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Taking Care of God’s House

“Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.” HAGGAI 1:4-11 NLT

God blesses my home when I take care of his house

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. MALACHI 3:10 ESV

I take care of God’s house by helping to raise his kids spiritually

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” MATTHEW 19:14 ESV

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. PROVERBS 22:6 NLT

I take care of God’s house by supporting it financially

Take a sacred offering for the LORD. Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; EXODUS 35:5 ESV

The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. PSALM 37:21 NLT

You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. 2 CORINTHIANS 8:9 NLT

Blessed are those who are generous, PROVERBS 22:9 NLT

I take care of God’s house by serving at it faithfully

There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:5 NLT

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. ROMANS 12:11 NLT

I can serve my local campus by _________

I take care of God’s house by welcoming people to it enthusiastically

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ROMANS 15:7 ESV

But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.  1 THESSALONIANS 4:9 NLT

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 JOHN 3:16 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a moment to relax. Whatever thoughts you have going through your mind, allow yourself time to put them aside. Notice your breath and the way your body moves as you breathe. These breaths are each a gift from God, and as you take them, quietly thank Him for this moment of life He’s given you. Ask Him what He would like you to do with this time He’s given you. Now, think about the local campus you attend–your spiritual home. What does it look like? How would you describe it physically to someone who’s never seen it before? Picture details in all the structures and objects that make up the campus. Think of the lights, the seats, the stage and production equipment. Think of the roof, the parking lot, the plants, and anything else you can think of that makes this place your spiritual home. As you think of these things, begin thanking God for these gifts He’s given you and your spiritual family. Ask God how He would like for you to help take care of this special place. Now think of the faces of people who sit in the seats during service and hear the gospel. Think of the healing, the teaching, the praying, the crying, the bonding, the laughing, the singing that all happen every week. Think of the people who help make that happen through their generosity and service. Thank God for them! Ask God how you can use the time, talent and resources you’ve been given to serve and support your local campus. Who is someone you could invest in and how would you invest in them?

Discussion Questions

Choose a couple of the following questions from each section that best fit your group. Or have everyone read the questions, choosing which one(s) from each section they feel led to respond to.

  1. START HERE: What comes to your mind when you think of generosity?
  2. START HERE: What motivates you in life?
  3. START HERE: Who is the most generous person you know and what seems to be most important to them?
  4. KEEP GOING: When have you experienced a “generous impulse”? What was it and what happened?
  5. KEEP GOING: How is God leading you to become more generous when it comes to your financial support of Sandals Church?
  6. KEEP GOING: Who is a kid you’ve invested in? How have you seen God change your life through theirs?
  7. KEEP GOING: Read Proverbs 22:6 NLT. Who are you investing in at Sandals Church and how are you investing in them?
  8. LIVE IT OUT: Read 1 Corinthians 12:5 (NLT). Finish this sentence, I can serve my local campus by __________.
  9. LIVE IT OUT: How can I work to welcome people to Sandals and to pray for its growth?
  10. LIVE IT OUT: Read Romans 15:7 (NLT). How will you help people feel welcomed at church?