Talk About It

Send us Fan Mail

Click here to support Talk About It!

For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.com

Click here to Buy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack Cake

Welcome back to Season 11! This week, Pastor Don continues our journey through Hebrews 11 by examining one of the most extraordinary figures in Scripture—Enoch. Hebrews 11:5-6 tells us that Enoch was "taken from this life" without experiencing death because he pleased God. But what made Enoch so special? And what can we learn from his walk with God?

Unlike the repeated refrain in Genesis 5—"so-and-so lived... and then he died"—Enoch's story is uniquely different. He didn't just live; he walked with God. And instead of dying, God simply took him home. Enoch's life challenges us to examine the depth of our own relationship with God and ask: Am I walking with Him? Am I pleasing Him?

In This Episode, Pastor Don Explores:

1) Enoch Walked with God
Genesis 5:21-24 reveals that Enoch walked with God for 300 years after becoming the father of Methuselah. The Hebrew phrase used here is translated in the Septuagint as "pleased God," which connects directly to Hebrews 11:5. Enoch's life wasn't just about existing—it was about intimate, ongoing communion with his Creator. He had confidence in God, lived in communion with Him, opened his heart to Him, and consulted Him as a bosom friend.

2) To Walk with God Is to Be in Agreement with God
Amos 3:3 asks, "Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" Walking with God means being aligned with His will and His ways. Enoch's faith gave him confidence in God's ability, wisdom, and love. Even when God allows things we don't understand, walking with Him means trusting that His ways are higher than ours. When we disagree with God and separate ourselves, we lose joy and peace. When we agree with Him, we experience the blessings of a close relationship.

3) To Walk with God Is to Be in Step with God
Enoch lived in increasingly wicked times—soon after him, God would send the flood. Yet Enoch maintained his integrity and chose to live by the Spirit. Jude 14-15 tells us Enoch was also a prophet, warning his generation about God's coming judgment. Walking with God means keeping in step with the Spirit—not running ahead in impatience or lagging behind in procrastination. It means allowing the Spirit to produce His fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

4) Then He Was No More, Because God Took Him Away
Enoch's departure is one of only two such events in Scripture (Elijah being the other). While Elijah's translation involved chariots of fire and a whirlwind, Enoch's was quieter—but no less miraculous. What's striking is that Enoch lived only 365 years, while his father Jared lived 962 and his son Methuselah lived 969. Why would God take a man who walked so closely with Him so "early"? The answer: his work was finished. Sometimes we don't understand God's timing, but faith trusts that He knows best.

5) Without Faith It Is Impossible to Please God
Hebrews 11:6 makes this crystal clear: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Enoch's faith produced works, prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope. And God testified—perhaps directly—that Enoch pleased Him. Romans 8:16 tells us the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. These confirmations sustain us when the enemy tries to steal our assurance.

A Critical Warning

Pastor Don also addresses a dangerous assumption: some people think they are pleasing God when they're not. They attend church, read their Bibles, but live the rest of their lives according to selfish desires. They've created a god of their own design—one that suits their comforts rather than the true God who calls us to surrender. Romans 8:5-8 reminds us that those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. True faith expresses itself through love and obedience.

Key Takeaways:

• Walking with God means being in agreement with Him
• Pleasing God requires keeping in step with the Spirit
• You don't have to understand everything to trust God
• God rewards those who earnestly seek Him with assurance and peace
• True faith produces works prompted by love
• It's not just the length of your life, but the depth of your walk

A Question to Ponder:

Does God testify that you are pleasing Him? Are you earnestly seeking Him?

"Without faith it is impossible to please God." — Hebrews 11:6

Next week, we continue our study of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. Don't miss it!

📖 Key Scriptures: Hebrews 11:5-6, Genesis 5:18-24, Amos 3:3, Galatians 5:16-25, Jude 14-15, Romans 8:5-8

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Click here to support Talk About It!

For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.com

Click here to Buy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack Cake

Welcome back to Season 11! This week, Pastor Don continues our journey through Hebrews 11 by examining the very first example in the "faith chapter"—Abel. In Hebrews 11:4, we learn that Abel offered a better sacrifice than his brother Cain, and by faith he was commended as righteous. But what made Abel's sacrifice superior? And what can we learn from Cain's tragic mistake?

The story of Cain and Abel isn't just ancient history—it's a mirror that reveals the condition of our own hearts when we come before God. Pastor Don unpacks the critical difference between a sacrifice given by faith and one offered out of mere duty.

In This Episode, Pastor Don Explores:

1) It Takes Faith to Make a Right Sacrifice
Cain brought an offering, but Abel brought the best of what he had—the fat portions and firstborn of his flock. The distinction is clear: Abel brought the first; Cain brought the rest. As Proverbs 3:9 reminds us, we are to honor the Lord with the firstfruits of all we have. Faith enables us to give God what is right, not just what is left. Malachi's words echo this truth—God's people were robbing Him by bringing partial offerings, much like Cain did.

2) It Takes the Right Heart to Make a Right Sacrifice
Making the right sacrifice isn't just about money or material goods—it's about ourselves. Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as living sacrifices. Cain's offering was rejected not because of the gift itself, but because of the heart behind it. Warren Wiersbe wisely noted, “Cain wasn't rejected because of his offering, but his offering was rejected because of Cain: his heart wasn't right with God.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us that God loves a cheerful giver, not one who gives reluctantly or under compulsion. Faith changes our motivation from obligation to joyful devotion.

3) The Consequences of a Wrong Sacrifice
Cain's bad attitude spiraled into bitterness, envy, and eventually murder. When God confronted him, Cain refused to repent and instead lied about his brother's whereabouts. Sin begets sin—one wrong sacrifice led to hatred, then murder, then deception. Cain's punishment was severe: the ground would no longer yield its crops, and he would become a restless wanderer, cut off from God's presence. When we withhold what God deserves, we risk spiritual fruitlessness and restlessness.

4) A Faith Sacrifice Is Honored by God
Abel was the one who did right, yet he was killed. Where is the honor in that? Pastor Don explains that Abel's ultimate sacrifice—his very life—was honored by God. His faith still speaks today, even though he is long dead. Abel's legacy inspires millions to stand firm in their faith. And while Cain's punishment was to be hidden from God's presence (which he found unbearable), Abel's reward was eternal righteousness. Sometimes the righteous suffer, but God sees, honors, and rewards their faithful sacrifice.

Key Takeaways:

• A right sacrifice gives God the best, not what's left over
• The condition of your heart matters more than the size of your gift
• Half-hearted devotion is a form of arrogance—we don't get to rewrite God's standards
• Wrong sacrifices lead to spiritual fruitlessness and restlessness
• Faith sacrifices are honored by God, even when they cost us everything
• Abel's silence in Scripture speaks louder than many words—what legacy is your faith leaving?

A Heart Check:

• Are you giving God your first and best, or your leftovers?
• Is your worship driven by faith and joy, or just religious obligation?
• Are you trusting God enough to honor Him with all you have?

"Give God what is right; not what is left."

Next week, we'll continue our study of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. Don't miss it!

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Click here to support Talk About It!

For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.com

Click this link to Buy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack Cake

Welcome to Season 11! We're kicking things off by diving into Hebrews 11—what many call the "faith chapter." Throughout this chapter, we see repeated examples of Old Testament figures who demonstrated extraordinary faith, and their stories challenge us to examine our own walk with God.

In This Episode, Pastor Don Explores:

What Faith Really Means
Faith isn't just wishful thinking—it's being "sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Pastor Don unpacks how faith operates in the unseen realm, distinguishing between believing in someone you can see versus believing in God whom you cannot physically point to. Interestingly, even atheists operate by faith—they believe God doesn't exist without being able to prove it.

Faith Requires Hearing
Drawing from Romans 10:14-17, we discover that faith comes through hearing the message of Christ. You can't have faith in someone you've never heard about. Pastor Don emphasizes that faith doesn't require understanding everything—we may never fully comprehend the Trinity or God's eternal nature, but we can still believe.

Two Kinds of Faith
Using James 2, we examine the critical difference between:

• Dead faith—intellectual belief that doesn't change how we live
• Saving faith—belief that produces action and transforms our lives

Genuine faith demands action. As the poem reminds us: "The faith of the head is the faith that is dead; the faith of the heart is better in part. But the faith of the hand is the faith that will stand."

Living by Faith, Not by Sight
Pastor Don shares the powerful illustration of the African impala—a creature capable of jumping over 10 feet high but kept confined by a 3-foot wall because it won't jump where it can't see its feet will fall. How often do we stay trapped because we can't see what's on the other side? Faith means trusting God in advance for what will only make sense in reverse.

Key Takeaways:

• Faith believes in what we cannot see
• Faith comes through hearing God's Word
• Faith must be accompanied by action to be genuine
• Faith frees us from fear and enables us to step into God's plans

Pastor Don closes with Ruth Morgan's beautiful poem about walking by faith, not sight—reminding us that even in our darkest moments, God is guiding our steps.

"Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible." — Martin Luther

Join us next week for Part Two of "It Takes Faith" as we continue exploring the heroes of Hebrews 11!

📖 Key Scriptures: Hebrews 11:1-3, Romans 10:14-17, James 2:14-19, 2 Corinthians 5:7

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Click here to support Talk About It!

For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.com

Buy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack Cake

We've reached the final gear of our Full Throttle series—Sixth Gear: All Access! And today we're talking about the incredible truth that through Jesus, we have full, unrestricted access to the presence of God.

Too many Christians live like outsiders. We linger in the courtyards, hang out in the neighborhood of God, maybe sit on the front porch—but we never actually enter His presence. Jesus didn't die so we could live in the neighborhood. He was beaten, bruised, and crucified so we could have ALL ACCESS to the Father!

Under the Old Covenant, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year with blood to offer sacrifice for sins. But when Jesus died on the cross and cried, "It is finished," the veil in the temple ripped from top to bottom—signifying that every believer now has direct access to God's presence. No more barriers. No more separation. All Access!

Hebrews 10:19 says, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus..." We don't approach God like trembling worms begging for scraps. We come with confidence! The blood of Jesus is so powerful that past, present, and future sins are already paid for. When you confess your sin, God remembers it no more (1 John 1:9). He doesn't know what you did!

All Access means:

• We enter without hesitation through the blood of Christ's salvation. No need for documentation—it's our habitation. We have the authentication because we're a blood relation.
• We worship without reservation because we have His affirmation. The Bible is God's love letter to us. If we can celebrate men in tights carrying a ball across a line, we can certainly celebrate the Most High God who saved our souls! Worship is a time to celebrate, to surrender, to demonstrate our love, and to give.
• We receive without limitation our rightful allocation. Everything the Father has is ours. Philippians 4:19 says God will meet all our needs according to His riches in glory. We don't approach with "if it be Thy will" timidity. My kids come to my house and eat my food without asking—because they're sons and daughters, and all I have is theirs!

The Story of the Sinful Woman (Luke 7):

A woman known as a prostitute came to Jesus while He was eating with Pharisees. She brought an alabaster jar of expensive perfume—worth a year's wages—and poured it on His feet, weeping, wiping them with her hair. The very thing that defined her life, the tool of her trade, she gave to Jesus. She risked her life to come to Him because she knew He wouldn't reject her.

Somewhere, somehow, she had encountered Jesus before—maybe when He said to the woman caught in adultery, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." She knew that no matter where she'd been or what she'd done, if she came to Jesus, He would accept her, embrace her, love her, and forgive her.

I don't know what you're facing, but bring it to Jesus. That habit, that thing you don't want to do—bring it to Him and say, "Jesus, I don't want this to interfere between You and me anymore."

ALL ACCESS: We enter without hesitation through the blood of Christ's salvation. No need for documentation—it's our habitation. We have the authentication because we're a blood relation. Don't need a qualification—made holy by His beautification.

Run to the presence of God! Don't shy away. When you're tempted, run to the One who beat temptation. Jesus was tempted in every way, yet He overcame. He empowers you to say "no" too! Come fearlessly, confidently, and boldly to the throne of grace. Rest in the Father's arms. Abide under His wings.

You have All Access. Go FULL THROTTLE into His presence!

Key Scriptures: Hebrews 10:11-22; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 4:16 (AMP); Luke 7:36-38; Romans 8:16-17; James 4:8; Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 4:19; 1 John 1:9

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Click here to support Talk About It!

For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.com

Click here to Buy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack Cake

We're staying in Fifth Gear and pushing deeper into the No Limits life! Today we're looking at three more keys to living with no boundaries, no ceilings, and no retreat.

3. Vision is ignited through prayer and God's Word.

How do you get a vision? You get in the Word! Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). As you feed on Scripture, it fills your heart with faith to take action. But prayer is where you see it before it happens. In prayer, God births the vision in your heart. Jonathan had to see himself climbing that cliff and defeating the Philistines before he ever took one step. He saw it in his spirit, and that vision gave him the courage to act.

If you can see it in faith, you can take hold of it in reality.

4. We take bold, daring steps of faith.

Once God births the vision, you have to move. Jonathan heard the Philistines say, "Come up to us!" and he climbed. David stood before Goliath and declared, "This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands... and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel" (1 Samuel 17:46). He was bold! He spoke to the giant.

Some of you need to start speaking to the giants in your life! Declare God's Word over your situation: "I will live and not die. I am an overcomer. I will not be defeated. I will win!"

God's will is not an insurance plan—it's a daring plan. I would rather fall on my face trying to do something big for God than sit on my butt doing nothing. The path of least resistance makes rivers and people crooked. Goals are dreams with targets on them. Put a bullseye on your dreams and go after them!

Stop looking for excuses. Start looking for opportunities. Why not give God a chance? Why not go up and take the land?

5. We charge at what we fear the most!

1 Samuel 17:48 says, "As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him." He ran at his giant! Peter got out of the boat. Jonathan climbed the cliff. David ran at Goliath.

What's the thing you fear most? Run at it!

If you take this path, it's going to be lonely. Most people are content to sit in the shade with King Saul. When you decide to live a No Limits lifestyle, people will call you crazy. I'd rather they call me crazy than call me normal! If you fear man, you'll offend God. If you fear God, you'll offend man. Choose this day whom you will serve!

What do you need to yell "CHARGE!" at?

• Your marriage? Attack your marriage and say, "I'm going to make this better!"
• Your job? Go above and beyond.
• Your future? Run at it!
• Your fear? Charge at it!

We serve a God with NO LIMITS. Let's live like we are His offspring!

Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 17:45-48; Romans 10:17; 1 Samuel 14:6-15; Matthew 14:29

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Click here to support Talk About It!

For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.com

Click here to Buy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack Cake

We've reached Fifth Gear—and today we're talking about living with NO LIMITS!

We serve an unlimited God. He has no boundaries, no limitations. He is the God of more than enough, the God of plenty, the God of abundance. But too often, we limit Him. We put lids on what He can do in us and through us.

The way to live a No Limits lifestyle is to tap into a No Limits God through faith. Faith is the title deed—the proof of what we cannot yet see (Hebrews 11:1). Without faith, it's impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). The same faith that got you saved—believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth—is the same faith that unlocks every promise God has for you (Romans 10:8-10). Mark 11:23 says, "If anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done."

So how do we live a No Limits, Full Throttle life? Let's look at Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14.

1. We must play offense.

Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree, playing defense, just waiting. But Jonathan said to his armor‑bearer, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine outpost. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few" (1 Samuel 14:6).

Jonathan didn't wait until everything was perfect. He stepped out, climbed the cliff, and trusted God for the victory. Two men took on twenty—and God sent panic through the entire Philistine army. One decision, one step, one "why not give God a chance?" changed everything.

Saul was playing not to lose. Jonathan was playing to win. Which one are you?

If you wait until you're ready, you'll be waiting the rest of your life. Faith believes and therefore acts. Don't play defense. Get off your hindends and go possess the land!

2. We remove the lids.

What lids have you put on God? "God can do this, but I don't think He can do that." "I don't know if God can work that out."

When you come to an intersection that says "Easy Route" or "Impossible Ahead," the impossible path is exactly where God lives. Because now it's not about your ability—it's about His. When you tap into God's ability and let go of your own, you live on a whole other plateau!

David took the lid off. Moses took the lid off. But when the Israelites faced giants in the Promised Land, they screwed the lid back on. Don't make that mistake! You are a son or daughter of the Most High. Your Daddy has no lack, no shortage. Don't be intimidated by sickness, disease, lack, or any problem. Your Daddy is on your side!

At our church, we've been seeing God do incredible things—planting churches, paying off debt, planning new buildings. We serve a God who is more than enough. Whatever report you hear, God's report is greater!

It's time to play offense. Remove the lids. And live with no limits!

Key Scriptures: Hebrews 11:1, 6; Romans 10:8-10; Mark 11:22-23; 2 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Samuel 14:1-15, 23; James 2:17

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Click here to support Talk About It!

For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.com

Click here to Buy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack Cake

We're staying in Fourth Gear and continuing our pursuit of maximum potential in Christ. Today we're looking at two more keys to reaching everything God has for you.

TWO: We learn to draft behind Jesus.

In NASCAR, cars align themselves bumper‑to‑bumper to reduce wind resistance. The lead car punches through the air, and the cars behind experience almost no drag. They can go faster with less effort.

Spiritually, we need to align our lives with Christ. When we position ourselves behind Him, the resistance of the world, the flesh, and the enemy is drastically reduced. The more I put myself in alignment with God's Word, the greater potential I reach in my life.

The problem is, too many people take the opposite approach. They want to see how far they can get from God's Word and still maintain salvation. That's not Christianity—that's playing games. Christianity is about aligning ourselves with God's Word and living our lives in Christ.

So what does that look like practically?

We Face‑the‑Book. Not Facebook. If we spent as much time facing the Bible as we do on social media, we'd be spiritual giants! God's Word is a mirror for our souls. We check our natural reflection every morning—we need to check our spiritual reflection too. Psalm 1 says the person who delights in God's law and meditates on it day and night is like a tree planted by streams of water—whatever they do prospers. How do you prosper? You face the book.

We need to die and hide. Colossians 3:3 says, "You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Most people live their lives in a mud hole of sin—going "cannonball!" into the mess, then wondering why they're miserable. Jesus washes us, cleanses us, forgives us, and sets us free. But what do we do? We get cleaned up, then we wander back to the edge of the mud hole, tempted to jump back in.

Why are you hanging out at the cesspool of sin when Jesus set you free? Cling to the Word. Cling to the Life of God.

Can I be blunt? Too many people are just fans of Jesus, not followers of Jesus. A fan watches from a distance. A follower aligns their life with His—through thick and thin, through trials and tribulations. When I can't feel His presence, I walk by faith. I hold fast. I hide myself in Christ so that when people see me, they see Jesus.

THREE: We never quit or give up.

Winners never quit, and quitters never win. Paul said we are hard pressed but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Why? Because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Paul finished his race. He kept the faith. And he declared, "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness" (2 Timothy 4:7-8). That same crown is waiting for everyone who longs for His appearing.

So here's my challenge: Double up on your time in the Word. If you spend five minutes, go ten. If you spend thirty, go sixty. Go big or go home with Jesus. Align your life so close behind His that people can't tell the difference between you and Jesus.

This year, I told God: "I want to go all out for Jesus. I don't want there to be a drop, a hint, a piece of glitter on me that isn't for Your glory." Let's go all out together!

Key Scriptures: Colossians 3:1-3; Psalm 1:1-3; John 15:4; Hebrews 12:3 (MSG); 1 John 4:4; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9; 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Click here to support Talk About It!

For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.com

Click here  to Buy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack Cake

We're shifting into Fourth Gear, and today we're talking about reaching your maximum potential in Christ.

So many people never arrive where God wants them to be. At 30, 40, 50, or 60 they say, "I thought I'd be further along." But here's the truth: God is not a delivery boy. You can't just sit back in your Christian recliner and dial in what you need. Faith requires action. It's putting your foot on the pedal and going full throttle toward what God has called you to do.

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." The Message version puts it this way: "Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins."

To reach our maximum potential, we need to go on a diet from sin. Sin is:

• DEADWEIGHT – Something standing between you and God.
• DECEPTION – A cheap imitation of something authentic God created. Satan offers counterfeits that look good but leave you empty. The creation can never outdo the Creator.
• DISTRACTION – Pulling your focus off the race. Stay focused on the path!
• DETOUR – Taking you places you shouldn't go. Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
• DITCH – Getting you stuck in habits and addictions, spinning your tires, unable to get out.

We strip off all this weight, not through willpower alone, but by fixing our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). The Message says, "Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it." Jesus is the Word made flesh—a living example of God's Words of Life. He endured the cross for the joy set before Him. If we study how He did it, we'll learn how to run our own race.

The more we cut off the works of the flesh, the more we align ourselves with God and His Word, and the more we reach our full potential. Like a racecar, we keep making fine‑tune adjustments, shedding weight, so we can go faster and farther.

The creation can never outdo the Creator. God has the best for you. The enemy only offers cheap substitutes. Don't settle for imitation when you're called to the authentic.

Let's strip down, fix our eyes on Jesus, and run this race with everything we've got—full throttle, maximum potential!

Key Scriptures: Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV & MSG); Colossians 3:4-14; John 1:1, 14; Romans 10

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Click here to support Talk About It!

For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.com

Buy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack Cake

We're staying in Third Gear and diving deeper into all out generosity. If you've truly been touched by the One who loves you, giving becomes not just easy—it becomes pure joy. There's no grief in generosity; it's absolutely fun to bless and help others!

4. Generosity is empowered by God's ability, not ours.

I'm not generous based on what's in my bank account. I'm generous based on who my Daddy is. Why can I be generous? Because I know He's more than enough.

Here's the key: See yourself as a river, not a reservoir. Most people give out of their reservoir—"Oh no, the water's getting low, shut it down!" But God wants us to be the path, the avenue for His blessings to keep flowing through us. Only with money do we worry about running out. I've never worried about running out of love, prayers, or blessings. Generosity should flow in every facet of our lives.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9: "A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving." God doesn't want forced, reluctant giving. He wants cheerful, joyful generosity!

God gives you seed to plant, not just bread to eat. So many people take everything God gives them and consume it all. But the farmer doesn't eat his seed—he plants it. The seed is there for us to enjoy, but it's also there for us to plant into people's lives and into God's Kingdom so a harvest can come back.

Generosity believes: if I give it away, I'll have more, not less. Stinginess believes: if I keep it, I'll have more. God's Word says giving produces more. You'll be more blessed with 90% plus God's favor than with 100% and no blessing. You can never out-give God!

5. Generosity is released by faith and demonstrated through faithfulness.

How do you forgive someone? By faith—you don't feel like it. How do you help someone move? By faith. Generosity is an act of faith. James says, "Do not merely listen to the word... Do what it says" (James 1:22). You have to believe and act like what you have is not all you have. There's always more coming.

The parable of the talents (Matthew 25) shows us that faithfulness with what God gives opens the door for more. The servant who buried his one talent was called wicked and lazy—not because he lost it, but because he was afraid to let go. That money owned him. We need to be faithful and generous, not fearful.

6. Generosity produces contagious abundance and blessings.

Proverbs 11:24 says, "The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller." Generosity creates a contagious environment of blessing. When you bless others, you are abundantly blessed. When you help others, you are helped.

What would happen if...

• You became unconditionally generous in your marriage and family?
• You were extravagantly generous at work—doing more than expected?
• You trusted God with your finances and resources, saying, "God is my source"?

Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Live like a river, not a reservoir. Go full throttle in generosity!

Key Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (MSG); Proverbs 11:24-25 (MSG); Proverbs 28:27; Luke 6:38 (MSG); James 1:22; James 2:17; Matthew 25:14-30

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Click here to support Talk About It!

For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.com

Buy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack Cake

We're shifting into Third Gear, and today we're talking about something that will transform every area of your life: all out generosity.

What would happen if you entered your marriage with all out generosity—saying "yes" before your spouse even finishes asking? What if you were that generous with your kids, your coworkers, your employer? What if you stopped doing the bare minimum and started going above and beyond? A generous lifestyle is one of the most rewarding, fulfilling ways to do life.

But let's be honest: we're naturally stingy and selfish. It comes easy. Being generous is a choice, not a talent. You can decide today to be a giver instead of a taker.

Paul told Timothy that the rich (and that's most of us compared to the rest of the world) should be "extravagantly generous" (1 Timothy 6:17-19, MSG). Real living—life that is truly life—is found in blessing, helping, and aiding others.

Jesus takes it even further in Luke 6. Love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. If someone takes your coat, give them your shirt too. Don't just give—be so generous that when someone steals from you, you offer them more. Why? Because God is your source. He can replace anything. Don't fret it. Just be generous.

Then comes the promise: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap" (Luke 6:38). But here's the catch—this isn't a get‑rich‑quick scheme. The point of generosity is not so you can get more. The point is to have more so you can give more. As the Message puts it: "Give away your life; you'll find life given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."

Three truths about generosity:

1. It's a choice, not a talent. You choose to be selfish. You can choose to be generous.
2. It's a lifestyle, not a moment. Don't treat generosity like a crash diet. It's a permanent life change.
3. It's ignited by love. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. When you spend time with the Author of love, generosity flows naturally.

I can tell if you're generous in just three minutes—not by looking at your bank statement, but by asking about your walk with Jesus. People who are on fire for God are generous people. They can't help it.

So let's go all out. Be generous in prayer, in forgiveness, in helping, in finances. Love God, love people, and watch what He pours back into your life.

Key Scriptures: Luke 6:27-38; 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (MSG); 1 John 4:7-8

Support the show