Podcasts about give god

What do you do when God surprises you with a direction you never planned to take? Rhya and Hannah thought they were heading to a college event. Instead, they found themselves at Decision Point's Student Leader Conference, where God stirred a desire to share the gospel and reach their schools. They join Mark Hopson to talk about stepping into the unexpected, working through shyness and self-doubt, and taking practical steps toward starting Christian clubs in their communities. Their story is a reminder that God's plans are always better than ours, and all we have to do is walk in obedience.Save the Date! Give God's Word Day is coming up on October 21st. The goal is for 100,000 "Jesus Changes Everything" gospel booklets (link above) to be given out that day to people who need it.Visit ⁠⁠https://shop.decisionpoint.org/ to order gospel booklets. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

How can pastors help people develop lasting relationships, grow spiritually, and stay committed to their church?Josh Roberie welcomes Pastor Ben Murray of City Hope Church in Wichita Falls, Texas, for a practical conversation about building community and commitment through intentional discipleship.Drawing from his book, Give God a Year, Ben shares how his church helps new believers understand what comes next and invites people into a year of growing in faith. They discuss strengthening small groups, developing consistent habits of Scripture reading and prayer, and helping people put their faith into practice.Ben also shares what his recent sabbatical taught him about a sustainable pace and why friendships with other pastors matter for longevity in ministry.Listen for ideas you can bring into your new believer follow-up, small group ministry, and discipleship pathway.IN THIS EPISODE00:00 The Gap Between Belief and Practice02:59 The Journey of Faithfulness05:45 The Challenge of Giving God a Year09:05 Understanding Works vs. Discipleship11:49 The Importance of Community14:58 Establishing Daily Rhythms17:50 Encouragement for Pastors20:50 Conclusion and ResourcesLINKS & RESOURCESGet Give God a Year:https://givegodayear.org/Ask about bulk book orders:Ben@CityHopeFamily.comConnect with Ben:https://www.instagram.com/cityhopeben/Explore our free church leadership resources:https://www.buildthe.church/resources/free-resourcesThis episode is brought to you by YourTeam.Church, helping volunteers understand their personality and connect with a team where they can serve with purpose.https://yourteam.church/Follow Build the Church for weekly conversations that help you gain momentum, grow your church, and go the distance in ministry. Share this episode with a pastor you're doing ministry alongside.Support the show

Romans 8:28 is universally esteemed by Christians. Yet, it is one of the grittiest verses in the Bible. It reminds us that God works all things together for good, even the circumstances that leave us saying "How can any good come from this?” Romans 8:28 is easy to love until something difficult happens to us. But if we will believe its truth taken to its greatest extremes, we will have an unshakeable endurance in our faith. May we have the perspective of Joseph when he spoke to the brothers who'd sold him into slavery: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Gen. 50:20) Take-Home Message: All things work together for good.And we knowThat for those who love GodHow do I know that I love God?I obey God.I love God with my whole being.I love others.All things work together for goodApplying “All Things Work Together for Good”Don't put God in a box.Give God time to work it out.Have a biblical perspective of “good.”For those who are called according to his purpose

Bottom Line: Don't focus on what you don't have. Give God what you do have and trust Him for what you don't.God is not limited by what we lack; He works through what we surrender.

9/20/2026 - Sun AM

Give God the First 6 Minutes and He'll Handle the Rest | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day SUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast! For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit: https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org © Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ SHOP FOR MERCH:https://bit.ly/shop-dep-podcast CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebookTikTok Daily Effective Prayer™

On today's episode, Joann and Isaac sit down with Mark to talk about how to make the most of the school year ahead. They talk about their experience pursuing the goal of sharing the gospel with every graduating senior, including the challenges they faced along the way and how God provided opportunities to keep moving forward.Save the Date! Give God's Word Day is coming up on October 21st. The goal is for 100,000 "Jesus Changes Everything" gospel booklets (link above) to be given out that day to people who need it.Visit ⁠⁠https://shop.decisionpoint.org/ to order gospel booklets.__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

God has not called us to sit on the sidelines. There are battles we are called to face, moments where we have to choose obedience over comfort and faith over fear. You may be facing a battle, but you are not facing it alone. "God has equipped you, strengthened you, and called you for such a time as this." Don't run from the battle God has prepared you to face. **Stand your ground. Step up. Give God your best. Join us Sundays at 9AM or 11AM! Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more messages on faith, discipleship, and following Jesus in everyday life.—If you accepted Christ, we'd love to meet you. Click the link below and introduce yourself to us so we can help you along your journey of faith!https://www.skybreakchurch.com/salvation/

God has not called us to sit on the sidelines. There are battles we are called to face, moments where we have to choose obedience over comfort and faith over fear. You may be facing a battle, but you are not facing it alone. "God has equipped you, strengthened you, and called you for such a time as this." Don't run from the battle God has prepared you to face. **Stand your ground. Step up. Give God your best. Join us Sundays at 9AM or 11AM! Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more messages on faith, discipleship, and following Jesus in everyday life.—If you accepted Christ, we'd love to meet you. Click the link below and introduce yourself to us so we can help you along your journey of faith!https://www.skybreakchurch.com/salvation/

Introduction: To Support the Church, Each of You Give Something (1 Corinthians 16:1-4) To SUPPORT THE CHURCH , each of you give something. (1 Cor 16:1-4) To support the church, EACH OF YOU give something . (1 Cor 16:2) To support the church, each of you GIVE SOMETHING . (1 Cor 16:2) Give Something. You Have to Consider: Am I giving INTENTIONALLY ? Am I giving PROPORTIONALLY ? Am I giving EXPECTANTLY ? Luke 6:38 - give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Unified and Purified: Giving an Offering Jeff Miller Download Audio Transcript 00:05Let's open up your Bibles to the passage that Max just read. 1 Corinthians chapter 16. While you're turning there, let's just pause for a moment and I'm going to ask that you would please pray for me to communicate God's Word clearly and accurately as I should. And I will pray for you to have a heart open to receive what it is the Lord is teaching us in our passage today. Let's pray.00:34Our Father in Heaven, as Bob said just a few moments ago, this is Your book. We believe that You wrote this book. And I pray that we would give it the attention and the obedience and just the high regard that it deserves because it is Your communication to us.01:04We believe that, Father, and we believe that it is through Your Word and Your Spirit working together in our hearts that transformation happens. I pray, God, that today would be a day of transformation. To Your glory and honor, we pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and all of God's people said, Amen.01:351 Corinthians chapter 16.01:36Are you there?01:39Last week when I was preaching, I had a suit jacket on.01:47And right in the middle of the sermon, the top button just broke off.01:54Nothing makes you feel more like a fatty McButter pants than your button bursting right in the middle of just talking.02:04No jacket today.02:08You know, I was sharing this with Pastor Taylor, and he seemed genuinely surprised when I told him that I was able to sew the button back on.02:18I'll probably have to use reinforced thread or something stretchy.02:23But I think he was genuinely surprised that I was able to sew the button back on.02:28It's not complicated, right?02:31It's not complicated.02:34At our house, we have a hyperbaric chamber.02:39It's one of the portable deals.02:40Just imagine like a seven-foot-long, like indestructible balloon.02:45It's a pressurized chamber that you get inside.02:49And the whole deal works because it has these valves, right?02:53And the valves know when to kick on to regulate the pressure.02:57Well, years ago, one of the valves broke. And I called the company and I said, I need to get new valves. And they took my order and they said they're going to send them out. And I said, well, I don't know how to put the valves on. And the guy on the phone talked to me like I was an idiot. He goes, you just take the old ones off and you put the new ones on. And I'm like, Look, I'm a pastor. I went to Bible college because it was just one book that you needed to buy. I am not a hyperbaric chamber repair technician. They did not cover that in Bible college. I don't know how to do this. I'm like stressing. I told the guy, I'm like, I don't know how to do this. Like, what kind of tools I need. I mean, my parents were both bankers. I didn't come from a long line of, hyperbaric chamber repair people. Like, I don't know how to do this. And he goes, you just take the old ones off. You put the new ones on. He goes, we'll send them out. And if you need help, just give us a call. And I got to tell you, I was so stressed about this. Like, I don't know how to do this. Do you know how to do this? Like, who do I even call? Who do I call? Who do I call? I didn't know Krauss at the time. I mean, does he have experience? Who do I call? I was so stressing about this. And I got the valves in the and I grabbed a bunch of tools and I went down and when I took the valves out of the box they were just threaded at the end. And I said no it can't be. And I took the old ones and unscrewed it off and I screwed the new one. It was almost, almost, almost as hard as changing a light bulb.04:57It wasn't complicated.05:00The button on my jacket.05:02The valve.05:04Important stuff.05:05Not denying.05:05Important stuff.05:06It's not complicated.05:08It's not complicated.05:10And today, we're going to talk about how to give in the church.05:18And I've got to tell you, I spent a lot of time studying this passage this week.05:24And here's the conclusion I think we'll all come up with after we study it together.05:29When it comes to giving, it's not complicated.05:34Now, this message, it's about giving.05:37Okay, this isn't a guilt trip.05:39We're not in crisis as a church.05:41Pastor Rich is going to give us an update later.05:45Why are we talking about giving?05:46Because we go straight through the text.05:48We go where the text goes, right?05:50That's what we do.05:51And that is the subject of this passage.05:53We get to the end of 1 Corinthians. We've been going through this. We had the resurrection chapter, chapter 15. And now when we get to the home stretch here, chapter 16, over the next few weeks, Pastor Taylor and I are going to be looking at, it's just some business items. Paul's closing up the letter because we have a few items of business we've got to discuss. All right? First up, look at verse 1. He says, Now concerning. That's a key phrase in 1 Corinthians. I don't know if you noticed that. Chapter 7, chapter 8, chapter 12. Paul keeps using that phrase, and it seems like when he uses that phrase, he's addressing their questions. Right? Like, you ask me some questions, and I'm answering them.06:48Okay, now concerning this. Okay, now concerning this. And apparently, they had asked about giving. And he's like, all right, here's how to give. And if you were with us last week, the last few weeks, you might think, wow, giving? Like, that's kind of a hard left turn from talking about the resurrection, right? I mean, there was no smooth transition there.07:18That's a really hard turn from talking about something as lofty as resurrection. And I would say, not really. Because if you understand eternity and all the promises that God has for you, that should motivate how we give now. And I have to say this. He's talking about this collection and how he instructed the churches of Galatia.07:47In Paul's day, poverty was a real issue. Okay? It's not an issue for us here today. In this country, in this area, there is not a poor person among you. All right? But Paul was collecting from the churches over a year.08:17to take to the poor Christians in Jerusalem. There were people in Jerusalem that were destitute. Some Christians that were poor. So Paul was taking this collection for them, and that's what he's talking about here. This is how to give. This is how to give, and it's not complicated. All right? So on the top of your outline, here's your heading. To support the church, Each of you give something. To support the church, each of you give something. Okay? Point number one, jot this down. To support the church, each of you give something. Look again at verse one. It's not complicated. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatians, so you also are to do. All right? For the saints. Giving is for the Now listen, be clear. We're not saying you never give outside of the church. We're not saying that. We're not saying that you don't give to a person you see in need, like the story of the Good Samaritan that Jesus told. We're not saying that. The point is just simply this. The church should fund its own needs. That's all. The church should be taking care of its own people.09:45The people of God give to the work of God. You're like, for what? Well, we talked about this back in 1 Corinthians 9, paying the ministers to support those who are in need in our church, to pay bills here. Everything from Bibles to snacks for the littles back there to the AV equipment to all of it. The people of God give to the work of God.10:15The money that's given should support the church. And Paul says, this is what I directed to churches in Galatia. This isn't just a Corinth thing. It's actually been a practice since the very beginning. Read the book of Acts. Read Acts chapters 2, 3, 4, 5. You see it's the pattern. The people of God give to the work of God. Like, alright, it's not complicated. What's it look like? Well, look at verse 2. He says, On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up as he may prosper so that there will be no collecting when I come. First day of every week. What's he saying? He's saying when you come to church on Sunday to worship, part of worship is giving.11:14That's just part of worship. We sing, we pray, we fellowship, we're in the Word. Part of worship is giving. He says, so there's no collecting when I come. I think that's kind of funny. Paul knew the Corinthians. They didn't exactly have their act together, right? Have you been with us on this study? So there'd be no collecting when I come. Paul was already like ahead of it, right? That he was already anticipating the possibility that like he was going to show up. He goes, okay, do you have that collection? Like, was that today? Like, let's hurry up and scramble and gather stuff up. And he goes, no, no, no, no, no. You should already be doing this. All right? You should already be doing this. But why give every week? Why should we give every week? Why not just once a year? Why not just once every quarter? Why do Why does Paul instruct very clearly on the first day of the week? Why do we do it weekly? It's about being consistent. It's an act of faith that should be done regularly. As God gives to me, I thank God by giving back to Him. And right now some of you might be like, well actually Pastor Jeff, I get paid monthly.12:43I only get paid every two weeks. Look, we're not being legalistic here, okay? We're not being legalistic. It's not complicated. Give as God gives to you. Giving should be a constant practice. Like, why? Why should it be a constant practice? Why should it be on the regular? Because that's the very nature of faith itself. It's an act of faith. It's an act of And the nature of faith is constant practice and expression. Here's what I mean. The gospel of Jesus Christ is, you know, we're all born sinners, rebellious against God. And we deserve His judgment, but God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins, to raise from the dead so that we could have eternal life.13:43and believe and receive his gift of grace in Jesus Christ.13:50That's the gospel.13:52And if I were talking to you and you said, I put my faith in Jesus Christ, and I said, when did you do that?14:00You say, 1995.14:05I'm like, hey, me too.14:06That's when I received Christ, 95.14:10But then my follow-up question is, okay.14:13Your faith in Jesus, you put your faith in Jesus in 95. Was that just a one-time thing? Was that 31 years ago? Was that a one-time thing you put your faith in Jesus? What about today? Did you put your faith in Jesus today? What about next week? Are you going to put your faith in Jesus next week? You're like, well, I guess when I put I'm always putting my faith in Jesus. 95 was just the beginning of that, you see? And the point is, it's the same with giving. It's the same with giving. If you're like, I thank God with what He gave me by giving back to Him. And I'm like, when do you do that? And you're like, well, I did it in 1995. I'm like, oh? Well, Did you just do it once back then and that's it? You're done giving? What about today? Are you thankful today? What about next week? Do you anticipate that you were going to be thankful for God's provision next week? You're like, well, I imagine I'm going to be thankful for God's provision always. Yeah, and that's why giving is a constant practice. We are constantly expressing thanks and trust by giving.15:42And part of that faith in giving is trusting the leaders. Look at verses 3 and 4. Paul says, When I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. Keep in mind they didn't, like, wire the money back then, all right? They had to have people, like, carry the money. Paul says, I'll send them.16:11Or, verse 4, he says, if it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. We give to the church to support the church and the leaders distribute the money. That's the way it works. Why? Why do we give to the church and ask the leaders to distribute the money? Because the just objective truth is this. The leaders are better equipped to know what the needs are. That's it.16:43Do you know what all the needs are of the church? Do you know what our budget looks like? Do you know when it comes to missions and staffing and supplies for the kids? Are you in the know on all that where our leaders are? That's why when you bring the offering, the leaders distribute that. Oh, so if you're one of the leaders here, this is a good place to remind you you better be trustworthy because you have people here that are giving money to God, but they're trusting you.17:11to be faithful to use it appropriately.17:16So, it's not complicated.17:20To support the church, each of you give something.17:26Alright?17:28Point number two.17:29Write this down.17:31To support the church, each of you give something.17:39Look again at verse two.17:42I want you to see this. He says, on the first day of every week, what's the next phrase? Say it loud. Come on, say it.17:52Each of you. Is that in your Bible?17:55That's in my Bible. I think your Bible says the same thing that my Bible says.17:59On the first day of the week, each of you.18:03Each of you.18:05You know what that means in the Greek?18:08It means every Every one of us, Andrew. Every one of us. That's what that means. Every one of us can give something. Every one of us can. Now look, I want to remind you, I don't know who gives what in this church. I don't know. I get a bottom line of the numbers. I don't know who gives what. Why? Why don't I know that? It's a conviction.18:39to help me avoid favoritism. So I don't cater to the people who are financially supporting the church. I don't know who gives what. But if you are one of those faithful givers of our church, and there are many of you here, if you are faithfully supporting this ministry, the missions we support, if that is one of you, you know, if that's you, I just want to sincerely say thank you for your generosity. But giving, is for people who call Harvest Bible Chapel their home. Okay, if you're a guest here today, you're not obligated to give. We're not expecting you to give. If you want to, whatever, that's between you and the Lord. You're not expected if you're a guest, but if you're a member, if this is your home, you are expected. You are commanded. Who's commanded? Each of you. Each of you.19:39But you know I hear it all the time. Because we can say, it's not complicated. Each of you, put something aside. But people are so quick to excuse themselves. And I've heard this so many times. People say, well, Pastor Jeff, if I had more, I'd give more. Have you ever heard that? Oh, if I had more, I'd give more. And I would lovingly respond to that.20:09No, you wouldn't.20:13If you had more, you would not give more.20:19Get this idea out of your head that having more means I'm going to be faithful because did you know the opposite is actually true?20:29The opposite is true.20:30I can prove that very easily.20:33Let's just, we're going to talk about tithing in a minute.20:35Let's just talk about a 10% tithe.20:41If you had a dollar, let's say that's all you have to your name.20:44You have one dollar. Would you give God a dime?20:49Would you give God a dime?20:51And some of you are like, I think I'd give God a dime if I had a dollar.20:56If you had $100, would you give God $10?21:03$10.21:06Yeah. Yeah. Harder than a dime though, isn't it? Let me ask you this. If you had $10,000, would you give God $1,000? Like, whoa, whoa, $1,000? Give God $1,000? It's the same. It's 10%. It's exact same. But do you see how the higher you get in dollar amount, it gets harder? Listen to me very closely.21:35Having more money will not suddenly make you a generous person because generosity is a hard thing. Faithfulness is never about dollar amount. It's about character. And here's what I mean. If you really believe God's Word commands you to give and He rewards you when you do, if you really believe that, you're going to give no matter what you have. You're going to give. Because that's who you are. And if you don't really believe, then you won't give. If you have a little, or if you have a lot, you won't give because that's who you are. And I want to encourage the parents here, Train your children now. Parents, you need to train your children now.22:44Because a child, a little child who gives to God a portion of his allowance is going to become a teenager who's going to give to God a portion of his part-time job earnings.22:57and he is going to become an adult who gives to God because he's been discipled to faithfully obey God's word when it comes to giving. It has to start now. You have to teach your kids now. Everything's God's. Everything that you have, it was God's. And you're just giving back to him as a way of saying, thank you and I trust you for the rest. Teach your kids that now. So to support the church, each of you, Give something.23:30It's not complicated.23:33And our last point.23:35Number three.23:36Write this down.23:37To support the church.23:40Each of you.23:41Give something.23:44This is where it gets complicated.23:48Give.23:49Something.23:53But it gets complicated.23:54Because you say.23:54Alright.23:55Give something.23:56So is that a tithe? Is that 10%? Do I give 10%? Is that a tithe? And when I give 10%, do I tithe on my gross income? Or do I just tithe on the net income? Or do I just tithe on that? What if tithe is 10%. Literally, that's what the word is. But today, we use the word generically. It's a term incorrectly slapped on all giving no matter the amount. Some people give like 1%. They're like, I tithe. No, that's mathematically not a tithe. That's what a tithe of a tithe, right? This idea of tithing comes from the Old Testament law, but Many people don't understand how it really worked for Israel. Did you know in Israel there were three tithes? Did you know that? There were three tithes. Numbers 18 says the first tithe was for the Levites. It was to pay the priests. The second tithe, Deuteronomy 14, was for the annual festivals. And then every three years, according to Deuteronomy 26, every three years there was another tithe, a third tithe taken.25:26that was to support the poor. So that means annually Israel was tithing 23 and a third percent. And I want you to understand this. Listen very closely. Israel, Old Testament Israel, was obligated to tithe. It was required giving in order to support their government. So you have to see the Old Testament Israel tithe.25:56It was the equivalent of us today paying our taxes. It's what kept the government going. That was how God designed it. But Old Testament giving went beyond the tithe. There was free will giving on top of the tithe. That's 1 Chronicles 29. That's Deuteronomy 16. That's Exodus 35. So free will giving had nothing to do with the tithe because they had to pay that just like you were supposed to pay your taxes.26:27And you're like, whatever. The question is, is tithing for today? And I would answer it this way. The Bible says the Old Testament law is the tutor. The Old Testament law is to teach us the ways of God. And tithing is the tutor for the subject of giving. There is value in the principles of tithing. Here's what I mean. We're so quick to dismiss Old Testament things that we don't think about the value that the Lord is teaching us through that. Like, for example, the Sabbath. As New Testament Christians, are we obligated, required to keep the Sabbath? No. But is it a good idea to set a day aside to rest? Isn't that still a good idea?27:25Well, yeah. And tithing is sort of the same thing. Even though we're not obligated to tithe as they were in the Old Testament, isn't it still a good idea to put a percentage aside to give back to God? Okay, this is where it gets complicated because you're like, all right, all right, all right, whatever. Just tell me, Pastor Jeff, just tell me, How much should I give? Is there a dollar amount? Is there a percentage? How much should I give? It's right here in the text. You ready? Look at it again. Each of you is to, what's your Bible say? I'm going to give you another run at that, verse 2. I'll even start at the beginning, and then I want everybody to say it together.28:24is to say it.28:29I'm just going to tell you.28:32How much should I give?28:35Give something.28:41Put something aside.28:44So here's the answer.28:45Are you ready for this?28:46Are you ready for this?28:47Because the TV preacher ain't going to tell you this.28:50But this is biblical.28:52Are you ready?28:53Give whatever you want to give. You give whatever you want to give. But give something. Maybe this isn't so complicated. Something. Something. So, I know, we need a little direction here. That's a little broad.29:22That's a little vague, right? I don't think so. Give something. But I do want to give you some things you have to consider. Right? Give whatever you want. That's what the Bible says, right? Give something. Whatever you want. But consider some things. Consider some things when you give. Letter A, am I giving intentionally? The first thing you have to consider is, am I, You have to ask yourself, am I giving intentionally? He says put something aside. Emphasis now on the word put. That's intentional. Put something aside. That's intentional giving. That makes us think of another beautiful Old Testament concept when it comes to giving. It's the concept of first fruits. Study your Old Testament. It's all through Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. It's all through Proverbs.30:22This idea, first fruits, when I get from God, when I get anything from God, the first thing I do is I give back to God the first and the best. That's the first thing I do. Thank you, God. I'm worshiping you with this, and I'm trusting that you're going to keep providing. Everything is yours, God. Everything is from you, so I'm going to give you the first and the best. So I would encourage you, when you get paid, You should give to God first. First fruits. God, I'm giving you first and best. Before you're paying your cell phone bill or your electric bill or whatever, your Netflix bill, whatever, the first thing you should do is give back to God. God, you've given me so much. Thank you for this. I'm giving back to you first. First fruits. First fruits tells us that giving, shouldn't be an afterthought, which it is for a lot of Christians. We pay all our bills, we buy all our toys, and then we're like, oh, do we have anything left over to give to God? That is so not first fruits. You have to be intentional, church. You have to be intentional. Last week we talked about time. This week we're talking about money. Do you know what time and money have in common?31:52If you're not deliberate in how you spend them, they're going to be gone, and you're going to wonder where it went.32:01True or false?32:06Am I giving intentionally?32:07Letter B, am I giving proportionately?32:10Look again.32:14He says, put something aside and store it up.32:18Talking about the church collecting.32:20But look at this next phrase.32:21as he may prosper. Am I giving proportionately? Give from what God has given you. Give from what God has given you. It's not complicated. God is not expecting you to give in proportion to what someone else makes. God isn't expecting me to give on the level like a professional athlete would be able to give. He's not expecting that from me because I don't make that kind of a salary.32:54And that's why I think tithing is a principle that gives you a great start. Gives you a great start. 10% of whatever it is that we make, that's a great start. You know why that's a great start? Because there's really only one way that you can't give 10% of what God's given you. There's only one way that it's impossible for you to give 10%. Do you know what that is? If you make zero.33:21Anybody make a zero paycheck? You're like, no, they direct deposit that into my account. Every two weeks, zero. Listen, if that's you, if you're making zero on your paycheck, please, I'm begging you to come and see me after service. We will get you help. But if you make anything north of zero, that means you have something to give. And what does God say? Give something.33:53Right? Give proportionately. Give according to how God's given you. And then number C. This is getting complicated. Letter C. Am I giving expectantly? Am I giving expectantly? You know there's promises attached to giving. I thought it was so interesting that in this passage, Paul doesn't mention the promise And I'm wondering if the Corinthians were still sort of getting all wiggy about this giving thing because Paul did talk about the blessings attached to giving in the sequel to 1 Corinthians, right?34:392 Corinthians.34:41He talks about it in 2 Corinthians 9.6 that there is a glorious promise attached to giving.34:48And it's the same promise that comes with sowing and reaping.34:52The more seed you sow, the bigger your harvest. That's how it is. Out in your field farmer, that's how it is in your garden. The more seed you sow, the bigger your harvest. And the Bible says, listen, the Bible says that's true with money. The more money you give God, the more money God gives you. That's just what the Bible says.35:21God sees that you're giving and you're faithful. And God's like, wow, look at her. She's giving it away. I'm going to make sure that she gets more because she's obviously got a heart to be generous. So I'm going to make sure she is well-funded. That's how God works. You're like, really? Yeah, really. Jesus talked about this. Look at Luke 6, verse 38. Jesus said, give and it will be given to you. Good measure. Press down. Shaken together.35:50running over will be put into your lap.35:56For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.36:03So if you're sitting here today and you're like, how much should I give? How much should I give?36:09How much do you want to return on?36:12If you're like, well, how generous should I be with God?36:18How generous do you want God to be with you?36:20because he said he's going to match you. Generosity for generosity. Give expectantly. You will never outgive God. To support the church, each of you, give something. Our worship team would make their way up. So, Follower of Christ. Member of the Harvest Bible Chapel family. What does the Bible say about giving? All of this was the introduction. Here's the sermon. You ready for it? Who said that? Who was that? Okay. Talking to you. Here's the sermon.37:20You ready? To support the church. Each of you. Give something. Let's pray. Father in heaven, we just thank you for the, just how clear your word is. It's baffling to me that people say that your word is so hard to understand. It's really not. You've communicated so clearly, and when we don't understand, It's a spiritual issue, not an intellectual one. Father, You've told us that we are, as a family, we are to support this ministry and the missions that are supported by this ministry. You've called us all to be a part of this. You've called us all to give something. And Father, You have so lavishly blessed every single one of us in this room and the people that will be at the next service and the people that watch the stream or listen to the podcast.38:19We are so abundantly blessed. Father, let us reflect a heart of gratitude and worship by giving to you as you move our hearts, Father. Let our worship not just be in song, not just be in service. You have called us to worship with what you give us. And you didn't have to promise us a return on anything. It's all yours.38:48You could demand that we give everything back and get nothing in return, but You have graciously, graciously given us the promise that You will match our generosity by giving back to us. Thank You, Father, for that grace, and give us the faith to believe that. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 16:1-4What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Why is giving to be done every week? Why not just save up and give once a year?What would you say to someone who says “I just don't have any money to give to the church.”?Is tithing a New Testament command? Why or why not? What does New Testament giving look like?BreakoutPray for one another.

For two weeks, we've been asking what it looks like to truly put God first. This week, Lead Pastor Ted Coniaris brings that question to a single moment: everyone receives a key, a physical reminder of the locked room each of us carries — the thing we've quietly decided is off-limits to God, not because it's shameful, but because it's precious to us.Rooted in Matthew 6:33, this short Hearts on Fire Sunday homily is an invitation, not a demand. Jesus doesn't negotiate the terms of what comes first, but he also doesn't force the door open — he simply loves, and waits. Listen in as Ted walks through what it means to finally hand over the key.Scripture: Matthew 6:33Subscribe to follow along with the full FIRST series.

This week, we bring our "FIRST" sermon series alongside a Worship Experience that we call "Hearts On Fire Sunday". As we move into this sacred space, we encourage you to start a Discipleship Conversation.

Abel offered to God a sacrifice in faith

Hear the message from Ps Ryan Rolls from our 10:30am service on Sunday September 6! We stream our services live every Sunday at 10:30am ET on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠so make sure you subscribe and get notifications to join us live.

What happens when we give God our yes? In Acts 8, Philip shows us that following Jesus often means being willing to go where God leads—even when we don't have all the details. When we make ourselves available to Him, God can use our simple obedience in ways we never expected. In Acts 8:26–40, we follow Philip as the Holy Spirit leads him to an Ethiopian official reading the prophet Isaiah. Philip meets him right where he is, opens the Scriptures, and shares the good news about Jesus. This passage reminds us that God is at work in the details, and our role is to listen, obey, and make ourselves available. Join us at Harvest Church in Arroyo Grande as we grow in God's Word, live in authentic community, and worship Jesus. Our Sunday services are at 9am & 11am. This Christian sermon is part of our verse-by-verse study through Acts, offering practical Bible teaching and expository preaching for those seeking to grow in faith and follow Jesus. For more information, visit harvestarroyogrande.com.

Give God One Year: Join a Small Group I Pastor Justin McNeil by City of Life Church

"He's not my type"Have you said this before? I sure have! I share advice from my own experience to help you meet the right person. The person you think is not your type may be the one for you all along. Give him a chance! What do you have to lose? Worst case, you never have to talk to him again, best case you marry him!Give God control and trust that he has the perfect person for you. Once I did this, everything changed! I give 4 pieces of advice to help you work through this concept. One may surprise you : )Join the Single Women Collective- an online community of women in a similar season. You don't have to go through this season alone. Free 7 day trialFollow me on instagram @nikki.housemanJoin my newsletter! I send out email with encouragement, advice, and discounts!

Continuing our series How to Build a Life, a walk through the book of Proverbs, Grant Clark applies the ancient wisdom of Proverbs to our relationships with modern technology. In a week dominated by news of Meta's $17.1 billion settlement over the addictive design of its platforms, Proverbs asks each of us a question: what kind of person are you becoming under the influence of these things? This message is not "screens and media are bad" - it asks what kind of people our technologies are forming us to become, and whether that is the kind of person Jesus is calling us to be.Grant opens with the prayer of James 1:5, asking God for wisdom - hikmah, skill in the art of godly living - and then turns to the cultural moment: Meta has agreed to pay $17.1 billion to nearly every state in the US over allegations that its platforms were designed to keep children and teenagers hooked while downplaying the risks. Ninety-five percent of teenagers use social media, a third say they are almost constantly online, and the average teen spends three and a half hours a day on these platforms - a threshold at which the US Surgeon General warns the risk of depression and anxiety roughly doubles. The reforms Meta has agreed to (daily time limits, overnight restrictions, fewer notifications, hidden likes) tell us something: technology is not neutral. It disciples us and forms us into a certain kind of person.The through line of the whole series returns: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23).Grant quotes James K.A. Smith: "What we do, does something to us."And again from Smith's book You Are What You Love: "…if the heart is like a compass… then we need to (regularly) calibrate our hearts, tuning them to be directed to the Creator, our magnetic north. It is crucial for us to recognize that our ultimate loves, longings, desires, and cravings are learned. And because love is a habit, our hearts are calibrated through imitating exemplars and being immersed in practices that, over time, index our hearts to a certain end. We learn to love, then, not primarily by acquiring information about what we should love but rather through practices that form the habits of how we love."Our devices and apps may be morally neutral, but their design is not. Johann Hari, in Stolen Focus: "It is not the smartphone in and of itself; it is the way the apps on the smartphone and the sites on our laptops are designed… the phones we have, and the programs that run on them, were deliberately designed by the smartest people in the world to maximally grab and maximally hold our attention."Grant then gives four lenses for examining our use of technology and media:1) Quality - Is my media diet making me spiritually healthy or sick?2) Quantity - Am I consuming too much media?3) Devotion - Is this helping me to love God more?4) Compassion - Is this helping me to love my neighbor?## Quality - Is my media diet making me spiritually healthy or sick?Paul gives us a grid to run our consumption through in Philippians 4:8: whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable - dwell on these things. What we dwell on, ruminate on, and give mental airtime to affects us, whether toward anxiety and envy or toward health.## Quantity - Am I consuming too much media?Expanding the series' earlier definition of gluttony to overconsumption of anything, Grant quotes Brett McCracken: "When every square inch of our lives is filled with content, we have no space for anything we consume to be processed into nutrition. If it's all just junk food we binge on—TikTok candies fed to us by AI developed in China; sugary Instagram candies dialed into our tastes by a behavioral psychologist on Mark Zuckerberg's payroll. We have no space in our lives to think, make connections, synthesize, discern, consider, weigh. We just consume." Jesus models the alternative in Mark 1:35, withdrawing early in the morning, away from people and inputs, to be still and undistracted with His Father.## Devotion - Is this helping me to love God more?Even things that are not sinful can hinder our devotion. Psalm 46:10 calls us to "be still and know that I am God" - and the Hebrew behind "be still" means relent, be lazy, leave it alone and wait. We cannot be still while multitasking. Intimacy requires exclusivity, with the people we love and with God.## Compassion - Is this helping me to love my neighbor?Grant quotes Andy Crouch's family commitment: "We use screens for a purpose, and we use them together, rather than using them aimlessly and alone." Left unexamined, our devices can cultivate envy, gossip, judgment, shame, and distraction from the people right in front of us.To cultivate deeper presence to Jesus and His people, Grant gives three practices:## 1. Give God your first attention each day.Bible before phone; wake up before your devices do. Tony Reinke writes: "I surveyed eight thousand Christians about social-media routines. More than half of the respondents (54 percent) admitted to checking a smartphone within minutes of waking. When asked whether they were more likely to check email and social media before or after spiritual disciplines on a typical morning, 73 percent said before."## 2. Use technology intentionally, not instinctively.Before you pick up your phone, ask what you are picking it up to do - then do it, and put it down. Andy Crouch, in The Tech-Wise Family: "The problem isn't with our devices themselves—it's with the way we use them. We simply have to turn off the easy fixes and make media something we use on purpose and rarely rather than aimlessly and frequently."## 3. People before pixels.When you are with someone, put the phone away. In 2026, our full attention and presence with the person in front of us is one of the most tangible forms of love we can show.## Wisdom for our households and familiesA recent Sam Altman tweet suggested using ChatGPT to generate a personalized podcast for your kids on the drive to school; the top reply asked, "What if you just talk to your children?" Two visions of family life: convenience and entertainment, or presence and engagement. Proverbs 22:6 calls parents to lead and protect their children - not just their short-term happiness but their long-term flourishing and formation. Jean Twenge's new book Ten Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World opens with RULE 1: YOU'RE IN CHARGE.Tony Fadell, known as the father of the iPod: "I wake up in cold sweats every so often thinking, what did we bring to the world?" And: "My first son was born three weeks before the iPhone was released, so my kids have never known a world without them." And: "Your worldview changes dramatically when you have your first kid. You change from 'me, me, me' to family and community." Fadell's own family rules with technology:(1) Time Limits(2) Screen-free Sundays(3) Parental ControlsDrawing on Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation, Grant suggests these rules for our homes:1. No smartphone before high school. No social media before 16.2. Make bedrooms and meals phone-free.3. Use screens together, not alone.4. Parents go first.Our children need to see us voluntarily limiting our own devices, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:1 - follow me as I follow Christ.## Not a new scorecardThis message is not a new legalism, and getting it all right will not make God love you more. There is a danger of a digital Pharisaism where we look down on others with self-righteousness over screen habits. We are not saved by our righteousness with screens and devices; we are saved by Jesus, by His grace, by His death in our place. To paraphrase Philip Yancey, there is nothing you can do on a screen or an app to make God love you any more, and nothing you can do on a screen or app to make God love you any less. His goodness and faithful love pursue us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6). This is a message of repentance: changing the way we think and live so that we can become the kind of person Jesus is calling us to be.Verses referenced:James 1:5Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)Philippians 4:8 (CSB)Mark 1:35Psalm 46:10Proverbs 22:6 (CSB)1 Corinthians 11:1Psalm 23:6

How do you live wholeheartedly for God when your days are filled with responsibilities, distractions, and discouragement? Cheryl Marshall joins Ellen Krause to offer an encouraging reminder from Romans 12:1-2. Faithfulness to God doesn't require big platforms or major accomplishments—it can happen right in the middle of your ordinary life.In this episode, you'll discover:Why God's mercy is the foundation of wholehearted devotionWhat it means to surrender your whole self to GodThree obstacles to spiritual growth: distraction, disobedience, and discouragementHow God's sovereignty can strengthen you through painful seasonsHow renewing your mind with Scripture can deepen your relationship with GodSimple steps for pursuing greater faithfulness and wholehearted devotionGet your copy of All of Me: Pursuing A Life Wholly Devoted to God by Cheryl Marshall!

Let the Lord do his work and write the beautiful story that is your life.

Give God your heart, then let Him sort out the rest. Moses offered some valid reasons proving why he was the wrong guy for the job. God made it clear that as long as Moses had a willing heart, “I will teach you what you shall say.” Follow along as we learn more about Moses' feelings of inadequacy, Zipporah's act of faith, and Pharoah's important question: “Who is the Lord?”

If you’re like me, there is something you’d like to change about yourself or your life. As a society, we’re obsessed with self-improvement. As Christians, we’re committed to it. Whether it’s exercise, dieting, or Bible reading, we’re convinced we can do better if only we give it the ol’ college try. While there’s no shortage of motivation for getting started, maintaining a change or improvement is the challenge, isn’t it? We love the idea of improving, but we hate the hard work it requires. Well, we face the same dilemma in our spiritual lives too. We’re quick to make commitments to God, but our follow-through can be difficult. So how do we give God our very best—and stick with it? That’s what we’ll discover in this episode of Live the Bible. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Give God One Night a Week—and Watch What Happens What if the biggest thing keeping you from making a difference for God isn't a lack of talent, knowledge, or spirituality? What if you're simply too busy? In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob offers one simple challenge: Leave one night open. Choose one night every week and dedicate it to investing spiritually in another person. Study the Bible with someone searching for God. Mentor a younger Christian. Encourage someone who is struggling. Follow up with a new Christian. Train a future leader. It doesn't sound dramatic—but Rob has seen what happens when this simple decision is repeated week after week. After moving to Boston, Rob began studying the Bible with a young man named Wale. Wale became a Christian, but their time together didn't stop after his baptism. They kept Tuesday nights open, sharing dinner, studying the Bible, talking about life, character, relationships, leadership, and his walk with God. Today, Wale is leading his own small group. Rob shares another example from years earlier. Every Tuesday night for approximately three years, Chris Schwarzenberger spent time with Rob and his family. Chris would later become an evangelist and continues serving in ministry today. Neither story started with a massive program. Tuesday night was simply available. Rob also looks at Jesus' example in John 1. When two seekers wanted to know more about him, Jesus didn't squeeze them into a 15-minute appointment. He invited them to come with him and gave them his time. Because relationships take time. Bible studies take time. Mentoring takes time. Leadership development takes time. You can't microwave discipleship. Drawing from Mark 4, Rob also warns about the danger of allowing perfectly good things—work, family responsibilities, entertainment, travel, projects, and commitments—to fill our lives until there is no room left for the things that matter most. For leaders, Rob offers an especially practical challenge. Instead of simply asking people to "be more committed," ask them: "What night is your kingdom night?" Imagine the compounding impact if an entire church made one evening each week available for helping someone else spiritually. One night becomes a changed life. A changed life becomes a leader. A leader begins investing in others. And eventually, one night can become a movement. Pull out your calendar. Choose your night. Protect it. Then pray one simple prayer: "God, give me somebody to invest in." Your greatest contribution may not ultimately be your career, house, accomplishments, or bank account. It may be the people you loved, strengthened, encouraged, and helped find God.

In this lesson, Bro. Mike Hensley teaches on the importance of giving God all the glory for Who He is and all the good things He has done - and is continuing to do - in our lives and the lives of others. To keep pride from becoming a stumbling block, we must give credit where credit is due by recognizing God as the source of all blessing and goodness. He is worthy of all praise!

Don't Just Give God What's Broken | Robbie Hilton | Calvary Church

Welcome to the Sunday Morning Worship Service of New Covenant Christian Ministries with Pastor Bill and Dr. D'Ann Johnson. Our mission is “Transforming all people into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ."  In today's sermon, Pastor Kenneth Bryant II continues in the "Faith in 4K" series, focusing on the first chapter of James.

This Sunday, Pastor Emmanuel reminded us that it's not about what we can accomplish on our own, but what the Holy Spirit can do through surrendered hearts. Give God your yes and watch Him do what only He can do. Don't miss this message!

Preparing His Bride | Aug 22, 2026 You are being called into a life where Christ is not merely something you believe in, but the very pattern into which your inner life must be formed. Your identity as a new creation is not meant to remain a doctrine in your head; it is meant to become the governing reality of how you think, choose, work, relate, endure, worship, and pursue God. You have been brought into Christ so that you can recover your true identity in Him, live from the heavenly position you have been given, and progressively become free from the earthbound mentality that makes work, ambition, comfort, fear, entertainment, and worldly success the center of life. This means you must deliberately reorder your priorities. God cannot remain an addition to a life that is fundamentally organized around career, family demands, social activity, and personal advancement. Fellowship with Him must become the center from which everything else is arranged. You must understand spiritual warfare from this perspective. Victory is not only about speaking against darkness; it is also about removing from your life the things darkness can claim as its own. Whatever you continually feed, entertain, obey, or identify with gains influence over your inner world. The original tragedy of humanity was rooted in disobedience, and disobedience carries seed: it reproduces after its own kind. In the same way, obedience, truth, and fellowship with God also produce fruit. Your life will increasingly resemble whatever you continually yield yourself to. This is why you must examine what occupies your attention. Endless entertainment, constant digital stimulation, material obsession, anxiety about success, and preoccupation with earthly things can quietly train your soul to look downward instead of upward. They can consume the same concentration and hunger that should have been cultivated toward God. Truth must therefore become more important to you than success. It is possible to become highly successful in things that have little eternal value. You can build a career, grow a business, become respected, remain constantly busy, and still neglect the purpose for which you were created. Your work matters, and you should do it excellently, but it must never become your lord. You must learn to tell work how much of your life it is allowed to consume. Establish boundaries. Order your schedule. Go to bed with intention. Wake with intention. Give God the first and strongest part of your attention when possible, before the world begins demanding pieces of you. Do not keep saying that you have no time. You must also learn to carry the consciousness of God beyond your private devotion into ordinary life. Seeking first the kingdom does not mean abandoning your responsibilities; it means allowing every part of life to remain ordered toward God. You can work, study, care for family, make decisions, and handle responsibilities while maintaining inward communion with Him. His presence should not make you less effective in practical life; it should increasingly produce clarity, excellence, wisdom, peace, and self-government. Your earthly responsibilities become part of your spiritual formation when they are carried out under His government. Do not become discouraged when you fail. Think of a child learning to walk. The child falls repeatedly, but the desire to walk is stronger than the embarrassment of falling. Get up. Continue. Transformation is progressive. Renewing the mind is a process of repeated, deliberate change. You are not waiting for someone else to transform you. You must cooperate with grace by changing what you give attention to, changing how you use your time, changing what you believe, changing what you obey, and changing the patterns that keep pulling you back into the old way of life. Your calling is much higher than merely surviving this world successfully. You have been called into sonship, into joint inheritance with Christ, into participation in the life of God, and into the manifestation of a mature people through whom the nature of the Father can be revealed. The Holy Spirit is leading you toward that end. The Word is showing you the path. Christ is both the way and the pattern. The real question is how far you are willing to go. Will you continue testing the waters, or will you commit yourself fully to the pursuit of God? Will you remain content with knowing the language of the new creation, or will you allow Christ to actually be formed in you? Will you organize your life around temporary things, or will you seek first the kingdom and allow everything else to take its proper place? Your task is to pursue God intentionally, behold Him continually, obey Him increasingly, guard what shapes your soul, rise whenever you fall, and keep journeying until the life you confess becomes the life you visibly carry.

# Genesis 12–23: The God Who Provides## SummaryGenesis 12–23 marks a major shift in the biblical story. God calls Abram into a personal relationship and promises him land, descendants, and a blessing that will reach all nations.Abraham responds in faith, but his journey is not perfect. He struggles with fear, makes poor decisions, and sometimes tries to accomplish God's promises in his own way. Still, God remains faithful.In Genesis 15, God confirms His covenant by passing alone through the divided animals, showing that the promise rests on His faithfulness, not Abraham's perfection.God eventually gives Abraham and Sarah the son He promised, Isaac. Then in Genesis 22, Abraham is tested when God asks him to offer Isaac. Abraham obeys, trusting God to provide. At the last moment, God provides a ram in Isaac's place, and Abraham names the place “The Lord Will Provide.”Abraham's story reminds us that God desires relationship with us, remains faithful through our failures, and provides even when we cannot see how.**Big Idea:** Trust God, obey Him, and believe that He will provide.## Sermon Notes### 1. God Calls Abraham**Genesis 12:1–3**God calls Abraham to leave everything familiar and follow Him into the unknown.**Key Principle:** God desires a relationship with you, not just religious activity.### 2. Abraham's Faith Is Imperfect**Genesis 12:10–20**Abraham trusts God, but fear still causes him to make bad decisions, including lying about Sarah.**Key Principle:** Your weaknesses do not automatically disqualify you from what God is calling you to do.### 3. Abraham Chooses Trust**Genesis 13:1–18**Abraham lets Lot choose the land first. Lot chooses by sight, while Abraham trusts God with what remains.**Key Principle:** Choose by trust, not simply by appearance.### 4. Abraham Rescues Lot**Genesis 14:1–24**Abraham rescues Lot, meets Melchizedek, gives him a tenth, and refuses the king of Sodom's wealth.**Key Principle:** Live in a way that makes God's faithfulness visible.### 5. God Makes a Covenant**Genesis 15:1–21**God promises Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars. God alone passes through the covenant pieces.**Key Principle:** God's promises depend on His faithfulness, not our perfection.### 6. Abraham Tries to Rush God's Plan**Genesis 16–17**Abraham and Sarah try to produce God's promise through Hagar. Their shortcut creates pain, but God does not abandon them.**Key Principle:** God's timing is better than our shortcuts.### 7. God Provides Isaac**Genesis 21**After years of waiting, Sarah gives birth to Isaac.**Key Principle:** Waiting does not mean God has forgotten.### 8. The Lord Will Provide**Genesis 22**God tests Abraham by asking him to offer Isaac. Abraham obeys, trusting that God will remain faithful.At the last moment, God provides a ram in Isaac's place. Abraham names the place “The Lord Will Provide.”This points forward to the greater sacrifice God would provide through Jesus.**Key Principle:** We can trust God's provision even when we cannot see it yet.## Practical Applications1. **Take the next step of obedience.** What is one thing God has been asking you to do?2. **Stop forcing God's timing.** Identify one area where you are trying to control the outcome and surrender it to Him.3. **Choose trust over appearances.** Make decisions based on God's character, not simply what looks easiest or best.4. **Give God the credit.** Recognize where He has provided, opened doors, or carried you.5. **Prioritize your relationship with God.** Set aside intentional time this week for prayer, Scripture, and worship.6. **Lay down what you are carrying.** Give God the fear, burden, or uncertainty you have been trying to manage yourself.## Discussion Questions1. Where do you see Abraham growing in trust throughout these chapters?2. In what area of your life is it hardest to trust God's timing?3. Have you ever tried to force something instead of waiting on God?4. What does Genesis 22 teach us about obedience and trust?5. Where have you seen God provide in an unexpected way?6. What is one practical step of obedience God may be asking you to take?7. What burden do you need to surrender to God this week?> **“The Lord will provide.” — Genesis 22:14**

Sermon Direct Link 8/16/26 Rev. Clint Smith Give God the Glory – Daniel 1:9-21; 2:1-23 Today’s sermon should cause each of us to fear God and have immense confidence in the God of the Bible, ... Read More The post Give God the Glory (Daniel 1:9-21; 2:1-23) appeared first on Town Creek Baptist Church.

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In John 6, we read the powerful story of Jesus feeding more than 5,000 people with just five small barley loaves and two fish offered by a young boy.It didn't seem like much for such a great need. But when the boy gave what he had to Jesus, everything changed.This story reminds us of something we often forget: God doesn't need much to do a miracle. He just wants us to give Him what we have and trust Him with the rest.Jesus could have created food out of nothing, but instead He chose to multiply what was given to Him.In this episode of Hope for Today, we talk about what happens when we bring what we have, no matter how small it feels, to Jesus, and how a heart of gratitude prepares us to see God do immeasurably more than we could ever imagine.Because in God's hands, what seems like “not enough” can become more than enough…immeasurably more.Music: “River,” an original piano piece written and performed by Benjamin Waggoner.We would like to pray for you. Please click here to share your prayer needs with us.To learn more about Beau's Blessings click here.Please consider becoming a Hunter's Hero and supporting Hunter's Hope and this podcast by clicking here.Shop HH x MH Collection here.Learn more about our Podcast, Episode Guests and Hunter's Hope here.

Rebellion is disobedience with an attitude. Our culture is full of rebellion because we have forgotten that God is truly working for our good. He is working to remove destruction from our lives. Firstly, is God's Word your final authority? God's Word gives us general commands, and good leadership is the blessing of specific commands for your life. God speaks through prophets, good leadership, and His voice to give you the exact direction and correction you need. Give God your willingness. Your joyful obedience. His commands are for your good. Obedience is truly better than sacrifice because sacrifice is what you have to give up when you don't obey God the first time. It is the willing and the obedient who will eat the good of the land. - Isaiah 1:19-20. Complete obedience to God is the greatest adventure in life. 

Give God One Year: World Changers | Pastor Justin McNeil by City of Life Church

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13Message from Brady Bryce, Senior MinisterFor more resources and access to everything we have going on at First, visit https://www.firstabq.org

If you were to sit in a quiet room with no distractions and honestly answer the question — what is your number one priority in life — what would you say? It is the kind of question most of us prefer not to sit with too long, because the honest answer is often more complicated than we would like. Children, careers, spouses, finances: these things are not wrong in themselves, but God does not compete for position in our lives. He simply waits, with long-suffering patience, for us to return to Him as our first love. The widow of Zarephath had reached the end of everything. One last meal for herself and her son, and then nothing. When the prophet Elijah arrived with what must have sounded like an absurd request — give me food first, before you feed yourself and your child — her decision to obey was an act of profound, costly faith. She put the man of God first, and as a result, the flour and oil did not run out for the entire duration of the famine. Her obedience was not a transaction. It was trust. Matthew 6:33 captures the principle her life illustrated: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Putting God first is not about earning blessings. It is about living in honest acknowledgment that everything we have comes from Him, and that He alone is worthy of the first and best of what we have to offer — our time, our finances, our attention, and our hearts. Today's Bible Verse "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."— Matthew 6:33, KJV Ponder Today God does not compete for first place — but He deserves it. Every good thing in our lives is a gift from Him. Giving Him priority is not a burden He imposes on us. It is the natural and right response to who He is and what He has done. Obedience is the practical expression of putting God first. The widow of Zarephath's faith was demonstrated not in words but in action. Putting God first shows up in how we spend our mornings, our money, our time, and our attention. Our motives for seeking God matter deeply. We do not put God first in order to receive blessing upon blessing. We put Him first because He gave His only Son for flawed, undeserving humans. Pure motives honor Him far more than calculated obedience. Putting God first means removing compartmentalization from our lives. God is not meant to occupy one section of our schedule or one category of our budget. He is meant to be first in every area — no exceptions, no separation. The goal is to hear "well done, good and faithful servant." True success in this life is not measured by what we accumulate but by whether we sought first His kingdom and His righteousness. That eternal perspective changes how we order our daily priorities. A Prayer for You Today Our Father and our God, thank You for Your goodness that extends from generation to generation. There is no one like You, and no one deserves the honor and glory that is Yours alone. Help me to put You first in every area of my life. May my love for You grow each day as I think of Your sacrifice. Remind me that You are always with me, so that when I win it is You, and when I stumble You are there. Help me to seek first the kingdom of God, and help me to die daily to my flesh so that I do not idolize myself or anything You have given me. Each day You give, I choose to honor You by making You first priority. In Jesus' name, Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer helped you reorder your priorities around the One who deserves first place in your life, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to keep your heart and your life oriented toward the kingdom of God every day. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Give God complete permission. For more on reading through the Bible, click here to visit my website. Have any questions or comments? Email me: pastor@tcnd.org. Produced by Wessler Media. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this message from Luke 6:37–38, we discover a powerful Kingdom principle: you can't outgive God. Jesus teaches that the measure we use to give—whether through generosity, forgiveness, mercy, or compassion—is the measure that will be returned to us. Giving isn't simply about finances; it's a lifestyle of releasing what God has entrusted to us so He can use it to bless others and accomplish His purposes.This message explores three stages of becoming a generous follower of Christ: Openness, Obedience, and Overflow. True generosity begins with surrendering every area of our lives to God, continues as we faithfully obey His prompting to give, and grows into a life marked by joyful, overflowing generosity. Whether it's our time, talents, resources, encouragement, or finances, God invites us to become conduits of His blessing rather than containers that simply accumulate.As we trust God and release what He has placed in our hands, He faithfully provides in ways we could never imagine. The challenge is simple but life-changing: when God gives back to you, give it again. You'll discover that a life of generosity not only changes the lives of others—it transforms your own heart and reveals the faithfulness of a God who can never be outgiven.

Dash with Carol Dixon is all about life and how to live that life positively, productively, and prayerfully. After decades of ministry, Dr. Dixon is qualified to address any topic of life from a biblical perspective. Let's listen now as Dr. Dixon shares nuggets on “How to Give God Your Attention”Send us Fan MailBecome a Dash Legacy Builder Today! For more information go to caroldixon.net/dash

#10MinuteswithJesus ** Put yourself in the presence of God. Try talking to Him. ** 10 minutes are 10 minutes. Even if you can get distracted, reach the end. ** Be constant. The Holy Spirit acts "on low heat" and requires perseverance. 10-Minute audio to help you pray. Daily sparks to ignite prayer: a passage from the gospel, an idea, an anecdote and a priest who speaks with you and the Lord, inviting you to share your intimacy with God. Find your moment, consider you are in His presence and click play.

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Tony Albarran is our guest for this episode. Tony is newer to Catalyst, so we wanted to have him come on so we can get to know him a bit before he gives the Sunday message in a few weeks. And he does not disappoint! Check out this episode! ---------------- Don't forget that you can listen and subscribe to the Engage to Flourish Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Music!

Give God One Year: Cut Out Distractions | Pastor Jeffrey Smith by City of Life Church

Your very soul is in danger if you hold on to an attitude of unforgiving bitterness. Leave it to the wrath of God.

My wife and I were staying in this apartment at the Jersey shore for a weekend. We were going to save some money by cooking for ourselves. But, there was one small problem with the kitchen. We discovered it the first morning. We had this English muffin in the toaster. Suddenly I hear this high-pitched alarm in the kitchen. I went running out there. The smoke detector had gone off. Problem: There was no smoke, just a little English muffin cooking. It was just a little heat coming from across the room from the toaster. Oh, we got to hear that smoke alarm again several times while we were there. It was a very sensitive alarm. And the problem is because it would go off so often, guess what? Pretty soon you don't take it seriously any more. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Parents Afraid.” Our word for today from the Word of God is a great verse for anyone, but especially for parents in times like these. 2 Timothy 1:7 - “God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and a sound mind.” You're not supposed to have a spirit of fear. See, fear-based decisions usually don't take us down the right road. Fear-based parenting usually backfires. If you're a parent today, there are a lot of things you could be afraid of for your children. They could be physically hurt, they could be spiritually hurt, or they can be infected by the moral pollution that's everywhere. They could lose their faith, they could rebel, or they could mess up sexually. Our kids can choose the wrong friends; they can make a romantic mistake. They can believe a sophisticated lie. Raising children in this kind of world, you could find yourself letting fear take over; especially if you see a warning sign in your son or daughter. But God hasn't given us a spirit of fear. He wants you to parent with a spirit of power and love and a sound mind. He wants you to parent positively, not with criticism and nagging and worrying and put downs or being overly possessive or protective. Those approaches usually help produce the very rebellion we were afraid of. When we parent out of fear, our alarm keeps going off all the time. Every incident, every negative comment from our child becomes a battleground. Maybe you see signs that you're becoming like that smoke detector; you're going off on everything. If you do, eventually you won't be taken seriously anymore, probably at just the point in your child's life when you really need to be taken seriously. You just can't afford to have your son or daughter saying, “The alarm, again?” Parents whose fear or negativism or perfectionism makes them sound off all the time tend to create rebels, because we create an immunity to a parental voice. And a child who is immune to mom or dad's voice is like an unguided missile. If you sense that your alarm's been going off too often, it's time to turn that around. It begins with an apology - asking your child to forgive you because of the nagging and the negative. Be honest with them about some of your fears for them. Tell them how much you believe in their potential and in their gifts and that you hate anything that might keep them from becoming all they were created to be. Be willing to be vulnerable with them. Be willing to need forgiving. You might be amazed how many walls that can bring down. Then choose your battlegrounds. Learn to analyze a conflict or a concern, and put them in one of two categories: major battle or minor battle. And then save your ammunition for the battles that really matter. Bite your tongue on the others. Before you talk to your child, talk to God about your child. Bring your fear and your anger and your frustration to God so you don't always have to dump it on your son or daughter. Give God time to work it out, and then jump in only as He prompts you to. Because of Christ in your life, you can parent with confidence, with authority and restraint. And then when your parent alarm goes off, your kids will respond. Just wait until there's real smoke from a real fire.

Dr. Jack Trieber preached a message entitled “Give God an Opportunity to Speak to You" during the Sunday Morning service on June 14, 2026, at North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara, California. View Archived Services at nvbc.org.

How do I detect God's unseen hand on my shoulder and his inaudible voice in my ear? Give God your...