking about a God whose love looks more like wild generosity than scorekeeping, and how that kind of grace can free us to live with courage and kindness.You're welcome to join us online or in person this Sunday, just as you are.Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend.  Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don't ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.Keywords:Fear, compassion, God, sower, parable, seeds, soil, generosity, love, judgment, abundance, scarcity, kindness, theology, image of God., presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregonFeaturing:Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Sharon Edwards, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, GuestsSupport the show

You think you're a generous person. The round-up at the checkout, the Christmas appeal, the mate who needed a hand. But what if giving and generosity aren't the same thing?This is a shame-free, guilt-free conversation about money, the kind most of us are already having at home about fuel prices, budgets, and what things cost, just with Jesus' perspective added in. Chris unpacks the difference between two kinds of givers, why a plan beats a guilt-trip every time, and a surprisingly old idea from a 2,000-year-old letter that still works today. No pressure, no sad songs, no slide of suffering faces. Just a clear, practical way to decide ahead of time where your generosity goes.What you'll walk away with:A simple test to know whether you're actually generous or just occasionally givingTwo questions that tell you exactly where your money should goWhy picking a percentage beats reacting to whoever guilts you bestA 90-day challenge you can trial with a built-in way outA way to grow your faith that no Bible study can matchSpeaker: Chris Podlich | Beyond Church, Griffin.Your best next step:

Spend a moment in wonder at the generous heart of God displayed in Luke 19.No matter what kind of day you've had, rest in hope and peace tonight as you draw near to the heart of God. This short, uplifting meditation from His Word will create a space at the end of the day for you to refocus on the goodness and nearness of the Lord, entrust your burdens to Him and fill your mind with His promises and faithfulness towards you. Tonight's meditation is read by Andrew. Meet the team at https://www.odbm.org/en-GB/about-us/meet-the-team. These meditations are lovingly and prayerfully crafted by human writers, presenters and producers, with no AI-generated content. If you'd like to get in touch with us to share your story or let us know how we can make the Evening Meditations an even better experience, email our team at eveningmeditations@odbm.orgWe hope that you enjoy this Evening Meditation from Our Daily Bread Ministries! You can find more exciting content from Our Daily Bread Ministries by downloading the Our Daily Bread app or visiting us at: odbm.orgAll our funding comes from our listeners, like you, who value what we do and want to help us reach more people. Together, we can keep making our podcast freely accessible to all. You can make a donation towards our mission at eveningmeditations.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

Fill-In Notes: https://churchlinkfeeds.blob.core.windows.net/notes/39900/note-271747.html Continuing the Conversation Where are you most tempted to live with a scarcity mindset instead of trusting God's provision? What "seed" has God entrusted to you right now (time, abilities, finances, relationships, influence)? How has someone else's generosity impacted your trust in Jesus? Are there any practical ways that remembering God's gift of Jesus motivate you toward greater generosity?

Urdu Friday Sermon delivered by Khalifa-tul-Masih on June 19th, 2026 (audio)

Tamil translation of Friday Sermon delivered by Khalifa-tul-Masih on June 19th, 2026 (audio)

SCRIPTURE- Luke 14:13-14"Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."REFLECTION- Sr. CharleneMUSIC- Their Message Goes to all the World - Gratitude by Instrumental WorshipNOTES-PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

This week, I'm chatting with Jenn Klein—author, podcast host, and philanthropic advisor—for a thoughtful conversation about generosity, giving, and what it really means to be a philanthropist. Many of us think philanthropy is something reserved for the ultra-wealthy, but Jenn challenges that belief. She shares how generosity is not defined by the size of a donation, but by the ways we choose to align our time, energy, resources, and values with the causes and communities we care about most. We explore how our personal values shape our giving, the mindset shifts that can make generosity feel more accessible, and why philanthropy can be an everyday practice rather than a financial milestone. Whether you're looking for ways to make a greater impact in your community or simply want to rethink your relationship with giving, this conversation will leave you feeling inspired and empowered. Connect with Jenn: https://youareaphilanthropist.com/ https://www.instagram.com/_jennklein   Get her book: https://www.amazon.com/Giving-Selfish-Change-World-Yourself/dp/B0CLK2STJT ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn't Scary — it helps more women find these much-needed conversations. You can also find me here:

It seems that the modern world is in its isolation era, leaving us craving the easy comfort of irl camaraderie. Ideally, the kind that comes without the need to buy a ticket or split a bill. Because becoming a villager isn't just a salve for loneliness, it's a rebellion against consumerism.After a whole season of following the money, we're wrapping up our finale contemplating how we can create community without it. We're hearing from our community about how they show up as villagers, and how they start their own villages. Turns out you don't need to bean extrovert, have a huge group chat, or be a pillar in your community. You just have to show up. These relationships we make with our community create bonds that strengthen our ability to adapt in climate disasters, financial instability, and even supply chain woes. And getting started is easier than you think.

What does it really mean to be strong and courageous? In this episode of Youth Worker On Fire, Doug Edwards shares a powerful message about Christian courage, kindness, confidence, generosity, and leadership. Through stories from Theodore Roosevelt, Bear Grylls, Michelle Monaghan, Tony Robbins, and personal moments from his own life, Doug points us back to a biblical truth: God calls His people to stand strong, speak truth, care deeply, and trust Him with the outcome. This episode explores how simple actions can shape the people around us, offering a genuine compliment, showing respect, giving generously, staying content, standing up for others, and choosing courage even when fear is present. Doug also reflects on Joshua 1:9 and Jeremiah's calling, reminding us that God does not call us to live timid, passive lives. He puts His words in our mouths, gives us His strength, and sets us apart for good works prepared in advance. In this episode, you'll be encouraged to: • Be strong and courageous in your calling • Use your words to build people up • Practice sincere kindness and encouragement • Lead with humility, confidence, and faith • Give generously even when it feels costly • Learn contentment in the place God has you • Fight fairly for what is right without losing grace Whether you are a youth pastor, student ministry volunteer, parent, grandparent, Christian educator, or leader investing in the next generation, this episode will challenge you to become someone others can trust, follow, and depend on. God may have set you apart to encourage the overlooked, stand up for the average person, speak life into students, and lead with strength that comes from Him. Be strong. Be courageous. Be kind. _________________________________________________________________________________

What if the key to a bigger life, bigger vision, and bigger impact was something you already have the ability to give? This week we're diving into one of the core values that shapes everything we do at Sun City Church and it might just change the way you see your everyday decisions. You don't want to miss this one.

A sermon preached by Rev. Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli with Foundry UMC, June 7, 2026, Second Sunday after Pentecost. “We Know Who We Are”series. Texts: Romans 12:1-2, 9-13; Acts 2:41-47   Last week we reflected on grace. We remembered that God's grace comes before we ever think about God, before we ever do anything right, before we ever earn anything. Grace comes first. Grace comes last. Grace is always the ground beneath our feet. This week the question is: If grace comes first, how does grace actually change us?   I grew up before car seats were common. Heck—I regularly rode in the back of my dad's or grandpa's pickup truck to get ice cream or drive out to the lake. Looking back, it feels like I was raised in the Wild West!?  As a teenager, I'd been driving a year or so when a new law was passed that required seatbelts. We started hearing about studies showing how seatbelts saved lives. There were those crash-test dummy commercials—remember those? But putting on a seatbelt wasn't something I thought about.  And so every time I got into the car, I had to remind myself: Put on your seatbelt. Sometimes I'd forget. Sometimes I'd remember halfway down the road. But I kept doing it. And then one day I noticed something. I was driving somewhere and realized I already had my seatbelt on. I hadn't thought about it. I hadn't reminded myself. I had just done it. What had once felt awkward and inconvenient had become a habit. It had become instinct. I had practiced and learned a new thing.   Most of us understand this when it comes to driving. Or learning an instrument. Or speaking a language. Or playing a sport. Or exercising.   A friend once told me, “Nobody likes running when they first start. You have to just do it. After a while you'll reap the benefits.” I never forgot the wisdom. You may not start out loving the practice. But you practice because of what the practice is shaping you to become.   And I've been thinking this week that much of the Christian life works the same way. Many of us want to become more loving, more patient, more generous, more courageous. We want to respond to conflict with grace. We want to be less fearful and more trusting. We want our lives to reflect the love of Christ. But how does that happen?   John Wesley believed that the goal of the Christian life was what he called “Christian perfection.” Unfortunately, that phrase has caused confusion for generations. Wesley wasn't talking about becoming flawless. He wasn't talking about never making mistakes. He wasn't talking about acting like we've got it all together. He was talking about becoming so filled with the love of God that God's love begins to overflow from our lives.   I often picture it like a pitcher being filled with water. As we open ourselves to receive God's love and mercy—God's grace!—we are filled. And just as a pitcher overflows once it becomes full, so God's love begins to overflow in our lives. Love spills over. Mercy spills over. Compassion spills over. Generosity spills over. Wesley believed that this could happen. In fact, he believed it was the goal of those who would follow Christ.   Or as the hymn puts it: “Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.” I love that phrase. The impulse of thy love. Because it suggests a life in which love becomes our first instinct. A life in which generosity and mercy become as natural as breathing. A life in which our hands move at the impulse of God's love. Wouldn't that be something?   The question is: How do we become those people? And Wesley's answer was surprisingly practical. We practice. We train. We place ourselves again and again in the flow of God's grace. Wesley called these practices “means of grace.” Prayer. Scripture. Worship. Holy Communion. Christian conversation and accountability. Small groups. Acts of mercy and service.   And this week, I want to invite you to choose one. Not all of them. Just one. Spend a few minutes each day reading scripture. Or pray each morning before you reach for your phone. Or read a daily devotion. Or intentionally perform one act of kindness or service each day. Choose one way to place yourself in the flow of God's grace and practice it every day this week.   These are means of grace not because they are things that earn God's love or make God love us more. They are not means of grace because checking enough religious boxes gets us into heaven. But because these practices place us where God's transforming grace can reach us. God's grace is always present—whether we're practicing the means of grace or not. But these practices have been shown over the centuries to place us in the flow of God's grace in a very concentrated way.   There is a distinction between trying and training. Anyone can try to run a marathon. But only someone who trains will actually finish one. The same is true of the Christian life. Anybody can try to be more loving. Anybody can try to be more patient. Anybody can try to forgive. But becoming Christlike requires more than trying. It requires training in grace.   This is why Methodists became Methodists. John Wesley was nothing if not methodical. The early Methodists became known for their methods—the practices and habits that helped them grow in love of God and neighbor. And that brings us to Romans 12.   After eleven chapters proclaiming the mercy and grace of God, Paul writes: “I appeal to you therefore...on the basis of God's mercy...” Paul doesn't begin with an appeal based on obligation or guilt or fear, but rather an appeal on the basis of God's mercy. Grace comes first. Then Paul says, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” Notice that he doesn't say, “Present your beliefs.” He says, “Present your bodies.” The Christian life isn't simply a set of ideas we agree with. It is a way of life. It is embodied. It is practiced.   Then Paul says: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” This is such a perennial call—true in every age! It is easy to become conformed to the things of this world. All of us are being formed by something. The news forms us. Social media forms us. Fear forms us. Our families, culture, and education form us. The question is not whether we are being formed. The question is: By what?   Paul doesn't tell us to transform ourselves. He says, “Be transformed.” God is the one doing the transforming. Our work is to place ourselves where God's grace can do its work. And then Paul immediately shows us what a transformed life looks like: Let love be genuine. Love one another. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in suffering. Persevere in prayer. Practice hospitality.   These things are not feelings. They are practices. They are things we do again and again until they begin to shape who we are. Nobody wakes up one day naturally hospitable. Nobody wakes up instinctively patient. Nobody wakes up automatically generous. These things are formed through grace and practice.   And then our reading from Acts shows us what that formation looks like in community. The Spirit comes at Pentecost. Thousands are baptized. A movement is born. And what do they do next?   Luke says: “They devoted themselves.” That may be the most important phrase in the whole passage. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. They devoted themselves. Not occasionally or when it was convenient or when they felt inspired. They devoted themselves. They showed up again and again. They listened to the story of Jesus. They prayed together. They shared meals. They worshiped together. They cared for one another. And over time something happened. They became a different kind of people.   Their possessions became less important than their neighbors' needs. Their tables became larger. Their hearts became more generous. Their lives became more joyful. Their witness became more compelling. The Pentecost miracle of Acts 2 is not only that the Spirit came in a wondrous way and moved previously fearful disciples to do wondrous things. The miracle is also that people kept showing up. They devoted themselves to practices that opened them to God's grace. And God's grace formed them into a community that looked different from the world around them. They were not conformed to their age, but were transformed by the saving grace and love of God in Christ Jesus.   Friends, this is part of who we are as United Methodists. We have practices. We have rhythms. We have a path: prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness, and all the means of grace handed down through generations. They're not handed down because God needs them, but because we do. Not because they earn us salvation, but because they help open us to receive the grace that is already being offered.   And over time, through worship and prayer, through scripture and communion, through service and generosity, God does what only God can do. God transforms us. God fills us. And little by little, sometimes so gradually we hardly notice, our lives begin to move at a different impulse. The impulse of love. The impulse of mercy. The impulse of grace.   “Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.” That is the goal. It's not about perfectionism. The goal is perfect love—lives so shaped by God's grace that one day we discover we are no longer merely trying to love. By the grace of God, we have begun to move at the impulse of God's love. This week, choose one way to place yourself in the flow of God's grace. Not because God needs it. Because you do.  

06-14-26 Generosity Opens the Door by Pastor Darrell Morgan

We can even ruin generosity by congratulating your right hand of giving with your left hand of pride.We must be careful, because thinking of ourselves too highly, is maybe just ½ a step away from thinking about God too lowly.Don't ruin generosity by what can happen when your personal pr department starts tooting its own trumpet.Listen 6 ½ minutes to get this right. https://youtu.be/B6EcjlIBFuE

The Mount //Week 9// Worry in God's Kingdom Matthew 6:25-27 NIV  25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Learn from the Fowls - Trust God's Provision Matthew 6:26a NIV 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Matthew 6:26b-27 NIV Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Ephesians 2:10 NIV  10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NLT 10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Matthew 6:28-29 NIV 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. Learn from the Fowls - Trust God's Provision Learn from the Flowers - Trust God's Process Matthew 6:28-29 NIV 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. Matthew 6:30-32 NIV  30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?' or ‘What shall we drink?' or ‘What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Learn from the Fowls  - Trust God's Provision Learn from the Flowers - Trust God's Process Learn from Your Firsts - Trust God's Principles and Practices Matthew 6:33 NIV 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Tzedakah (צדקה): Justice, Generosity, Caring for the poor, Restoring shalom, Living rightly within community. Matthew 6:34 NIV 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Learn from the Fowls  - Trust God's Provision Learn from the Flowers - Trust God's Process Learn from Your Firsts - Trust God's Principles and Practices

Read my new book, "The Price of Becoming." www.LearningLeader.com/Becoming This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My Guest: Scott Harrison is the founder and CEO of charity: water, a non-profit that has raised over a billion dollars and funded tens of thousands of water projects to bring safe drinking water to millions. He previously spent a decade as a New York City nightclub promoter before a dramatic career shift led him into humanitarian work. Key Learnings Scott started a charity: water with $20 from a birthday party. Then $15,000... Twenty years later: over a billion dollars raised, 21 million people served. He says it should be 10 to 100 times more. The cure for water already exists. We're looking for water on Mars while 700 million people drink dirty water on Earth. We solved this hundreds of years ago. We just haven't implemented it. 25% of the money sitting in American donor-advised funds would give every human on Earth clean water. That's parked philanthropic capital. Already tax-benefited. Just waiting. The goal is always 10X what you're doing. If we raised a million last year, we want ten this year. If we raise $100 million, we should raise a billion. The opportunity is always orders of magnitude larger than the moment. Show, don't bullet. Scott shows 210 photos in a 45-minute keynote. No PowerPoint. Single images. A story unfolds frame by frame. Be early to the technology. First charity on Instagram. First to hit a million Twitter followers. First to use VR. The question is always the same: how does this new thing further the mission? The 100% model: solve for the cynic.  Public donations go to one bank account that funds only water projects. Overhead is raised separately from entrepreneurs and business leaders. Then track every donation to a specific village. Don't be mid. Scott's 11-year-old daughter says nobody wants to be mid. Excellence is a core value. There's a lot of mid out there. Design everything. The fact cover sheet. The PowerPoint. The website. The package. "We're always dating." If the message comes in an ugly package, you're at a disadvantage before you start. Treat the donor like a Michelin three-star guest. If a restaurant can think that carefully about a meal, you can think that carefully about a donor who can save a million lives. The Goldman Sachs partner who changed Scott's paradigm. Before making an eight-figure ask, Scott asked a partner: "How does it feel when people ask for a lot more than you expected?" The expected answer was irritated, offended, put off. The actual answer: "I feel flattered that they think I would be that generous." People are generous. The well is there. You just have to drill deep enough. Scott has spent 20 years asking for too little. That might be his next obsession. People give to people, not causes. A dynamic leader who transfers their enthusiasm gets the donation. The cause doesn't. Most of the donations Scott and his wife give are to people, not topics they were already passionate about. Talk 10% of the time. When Scott meets a donor for the first time, he wants to know their whole life story. Their marriage. Their kids. What they wanted to be when they grew up. Be genuinely curious or don't bother. Hire for integrity, humility, curiosity, and energy... 16,000 applicants for 36 roles last year. Energy matters most. Someone who can get you fired up about pickleball, Patagonia, or a new running shoe is exactly who you want on the executive team. The dinner test for hiring: Can you imagine having this person at your home for two hours at dinner? And wanting to keep them for another hour? Get the whole life story. Scott wants the arc from the beginning to the present in an interview. If someone can't tell their own story coherently, they probably don't know themselves yet. The 11-year-old with the piggy bank. He told his parents he was going to fund a whole village. They told him to set a realistic goal. He went knocking on doors. He came back with $10,000. Scott's experience lab in Nashville. A 60-minute immersive tour. A 100-degree room with a treadmill where you carry a 40-pound water vessel. Microscopes that show you parasites. A VR film that ends in celebration. The "give shop," not the gift shop. 53% of visitors donate. 10,000 visitors. $3.9 million raised in year one. Scott's champagne moment: a single billionaire who picks water. The water sector doesn't have one. Republicans and Democrats agree on it. Atheists and people of faith agree on it. Everyone has to drink. Reflection Questions What is the 10X version of your current goal? Where are you asking for too little because the smaller ask felt safer? Who in your work or life is the Michelin three-star guest, the customer, donor, or partner who deserves your most thoughtful experience design?  When was the last time you went 10% talking, 90% genuinely curious about someone else's story?  More Learning:  #290: Scott Harrison – Redemption, Compassion, & The Transformative Power Within Us #680: Scott Galloway - Don't Follow Your Passion, Follow Your Talent #682: Will Guidara - Adversity is a Terrible Thing to WasteAudio Chapters 00:00 The Price of Becoming - Pre-Order Now! 01:18 Welcome Back, Scott Harrison 02:56 From a $20 Bill to Over $1 Billion Raised 04:59 Why the Goal Should Always Be 10X (or 100X) 07:54 Storytelling: How to Get People to Care About a Problem They Don't Feel 10:30 Being Early to Instagram, Twitter, and VR 16:10 Radical Transparency: The Bank Account That Built Trust 19:51 The Beauty of a Healthy Obsession 21:22 Drilling Deep for the Artesian Wells of Generosity 25:04 What It Feels Like in the Room When Generosity Breaks Through 27:01 "Nobody Wants to Be Mid." 30:56 Design Everything: We're Always Dating 32:13 Treat Your Donor Like a Michelin Three-Star Guest 35:39 Selling With Integrity: Talk 10%, Listen 90% 39:15 16,000 Applicants for 36 Jobs: What Scott Looks For 43:12 The Power of Vulnerability in Hiring 45:39 Inside the Nashville Experience Lab 50:34 The Champagne Question: A Billion-Dollar Vision 52:10 The 11-Year-Old Who Raised $10,000 Door-to-Door 54:25 EOPC  

Making Space, Simplicity and Generosity: Matt Metzger | June 14, 2026

Ears To Hear // Filthy Rich: From Etortion To Generosity (Pt.4) | Jared Douglas

Episode Notes Grace

Generosity is about discipleship, not finances, and is rooted in trusting Father God, who gave everything first. Drawing on 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 and 2 Peter 1:4, this message in the BECOMING series calls us to live with open hands and hearts in our finances, time, relationships, and forgiveness, reflecting the Father's abundant nature.

Generosity is about discipleship, not finances, and is rooted in trusting Father God, who gave everything first. Drawing on 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 and 2 Peter 1:4, this message in the BECOMING series calls us to live with open hands and hearts in our finances, time, relationships, and forgiveness, reflecting the Father's abundant nature.

Main Point: 2 Corinthians 8:1–9 reveals three lessons in gospel generosity that call us to grow in the grace of God and reflect the generosity of Christ toward those in need.

Over the past several weeks, we've been talking about finances and how a biblical perspective shapes our approach for the better. We've explored how true happiness is not found in the pursuit of "more," but in the intentional management of what God has provided as we shift toward radical generosity. We've also touched on how tithing demonstrates unwavering trust, moving our relationship with God from words to concrete action. This week, we end our series by showing that contentment is not a commodity to be acquired but a harvest reaped through intentional stewardship. Pastor Ken reminds us that happiness isn't something we get, but the result of how we live. Wanting more money doesn't lead to satisfaction; it's about how we manage what we have. Jesus warned we can't serve both God and our desires. Letting desire rule leads to discontent and debt. For lasting peace, we should track our resources, plan ahead, save, eliminate debt, and give generously. Generosity reflects God's character, is worship, and brings blessing.

A Study of Romans 12: 13

What if the most radical thing you could do this week isn't posting on social media or volunteering more hours, but simply opening your wallet? Pastor Rob takes us on a journey through Scripture, revealing that from the very beginning—before any law demanded it—people like Abel, Noah, and Abraham gave generously to God out of pure overflow, not obligation. Their hearts were so overwhelmed by God's goodness that generosity wasn't a duty but a natural response. Rob challenges our modern misconceptions about tithing, showing how Old Testament believers actually gave 23% annually through three different tithes, yet even this pales compared to what Jesus calls us to today. The widow's two coins and Zacchaeus's radical generosity demonstrate that our standard isn't the tithe—it's the cross. When we truly grasp what Christ sacrificed for us, percentage-based giving becomes laughably small. "The standard of giving in the Old Testament was the tithe; our standard is the cross."

SummaryIn this episode, Ashwini Balasubramanian shares her inspiring journey of embracing change, leadership, and advocating for women in the workforce. She discusses her career, her book 'Map Your Ascent,' and practical frameworks for personal and professional growth. Key TopicsEmbracing change and growth mindsetThe 3P framework: Personality, Perspective, PresenceWomen in automotive industry and leadershipThe importance of visibility versus advocacyStrategies for career advancement and influenceThe role of generosity and giving backOvercoming challenges related to motherhood and careerThe story behind the book 'Map Your Ascent'The importance of intentional career planningBuilding a supportive community for women in industry TakeawaysEmbrace change as a catalyst for growth rather than a threat.Understand your wiring and belief systems to navigate change effectively.Build your influence through generosity and authentic impact.Visibility without advocacy is not enough for career progression.Map your career with clear goals and opportunity filters.Leverage your unique wiring to find belonging and thrive in new environments.Women should lean on their village and ask for help without guilt.Create a supportive community to empower women in industry.Your best advocate is yourself—own your career journey.The right mindset and intentional planning can unlock your leadership potential.Chapters00:00 Embracing Change: A Journey of Growth13:54 Building a Supportive Community for Women27:51 Navigating Career Challenges as Women42:10 The Role of Generosity in Leadership23:15 Thriving Through Change24:41 The Journey to Authorship27:25 Understanding the 3P Framework30:51 Building Presence and Impact37:48 Advice for Early Career WomenLinks and ResourcesMap Your Ascent: Embracing Change as Your Leadership JourneyAshwini Balasubramanian on LinkedInAutomotive Women's Alliance Foundation No Woman Left BehindThe Articulation GapFree Impact Clarity AI Tool

(Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center) Drawing in the Buddhist teaching of dependent co-arising, this talk explores what it means to belong to a living world

What happens when a young couple has to shift from talking about dream dates, honeymoons and wedding bells, to discussing bills and bank accounts? In this transparent and real-life talk, Gaby Alessi Calatayud and her husband Christian share their experience of learning to manage their finances together—without losing their unity or peace of mind. They share why they are doing their best to learn wise strategies from the beginning - from balancing individual spending habits and setting up budgets to tackling debt and resisting the pressure to “look rich” on social media.You'll hear honest reflections on learning to merge money personalities, create open communication about spending, and keep generosity and teamwork at the core - no matter how long (or shortly) you've been married. With actionable advice and plenty of relatable moments, discover how putting trust, grace, and shared goals above the numbers on your bank account can transform how you handle money—and your marriage.If you enjoyed this episode, here's another great TFB episode on managing money and family! Money Matters S4 E10Support the showJOIN THE FAMILY BUSINESS WITH OUR NEWSLETTERSign Up for Our Family Business Newsletter and get more inside news from the Alessis + tips and strategies for a happier family! Get free access to the newsletterTEXT THE FAMILY BUSINESS DIRECTLYYou can connect with us via text to ask family questions and get updates on The Family Business! Text FAMILY to 302-524-0800CONNECT WITH THE FAMILY BUSINESSFollow Us on Instagram and FacebookSubscribe on YouTubeLeave a reviewMORE PODCASTS YOU'LL ENJOYListen to the Alessi sisters' daily devotional podcast My Morning DevotionalFollow Our New Podcast with Mary Alessi and her twin sister Martha MunizziWatch The Mary and Martha Show

Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick, knows there's no such thing as a free lunch. And the best way to keep the people on your side is through their stomachs.  It's a lesson King Edward IV has yet to learn. After marrying for love, and starting a diplomatic thaw with Europe, Edward soon finds out that there's really only one task that matters: keeping his most powerful subject loyal.  So the young king allows a raid on a Hanseatic League storehouse on Warwick's behalf, he moves his entire court to Coventry just to coax Warwick to a council meeting, and then stages a grand ceremony at Windsor Castle to project unity. None of it works. Warwick takes every gift and offers nothing in return.  Generosity can be its own kind of trap door. The question is whether the king will recognise it before he's swallowed whole… – As always, Dan's royal favourites can chime in anytime on the royal court on Patreon at patreon.com/thisishistory. And don't forget to listen to this season's accompanying bonus episodes for this miniseries, where Dan and Producer Al trace how the Earl of Warwick was able to attain power that rivalled that of the king's. Plus, Dan gets stuck into how the restive Northern counties provides Warwick with a vulnerability to exploit.  – A Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts  To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com  Learn more about your ad choices.  Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  –– Presented by Dan Jones  Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Executive Producer - Louisa Field  Executive Producer - Dan Jones Production Manager - Jen Mistri  Production Coordinator - Eric Ryan  Head of Content - Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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After nearly taking his own life during a difficult transition from the military, retired Green Beret Scott Mann discovered an unexpected path to healing: telling the stories he most wanted to hide. In this conversation, Scott shares lessons from combat, leading Operation Pineapple Express (rescued 1,000 Afghanis from the Taliban), and his new book, The Generosity of Scars, showing us how our hardest moments can help others feel less alone—and why the stories we're most afraid to tell may be the ones the world most needs to hear.Buy The Generosity of Scars here Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After nearly taking his own life during a difficult transition from the military, retired Green Beret Scott Mann discovered an unexpected path to healing: telling the stories he most wanted to hide. In this conversation, Scott shares lessons from combat, leading Operation Pineapple Express (rescued 1,000 Afghanis from the Taliban), and his new book, The Generosity of Scars, showing us how our hardest moments can help others feel less alone—and why the stories we're most afraid to tell may be the ones the world most needs to hear.Buy The Generosity of Scars hereSupport the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BONUS: Why a Former Chess Champion Thinks Your Leadership Is Stuck in the Opening Game John Whitt spent 30 years managing billion-dollar construction portfolios in corporate America — sleeping five or six nights a week in hotel beds, traveling the country, winning at someone else's game. Then he walked away. In this episode, he breaks down what chess taught him about business phases, why generosity outperforms hustle in the long run, and how the "pause factor" keeps leaders from burning out while scaling their impact. From Corporate Construction to Coaching — The Move That Changed Everything "I spent 5, sometimes 6 nights a week, sleeping in a hotel bed, traveling around the country, and it really wasn't good for my sanity, it wasn't good for my family. And then the company decided to move from Southern California to Dallas, and so that was like the — I'm not going to Dallas move, and it's time to start something else."   John's corporate career was successful by every external measure — managing $500 million construction portfolios at companies like CB Richard Ellis. But the lifestyle was hollowing him out. He'd been thinking about leaving for a while when the relocation to Dallas forced his hand. Through behavioral assessment work, he discovered coaching was where his strengths naturally pointed — it had been his primary leadership style all along. In 2010, he invested in a Focal Point coaching franchise, which gave him the tools and training without having to reinvent the wheel. Combined with 30 years of corporate relationships, it was enough to launch. His reflection on the transition is simple: "The cool thing about coaching is that we're just helping people." The Chess Game of Business — Opening, Middle, and End "The way the chess game is played at the higher levels has influenced my way of thinking essentially for the rest of my life. The opening is where you're getting started — startup business, takes a lot of hustle, a lot of energy. But then the transition happens to the middle game, where you have to think a lot more strategically, and tactically with the right move in the right order, because the wrong order will not get you the results you're looking for."   John played in the United States Chess Championships in 1976, and the framework stuck. He maps business growth to three chess phases: the opening (startup hustle, high energy, you do everything), the middle game (strategic delegation, building systems, hiring people with an ownership mindset), and the end game (transitioning assets and resources to serve the life you actually want). The danger zone is the opening-to-middle transition. Founders and leaders get trapped being the go-to person for everything — solving everyone else's problems during business hours and doing their own work after hours and on weekends. The middle game demands a different skill: learning to operate on the business instead of always in it. And it can't happen overnight — you have to prioritize what to change, in what order, or it gets jumbled up. Accomplishing Goals Through Others — The Magic of Discretionary Effort "The magic is accomplishing goals through other people, because when you do that, you're going to do big things. As an individual, you can only do so much. There's only so many hours in a day."   John keeps coming back to one idea: if you're doing it all yourself, your impact is capped at 24 hours. The real unlock is getting other people to give their discretionary effort — that extra gear where someone stays 20 minutes longer because they care, or thinks about the project at home because they're genuinely excited. Discretionary effort isn't something you can demand. It comes from inspiration. John frames it through WIIFM — "What's In It For Me?" — everybody's favorite radio station. Leaders who skip that question get compliance. Leaders who answer it get mountains moved.   The flip side is equally important: many leaders have never been on a high-performing team, so they don't know what they're missing. They accept compliance as normal. Others are smart and capable but lack the relationship skills to inspire. John's point is clear: leadership through inspiration is a learnable skill, not an innate trait. Generosity as Strategy — Time, Talent, and Treasure "Generosity always — I mean, this is unequivocal — always gives you better long-term results. If you plan to be generous, if you say this is who I am and I will do the work that's necessary to be generous, then you will always get better long-term results."   John's 4-Facet LifeShine Generosity Process puts generosity at the center of leadership — an unusual move in a world that defaults to performance metrics and execution frameworks. His argument is that generosity isn't soft. It's strategic. The framework starts with unique identity (who are you?), then moves through three dimensions: time, talent, and treasure. Most people think generosity means writing a check. John says time and talent are far more powerful. A leader who invests the time to communicate vision and inspire the team is being generous — and that generosity compounds into better team performance, stronger relationships, and less burnout over time.   The risk, though, is over-giving. Agile coaches and scrum masters who tie their identity to the work are especially vulnerable — they give so generously at work that they burn out when results don't match expectations. That's where the plan matters: define the life you want, build the business or career to serve that life, and stay disciplined about boundaries. The Pause Factor — How Leaders Protect Their Thinking "You gotta learn to say pause. That's a great idea, I understand what you're saying, we need to spend a little more time on that — so let me schedule some time later. Because right now, if I spend all that time, it's not going to get my best thinking, it's not going to get my best response."   People bring problems to leaders constantly — personal problems, business problems, urgent and not-urgent mixed together. The instinct is to solve immediately. John teaches leaders the "pause factor": acknowledge the importance of what someone brings you, then schedule dedicated time to address it properly. This isn't avoidance — it's quality control for your own thinking. When you're distracted and rushed, you give worse answers. When you pause, you also create space to ask: is this mine to solve, or does it belong to someone on my team?   John extends this to how teams bring problems: train people to come with clarity — here's the problem, here's the challenge, here's some potential solutions. That way the leader can triage effectively in a short time instead of getting pulled into an unstructured conversation that eats an hour. About John Whitt John Whitt is a leadership strategist with 30+ years of business transformation experience, from managing $500 million construction portfolios at companies like CB Richard Ellis to coaching small business owners. He's the author of Checkmate!: Winning Tactics for Translating Ideas Into Money and creator of the Whole Life Leadership experience.   You can link with John Whitt on LinkedIn.  

When Melanie began having regular headaches, her doctors discovered she had a benign tumor in her pituitary gland. The tumor was about the size of a plum and was surgically removed in 2003 and again in 2006 when it recurred. Then in 2017, when it came back a third time, Melanie underwent radiation treatment instead, which caused her to lose her hair. Her twenty-seven-year-old son, Matt, decided to grow out his own hair to make a wig for her. Matt’s selfless, loving act illustrates how one person’s abilities and resources can supply the needs of another person or group. Paul highlights the beauty of such reciprocal generosity in his letter to the Philippians. The believers in Philippi had shared in his “troubles” and “sent . . . aid more than once when [he] was in need” (Philippians 4:14, 16). Having received their gifts, Paul recognized that God had provided amply for his needs. Our willingness to share with one another is often the conduit of God’s provision in our lives. Sometimes we’re in a position to give of our time, talent, or treasure; other times we’re in need ourselves and must rely on the support of another. Through His Spirit working in us, our gifts are “pleasing to God” and a manifestation of our shared life in the Body (v. 18).

Generosity sounds great in theory, but when it comes down to practicing it, there can be tension. Vacations, home projects, dinners out…all SO tempting. But James reminds us of what’s important—helping people in need. On our own, we may not be able to do much, but together, we can do a lot.