Opening:

• Helen Ash had a dream to help others in Knoxville, TN. She asked her sister Ellen for help - They started a ministry focused on feeding the poor & elderly. 

• The Ash sisters went through a difficult season where the need increased but they weren’t sure if they would be able to meet that rise of need. 

• They received an unexpected gift of $20,000 to continue their ministry. 

• That gift at the right time sparked the work that they had been doing in a marvelous way. 

When God’s Hand is on a Church and a Church is on the move, it takes generous givers to be able to make God’s work happen in the way He wants it to. 

Sermon Key Points:

• In Acts 4, the Church is in a similar position as the Ash sisters. 

• The disciples have a vision that was given to them by Jesus Christ to go and make disciples, and to baptize them in the name of Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

• In Acts 2, the Church grows by 3000 and in Acts 4, the Church grew by 4000.

• This early Church is a church on the move. Progressive is also a church on the move. (growing churches)

• God is at work in Progressive! We ought to praise the Lord that God is at work in Progressive. 

• When God’s Hand is on a Church and a Church is on the move, it takes generous givers to be able to make God’s work happen in the way He wants it to. 

• Here a few principles from God’s Word on how to have a heart for giving: 

• Giving is not just we do; it is who we are.

• God lifts up Joseph’s (also known as Barnabas) name in the Scripture because he was so generous.

• Barnabas was so motivated to give because understood his joy was to come alongside the work of the church and that his relationship with God calls him to give. 

• Giving requires to go beyond the norm. 

• It is a good thing to do something extra for the Lord when He does so much for us! (Exodus 36 - Moses building a tabernacle; 1 Chronicles 29 - David is building a temple)

• Our income does not need to change; our attitude needs to change. 

• Sometimes what God puts in your hand is meant for His work. But we can easily get trapped with us and never get to where God wants it to be. 

• Giving from the heart can spark the beginning of something great. 

• What motivates you to give? 

• We give because it all belongs to God. God is the owner of everything we have. (Psalms 24, Leviticus 25:23)

• So when we give, we are not giving - we are really returning.

• God is the One who has given to each of us everything we have. 

• Every time you give to Progressive, you are sparking some work that God wants to do!

You don’t give to God last, you give to God first - He is the source & sustainer of everything that you have. Giving this way is how you honor Him.