“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory…”

Ephesians 3:20

Our church is already a generous church, but what if we leaned into a strength as a way to grow even closer to God’s heart? Generosity is more than an action; it’s a reflection of God’s character and an expression of faith. The Bible teaches that when we give freely and joyfully, we not only meet the needs of others but also participate in building God’s kingdom here on earth. Generosity challenges us to trust in God’s provision and to see every resource as an opportunity to demonstrate His love. Imagine the impact if we, as a church, embraced an even deeper commitment to giving—overflowing with compassion, sowing into ministry, and living out the gospel in ways that transform lives. Together, we can be a beacon of God’s grace and abundance in our community and beyond.

Journey of Generosity (JOG): With this retreat, we don’t want something from you, but rather, we have something for you!  Join our community as we give ourselves time to explore God’s heart for generosity and listen to what he may have for us.  For this experience, Grace is going all out – a feast together, a parallel kids program, and a transformative experience that involves inspiring stories, scripture, and discussion throughout the evening and morning.  We are putting all our eggs in this basket on February 21st/22nd, but if you can’t make it logistically, we have a secondary date of March 8th.

• February 21st (5 pm – 9:30 pm)/ 22nd (8:30 am – 12 pm) Register HERE
• March 8th (9 am till 4 pm) Register HERE

Visit this website to learn more about the Journey of Generosity.  This is the foundation and WHY we should live generous lives.  Generous people love this experience, and the Holy Spirit’s transformative work will blow away those interested in the generous life during this time.

^” In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work, we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35

In the spirit of Jesus and his generosity, we are giving every family a copy of The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn.  A special thanks to Generous Giving for providing the books and all the materials for the JOG!  These can be found in the foyer until supplies last.

Question:  Have you ever met an unhappy, generous person?

Objectives of the JOG:

1. Excel in the grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7)
2. Listen to and obey the Lord’s prompting for our lives. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
3. Develop a vision for sharing the joy of living generously. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Ready for your mind to be blown?  Watch this video.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”

Psalm 24:1

Scripture clearly teaches that God owns everything, and we are entrusted as stewards of His resources. This profound truth challenges us to view our time, talents, and treasures not as possessions to hoard but as gifts to manage wisely for His glory. Building God’s kingdom here on earth is the central purpose of resources, and biblical stewardship calls us to live intentionally, using what we have to honor God and bless others. Knowing we will one day give an account of our faithfulness, we are invited to experience the freedom and joy that comes from aligning our priorities with His purpose. As a church, embracing stewardship means collectively committing to use all God has given us to advance His kingdom and reflect His goodness to the world.

God Owns It All: Financial Stewardship Workshop – Sundays in March, from 3:30 to 5 pm. Child care is provided.  Register Here.  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact John Chapman.

• Week 1: Our Role and Responsibility as a Financial Steward
• Week 2: Budgeting
• Week 3: Giving
• Week 4: Debt
• Week 5: Investing

We want everyone to identify where they are on this chart and move to the right!

Where are you on your Giving Journey?  Click HERE to find ways to grow in your generosity.

Question: Could God have greater plans for your life if you learned to steward His resources in alignment with His will?  What should you keep?  What should you let go of?

Am I viewing myself as a manager or trustee of what God’s given me or as owner and controller of my own stuff? Are there things that God would have me manage differently if I acknowledged them as really being His?

There is no true generosity without sacrifice, but there is no sacrifice with true generosity.”

Darryl Heald, Founder of Generosity Path and co-founder of Generous Giving

Sacrifice can sound scary, but it is at the heart of a life transformed by Christ. The Bible calls us to a more profound way of living, where we trust God fully and give generously, not out of obligation but as an act of worship and love. Sacrificial giving challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones and into a place of dependence on God’s provision. It’s not about losing something but about gaining a richer understanding of His faithfulness and participating in His kingdom work. As a church, embracing this principle isn’t just about finances—it’s about aligning our hearts with God’s and stepping into the joy of living out His call to generosity.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…” Acts 10:24

Wall of Sacrifice: As a church, we want to be able to let others know that we are taking steps toward faithfulness and sacrifice.  We aim to do this in a way that inspires but doesn’t create “praise before men.”  We want to keep our heavenly rewards!  So, we have created a space at church to list out what action steps you have taken.  Just fill out a “yellow brick” and affix it to the wall.  By doing so, you can add another “brick on the wall” to build the kingdom of God.  Each brick will represent a faithful step toward seeking the Kingdom.

• Do not put your name on the brick!
• Write out your faithful response.
  • Examples:  You sold your bike and gave it to a ministry, you started tithing, you signed up to be a mentor, you talked to your family about making financial changes to support Kingdom causes.
• Grab some tape and post it on the wall.  Feel free to post more than one.
• Be inspired by acts of faithfulness from others each time you walk by the wall!

Challenges:  

• What might you be able to sell in order to fuel the Kingdom? (Acts 4:36-37)
• What could you give up (like fasting a meal a week or canceling a subscription) to support a ministry?
• What action could you take to grow the Kingdom? (Donate part of your business, buy a business, recycle, pray for lost friends, join a ministry)
• Pray and decide how on a 90-day giving goal.  How much does Jesus want you to give away in the next three months?
• Who do you have in your life that can keep you financially accountable?

Look for ways to lend your time and talents to our community as an investment into eternity.  Below are different regular rhythms of service.  Use these or find your own!

Weekly/Monthly Rhythms:

• Life On The Streets (LOTS) Breakfast: Saturdays at the Crossing Church parking structure. Grace prepares and sponsors the meal every 6 weeks, but we have people serving and loving people every Saturday.  Contact Hagop or Brandon.
• The Bridge Shelter:  Grace throws different events at the Bridge Shelter every month, just two doors down.  There are also other opportunities.  Contact Steve Pishel to get involved.
• The Cottages:  Help foster parents with our Art + Play events on the 4th Saturday of every month, or bring them a meal for 20.  Please get in touch with Ali Bray to learn more.  Or Sign up HERE.
• Hands of Grace:  Our internal support structure of tending to the needs of our community.  Please get in touch with Jim Williams to find a way to serve on a team.
• Teen Leadership Foundation: If you are interested in mentoring an at-risk youth living at one of the TLF Homes, please contact Kaitlin.
• Labors of Love (Trellis): Serving neighbors in need by supporting them with manual labor projects on the first Saturday of every month. Sign up HERE.
• Food Ministry Service: Grace is blessed with two leaders of food ministries to locals, one in Costa Mesa and one in Santa Ana. They could use faithful volunteers—contact Bill Nelson for the Costa Mesa opportunity and Randy Carrasco for Santa Ana.

Quarterly:

• Mexico Church Ministry: Our team is putting together a plan to go down to the church we built last year and support Pastor Manny.  There will be various activities that could be as long as one day or the weekend.  Contact Mike Grant to get on the email list to hear about the next event.
• Alpha:  Our Alpha team is ramping up for another round in September and another in January.  Reach out to Ryan or Kelly Callaghan to be part of the team meetings leading up to the launch.

Yearly:

• Colombia Mission Trip with Movements of Grace, July 5-11th. You can contact Sean Lawrence for more details and reserve your spot on the trip.  We currently have multiple families going.
• Turkey/Greece Mission & Vision Trip with Elam.  This trip will be held at the end of September into the first week of October.  Contact Ryan Zeulner for more information.
• Cuba?  Possibly.  Reach out to RZ for interest.
• Love Costa Mesa Serve Day, May 17th, 2025.

As we enter this season of learning and growing in stewardship, generosity, and sacrifice, we recognize the importance of equipping ourselves with tools to guide and inspire us. To help us on this journey, we’ve compiled a list of resources, including books, podcasts, and organizations, that offer valuable insights and practical steps for living out these biblical principles. Growing together is always faster and easier than going alone, and by engaging with these resources as a community, we can encourage one another, deepen our understanding, and make a lasting impact for God’s kingdom. Let’s take this step forward, united in purpose and faith.

Become a Generosity Champion!  Click HERE to learn about the attributes of a Giving Champion.

Books:

• Treasure Principle, by Randy Alcorn (you should have gotten this for free, but if not, here is the link)
• Leverage: Using Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gain, by Kenneth Boa  & Russ Crosson (some free copies)
• God + Money, by John Cortines and Gregory Baumer.  (great for a younger audience)
• The Blessed Life: Unlocking the Rewards of Generous Living, by Robert Morris.

Podcast: A four-part series on Generosity by John Mark Comer (largely inspired by the JOG)

1. Generosity 01: Jesus’ surprising teaching on money and why he’s right.
2. Generosity 02: Is it wrong to want more money?
3. Generosity 03: The key shift we must make in how we view money.
4. Generosity 04: Going beyond gifts to the poor.

A Quick 3-Minute Podcast from John Piper on the subject.

YouVersion Bible App Plan: Leveraging Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gain. Click this link to start an 8-day devotional.

Organizations:

• National Christian Foundation – If Generous Giving is the “WHY” of generosity, then NCF is the “HOW.” Their mission is to help you give wisely.  Since 1982, generous givers at NCF have mobilized more than $15 billion for 71,000 churches, ministries, and charities.
• Gospel Patrons – Books, Films, events and an online community that encourages the people funding Gospel movements.

Worksheets:

• Giving Strategy from NCF
• Giving Strategy Family Guide from NCF
• Excerpt from God And Money on why generosity is healthy for you!
• Quiz: Spender, Saver or Servant?