Be a good steward of your millions

Matthew 25:20-21

• Think about how much money the average American worker earns over the course of their lives:
  • $40,000 * 40 years = $1.6 million
• What will God say about how you handled the money that went through your hands?
• If you actually track your money for a month you might be surprised!
• Surprising facts about millionaires:
  • “79% of millionaires did not inherit a dime of money on their way to a million dollars. That means they worked and saved their way to wealth …
  • Only 31% had an average annual salary of $100,000 or more over the course of their careers. And about one-third of all millionaires never had a six-figure salary in their life!
  • 94% of millionaires live on less than they make, compared to 55% of the general population.”
  • Source

I Corinthians 16:1-2

• Think about the blessings and opportunities that can come from money.

I Timothy 6:17

• Ultimately, our security in life comes from God.

James 4:13-14

Gaining by giving

Giving helps ME.

• Ephesians 4:22-28
• I Tmothy 6:18-19
  • Savers need to learn to rely on God.
  • Many studies show that giving and generosity make people feel significantly better.
• Ephesians 2:10

Giving make us more like God.

• John 3:16
• I John 3:16-18
• Luke 6:35
• II Corinthians 8:9

Introduction

• Do you ever feel discouraged or disconnected from God?
• John 20:29
• How can we actually see God? Through His word.
• How do we feel His loving care and protection?

Key things we can do to see God

Look at God’s word

• Matthew 5:8 - The pure in heart shall see God.
  • II Peter 1:5-8
  • Two ways to see God.
    • Pure in heart will see God in heaven.
    • We see God by experiencing Him.
  • Colossians 1:15-16
  • Deuteronomy 6:24
    • God’s rules are for our good. Hopefully we make rules for our children for the same reason.
    • Hebrews 10:25

Look for God in our everyday life

• Romans 1:20 - Creation
  • Genesis 1-2
  • Romans 1:21-22 - Look what happens when we don’t purify our hearts!
• God’s blessings
  • Romans 15:29
  • Ephesians 2:8
  • We should consider ourselves stewards of these blessings and look at them to draw near to God.

Lof for God’s love in others

• Matthew 22:39; John 13:34; Romans 13:10
• Finish the race to see God
  • II Timothy 4:7-8
  • II Corinthians 4:16-18
  • I John 3:2

God’s promise

• Revelation 22:4 - We will see Him!

Luke 23, continued

Luke 23:26-43 - Crucifixion

• Whey did they crucify Jesus?
  • Matthew 23:32
• Pressed Simon the Cyrene into service (Luke 23:26)
• Large crowd (Luke 23:27)
• Two others
• The skull (Golgotha)
• Praying forgiveness
  • Jesus always focused on forgiveness first. Even when He healed people with serious ailments, He often forgave them of their sins first, then healed their physical problems (Mark 2; Matthew 5:43). He put things in the proper order. He did the most right thing first.
• People sneering - even the rulers
• The thief

Luke 23:44-49 - Jesus death

• About the sixth hour
  • Roughly noon by modern time.
• Sun veiled, veil torn
  • The darkness Lasted too long to be an eclipse.
  • The veil was the separation between the Holy and Most Holy places. Jesus was now the veil - He is how we approach the father. John 14:6
• Jesus announcing His death
  • John 10:17-18
• Pronounced innocence
• Second thoughts in the crowd
  • If Jesus was innocent, who was guilty?
• Witness of the faithful

Theme 1: Will we even have a future?

• How will I make a living one day?
• Will my generation be able to build a stable future?
• Is society headed in the right direction or falling apart?
• Does getting an education really matter?

Theme 2: How do I know what’s true?

• What makes a good life?
• What is true or worth believing?
• Who am I really?
• What is right and wrong?
• Can I trust AI?
• What does it mean to be human?

Theme 3: Will anyone actually show up for me?

• Where do I truly belong?
• Dop people genuinely care about me?
• Why am I here?
• How should I treat others?
• Will my parents or caregivers always love me?

Five quick points

• Your parents love you.
• Your parents are not perfect.
• Give them a break. Neither are you.
• The people at church are your spiritual family.
• God is the perfect, loving Father.

Theme 4: Is God even there?

• Does God love me?
• Is God real?

Three simple but profound questions

• Is it reasonable to believe that …
  • … something can come from nothing?
  • … design can come from an accident?
  • … life can come from nonlife?

Beware of social comparisons.

• Luke 12:13-15, 21
• Exodus 20:17
• Proverbs 15:16-17
• Proverbs 21:17, 20

Use money as a tool for God’s work.

• I Timothy 6:17-19
• Haggai 1:4, 8-9
• I John 3:17-18
• Psalms 37:21
• Proverbs 19:17
• Deuteronomy 24:19
• Matthew 5:42
• I Peter 4:9
• MAtthew 25:43
• Ephesians 4:28
• James 2:14-16
• Luke 15:13