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Did you know that no other month begins or ends on the same day of the week as May does? This means that if May 1st is a Friday and May 31st is a Sunday, no other month in that year will start or end on a Friday or Sunday. Whelp, that's your ✨useless fact✨ for the month, so let's dig back into our weekly series of faith and finances, 7 Qualities of a Giver!
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Faith-Filled Giving
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A couple of months ago, I heard about a book entitled The River Church by Larry Walkemeyer. When I learned that the driving force behind the book was Ezekiel 47 (the Biblical passage which inspired the name and vision of Riverwood), I knew I needed to purchase it.
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The premise of the book is that too many churches simply seek to build "lakes" (i.e., gather as many people as possible in one location). Larry had built a wonderful "Lake Church" in an impoverished neighborhood of Long Beach, CA. But one day, as he read Ezekiel 47, Larry began to believe churches should be "rivers" which send people out to plant other churches.
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However, Larry admits in chapters 4 and 5 that this idea was initially scary to him in the beginning. His church, at one time, had been the fastest growing church in his denomination. He knew how to build an impressive Lake Church. But as he sought to follow the Spirit's leading to be a River Church, he discovered many doubts and fears within himself. What if some of their best leaders felt called to go plant a church? What if some of their biggest financial givers left with one of these church plants? What if they sent so many people that Larry's church had to close? The level of generosity this new vision required had Larry doubting the Lord's plan.
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The fears Larry felt concerning his church are similar to what many Christians feel about financial giving. The type of generosity God calls us to in 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 can cause us to have fears and doubts. Yet, our greatest joy will be found through faith-filled giving.
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Giving by Faith
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In verse 3, we see that the Jesus-followers in Macedonia gave extremely generously despite their poverty. Here is how the English Standard Version translates it...
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“For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord.” (2 Corinthians 8:3, ESV, emphasis mine)
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The believers in Macedonia gave so sacrificially, Paul described it as “beyond their means.” But this lavish giving wasn’t done foolishly, like taking out a car loan you’ll never be able to repay. Their giving was made with faith that God could provide for them. After all, as Paul explains a chapter later in 2 Corinthians 9:8-11, if God could give the Macedonians their provision in the first place, He can also provide provision after they gave.
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This idea ties in to what we heard last Sunday from my sermon on the Ownership Principle. If everything belongs to God, then what He gives initially isn’t truly yours, so you can give it with faith that He will still provide for you after you have given sacrificially. So if God tells you to give to a missionary, or give to a friend in need, or increase your giving (or begin giving) at Riverwood, you need to follow through, no matter what your bank account says. Because not only can He replenish what you gave but also increase it.
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So if you follow Jesus, be open to the Lord’s leading to give, no matter how “beyond your means” it might seem to be.
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Parent/Child Dedications
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We have the privilege of having a parent/child dedication on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11th. If you would like to publicly dedicate your child(ren) to the Lord, please feel welcome to email us!
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Support for Benning Twins
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Chris & Kaylee Benning recently welcomed twin girls, Amelia & Elizabeth, born at 32 weeks and now bravely fighting through early health challenges, including a recent diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. As they face ongoing medical care, travel, and unexpected expenses, your support—both in prayer and finances—means the world. If you’d like to help, please consider donating and sharing their story.
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Upcoming Baptisms
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Baptisms are just around the corner! On Sunday, May 25th, we will be facilitating baptisms during our Worship Gathering. If you are interested in taking this next step of being a Jesus-follower, please let us know via email!
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Just for Fun
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Gentlemen, the Riverwood Men’s Group is hosting a grill-out at the Badura's on Tuesday, May 13th @ 6-8 pm—and you’re invited! Bring your favorite cut of meat, toss it on the grill, and enjoy a laid-back evening of food, fellowship, and classic yard games. Whether you're new to Riverwood or a long-time friend, this is a great chance to connect with other guys and have a great time. Don’t miss it!
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