This week, Dean continues our talk on a generous community as he walks us through the story of Matthew’s conversion. Dean talks about the structure of the book of Matthew and emphasizes the importance of Matthew’s job as a tax collector to his conversion.

This week, we learn how to be generous as a church community. Johnny talks about problem of Peter’s separation from the Gentiles on Galatians 2, and how this story is applicable to our current day lives. At the end, Johnny sits down with Rod Nuñez and Juan Esteban Saravia to have a conversation about cultural differences.

This week, we learn how to lead a generous life by looking at the examples of the first churches. Johnny talks about the modern day problem of greed, the traditions of giving in ancient Israel and the early church, and compares those traditions with our giving practices today.

After learning about our generous God, we learn how to demonstrate both generosity and humility in our own lives. Johnny walks through the value of humility and generosity, our natural desire for glory with God, and how real generosity can ultimately be achieved.

We continue to learn about our generous God through Acts 9. Dean walks through the four scenes of generosity through the Holy Spirit found in the story of the conversion of Saul.

The story of the Bible is of a generous Creator God who fills the creation with his blessing and abundance. God invites us to trust him by receiving, enjoying, and sharing all that he has given us. But we struggle with doubt, buying into the myth of scarcity that pervades every culture. As a result we act out of fear, getting and taking, even hoarding, to protect ourselves. But God wants us to experience the Sabbath mindset of rest and joy in the life he has created and the fullness of life he offers us in his Son Jesus.

To Watch the Bible Podcast on The Generous God Video Click Here

To Read the Essay: Liturgy of Abundance, Myth of Scarcity, by Walter Brueggemann, Click Here