Pastor Bria Bradshaw

Proverbs 11:24 (MSG) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

Leviticus 23:22 (ESV) “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

1. Live well within your boundaries - “Don’t reap your field right up to its edges…”
2. Leave what’s behind for others - “Nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.”

Deuteronomy 24:19-22 (ESV) “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.

GOD'S PLAN TO CARE FOR THE POOR AND THE MARGINALIZED HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIS PEOPLE.

√ WE ARE MAXED OUT.

√ WE WANT A RETURN.

√ WE FORGET.

Deuteronomy 24:22 (ESV) You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.

I. WHERE WE MAKE SPACE

Ask - Lord, where is my life so filled with me that there’s no room for you to move?

II. WHERE WE REMEMBER

Ask - Lord, where have I forgotten what you’ve done in my life?

III. WHERE WE'RE SURRENDERED

Matthew 25:34-40 (ESV) Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.’

Ask - Lord, what part of my life is not surrendered or unavailable to you?

1. Making Space

• Where do you notice our family/life being “filled to the edges” right now?
• What is one practical way we could create more space—time, margin, or resources—so God can move through us?

2. Remembering

• What is something God has done for you that you don’t want to forget?
• How might remembering God’s faithfulness make us more open-handed with others?

3. Surrendering & Generosity

• What area of our lives feels hardest to surrender or give generously—time, money, attention, energy? Why?
• Who around us might be “the least of these” that God is inviting us to see and care for this week?

Pastor Wes Morris

Proverbs 11:24 (MSG) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

√ I NEED TO PROTECT MYSELF.

Proverbs 29:25 (NIV) Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

√ HAVING MORE WILL MAKE ME SECURE.

Mark 10:21–22 (NLT) Jesus looked at him and loved him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he said. “Go and sell all your possessions…then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”

√ WHAT I HAVE DETERMINES WHO I AM.

II Corinthians 8:1-2 (NLT) Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

A LIFE THAT OVERFLOWS

I. OPEN YOUR HEART TO HEALING.

Luke 10:31-33 (NIV) A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

II. PLACE YOUR SECURITY IN JESUS.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV) I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

III. LIVE WITH ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE.

I Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV) Command them not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

NEXT STEPS

Where is God asking you to show courage this week so your life can overflow - in healing, in trust, or in living with an eternal perspective?

Pastor Wes Morris

Proverbs 11:24 (MSG) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

√ WE HOLD ON TRYING TO PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE.

√ WE HAVE A SCARCITY MINDSET.

John 6:8-9 (NLT) Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

John 6:11 (NLT) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.

Philippians 4:19 (NLT) And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.


√ WE’VE BEEN HURT IN THE PAST.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

I. PRACTICE DAILY SURRENDER.

John 12:24 (NIV) Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Romans 12:1 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.


II. DEVELOP A THANKFUL HEART.

II Corinthians 9:8 (NIV) And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.


III. FIND JOY IN BEING GENEROUS.

Proverbs 11:25 (NIV) A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS (Pick One)

• If you could have one superpower to help people (not to make your own life easier), what would it be?
• What’s something small someone gave you that meant way more than its actual value?
• If you had to describe your week using only one word of gratitude, what would it be?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Key Verse: “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” Proverbs 11:24 (MSG)

1. WE HOLD ON TRYING TO PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE.

• Why do you think our first instinct is often to hold on tightly instead of trusting God?
• How does generosity challenge our desire to stay in control?
  
  

2. WE HAVE A SCARCITY MINDSET.

John 6:9-11 (NLT), Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

“Scarcity isn’t the absence of resources; it’s the absence of trust.”

• When have you felt like you didn’t have enough - time, money, energy, or ability - yet saw God provide?
  
  

3. WE’VE BEEN HURT IN THE PAST.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)

• How can past pain or disappointment cause us to close our hands or hearts?
• What does it look like to let God soften your heart again?
• How might healing and generosity be connected?
  
  

I. PRACTICE DAILY SURRENDER

John 12:24 (NIV), Romans 12:1 (NIV)

• What does surrender practically look like in your everyday life?
• Why is it so hard to let go, even when we know God can do more with what we give Him?
• What’s one area where God might be asking you to take your hands off and trust Him?