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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Friendly
Generosity (cont.)</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Friends Pt 2</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>John 12:1-8</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Bud Wrenn 2.6.11</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>John 12:1-8 (NIV) </span></b><sup><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>1 </span></sup><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Six days before the
Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised
from the dead. <br>
<sup>2 </sup>Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while
Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. <br>
<sup>3 </sup>Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume;
she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house
was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. <br>
<sup>4 </sup>But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray
him, objected, <br>
<sup>5 </sup>"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the
poor? It was worth a year's wages." <br>
<sup>6 </sup>He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he
was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was
put into it. <br>
<sup>7 </sup>"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was
intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. <br>
<sup>8 </sup>You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always
have me." </span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>God’s
Principles of Generosity</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Principle
of Obedience.</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Principle
of Proportionality.</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>2 Cor. 9:6 Remember this—a farmer who
plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants
generously will get a generous crop. (NLT)</span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Principle
of <i><u>Motive</u></i>.</span></b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+12%3A4-6"></a></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><i><u><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><a
href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+12%3A4-6"><span
style='color:black'>John 12:4-6</span></a></span></u></i></b><b><i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> (NLT) </span></i></b><i><sup><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>4 </span></sup></i><i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>But Judas Iscariot, the
disciple who would soon betray him, said, <sup>5 </sup>“That perfume was worth
a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” <sup>6
</sup>Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge
of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. <br>
<br>
</span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>2 Cor. 9:7 You must each make up your own
mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to
pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. (NLT)</span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Giving Guidelines: </span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>a)<u> Autonomy</u></span></i></b><b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>, i.e. </span></b><i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>make up your own mind</span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>b</span></i></b><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>) Readiness</span></b><b><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>, i.e. </span></b><i><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Don't give reluctantly or
in response to pressure</span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>c</span></i></b><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>) <b><u>Joy,</u></b> i.e. For God loves the
person who gives cheerfully.</span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
Wingdings;color:black'>è</span></b><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> From Greed Toward Generosity: The Stages</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>1) <i><u>Hording</u></i>: "It's all
mine, and I'm not giving it away."</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>2) Reluctance: "It's all mine, and I'll
do God a favor by giving Him some of it."</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>3) Obedience: "I had better be
generous, because God says I need to!"</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>4) <i><u>Cheerfulness</u></i>: "Seeing
others benefit from my giving is a great thrill."</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>5) <i><u>Visionary</u></i>: "The
building of God's Kingdom is the most important thing, and I can be a part of
it."</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:black'> </span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Principle
of Worship.</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><a
href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+12%3A7-8"><span
style='color:black'>John 12:7-8</span></a> (NLT) </span></b><sup><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>7 </span></sup><span
style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Jesus replied, “Leave her
alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. <sup>8 </sup>You will always
have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” </span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>2 Cor. 9:8 And God will generously provide
all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left
over to share with others. (NLT)</span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The Minimum: My Tithe.</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Malachi 3:10 Bring to the storehouse a
full tenth of what you earn so there will be food in my house. Test me in
this," says the Lord All-Powerful. "I will open the <u>windows of
heaven </u>for you and pour out all the blessings you need. (NCV)</span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The Standard: My <i><u>All</u></i></span></b><b><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>.</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Luke 6:38 Give away your life; you'll find
life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing.
Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." (Msg)</span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><i><span style='font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></i></p>
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