He is always on time…GOD TIME… NOW is the best time to say YES to Jesus… Even if you haven’t said yes to Jesus before today…I would challenge you to look back over the course of your life… where or when has He been calling you to Himself? He has ALWAYS been there, inviting you into a relationship with Him. There has never been a day, a time, a moment…that He wasn’t in it, calling out to you, inviting you… Who are you today? Are you a child of God? Will you say YES TO JESUS right now?

Extreme Generosity – Love Privilege
Conversation with Pastor Joel

1 John (as referenced in the sermon)

The Rich Young Ruler — Matthew 19:16–22, Mark 10:17–22, Luke 18:18–23

Pastor Joel shared about leaving the security and predictability of the corporate world in order to follow God’s call into ministry.
What part of Pastor Joel’s surrender journey hits closest to home for you?
Where do you sense the Holy Spirit inviting you to trust God with something that feels risky, uncomfortable, or costly?

Pastor Joel talked about how obedience isn’t always logical, but it is always transformational.
Can you think of a moment when following Jesus required a step that didn’t “add up” on paper?
What did you learn about God—and about yourself—through that step?

Pastor Joel described generosity not just as giving from what we have, but giving who we are.
What does whole-life generosity look like for you right now—at home, at work, or in your faith walk?
Where is Jesus calling you to step deeper into that kind of generosity?

In the Rich Young Ruler story, Jesus lovingly touches the one thing the man wouldn’t surrender.
Where do you see yourself in his tension—wanting Jesus, yet holding tightly to something else?

If Jesus asked you the same question He asked Pastor Joel—
“Will you trust Me with this?”
—what would this be for you today?

Don’t go on an APOLOGY TOUR … or GET EMBARRASSED about being BLESSED BY GOD. All BLESSINGS COME FROM GOD! PRAISE Him! THANK Him! He is the ULTIMATE PROVIDER!!! I’ll say it again … NEVER APOLOGIZE for being blessed by God!!!

Here's the BOTTOM LINE … God wants you to SURRENDER YOUR LIFE TOTALLY TO HIM. He wants ALL OF YOU! This is a GOD-PRINCIPLE! The GREAT RETURN is a STAGE WE PASS THROUGH on our way to BECOMING LIVING SACRIFICES. I urge you to MAKE A DECISION and TAKE THE FIRST STEP.

Deep Discussion Questions

1.From Compassion to Action Pastor Sheldon said, “Love acts.” He emphasized that Jesus didn’t just feel compassion—He moved immediately toward the need. When was a time you felt compassion but didn’t act—and what held you back? What would it look like to shorten the gap between feeling moved and moving?

2. Real Generosity vs. “Nice Feelings” Pastor Sheldon said, “We’re pros at noticing feelings, saying nice things, and raising awareness—but that’s not generosity if it costs us nothing.” How do we discern the difference between “performative” generosity and the kind that truly reflects Jesus’ heart? What might it look like for generosity to actually cost us something today?

3. Finishing What We Start Drawing from 2 Corinthians 8, Pastor Sheldon pointed out that Paul urged the Corinthians not just to start giving, but to finish what they’d begun. Where in your life has God prompted you to be generous, but you’ve stalled halfway? What might “finishing the ministry of giving” look like for you personally or for our church community?

Bonus Questions

4. Interruptible Living Jesus often allowed Himself to be interrupted—the leper, the blind men, the crowds—and those moments became miracles. Pastor Sheldon said he wants to be “more ready with his yes.” How interruptible are you? What rhythms or habits could help you stay open to those “divine appointments” he talked about?

5. Planning to Be Generous Pastor Sheldon’s story about the giving jar showed that generosity can be both spontaneous and intentional. How might you begin budgeting or planning so that you can say “yes” when God prompts you to give—without hesitation?

If you want your heart to be softened by God-like COMPASSION If you want to commit to building CAPACITY through obedience to God If you need that God-confidence to respond with COURAGE TODAY is the best day to start. The best time is now!

 Use this podcast for group discussions! Go more in depth on the current sermon with Pastor Sheldon and Pastor Nathan! 3 Discussion Questions

1. **Receiving to Give**: Pastor Nathan emphasizes that generosity begins with a "palms up" posture of constantly receiving God's love and grace, citing John 3:16 as an ongoing, present-tense reality. How does maintaining this receptive stance challenge clenched-fist selfishness in daily life, and what practical habits (e.g., prayer, reflection) can help us stay in a "constant download" from God to fuel outward generosity?

2. **Tithe as Starting Point, Not Generosity Itself**: The podcast distinguishes returning God's tithe (the first 10%, symbolic of putting Him first) from true giving or extreme generosity, noting that tithe is "the least we can do" and a release point for deeper surrender. In what ways does intentionally setting aside the tithe reorder the rest of life (finances, time, relationships), and how might viewing it as "returning" rather than "giving" transform reluctance into joyful obedience?

3. **Extreme Generosity as Evangelism**: Referencing the Macedonian church's reputation despite poverty and Wooster Naz's community acts (e.g., serving school staff), Pastor Nathan calls extreme generosity "contagious" and a universal language on mission trips. How does giving from scarcity (not abundance) most powerfully point to God's heart, and what local opportunities could build Wooster Naz's reputation further?

2 Bonus Questions

4. **Family Modeling and Gut Checks**: Examples like Dixie's parents and teaching kids to share illustrate generosity as "caught" through osmosis, with calls to praise generous acts quickly and ask family, "Do you think we're a generous family?" What risks and rewards come from this vulnerability, and how can it break cycles of bickering or love deficits in homes?

5. **Generosity Beyond Money: The Five T's**: Expanding on time, talent, touch, tears, and treasure, the discussion highlights how generosity "bleeds into" all areas and counters cultural selfishness, producing joy as a byproduct. How does modeling the "little things" (e.g., inclusiveness with kids, helping strangers spontaneously) expose and heal heart issues like self-worship, and why is it essential to create margins (e.g., "walk slowly through the crowd") to live this out reactively?

This REFLECTS the GENEROSITY AND GOODNESS of God, who clearly said … “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” MORE MONEY and things WON’T MAKE YOU MORE GENEROUS. It will just make you MORE OF WHAT YOU ALREADY ARE!!! More DOESN’T CHANGE YOUR HEART … it EXPOSES IT! GENEROSITY STARTS NOW!!!