BRICK-BY-BRICK Part 2 - Center of Praise Ministries

WEEKLY
BRICK-BY-BRICK Part 2
Center of Praise Ministries,
Sacramento, CA
Week of December 27, 2015
Issue No. 34
W
e are concluding The Joy of Generosity series this week. This teaching series has challenged us
by shedding new light on JOY, and how its origins are found in the presence of the Lord. Even
when you face challenges you can give God praise and receive His JOY.
Your thinking pertaining generosity and JOY together have been expanded. The JOY is truly found when
you give to God in the things of God. There exists an opportunity to be not just consumer/receivers, but
radical investors in what God is doing both here and around the world.
A RADICAL INVESTMENT
OPPORTUNITY
Based Upon the Teachings of Dr. Ronn Elmore
THE INVESTMENT PRINCIPLE
In Manhattan in the 1600’s, the people came together to see
how they could multiply their monies. They called the place
“Wall Street”. Originally, a marketplace for Africans and Native
Americans to be sold or rented as slaves, Wall Street later
became the central bargaining place for financial securities
and formed the Buttonwood Agreement (the original NY Stock
Exchange), into which people would invest their monies in order
to gain a return.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. The Investment Principle
2. The Investment Return
3. Opposing Mentalities: Consumer vs.
Investor
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (NET Bible)
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My point is this: The person who sows
sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the
person who sows generously will also reap
generously. 7 Each one of you should give
just as he has decided in his heart, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, because
God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able
to make all grace overflow to you so that
because you have enough of everything in
every way at all times, you will overflow in
every good work. 9 Just as it is written, “He
has scattered widely, he has given to the
poor; his righteousness remains forever.”
The church, the people of God, are not supposed to gather
together to see what it can get or gain from God in order to
consume it; NO. We, the church, gather in order to pull together
with one another (our gifts, talents, resources and finances) in
order to impact and affect others near and far. We gather as
disciples to make more disciples both here and abroad. We do
this as individuals and in partnership with one another, saying: “If
I cannot go, I can partner with others in sending someone who
DISCUSSION POINT 1:
can go.”
As we sow into the Kingdom of God, know
We are called to INVEST into the Kingdom of God by sowing. that there should be equal sacrifice, not
equal amounts. The heart of the investor is
Your seed along with that of others can produce much more.
linked with others to get more accomplished.
BIBLICAL DEFINITION
Discuss how your time, talent and treasure
Sow: v [Greek: speirō] to scatter, to extend seed
links up with that of others in order to produce
Reap: [Greek: therizō] to harvest, to gather; Reaping: n. the
more.
reward of doing well
THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT
What is the Return on Your Investment?
(Vs. 6-7) The Bible is clear: the person who invests little will gain little. It is a Kingdom principle for which there
is no flexibility. On the other hand, the Bible also states that the person who invests generously will also receive
bountifully. Therefore, the believer is to invest with good heart, good intention, good motive and with a good
attitude, and expect a healthy return.
(Vs. 8) God provides everything you need. “Needs” differ from “wants”. This is inclusive of God’s progressive
plan to expand the Kingdom of God by investing in the needs of the poor in zip codes outside of our own.
The church today has the opportunity to be a blessing exponentially. We quote this statement every weekend:
“…and the needs of this ministry are already met”. Our needs are met, and it is now time for us to impact other
communities and other countries. This is the return: to be used by God to impact the lives of others.
OPPOSING MENTALITIES: CONSUMER VS. INVESTOR
The truth is that we are all consumers and recipients. In the
advanced levels of the things of God, however, we become
investors into the Kingdom of God. But, what is the mentality
we are to take on? How do we differentiate this level of spiritual
maturation: between being a consumer and an investor?
Isaiah 58:2; 6-12 (CEV)
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Day after day, you worship the Lord
and seem eager to learn his teachings.
You act like a people that wants to do right
by obeying God’s laws…
But let me tell you the kind of self-sacrificing
worship that God desires.
It is the kind that loosens the chains of injustice
Consumer Mentality vs. Investor Mentality –
There are distinctions between the two mentalities: Consumer and breaks the yokes of oppression, freeing
those who are in bondage.
and Investor.
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It is to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless into your house;
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
When going to purchase something as a consumer or going to and not to hide yourself from your own flesh and
blood?
Consumers: Short-term focus (right now) vs.
Investors: Long-term focus (Kingdom of God)
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make an investment you do the same thing in either case: take
your money, go and give it to the store or to the investment firm. 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
The difference is this: you will never ever see the money you have and your own healing shall spring forth speedily;
deposited into the store; whereas, the money invested has the your righteousness shall go before you;
potential for a return back to you. This is long term thinking.
the glory of the LORD shall guard you from
behind.
Consumers focus on the risk vs.
Investors focus on the Opportunity
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am...’
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A prospectus informs the investor of the risks involved when
investing. “This, that and the other may happen to your money”…
BUT, the Word of God says, “Test me in this” (Malachi 3:10).
God established His Kingdom principle of sowing and reaping,
which He does not forsake. His instructions to the investor: “Sow
Generously” (2Cor 9:6). There is the surety of a return.
Consumers focus on maintaining their money vs.
Investors focus on multiplying their money
The Lord will always lead you. He will meet
the needs of your soul in the dry times and give
strength to your body. You will be like a garden
that always has abundant water and never dries
up.
11
You will rebuild cities that are now in ruins;
and be known as the people who can fix anything,
restoring, rebuilding and making communities
livable again.
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Could your house, income, ministry, assets, family and your life
stand to be blessed? Do not focus on what’s presently in your
pocket. Focus on the multiplying in order to build, reach, grow, DISCUSSION POINT 2:
Are you doing enough? Is God asking or
and secure beyond your own abilities as an individual.
The Lord says, “Give… I’ll hook you up either generously or
sparingly depending upon your generosity.”
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leading me to extend my faith through giving
(sowing) into the Kingdom of God even more?
In what ways can you partner with the church?
FACTORPOINTS
HE’S HERE...WORSHIP - Incorporate this prayer into your daily prayers this week:
Dear Lord,
We thank You for creating in us the desire to fix, restore, rebuild and make communities
around the globe livable once more. Build in us the spirit of the investor as the mentality
of the consumer diminishes from within. You have atoned us for Your glory and saved us
from our sins; but also You have saved us FOR Your plan and purpose to be accomplished
on the earth. We understand that our investment is eternal, not temporary. Thank You
for extending the opportunity to us today. You have given to us the ANSWER for all of the
world problems; that is the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST.
Choose us, train us, use us, and send us. AMEN
HE KNOWS... LEARN - Get connected in the New Year. If you haven’t gone through
the Member Orientation known as Starting Point, or if you went through an earlier
presentation (New Partners Orientation), we encourage you to enroll in the new Starting
Point Member Orientation beginning January 10, 2016, 8:30AM at the Cathedral. The
four-session orientation focuses on Vision & Mission, Strategy, Stewardship and Service
at COP. Enroll online: CENTEROFPRAISE.NET/EVENTS
HE’S ABLE... SERVE - There are a few things you can do right NOW:
1. Serve by sowing your End of Year Gift. You have a few more days before the end of
the year. Go to CENTEROFPRAISE.NET and click on “The Joy of Generosity - GIVE NOW”
graphic.
2. CONNECT to both learning and serving opportunities in the New Year. Get plugged in
through our Connect Conference: January 7-8, 7PM at the Cathedral.
Mark Your Calendar
CENTEROFPRAISE.NET
To view the complete teaching, please go to our website and click on the Media tab and select Centered Life TV.
Scripture taken from the The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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