This past weekend I talked about the investing dimension of discipleship and I challenged NCCers to do a tithing experiment for 3-6 months. Overwhelmed by the response! There were 87 tithing commitments. So excited to see the way God is going to move as NCCers take a financial step of faith.

I used to hate talking about money. But I really enjoy it now because it’s not just good theory or good theology. I’m preaching out of experience. Lora and I have experienced our core value: you cannot out give God. And I genuinely want people to experience the joy and the blessing that is only possible on the giving side of life.

I think pastors are called to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. This was definitely an “afflict the comfortable” weekend. I was pretty straight-up. I wanted to remind us that one day we’ll stand before the Judgment Seat of Chirst. And in the words of Matthew Henry: “It should be the business of every day to prepare for our final day.”

We are called to make financial sacrifices and personal sacrifices for the sake of Christ. And when we live beyond our ability it invites God into the equation of our lives. In fact, human sacrifices set the stage for supernatural miracles! At the end of the day: we’ll never regret one penny of money; one ounce of energy; or one second of time invested in the kingdom.

I have a conviction that no one has ever sacrificed anything for God. Sure, we make temporal sacrifices. But if you get back more than you gave up have you really sacrificed anything at all?

Nada!