“The Hole In Our Gospel” “What’s Wrong With This Picture?”

“The Hole In Our Gospel” “The Hole In Our Gospel”

“What’s Wrong With This Picture?”“What’s Wrong With This Picture?”

“The most serious and universal problem is the growing chasm between the richest and poorest people on earth. Citizens of the ten wealthiest countries are now seventy-five times richer than those who live in the ten poorest ones, and the separation is increasing every year, not only between nations but also within them.”

“The most serious and universal problem is the growing chasm between the richest and poorest people on earth. Citizens of the ten wealthiest countries are now seventy-five times richer than those who live in the ten poorest ones, and the separation is increasing every year, not only between nations but also within them.”

Jimmy Carter Quote: Jimmy Carter Quote:

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 12:13-15 (NIV) Luke 12:13-15 (NIV)

“The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ ”Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”

“The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ ”Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”

Luke 12:16-19 (NIV) Luke 12:16-19 (NIV)

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:20-21 (NIV) Luke 12:20-21 (NIV)

Barriers to Generosity: Barriers to Generosity:

1. Unfair or Unjust Comparisons

2. False Judgments

3. Sense of Entitlement

1. Unfair or Unjust Comparisons

2. False Judgments

3. Sense of Entitlement

How To Increase Generosity How To Increase Generosity

1. Give Your Heart To God First1. Give Your Heart To God First

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

2 Corinthians 8:1-52 Corinthians 8:1-5

Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.”

Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.”

2 Corinthians 8:1-52 Corinthians 8:1-5


1. Give Your Heart To God First

2. Rub Shoulders With “The Least of These”



“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleaning of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien.”

“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleaning of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien.”

Leviticus 23:22 (NIV)Leviticus 23:22 (NIV)

“If your job produces a decent income for you, do not spend it all on yourself. Make some of it available to the poor and the less fortunate, that they, too, might live a decent life.” (Rich Stearns)

“If your job produces a decent income for you, do not spend it all on yourself. Make some of it available to the poor and the less fortunate, that they, too, might live a decent life.” (Rich Stearns)

Leviticus 23:22Leviticus 23:22

“For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over to our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows...And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”

“For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over to our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows...And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”

2 Corinthians 1:5,7 (NIV)2 Corinthians 1:5,7 (NIV)




3. Become A Global Christian



3. Become A Global Christian

“We can be the generation that no longer accepts that an accident of latitude determines whether a child lives or dies – but will we be that generation? Weill we in the West realize our potential or will we sleep in the comfort of our affluence with apathy and indifference murmuring softly in our ears? Fifteen thousand people dying needlessly every day from AIDS, TB, and malaria.

“We can be the generation that no longer accepts that an accident of latitude determines whether a child lives or dies – but will we be that generation? Weill we in the West realize our potential or will we sleep in the comfort of our affluence with apathy and indifference murmuring softly in our ears? Fifteen thousand people dying needlessly every day from AIDS, TB, and malaria.

Bono Quote:Bono Quote:

“Mothers, fathers, teachers, farmers, nurses, mechanics, children. This Africa’s crisis. That it’s not on the nightly news, that we do not treat this as an emergency – that’s our crisis.

“Mothers, fathers, teachers, farmers, nurses, mechanics, children. This Africa’s crisis. That it’s not on the nightly news, that we do not treat this as an emergency – that’s our crisis.


Future generations flipping through these pages will know whether we answered the key questions. The evidence will be the world around them. History will be our judge, but what’s written is up to us. We can’t say our generation didn’t know who to do it. We can’ say our generation couldn’t afford it. And we can’t say our generation didn’t have reason to do it. It’s up to us.”

Future generations flipping through these pages will know whether we answered the key questions. The evidence will be the world around them. History will be our judge, but what’s written is up to us. We can’t say our generation didn’t know who to do it. We can’ say our generation couldn’t afford it. And we can’t say our generation didn’t have reason to do it. It’s up to us.”


“The Hole InOur Gospel”

“The Hole InOur Gospel”

“What’s Wrong With

This Picture?”

“What’s Wrong With

This Picture?”

“The Hole In Our Gospel” “What’s Wrong With This Picture?”

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Transcript of “The Hole In Our Gospel” “What’s Wrong With This Picture?”