Sermon Notes from Sunday, 8.7.11

Here are the sermon notes from Sunday, 8.7.11.  To get these notes in PDF or the sermon audio, visit sermons.heritagepark.org.  You can also find the audio on our podcast via iTunes.

Taking Aim at Money

Part 2 – Skills You Need and Use

Everyone uses the same set of skills to handle money.

Everyone starts the process of handling money at the same point.

• When it’s me-focused, idolatry and enslavement result.
• This is why we need the Gospel:  changed hearts and changed habits.

Dedication:  earning in light of eternity.

• We recognize that everything belongs to God and is under His authority (Prov. 18.10-12).
• Our response is to thank and honor Him with our wealth.
• We dedicate what we acquire and how we acquire it to God.

Planning:  thinking in light of eternity.

• Myths about money management:

1.     Money management didn’t work for us the first time.

2.     Money management isn’t for us because we live on a variable income.

3.     We are not mathematically inclined and don’t know enough about business.

4.     We are counting on God to take care of us.

5.     We don’t earn enough to warrant money management.

6.     We earn too much to worry about money management.

7.     Money management can’t plan for everything.

•       Planning with godly counsel and pursuing godly goals is His normal way of provision (Prov. 21.5).

Giving:  spending in light of eternity.

• His priorities are reflected in our finances through tithes and offerings (Prov. 3.9-10).
• Tithe:  10% of earned income given to local church.
• Offering:  gifts for opportunities that grab your heart.
• As a byproduct, giving breaks greed.

Saving:  spending in light of the future.

• Faith-filled saving is a means of God’s provision (Prov. 13.11).
• Save for unpredictable emergencies.
• Save for predictable needs.
• Save for a planned future.
• Don’t let saving become hoarding or self-sufficiency.

Spend & Repay:  spending in light of the past.

• The debts we owe bind us to the payments (Prov. 22.7).
• Possible reasons we have debt:
• We lack contentment.
• We lack discipline.
• We search for security.
• We search for significance.
• Most of the time, our debt problems are behavioral and not monetary.

Enjoy:  spending in light of the present.

• God is good and intends for us to enjoy His blessings (Prov. 10.22).
• Reminder:  the best blessings are not material.