February 8, 2026
Giving What Matters Most
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
"Whoever said 'money can't buy happiness' really knew what they were talking about." – Elon Musk
"If you were happy when you were poor, you will be insanely happy if you get rich, If you were miserable, you will stay miserable, just with a lot less financial stress." – Mark Cuban
God will provide every resource you need to do all He has planned for you.
Luke 9:3-4 NIV
He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.”
You don’t need much to join God in what He is doing in the world.
You do need a bold readiness to respond to His promptings to do good.
Acts 3:1 NIV
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.
Acts 3:2 NIV
Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
Acts 3:3 NASB1995
When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.
When was the last time you showed mercy by helping someone in need?
About ⅓ of US households don’t give at all.
Of the ⅔ that do give, they donated an average of 4% of their income.
Generosity is one of the key markers that is supposed to set the Christian apart from the rest of the world.
1 Peter 2:12 NIV
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Acts 3:4-5 NIV
Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Acts 3:6 NIV
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
God isn’t looking for you to give what you don’t have.
He does expect you to join him in doing good in the world in His name.
1 Timothy 6:18 NIV
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
How much does God expect me to give?
2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Malachi 3:8-9 NIV
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.”
Tithe = the first 10% to God’s church.
Offerings = every other ministry and good deed we feel prompted by God to take part in.
Malachi 3:10 NIV
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Acts 3:9-10 NIV
When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.