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Extravagant Generation – Who Are You Serving Unpack Notes

by | Dec 6, 2020 | Unpack Notes | 0 comments

Big Idea

This week, Pastor Tracy Boyd continued our Extravagant Generation series by discussing how we can break free from the influence of mammon by placing God first in our hearts. When we receive Christ we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God. We have access to God’s abundant life, nature and promises through His kingdom. Yet, in order to receive all God has for us in His kingdom we must participate with His principles. Freedom from mammon is a part of the freedom we receive in Jesus and it is often obtained by cooperating with the principle of tithing. Tithing frees us from a life of mammon because it helps place God first in our hearts.

As we look to embrace a lifestyle that honors God through our tithe, it’s important for us to remember:

  • Tithing is a principle of putting God first
  • Tithing tests whether God is first in our lives
  • Tithing releases abundance and protection on our money
  • Jesus said it’s impossible to be devoted to God and money; it’s one or the other.

Receiving freedom  from mammon is easier when we are aware that:

  • Mammon is a proud and arrogant spirit that sets out to replace God
  • We are either following God’s way or my way
  • We are either following God or being manipulated and led by the world’s system
  • We are either serving God or serving Satan
  • You can have both God and money, but you can’t serve both God and money
  • If God isn’t first, we are serving mammon, and that spirit is on our money
  • If the spirit of mammon is on our money, then it’s on our hearts as well

We break the spirit of mammon by putting God first with our:

  • Money
  • Time
  • Talents

Discussion Questions

  • What experiences do you have with tithing? Have you ever found it difficult to tithe? If so, what was the cause?
  • How does tithing help you trust God? How does it help you keep your heart focused on God?
  • How have you experienced the affects of living both for God and for money?
  • Can you describe times when you followed your own way, rather than God’s? How has following God’s way changed your life?
  • What steps can you take to abandon your own way and follow God’s?
  • What can you do practically to put God first in your time, money and talents?

Important Scripture

Colossians 1:13, Malachi 3:10-11, Deuteronomy 14:23, 1 Timothy 6:9-10, Luke 6:9,13