The Power of Generosity (Those Who Dream Part 7)
The Power of Generosity: A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
It’s a beautiful truth: God can do a lot with a little. Whether you showed up to church bursting with faith or barely dragging yourself through the door, you're in the right place—and God can work with that. The world may feel shaky, but the Bible promises us this: in Christ, we have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28, ESV).
That kingdom is marked by restoration, by joy, by dreams coming back to life. Psalm 126 paints the picture beautifully:
“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy…” (Psalm 126:1–2, ESV)
Dreaming with God starts when we believe He’s still restoring what’s been broken. That restoration brings joy. And from joy springs proclamation—we can’t help but testify, "The Lord has done great things for us" (Psalm 126:3, ESV).
Restoration in Partnership
God’s story is always told in partnership with people. The Bible is full of names—Abraham, Moses, David—because God invites ordinary people into His extraordinary plans. He loves to rebuild and restore with us.
In our church, we’re dreaming about what it looks like to partner with God for the good of Salt Lake City. We’ve identified four key areas we feel called to sow into: serving the least, serving the next generation at the University of Utah, building up our children, and releasing a new sound of worship from this region. These dreams are grounded in faith, and they are moved forward through generosity.
Three Ways Generosity Changes Everything
1. Generosity Sets the Table for Encounter
In John 12, Mary pours out an extravagant offering of perfume at Jesus' feet, filling the house with its fragrance:
“The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12:3, ESV)
Her worship may have looked strange to others, but it created a space that was saturated with the presence of Jesus. One person’s offering can change the atmosphere of an entire room.
This is what generosity does—it sets the table for others to encounter Jesus. Someone gave so that Mary could host. Someone served the meal. And in that space, Jesus was worshiped, and lives were changed.
2. Generosity Reveals the Heart of God
We live in a kingdom of abundance, not scarcity.
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse… and thereby put me to the test… if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” (Malachi 3:10, ESV)
Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed thousands. He did not need much—but He did need someone to offer what they had. When we give in faith, God shows up.
Generosity reveals a kingdom where there is always enough:
“The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:10, ESV)
When we give, we proclaim that our God restores, that He provides, and that He is near to the brokenhearted.
3. Generosity Changes Our Hearts
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21, ESV)
Our hearts follow our giving. When we invest in God’s kingdom, our affections align with His. Generosity isn’t just about resources—it’s about reorientation. It directs our hearts toward what matters most.
Four Dreams to Transform Our City
Our church is dreaming big with God, and we’re inviting everyone into these dreams:
Serving the Least of These: We’re creating a benevolence fund to care for those facing homelessness and crisis. We've already seen lives transformed—like James and Sherry, who are now off the streets and experiencing restoration.
Serving the University of Utah: We believe in the next generation. Students are facing confusion and pressure like never before. We’re investing in a full-time college pastor to reach students with the hope of Jesus during this formative time.
Serving the Kids: With a growing number of children, we are building out a permanent, safe, and inspiring kids ministry space. We believe the youngest among us have a place in the kingdom now—and they’re often our greatest teachers.
Serving the Sound: There’s a prophetic promise over this valley that a new sound of worship would rise up. We're writing original music not for fame, but to create encounters with Jesus in this spiritually hungry region.
These dreams are not ours alone—they're dreams we believe are close to God's heart.
God Can Do a Lot with a Little
Whether it’s a young child’s lunch offered to Jesus or a check dropped in an offering basket, when we bring what we have in faith, God multiplies it. We’re not giving to get something back. We’re giving because we’ve already received everything in Christ.
And we’re praying:
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10, ESV)
Reflection Questions
Where do I see scarcity in my life, and what would it look like to trust God’s provision there?
Is my heart aligned with God’s dreams for my city, or have I been clinging to my own?
What “little” can I bring to Jesus in faith, believing He can do much more with it?