2 Corinthians 8:1-15 & 9:6-15

Paul calls on the wealthy Corinthian church to give generously to the poor in Jerusalem. Their motivation? The Gospel! Guilt and Self-Discipline have limits, only the cross of Christ can unleash money’s grip on our lives and allow us to live in the freedom God intends.

Sermon includes God in Life interview. A Story of Poverty & Wealth featuring Susan Gates, author of Days of Slaughter, giving insights into the housing collapse of 2008.

Luke 18:18-30 & Luke 19:1-10

In his interactions with the Rich Ruler and Zacchaeus in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus confronts the idol of wealth and shows how the gospel of grace unleashes radical generosity.

Recording includes God in Life testimony by Patti Brown of The Lamb Center on homelessness in Fairfax.

Rev. Matt Hemsley looks at what Jesus has to say about our stuff. From Luke 16.

God’s heart for the poor is vividly portrayed in the Prophets condemnation of Israel for their lack of Justice. God calls us to align our hearts with his in radically generous justice–giving of ourselves for all the poor and powerless.

Includes God in Life testimony on Foster Care by Sasha Swanson, Tatiana Shults and Christie Vaudo.

Solomon’s empirical quest to determine the meaning of life leads him to accumulate great wealth and enjoy the pleasures of success. Yet he finds it is meaningless. We know this intuitively and yet we still search for the good life through our money–it is a functional savior and false god in our lives.

How does the Law of Moses reveal God’s intent for wealth and His heart for the poor–and what are its implications for our lives?

Sermon includes God in Life interview with Melissa Russell  (begins at min 27:22).

The first in the series: Poverty, Wealth and God–a Biblical Theology of Possessions.

In Genesis 1, God is the creator and Lord of all things. He creates humanity in his image and calls him to steward the garden and spread flourish, Living under his Lordship of all creation. This has profound impact on how we view all of our wealth and possessions–it is his.

Sermon concludes with a God in Life by Joel Dillon, president of Jill’s House, at minute 29:40, sharing on Human Dignity and the Disabled and the work of Jill’s House.

In the middle of the God in Life, at minute 32:40, a video is shown called “Unwavering Strength” of a boy named Nick with severe disabilities. The video may be seen here: https://youtu.be/jDxgLInuhSw