Be on Guard Against Greed

So, my family and friends welcome night one of our many worship options. We have the weekend, Thursday nights in three of our campuses.

Brier Creek and capital Hills and our Blue Ridge campus and then on Sunday morning.

There is a think eight different services at different locations and then those of you that are in one of her home. Gatherings are hundred and 74 at least minimum home gatherings at hundred 74 because you have told us about you know in the summa church as I do this probably at least twice that many have that have not reached out and told us how we view do. It gives us a chance to be able to support you and be able to help make this an even better experience.

But I know there's a lot of you that are gathered in home gatherings this weekend as well. Some of you that just for him either for safety reasons or just because of where life has you you are are are by yourself in the living room where you are from the computer screen.

We want to say welcome to all of you on the things we believe in the summa church is that worship is a group experience and so is much as we can. We want to be able to come together and nobody should have to worship alone and so if you choose warmer in person gatherings. Obviously, we are taking precautions and observing their safety protocols.

But we have other options. If you're in a place for you.

Just like that, that some that doesn't work for you so wherever you are, or however you are joining us was a welcome to you because some we're still gathering as one body.

Even though it is in several hundred different locations. Now the election is over, sort of. And I know that you are feeling all kinds of emotions right now what I want to do before we begin anything this weekend as I want to give you three words three words that I think should shape a believer should shape your posture. After this election. These company apostle Peter from the letter that he wrote to the church.

The Odyssey wasn't talking about election like ours, but he just talks about how believers are to engage with one another in the world around them. The three words one and I did all three in empathy charity and unity, empathy means try to see a situation through somebody else's eyes. Understanding why they think like they do on trying to understand what motivates them, what creates such passion in them. What what would they most concerned about with the selection what justice questions were close to their hearts that motivated them, what fears what fears animated. I'm not saying that you need to agree with their political calculus, but you can at least try as much as possible to see it through their eyes.

I think that's what we owe to one another, especially when you're talking about somebody that that that liens differently than you do, politically or societal workers read along with the first verse was empathy settlement charity charity charity means assuming the best about that person giving them the benefit of the doubt about their motives.

The political discourse in our country.

Trains us to assume the worst about everybody else's motives, even as we demand that they assume the best about about hours. Based on what you here. You would think there are only two options in our society. E-reader Marxists are racist. You are communist or fascist in the church we ought to think differently as much as we can. We want to give each other the benefit of the doubt. And that leads us to the third word and that when is the word unity unity. I repeat, listen, we can and should insist on alignment around biblical values. I just really when it comes to things like the sanctity of life that's really not up for debate abortion is a horrendous scourge on our nation. We are united on the wickedness of racism, the preciousness of religious liberty. The importance of caring for the poor. These are all important biblical values that were to be clear on but we can do that we can maintain that unity even as we allow disagreement on the political calculus that is used to pursue those things when I say political calculus. What I mean is which candidate you think is best to get the job done or even which issues you ought to prioritize over the other ones in this election.

Those are questions that we can have convictions on. We should have convictions on them, but we can disagree and still remain united in Christ, not because those considerations are not important because our identity in Christ and our mission to preach the gospel is that much more important to summa church listen, let's resolve to be united in a very divided time, because the gospel that we preach is of the greatest importance, and the great commission that we advance is of the highest urgency and then, amen, amen. Listen, let's be outspoken. We will continue be outspoken on things like the sanctity of life and the importance of impartial justice because those evils are real and they really harm people really do that to keep our focus on preaching the gospel that is alone able to save the soul to heal the sick and is able to give us eternal life because that's what this church that's water main thing is we replace what we believe the gospel is above all great men and that's all I got say about that or I looked up at 12. If you got your Bible to chapter 12 of you have your Bible, we are in week number two of the series called instep in which were looking at at walking with Jesus in a way that makes our lives secure and eternally significant. Last week we saw Jesus worn religious people that it is possible for them to look like they are right with God, but be self deceived today wanted to see Jesus warned us about the toxic nature of greed, which is I'm going to show you an invisible sickness.

Jesus says that afflicts all of us.

Luke chapter 12.

Like many people I am fascinated by that show orders I don't watch it all the time but when I do catch an episode on it's like I can't turn away anybody else like that. It's just so something tragically fascinating about about that show I just about the whole concept you going to somebody's house and there are up to their eyeballs in broken tennis rackets and durable cages and copies of the Encyclopaedia Britannica when they stage an intervention on that show.

They almost always bring in.

If you see that you know this almost always bring into people. The first is an organizer and the organizer deals with the what my getting rid of all the junk.

The second is a psychologist who deals with the why, what is it that makes this person compulsively collect all that stuff you need both people you the organizer and the psychologist because there's no use dealing with the what if you're not going to get to the why. They're just going to rinse and repeat that show that show hoarders I think demonstrates more look at today and that is that greed is not ultimately about our possessions. Greed is ultimately about the fallen conditions of our hearts match when Jesus is getting out in Luke 12� Take a look at this passage. Luke 12 verse 13 somebody from the crowd called out to him, teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me at scholars by the way, say that this was a very common problem in Jerusalem. Older brothers can manipulate the laws that were on the books and in a way that would allow them to cheat the younger brothers out of upwards. They say it, two thirds of the family inheritance. I was a system that was just open to abuse and injustice.

Jesus's response.

Verse 14 friend, he said them. Who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you even told them watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one's life is not in the abundance of his possessions. Then he told them this parable. Okay, let's stop right there for the second now. First, if these opening verses. Sound familiar to you is because we use this story in our flag series to illustrate how Jesus avoided getting entangled in the specifics of earthly justice questions so that he can focus on fulfilling his primary mission, which was preaching repentance, preaching the gospel and calling people to follow him, but today. Today we want to do it when we want to look at what he actually preach to this younger brother. What was it that he worn this younger brother and the crowd was listening and the older brother what he worn them about greed underline that word greed.

If you underline stuff in your Bible. Watch out, he says, watch out.

Be on guard against greed. Several things I think you should note here.

First, why is Jesus preaching this message to the younger brother younger brothers, the one after all that was being long you will thought Jesus would've said hey go get your go get your manipulating older brother and bring him back here. He's the one that needs to hear this great message.

But Jesus preaches into the younger brother also invite verse 15 seems to indicate that Betty Jesus is preaching to both of them.

I see the word been there in verse 15 rightly eases another jump in and settle this matter. Both of you, but the one who was wrong and the one who is doing the wrong mean both of you got the same problem. Even though one of these in the right one is in the wrong button to get the same error problem and the problem is greed.

The first thing I want you to write data to write stuff down is possible for you to live clean and still be consumed by greed is very possible for you to live live in just a a a an exemplary way and still be consumed by greed and thought. Look at the way that Jesus words the warning, watch out. Be on guard against greed. They can sneak up on you and he can take you over without you even knowing it. But you know that Jesus does not use this kind of language regarding any other sin.

Jesus never says, for example, watch out and be on guard for adultery. Why, because it doesn't really sneak up on you like that you know when you're committing adultery is hard to commit adultery and not know what what what you know you're not my wife that this is not how it works but it's very easy to be greedy and have no knowledge of it all. All that to say Jesus's assumption is that all people, both religious and irreligious, but those who are living unjustly and those who are living justly have a problem with greed draw say it again it is important, it is possible for you to live clean to do a bit a person to do everything right and still be consumed by greed just like this younger brother but you know Jesus warned against the dangers of green far more far more often than he warned about the dangers of sex greedy is a silent deadly killer.

It it it it it's a kind of money, sickness, one of the worst symptoms of that sickness is a blindness to your condition. So Jesus is going to want to tell them a parable is just a watch out. Be on guard against greed and then you tell my story that is designed to help you diagnose your money, sickness before we look at that story I want to suggest to you that everybody listening to me right now. Wherever you are. Ought to start with the working hypothesis that you have a problem with greed. I don't think Jesus would've presented it best way to the younger brother who was being wrong. Only you will thought this way.

If that is not something he wanted us to assume and let me just say okay that as Americans I think is just part of the air that we breathe very clear center. Some of us are pretty sensitive about this. I love this country I love the Protestant work ethic that fuels our success and I think that we are one of the most generous countries on earth, but one of the curses of being prosperous is that as possessions increase, so does our appetite for more.

Want to consider a handful things are okay.

Americans make more than four times as much as the average person elsewhere outside of America but we spend 98% of that on ourselves. We spend more money in this country and eating out when we do giving to charity more money on her patch them into helping the poor more money on pornography than we do on combating oppression and injustice.

By the way that's not just because were in a tough spot right now. Americans give less to charity today.

Percentagewise we did in the Great Depression. Consider this a household income of six figures puts you in the top half of 1% of people worldwide top half of 1%, yet only one half of America should be only one third of Americans you make six figures say they feel like they have enough money to buy what they need. The richest one half of 1% in the richest part of the world feel like they don't have enough. And that translates into an addiction to debt.

71% of all credit card balances in this country have only the minimum monthly payment made every month. They say Americans spend on average a dollar 26 for every dollar that we earn. We save less than any industrialized nation in the world.

German save Aratus at about 10% of Americans say that a rate of -.5% right so it's not a great situation on our addiction to possessions distorts everything store so we look at life. I heard about a guy with a brand-new BMW Yahoo open up the car door I've reported on the road and as he opens up the card will get on the streetcar whizzes by 35 miles an hour tears off the door the car right your EE starts the police officer runs over the skies wailing all my BMW on my brand-new BMW and the officer said segment which one home with you. Your left arm got torn off.

Also gallops down over his left arm was a ghost Rolex. My Rolex was wrong on my role in that's not really true story but I think it's clear I think it's clear that like this younger brother problem with greed and here's where Jesus diagnoses and prescribes a solution for money sickness. Verse 16. What's pick up there again. Rich man's land. He said was very productive. Any thought to himself what should I do, since I don't have anywhere to store my crops. I'll do this.

He said I'll tear down my barns go bigger ones in their place now store all my grain and my goods there, then I'll say to myself, you have many good stored up for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself. God said to him, you fool, this very night your life be demanded of you, and then those things that you prepared whose will they be then that's how it is. Jesus says, with the wanted stores offer treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. Then Jesus said to his disciples.

Therefore I tell you, don't worry about your life what you will eat rock your body, what you will wear for life is more than food and the body is more than close see the pagan world.

Verse 30 there once run after all such things, but your father knows that you need them. You seek his kingdom and then these things be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Sell your possessions and give to the poor therefore provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near Nome often destroy. For where your treasure is much for your hearts can be. Also, Tim Keller says that Jesus identifies in this story, seven symptoms of money, sickness. I was giving you seven symptoms that can diagnose what your heart is money. Sickness right simple number one boasting boasting this man gloats about his wealth any bigger barns need a bigger house. Wealth gives this manna since of confidence in the sense of self worth for the money.

Sick how you feel about yourself as determined by how you compare financially to everybody else heard James Carville that political analyst they want times that when you finally do get to the top your first inclination is not said is not to rejoice. It's to look around Mike, who else is up here where I'm at now. Greed is inherently competitive. So even if you don't have a lot of money, you can still have this symptom never catch yourself looking at looking at others, comparing yourself to them lamenting that you were your children will have the opportunities that they have does a lack of money make you feel lesser, does it make you feel deprived. If so, then you've got money, sickness, symptom number two, worry if you got money sickness. You're constantly worried about the future.

You see this in verse 22. What are we going to eat one meal or drink whatever you wear, what can happen to my retirement, what can be the future of this economy. What if I never made the kind of money that will afford me really nice thing you worry, this way because you think the good life consist of material things and you're worried about never having those were not getting money to have that kind of life. Losing the money, what you got anything is really no way that I can have the good life unless I have the money. That's one worried about it or worried about losing once I have symptom number two symptom number three money comfort money comfort see what this man does verse 17 he thought to himself. He's talking to himself.

He's comforting himself by telling himself that all of his money is going to guarantee his safety self you got many goods laid up for many years. Life is going to be awesome when you got money sickness you take comfort in money, to comfort about how much you you become a person feel safe when your financial prospects are abundant.

You feel intolerably vulnerable women when they are that's the heart that gives birth to greed. You need possessions in order to feel secure. The irony is at that point you no longer own your possessions they own you, because you need them nor to have that feeling of security, but that's something number three symptom number four we see stinginess in this man's multiplying prosperity. He never thinks about what is money can do for others, or why never asked why God gave him so much as a religious Jew because that's the context of who Jesus was talking to this man. Shirley paid his ties to the temple, but generosity was not the joy of his heart. It's not wear his mind naturally went. He was most excited about living a life of luxury and ease in building bigger barns.

That's why he thought to himself about those things, greedy people often will give out of a sense of duty, but they have no joy in being generous. It hurts them, they might ties in my they might they might hide, but it hurts so they only give what they feel obligated to give and then they go back to their their life of a bigger barn building something. Number five overspending overspending when you have money, sickness, money becomes the medication for whatever negative emotion you feel when you're sad you think about something when you're bored I'll get something new I need a bigger barn is like debt become such a problem, your saviors, your credit card at your bottle of pills you medicate life strains with with the Medicaid life streams was stuff in excessive amount of things is a sure sign of money sitting. Some of you men right now are thinking about your wife's closet but don't do that okay. Think about whatever it is you collect symptom number five MCB symptom number six can't turn it off yet this incessant desire to pilot more and more is never seems to think it did to be enough. I'm sure when the guy Mr. I was young man. I'm sure he thought, man, if I get and I could just have enough money to buy some nice clothes man that would be the life and be a nice chariot river cruise around Jerusalem, and to be awesome. Many God that he thought. Memo to be like one data my own farm among workers and it gets badly neglected to build barn and have some excess crimes like himself when he gets that now here is Nina bigger barn, a symptom of money.

Sickness is never being satisfied enough is always right around the corner just never quite where you are just a little bit ahead of you when I was there about this is weaker when I was in high school I wanted a pair of Air Jordan so bad, but they were absurdly expensive and my parents like you want us to pay $70 for a pair of tennis shoes. Are you out of your mind but the minute I just have a pair Air Jordan's energy shock watch that's what I wanted a G and I thought me if I can have that lie, I would like what else is there to want in life.

Just what I eventually got there's things and I can win both of right now I when I got there, is that in the giving way to something else was almost like a cruel joke.

Real satisfaction than real security of soul is always just beyond me money. Sickness is like that.

It's always it's it's always is always out there just beyond you would never lets up and reminds me of that CEO that was interviewed in Forbes magazine that I that I often quote he said. I spent my entire life climbing the ladder of success only get to the top and find out it was leaning against the wrong building something. Number six is is is can't turn it off symptom number seven stockpiling money sickness drives you to save excessive amounts like this man. When I talk about a wise investment plan. That's biblical were talking about saving excessively or failing to be radically generous. Along the way right, you thought you can't do that because money is the entire basis of your security for the future. People who have money. Sickness can't be truly generous because money is there security so they can give it away. The EEC verse 33 where Jesus tells them to give away their possessions. Keep in mind that that that document all they had were possessions that induce savings accounts or stock portfolios. All they had was possessions possession for your retirement possessions were what you left your children. So when Jesus says give away your possessions. Jesus is not telling you to get rid of some things. He is telling this group to reduce their savings and cut into their net worth more than my gut. I can do that my identity is tied up in that my security is tied up in that Jesus could your money sick seven symptoms of money, sickness, boasting very money comfort stinginess overspending can't turn it off and stockpiling yet any of these you have any of these point your spouse we think they have somebody not under them is getting a grip. Thankfully Jesus in this passage points us to the cure with your account for things in this passage that he gives a cure number one number one he tells you to wake up to the brevity of life. This is a strangely effective care first 20 wake up to the brevity of life. This meant security gets brought down by one sentence from God one sentence that God will say to every single one of us at some point in our lives.

Verse 20 tonight your soul is required of you and then all these things George Forney stored whose well-baby, this man went to sleep that night.

Totally confident about tomorrow is getting up early to play golf not night, about 2 o'clock in the morning.

Unexpectedly, his art Psalm 90 verse 12 says that thinking often on the brevity of life is the beginning of wisdom. Lord Moses said in the Psalm 90 teach us to number our days, we may apply our hearts to learn wisdom. It's only by firmly embracing the brevity of your life that you can begin order your life the right way. Dharma learn this lesson as a kid.

The play my favorite board game with my mom. We split almost every afternoon monopoly money. I love the game and I'm a mom and I played all the time and I love getting Boardwalk and Park Place and Pacific and Pennsylvania Avenue. I got that whole side of the board at Lasso sector. The board I love watching her for anybody elsewhere. I love watching her face went when the shoot around the corner with her little car and know that she was going to have to land on one of our squares, limits the got a monopoly there is no way that you get through without without linen up on one of my squares of W hotels and they could bankrupt or in 110 move number my mom you smiling with approval. Tell me I was get the point again after I'd taken all her money and transfer. She probably told me the biggest lesson of all monopoly and that is when she took the board and she scooped all that up to the end put it back in the box and said Sunday one you made all this money, but it makes no difference because it all goes back in the box. Now go clean your room and all that money you had didn't make any difference you understand that at death, it all goes back in the box. It lives literally as worthless as all my accrued power and Park Pl. in Boardwalk and again that lasted for an hour and 1/2 and then after it all goes back in the box and whose wall those things be only one life to live will soon be passed only what's done for Christ will last for the Bible says about eternity is true, it is insanity for you to think the point of your possessions is to complex defy and adorn your life. Here, Matthew saw me walk around and target and I've got shopping carts. And I'm hearing them on July while buying all this stuff Biosystems nice stuff and I might know I don't have any money. I disliked it, but I carry around with me in the store that will be insane.

Friend, you can't take any of your possessions with you after death not to leave the store with it all goes back in the box stop living as if this life lasts forever and eternity is not real, it is you understand it's all going back in the box sister to live that way number two is you embrace brevity of life to you should be rich toward God choose to be rich toward God. Verse 2121 Jesus says if you're going to seem to be read somewhere seem to be rich toward God. Verse 33. Continue seller's possessions and give the poor make money back for yourselves that will grow old and inexhaustible treasure in heaven.

Where is not going back in the box where no thief comes near normal destroys wasted life is a life that focuses all of its effort on the 70 or 80 years here lives richly here and takes little to nothing into eternity. Last week I told you about a new book that I have it that just came out to what you do with your life.

What I do and I will just try to explore the difference between a waste of life in a wisely lived one opened the book of the story about hearing a sermon by John Piper years ago that is one of his ones.

I would say really change my life about within the phrase rental I change my life at this one actually did, and I can see that now. From the vantage point. About 20 years. Passion conference year was 2000 not great setting for a sermon. By the way, it was outdoors. It was rainy and it was money. It was January.

The wind was really boisterous and it blew half of Dr. Piper's notes off of the lectern out in the crowd was about 40,000 college students Darren John Piper told the story recounted. He said three weeks ago. We don't word in our church that Ruby Eliasson and Laura Edwards about been killed in Cameroon on a mission trip Ruby was over 80 single all of her life. She ported out for one great thing to make Jesus Christ known among the unreached. The poor and the sick. Laura was a widow, a medical doctor pushing 80 years old and serving a ruby siding Cameroon.

The brakes failed.

The car went over the cliff and they were both killed instantly. John Piper said.

I looked out of my people in Bethlehem Baptist Church and asked them their lives was not a tragedy smattering students throughout there, your back no, no, that's right, Piper responded, that's not a tragedy. I'll tell you what is a tragedy and pulled out a page from Reader's Digest to be read from this page and Reader's Digest. Bob and Penny took an early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler play softball and collect shells. Piper continued the American dream come to the end of your life. Your one and only life with the last great work before you left. The last great work before you given a counter cure to your creator be collected shells Lord here.

See my shells that I submit to you, he said, is a tragedy. People today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. Today I'm here to plead with you, don't buy it. Don't waste your life as a young man in my early 20s I will tell you I never got over those words don't waste your life. Don't die rich in the world import toward God. Some of you need to think about this tonight. It could all be over with God look at you and say you will you live claimant. No one had anything to say, guess you and your church every week, but but tonight your soul is required of you and then all those things that you work so hard for her to the gotta be now only one life to live will soon be passed only what's done for Christ will last. Number three.

Three Jesus said, you need to rethink contentment rethink contentment. Verse 22 verse 22 Jesus goes right to the heart of money, sickness then Jesus said to the disciples I tell you, do not worry about your life and you will eat or about your body, which will wear for life is more than food and the body is more than close is your problem is you think money is the essence of the good life. Jesus then uses two analogies that correspond to the money sickness really into different personality types, verse, verse 24 he says consider the ravens.

They neither seven store house or barn that God feeds them much more value for you than the birds.

Some of you that when you get extra money you like to save it. As you worry about a rainy day Jesus will bring out the bird emergency care saving God takes care of them.

Surely are more valuable to God than birds are your made in God's image, and birds are verse 27 he says consider the lilies how they grow, they neither toil nor spin you not tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow stone the oven. How much more will he clothe you, will you of little faith. I mean you last forever brass changes every season like you're more valuable to God than grass is. He died to save you and die for grass are way better than grass this point. With these analogies is not that we should never save or spend money on clothes's point is simply that God is that God is a more reliable source for both security for the future and for beauty, significance and fulfillment in the present and money is when you think about the future. What gives you a feeling of security is the amount of money that you have risen us right with God. If it's money to be very tightfisted with my if if if it's God you be free with that money will be openhanded you'll be ready to be generous whenever God directs and and and that's because you're not worried about it because God is your security not money. Stop thinking that contentment and happiness found just around the corner at the next income level.

Stop thinking security is at the next benchmark in your portfolio both significance and security.

Jesus said of the ravens in the lilies. Both of those are best found in the present by being obedient to God.

December 31. You should seek his kingdom. If you do all these things be added to you.

For all these things in context, security and fulfillment happiness. If you put God first and give you security he'll give you fulfillment, happiness, stop thinking they're out there somewhere that method of doing what you can obtain the future.

Those things are things that you should be able to experience wherever you want Sony disaster.

Are you happy right now you feel secure right now. If not, that's not a money problem. That's a relationship God problem. Contentment is a present posture issue, not a future acquisition one number four. Last one have a radical experience of grace for started to over 32 has become one of my favorite verses for a little flock as your father delights to give you the kingdom of the Lord, my English professor. They should not mix metaphors but here Jesus wonderfully mixes three. I called in the trifecta of assurance.

God is a the watchful Shepherd intimately aware of where we are and what were doing is be the Almighty King controlling everything according to his good purposes for our lives and see he's a tender father delights to see us thrive.

Can't you trust that if you obey him. He'll take care for you. We didn't die for you is your father's good pleasure to give you the Much did it cost him to give you the kingdom. It wouldn't free. Jesus had to purchase it with his blood and he provided that for you when you were his enemy, don't you think you will supply you abundantly. Now that you are his child. Now take your hands off of clinging so tightly. Furthermore, should then experience with the generosity of Jesus produce generosity in you. What is Jesus doing this stuff to give it away to save you. Where would you be heading not you lost and you also do that for others to see the cure for money sickness is wake-up the brevity of life. It started to be rich toward God choose Richard God is to rethink contentment and have a radical experience of grace. That's the cure for heart of greed. Some forecloses with a really practical way that you can apply this is something we call first-tier first was an initiative that we began at our church in 2018. It was a two year journey in which we approach God one question is Jesus first in our hearts is the first in our time are talent and treasure. We challenge you to give to make a two-year commitment of radical generosity that put Christ first receives a pastor was very moving time to see members that may some of the boldest. Some of radical commitments we've ever seen. I know of newlyweds. For example, the bill generosity into their initial budget with money and will even have one did it before getting a job and told me is totally set us on the Lord provide the exact salary increase that I can meet this faith commitment that I made. I know a family who had young kids on the determined they were going to make giving to the kingdom of God. Their largest expense every month more than their mortgage more than the retirement savings when they spend on Christmas. They watch God provide for them and an even more importantly watched God train their kids in my life was about serving Jesus, not about collecting stuff. I'm a couple of retirees in Briar Creek or Berkeley campus Canada Joanne shared that that that through first date, they given more two years than in the past decade because of the greatest thing was not the God multiplied her money and give it back to us. He said God gave us and we never had in our lives and that was contentment. Contentment and level of joy. We never experience can share that he feels like he's just as rich as Jeff these hours because there's nothing in the world that he desires that he cannot afford because level contentment. God has given them with what he has knows that and and and and so many other so many others over two years.

Summit family you committed $75 million. This generosity has enabled us to do some amazing things in the last two years we launched our campus and garnering in the capital Hills campus we we bought land for the Alamance County campus. We moved ahead with plans for the building. The North Durham campus facility we sent out for US church planters with teams to get churches started in different cities around the United States got five more in residency this year we've given out 7000 copies of groundwork's disciple making, study how to summit members and people here the triangle and all kinds of people. I want to do that over 100 baptisms here since August during covert okay hundred people that may baptize reverse 66 he prayed to receive Christ in October alone from dozens of countries around the globe of the globe, several hundred home gatherings, meeting every week. Yet, we had to adapt like never before. Here in 2021 2021 really continue to ask how to put Christ first and how to make the gospel above all and everything we do in this new wacky crazy normal that worrying everything is gonna be on the table especially our yes and prepared to wrap up this two-year two-year journey for someone asked all of you with your brand-new here, you been here for a while. When asked you to take a next step. First, if you made a first faith commitment couple years ago or last year when we renewed it to ask you like I'm challenging myself and my family to finish strong in December. Once you complete that commitment for those you were not here, and you make a commitment. Or maybe it is new to our church family.

We ask you to jump in when I did asked you to fill out a card, but the next couple weeks. I want you to prayerfully consider what it would look like for Jesus to the first place in your finances and get engaged like one. Just a visitor here and on the German Christian I'm not talking to you okay I'm talking about those you like a think this church is supposed to be the church that I'm a part of.

Listen we would love to have you here under any circumstances. We know that God leads you here to make this your place of ministry, then it's a mission that you believe and we want to see the gospel transform the triangle. We want to see church plant around the world and we would love to have you as a part of that because that's all we are the group of people that are not funding the vision of a pastor is a group of people that are following when Jesus laid on the great commission is not about us meeting a budget, it's about you beautiful disciple of Jesus and and us taking advantage of this moment that we have right now for mission.

That's what it's about. I saw this recently. Let me me when the end on it original listless of this and what you imagine how much you think all this will cost okay.

Sponsor a million new indigenous full-time missionaries and poor nations around the world completely fund the fight against global malaria quadruple the global missions budget of all missions agencies engaged in reaching uneventful as nation quadruple provide food, clothing and shelter to all 6.5 million refugees across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Triple global Bible translation budget fund, 150,000 seminary scholarships for promising students in emerging economies double the operating budget of compassion that's caring for orphans establish eight new Christian universities around the world hire 25,000 additional American missionaries to work on our college campuses, something quite a list that boarding the price tag on that would be listened as I'm not making this up into the math you will all be accomplished if the Christian community in America gave just .4% more of its income. One more dollar out of every 250 to work in the kingdom of God by God's grace for the riches faith community and history. American Christians have a combined annual income of $5 trillion what would you right here in the triangle if you got a group of people 12,000 strong.

That call this church their home and just say God is going to be first his kingdom to be first. Can you imagine the impact we can make up a tribal effort. The same all what you do in the season is to put your yes in the table say God I want to be first among money to my God. When you be my God, I want you to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit want to bow your heads. If you would, let's pray together. Father is the I guess you call leader. This church got first and foremost a follower got a leave right now in & I want trust in money and won't trust my bank account will address my earning potential is one obey you got all that I have with its income are things that I own. I just want to put again on the altar front you so anyone show me in these days, looks like to refine look like for you to be first when Truman knew the days to come. As I think about giving the next year, make you first know that I do. I pray got asked asked clearly for church and the Messe got in Jesus name