Sermon Summary: NEXT, Part 10: Mortgage

Good morning! Whether you’re here in the pews or sipping coffee at home via livestream, we’re thrilled you’re with us. Today, we’re in part ten of our 12-week journey through our new strategic vision—10 goals for the next 10 years. And, fair warning, I’m going to talk about money. Don’t worry—no one’s passing the plate twice! I promise it’ll be more fun than filing your taxes (which is an admittedly low bar).

Scripture Reading

Let’s dive into God’s Word. Open your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 9:6-15—page 968 or 1231 in the pew Bibles. This is what the Spirit says through the Apostle Paul:

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[b] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever.”

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 

12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 

13 By their approval of this service, they[c] will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 

14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

This ends the reading of God's Word. Let's pray.

Prayer

Living God, by Your Spirit, open our ears to hear Your Word, our minds to grasp its truth, and our hearts to respond with joy and obedience. May all we do bring You glory. Amen.

Introduction

Ever started a task and realized halfway through your heart just wasn’t in it? Maybe it was assembling that IKEA shelf—you know, the one with 47 steps and a missing screw. Contrast that with something you threw yourself into wholeheartedly—like planning a surprise for someone you love. What’s the difference? I think it boils down to three things: purpose (is it worth it?), practicality (will it work?), and preparation (do I have what I need?).

Today, we’re talking about something God calls us to do with our whole hearts: generosity. Specifically, generosity that helps us reach one of our 10-year goals—paying off our mortgage. 

Two years ago, we unveiled this beautiful, renovated space—a tool for ministry we desperately needed. We locked in historically low rates, and for a while, it made sense to park our funds in interest-earning investments rather than chip away at the principal. Smart, right? But now, with a mandatory refinance on the horizon, it’s time to shift gears. And here’s the exciting part: God’s inviting us into this together—cheerfully, creatively, and with a vision for what’s ahead.

Bid Idea: God creates cheerful givers by giving cheerfully of Himself.

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul shows us how God’s extravagant generosity fuels ours. And with purpose, practicality, and preparation in mind, we’ll see why we can lean into this with all we’ve got. We’re not after just right beliefs or behaviors—Paul’s aiming for our hearts. He gives us two practices and a perspective to get us there.

Practice 1: Give generously.

Paul kicks off in verse 6: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” It’s farming 101—plant a few seeds, get a small crop; plant a lot, watch the harvest explode. I learned this the hard way last summer. I didn’t plant a garden. Needless to say, I didn’t get any tomatoes. Meanwhile, some of you—who apparently moonlight as farmers—sowed half your yards and ended up with salsa for days. Generosity works like that. When we give big, God does big things.

Here’s the vision: imagine our church debt-free. No mortgage payments. Every dollar we give going straight to ministry—missions, kids’ programs, community outreach. That’s the harvest we’re sowing toward.

Practice 2: Give cheerfully.

Verse 7 says, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Cheerful, not coerced. I love that word in Greek—hilaros. It’s where we get “hilarious” (though we give it a meaning the Greeks did not have). Even so, God’s not after grumpy givers handing over cash like it’s a speeding ticket. It’s good to smile, inside and maybe even out, when we give. 

Think of the most generous people you know. This church is full of them. What drove them? Not guilt or pressure—just joy in seeing God work. That’s the vibe we’re after. Not giving to impress, not giving out of duty, but giving because it’s a blast to join God’s mission.

Perspective 1: God will bless you with all you need to be generous.

Now, Paul shifts gears. He’s not just about what we do but why. He stacks up promises in verses 8-11: “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work… He who supplies seed to the sower… will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”

Some of you might be thinking, “I’d love to give more, but my budget’s tighter than a drum.” I get it. Groceries are up, gas is up, and all this tariff talk maybe makes us nervous. Here’s the biblical balance: generosity isn’t optional—it’s a command we obey joyfully. But it’s also not reckless. We’ve got bills, families, debts to honor. So, start where you are. Maybe it’s $5 a week, maybe $50. Decide in your heart, give it cheerfully, and trust God to stretch it.

A friend once told me, “I started tithing when I could barely afford it. First month, I gave and hoped for the best. Later that week, God provided in a most amazing way. I received a settlement due to an error on an old account.” Of course, God isn’t a vending machine and I’m not a so-called “prosperity preacher.” Even so, He has a way of caring for His kids.

Back to Paul’s point. God’s the ultimate farmer. He’s given us this building, these ministries, His Son. He’s not stingy—He’s lavish. And He promises to equip us for every good work, including paying off this mortgage. No prosperity gospel here—no “give $10, get $100” nonsense. Just a God who meets us in the giving.

Perspective 2: God will use your generosity to bless others.

Second reason, verses 12-15: “The ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God… Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” Your giving doesn’t just pay bills—it sparks worship. Imagine: a debt-free church means more missionaries sent, more families fed, more people praising God. That’s the ripple effect.

We have a women’s ministry event coming up. Our men’s retreat is right around the corner. It’s already been a joy to hear how some of you have set aside money to help make these events possible for those who might otherwise not be able to attend. Next month, our students are planning their annual support lunch on Palm Sunday for summer mission trips. You always pack that out - and our students appreciate you!

How should we respond?

So, where do we go from here? Let’s dream together.

New Perspective: See giving as worship.

Every dollar’s a hallelujah. It’s not ultimately about the mortgage—it’s about the mission.

New Priorities: See the value of this investment.

We’re positioning this church to outlast us, to bless our children and our grandchildren — even, if the Lord tarries, our great grandchildren. 

New Practices: Lean in or level up.

If you’ve never given, jump in—$1, $10, whatever’s cheerful. If you give regularly, pray about an increase. We’re not guilting anyone—just inviting everyone. 

New Possibilities: A debt-free future.

Picture it: 2035, no mortgage, every gift fueling ministry. New ministers. New churches. Missionary partners in every corner of the world. That’s worth sowing into, right?

Prayer

Generous God, You’ve given us everything—Your Son, this church, this vision. Stir our hearts to give like You do—freely, joyfully, boldly. Multiply our seed for Your glory. Amen.