the flip side of thanksgiving

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Transcript November 25 and 26, 2017

The Flip Side of Thanksgiving Greg Nettle | 2 Corinthians 9:11

SoTradersit’ssogoodtobewithyou.I’msogratefulforyourchurch.IhopeyouhadawonderfulThanksgiving.MyThanksgivingwaskindofoverwhelmingthisyear.Itwassogood—somanythingstobethankfulfor.ButifI’mbeingcompletelyhonestwithyou,therearetimeswhentherearethingsinmylifeandit’shardtobethankful,right?It’sjusthardtogivethanksforeverything.Thinkaboutit.AnyColtsfansinthehouse?Iknow.It’salittlebithardthisyear,right?ButIwantyoutoknowthatitcouldbeworse.YouknowwhereI’mfrom,right?Yeah,Cleveland.That’swhereIlivesoyouallcanbegratefulthatyoudon’t.Anduh,that’sawful.It’sagreatcity.ButyouknowhowItellthatjokewhenI’minCleveland?Yeah,Ican’t.We’realwaysbad.Someofyou,it’shardtobethankfulforyourspouse,right?Someofyou,onThanksgiving,itwastough.Youwantedtobethankfulforeverythingbutsometimesit’stoughwithyourspouse.ButIwanttoremindyou,itcouldbeworse.Sotomorrowmorninghere’swhatIwantyoutodo.Thisisyourprescription.Whenbothofyouwakeup,kindofrolltowardeachotherinbed,lookateachotherdeeplyintheeyesandjustsay,“Itcouldbeworse.”Don’tdothatbecauseitmightgetworsethen.Thatwouldnotbegood.Thanksgivingisanimportantholiday.Therewasaproclamationmadein1789thatsays:“…thepeopleoftheUnitedStatesadayofpublicthanksgivingandprayertobeobservedbyacknowledgingwithgratefulhearts,”thankfulhearts,“themanysignalfavorsofAlmightyGod…”Ilovethatourcountryproclaimedthatbutultimatelygivingthanksdoesn’tcomefromaproclamation.ItcomesfromagratefulheartandaswelooktoGodinEphesians,chapter5,verse20wereadthesewords,whicharemoreimportant:“AndgivethanksforeverythingtoGodtheFatherinthenameofourLordJesusChrist.”Givethanksforeverythingbecausethanksgivingmatters.InLuke,chapter17thereisthisincrediblestoryabout10leperswhowerehealedbyJesus.Andjusttoremindyou,leprosywasthishorribledisease—veryhorribleinthedaysofJesusbecausewhensomeonehadleprosytheywereliterallycastoutofthecommunity.Theyhadnocontactwiththeirfamilyanymore.Theyhadnocontactwithfriends.Nophysicalcontactwhatsoeverbecauseitwassoeasilyspread.Soherearethese10lepersandJesuscomesintocontactwiththemandJesussays:Goonyourwayandyouwillbehealed.Sothese10leperstakeoffandastheygotheyarehealedandhowmanypeopleknowhowmanylepersreturnedtoJesustothankhim?Howmanylepers?One

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leperreturned.Justone.AndJesussays:wherearetheothernine?Didn’tIheal10alltogether?Wherearetheothers?BecausetoJesusgivingthanksmatters.AndIthoughtaboutthatandIthoughthowcouldyounotthankJesus?Imean,youhadthishorriblediseaseandhowcouldyounotgobackandthankJesusafterhe’shealedyou,right?Imean,I’dgobackandthankJesus.ButthenIthought,noIwouldn’t.YouknowwhatIwoulddoonceIgothealed?IfI’mgoingdowntheroadandIgothealedfromthishorriblediseasethefirstthingIwoulddoisI’drunhomeandhugmywife.I’dkneeldownandI’dletmychildrenrunupandIwouldembracethemandIwouldthrowthemintheair.Ihadn’tbeenabletotouchthemandlovetheminyears.AndthenI’dsaytomybestbuddy,“Let’sgogetsomefalafel.”IgethowtheygotcaughtupintheblessingandforgottogivethanksbecauseIdothattoday.Imeanit’sreallyeasytogo,“God,Ilovetheblessingsthatyougiveme.”Andthenit’slikedayslater,“Oh,bytheway,thankyou.”Jesussetsaprecedentherebysayinggivingthanksmatters.Mydaughter,Tabatha,graduatedfromhighschoolthisyearandisincollagenow.Andwehadagraduationpartyforherandshegotlotsofgifts.Soshehadtowritethankyounotes.Someofyouhavehadkidsandsomeofthemgotmarriedandyouknowwhatit’slikewhenyougotalloftheweddinggiftsandyouhavetosendthankyounotes.Andyoudon’ttypicallywrite…Whenwewereinstructingourdaughteronhowtowritethesethankyounoteswedidn’twanthertowrite,“Dearsoandso,Thankyouforthegraduationgift.”Andifyougetaweddinggiftyoudon’ttypicallywrite,“Dearfriend,Thanksfortheweddinggift.”Wetendtobeveryspecificwhengivingthanks.Sowemightwritesomethinglike,“DearFatherJennet,Thankyouforthegraduationgiftofabeautiful,leatherjournal.Ilookforwardtowritingdownandrecordingmycollegeexperiences.”Orwemightwrite,“DearDaveandSue,Thankyousomuchforthehome-madeashtray.”Youmightevenskipthatthing.ButwetendtobeveryspecificwithhowwesaythankyoutopeopleandIthinkitmatterstoGodwhenwearespecific.IhopethatyouallhadawonderfulThanksgivingfeast.Imeanatourhouseitwasprettyincrediblethisyear.Wehadlotsofgoodfood.AndI’vegottoadmitIlovegoodfood,especiallyonThanksgiving.Sowegatherroundandpraytogether,holdinghands.Andwealwayssaysomethinglike,“DearGod,Thankyouforalloftheblessingsthatwearereceivingtoday.Thankyouforthisfoodthatweareabouttoeat.”Andit’skindofvague.SothisyearwhenIsatdownIthought,“I’mgoingtoeatalittleslowerandI’mactuallygoingtothankGodinsomespecificways.”Somywifemakesthesekillercandiedsweetpotatoes.Doesanyonelikesweet…Yeah.ImeanIlovesweetpotatoes.SoIactuallysaid,tomyselfofcourse,“God,Thankyouforyams,”whichisalittleweirdtopraybutitwaskindoffun.AndImeantit.Andthenmymommakesthisreallygood,uniquecranberryrelish,right?AndsowhileIwas

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eatingitIsaid,“God,Thankyouforcranberries.”Andsheputs…“Thankyouforpineappleandwalnuts.”ThentherewasthisweirdJell-Ochetta.Ididn’tthankGodforthat.Thepointisthatwetrytobeveryspecificinthanking…ItwasreallyfunformetotaketimetonoticethoseblessingthatwekindofforgettothankGodfor.Andthisyear…Well,actuallyeveryyearrightwhenwesitdowntoeat,ourplatesarefilled,andittakesalittlebitoftime.Sowegoaroundthetableandeveryonesayssomethingthattheyarethankfulforinthepastyear—greattraditionforus.Thisyearitwasreally,reallyfunbecausethisThanksgivingmyparentsjoinedusatourfamilygatheringandofallofthecrazythings,theywereactuallycelebratingtheir60yearweddinganniversaryonThanksgivingDay.Itwasjustsofunanditseemslikemydad’scheeringfortherightteam.Andgivemeabreak,ifIdidn’thavethem—IliveinCleveland,right?SoIhavenothingwithouttheBuckeyesandfootball.Sothiswasfun.Weactually—allofmyfamilymembers,grandkidsandstuff,weactuallywrotedown60thingswewerethankfulforofmymomanddadandtheir60yearsofmarriageandwewentaroundandwetookturnstellingmymomanddadwhatwewerethankfulfor—veryspecifically.Bytheendmymomanddadwereballing,whichwaswhatweweregoingfor.Butitwasreallymeaningfulbecauseitmatteredtomymomanddadthatwewerespecificaboutwhatwe…Howoftendoyougettohearkidstellyouthat—andgrandkids?SoIguesswhatI’msayingisthatthanksgivingmattersandbeingspecificmatterstoGod.Sowe’vebeentalkingabouthowimportantitistogivethanks,anditis,butrightnowI’mgoingtokindofshiftourfocus,ifyouwill,toflipThanksgivingnowandIwantustomovefrom:THANKSgivingtothanksGIVING.Andit’samonumentalshiftbutasweheadintoChristmasIthinkit’sagoodideatoreallymaketheemphasisnowonthegivingpart.2Corinthians,chapter9,verse11—theseareGod’swords,“Yes,youwillbeenriched,”manytranslationssayyouwillbeblessed,“ineverywaysothatyoucanalwaysbegenerous.”AllofthoseblessingswejustthankedGodfor,right?AtThanksgivingeverythingthatwethoughtabout:ourfamily,alloftheblessingsthatwehavethatweregiventoussothatwecanbegenerous.Wecansayitthisway.Weareblessedforonereason,andonereasononlyandthatistobeablessingtoothers.Okay,let’sdothat.Weareblessedforonereason,andonereasononlyandthatistobeablessingtoothers.Sothispastweekwejustgavethanksforalloftheblessingswehavereceived.Butthisiskindofcrazy—nowwehavetheopportunitytobeblessedforalloftheblessingswegive.Thisisreallyfun.Ilovetheblessingswereceive.I’mgratefulforthem.ButJesussaystoeveryoneofus:Ifyoureallywanttohavefun,thenyougive.HowdoesJesussayit?“Itismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive.”Hesays:you’vebeenblessednowifyoureallywanttohavefunheadingintoChristmas,youblessothers.Yougive.That’swhatJesussays.

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Sohowmanyofyou—atallofthecampuses,howmanyofyouarethankfulforTradersPointChurch?Yeah,metoo.Imeanit’sanamazingchurchthatweallgettobeapartof.Iwassayingtosomeoneearlier,youdon’trealizehowgooditistohavealocalchurchlikethisuntilyoumoveawayandyouhavetofindoneandthereisnotonethere.Sowe’resothankfulforTradersPoint.AndIthinkaboutthechurchthatIgrewupin.IwasjustakidandwegrewupliterallyrightacrossthestreetfromtheClintonChurchofChrist.Itwasnobiggerthan200peoplemywholelife.ButI’veoftenthoughtwherewouldIbetodayifnotforthatlittlechurch?Iremember,Iwas11yearsoldandIwasstandingattheendoftheservice,upfromoneofthewoodenpews,youknowthoseweresowonderfultositon,andtheywereplayingtheinvitationJustasIAm.Theorganistwasplayingbecausetherewasjustanorganandapiano,notafullband(andthatwaskindoftorture).SotherewasthisorganistplayingJustasIAmandIrememberthatIfeltGodonmyheartandIwasscaredtodeathbutIsteppedoutintotheaisleandat11yearsoldIwalkeddownthataisleandtherewaspastorNormanMaynard,whowasmypastormywholechildhoodgrowingup.Andhelookedatmeandhesaid,“Greg,doyoubelievethatJesusistheChristtheSonofthelivingGod?”AndIsaid,“Ido.”“AndGreg,doyouaccepthimasyourLordandSavior?”AndIsaid,“Ido.”AndsorightthenwewentupintothechangingroomsandIputonthiswhiterobeandhehadawhiterobonandwewentdownintothebaptisteryandhebaptizedmeintoJesusChristandIcameupoutofthewaterjustweeping.Andmymomandmydadandmysister,whowasfiveatthetime,werestandingthereandmysisterlookedatmeandpointed,“He’scrying,he’scrying.”AndIdidn’tcare.Irememberitwaslikeitwasyesterday.AndwherewouldIbe—howwouldthetrajectoryofmylifechangeifsomeone,hundredsofyearsago,literally,hadn’tplantedthatlittlechurchinthatlittletown?AndthenGodcallsme,ifyouwill,intothepastoralministry.For25yearsIservedasseniorpastorofRiverTreeChristianChurchinnorthernOhio.TheyhiredmewhenIwassixyearsold.Sofor25yearsI’mthepastorofthischurch.Andoneweekend—I’msurethatyouhavedonethistoo—butwehadabigbaptismweekendatourbiggestcampus.Wehadahottubthatwesetitthemiddleoftheauditoriumlikethis,youknow.AndIpreachedanoutreachsermon.Mydaughter,Tabitha,was11atthetime.Itwaswonderful,right?OnSundaymorningtheservicesjustrantogetherbecausesomanypeoplewerecoming.Webaptized170peoplethatmorning.AndatonepointIlookedupandIdidn’tknowthatmydaughterwasdoingthisbutIlookedupandtherewasTabithastandingatthetopofthestepstocomedownintothebaptistery.AndIhadtheprivilege,alongwithmydad,hergrandfatherwhojustcelebrated60years,tobaptizemydaughterinChrist,right?

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SoI’veoftenthoughtwherewouldTabithabewithoutthelocalchurch?Elevenyearsold—Iwas11,shewas11—wherewouldmydaughterbeifsomeonehadn’tcaredenoughtoplantRiverTree?Howdifferentlywouldthetrajectoryofherlifechange?SoI’maskingallofyouatTraders,wherewouldyourlifebeifnotforTradersPoint?Wherewouldyoubeifsomeonehadn’tcaredenough,yearsago,toplantTradersPoint?Toplantyourcampus?Wherewouldyourchildrenbe?Wherewouldyourgrandchildrenbe?Wherewouldyourfriendsbe?Yourco-workers,yourneighbors,thepeopleyouloveandcareaboutbe?Becausethelocalchurchmatters.YouandI,we’vebeenblessedbythelocalchurchesofwhichweareapart.Andwe’rethankful.Andsoforme,andIhopeforyou,myresponsetothatblessingthatwe’vebeengiven—tobepartofanamazinglocalchurch—istoblessothersbyplantingnewchurchesforthem,likeyou’replantingmoreandmorecampuses.AndI’msothankfulthatyourheartisthesame—thatyouarecommittedtobeingablessingtoothersbecauseoftheblessingsthatyou’vereceived.Thereisaninterestingstatthatisoutnow.Youmaybefamiliarwithit.It’scalledthe4-14window.Anditsimplysaysthis:85percentofthosewhomakeadecisiontofollowJesusdosobetweentheagesoffourand14.That’struethroughouttheUnitedStatesandthat’struearoundtheworld.It’struearoundtheworld.Iamalwaysstaggeredbytheimplicationsofthatfact.Let’sdothisrightnow.Howmanyofyou,here—raiseyourhandsatallofthecampusesifyoumadethedecisiontofollowJesusbetweentheagesoffourand14?Raiseyourhandrealhigh.Keepthemup.Isn’tthatincredible?It’sthatwaywhereverIdothat.Insmallgroupsormonstergroups,right?It’satruefactandtheimplicationsarestaggering.SothequestionthatwebegantoaskatStadiais:whatwouldhappenifweplantedchurchesthatintentionallyandstrategicallycaredforchildrenbecausechildrenareclosetotheheartofGodandareresponsivetothecallofGodontheirlife?Sothat’swhatStadiadoeswithpartnerslikeyou.NowTraders,IgettotravelaroundthecountryagreatdealformyworkandIknowsomethingaboutyouthatyoumaynotknow.Youareactuallyknownacrossthecountryforyourgenerosity.Peopletalkaboutyouasafamilyofbelieversandhowmuchyougiveaway.I’msograteful.ThankyouforyourpartnershipwithStadiatoplantnewchurchesthatwillbeablessingtoothers.Thankyouforpartneringtoplantchurchesthatintentionallycareforchildren—childrenthroughouttheUnitedStatesandaroundtheworld.MywifeandI,yearsago,sponsoredthislittlegirlnamedInti-ElizabethChechablongothroughCompassionInternationalinEcuador.AtthetimeIntiwasjustsixyearsold.AndbecauseofmyworkIhadtheprivilegeofgoingandmeetinglittleInti(whowassixyearsold)inEcuador.She’spartoftheindigenoustribesinEcuador—beautifullittlegirl,veryshywhenIfirstmether.And

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wegotonthebuswithabunchofotherchildrenandtheirsponsorsandIntiandIsatinthebackseatandthroughatranslatorweweretalking.MywifeandIhadpreparedaback-packfullofgiftsforher:toothbrush,toothpaste,someclothes,somedolls,andlotsofcandy.SoIopenedtheback-packatthebackofthebusandIhadabagofindividuallywrappedStarburst,forwhichIthankGodbecauseIlovethose.SoIopenedthebagofindividuallywrappedStarburstandIsaid,“Inti,theseareforyou.”AndIgaveherthebag.Whatshedidnextabsolutelyflooredme.ShetookthebagofStarburstandshewalkedtothefrontofthebusandshebegangivingoutaStarbursttoeverychildonthebus—everychildbeforeshetookoneherself.Andshegotbacktomeandshehadnothadoneyetandthebagwasempty—empty!FortunatelyIhadanotherbagofcandyinmyback-pack.AndIopeneditandIsaid,“Nowthisisforyou.”Butwhatshetaughtmethatdayisabout…She’dbeenblessedandsheinstantlywentsothatshecouldbegenerousandgaveitallawaybeforetakinganythingevenforherself.NowIwasjustwithIntilastyearagainbecauseofmyworkI’vegottentoseeherseveraltimesovertheyears.Intiisnow18yearsold.She’sabeautifulyoungladyandshe’sstudyingattheuniversitytobeayouthpastor.Howcoolisthat,right?AlittlegirlgrowingupinpovertybutnowhasthehopeofJesusinherlifeandasaresultshe’sgivingthataway.Here’swhatIbelieve,friends.Ibelievethateverychildonthisplanetisatrisk.Ibelieveyourchildrenareatrisk,childrenlivinginpovertyorprosperity—theyareallatrisk.Youseeifwekindofmovedowntowardthepovertyline,Ibelievethateverychildisatrisk.Therearedangersanddiseasesthatstemfrompoverty,right?Wemoveuptoenough.ButthenwemoveacrossenoughtoprosperityandIbelievethattherearedangersanddiseasesforchildrenthatstemfromprosperity.Thinkaboutitforamoment.Let’sjustpickalittlegirlnamedGazellewhoissixyearsoldlivinginpoverty.IwasactuallyinGazelle’shome.ShelivesinBoliviainalittledirtshackwithhermomandheroldersisterbecausedadisgone—outofthepicture.AndlittleGazellegoestosleepatnightandsheisscaredabouttheboys…She’sthinkingabouttheboysacrossthestreetbecausethey’vebeenabusingher.She’sconcernedaboutwhatshe’llweartoschooltomorrow,ifshecangotoschool,becauseshe’sonlygotonedress.That’salltheclothingthatshehastowear.She’sgoingtobedhungryanddoesn’tknowifshewillhaveenoughfoodtoeattomorrow.Shedoesn’teventhinkaboutJesusbecauseallsheistryingtodoissurvive.She’satriskfromthedangersanddiseasesofpoverty.Butontheflipside,wemoveuptoenoughandacrossenoughsimplybybeingbornintheUnitedStates.MydaughterTabitha,we’lljustsayattheageof14isatriskfromthedangers

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anddiseasesofprosperity.TabithathinksaboutboysatnightinawaythatIdon’twantherto,andthoseboysareatriskiftheymesswithme.AndthenwehaveTabithawhoisindangerfromtheinternetbecauseasgoodastheinternetcanbeitopensdoorstoevilaswell.Thenshe’satdanger—andIknowthatyourkidsaren’tlikethis,butmykidsare—she’sindangerfromentitlement.Shehasthattendency.She’satdangerbecausethingsaregoodinherlife.Shedoesn’treallyworryaboutwhatshe’sgoingtoeatorwhatshe’sgoingtowear.Soshe’satdangerbecauseshecanthink,“Well,maybeIdon’tevenneedJesus.Lifeisprettygood.”Howdoyoudefineextremepoverty?Well,globallyit’sdescribedaslivingonlessthan$1.25perday.That’swhatextremepovertyis—lessthan$1.25perdayforeverythinginlife.Buthowdoyoudefineprosperity?Imeanareweprosperous?Areyouconsideredprosperousaroundtheworld?Welllet’sjusttakeaquicktest.Thisiskindoffun.Howmanyofyousleptinabedlastnight?Raiseyourhand.Okay,howmanyofyouhadaroofoveryourheadwhenyousleptinyourbed?Howmanyofyougotupthismorning,hadrunningwater,tookashowerorabathorsomething—haverunningwaterinyourhouse?Howmanyofyouhavearefrigeratoryoucanopenandthereissomethingtodrinkandsomethingtoeatinthatrefrigerator?Howmanyofyouhaveshoesonyourfeetrightnow?Ifyoudonot,pleaseputthemon.Ifyouansweredyestothosebasic,foundationalquestionsoflifeyouaremoreprosperousthan80percentofthepeopleonthisplanet.Youareintheupper20thpercentilejustbyansweryestothequestionsthatyoujustrespondedto—80percent.Let’stakeitastepfurther.Howmanyofyou,rightnow,havechangeinyourpocketorcashinyourwalletorpurseorpocketoryouhaveaccesstoitthroughadebitoracreditcard?Howmanyofyouhavethatrightnow?Because,servers,we’regoingtotakeanoffering.Howmanyofyouhaveloosechangethatyouthrowintoyourcarashtray,becausethat’stheonlythingyouuseanashtrayfornow,orabucketorsomethingthatyouhaveinyourclosetoronyourdresser—youhaveachangething.Loosechange—howmanyofyouhaveoneofthosethings?Okay,youknowwhattheydon’thavewordsforinthirdworldpoverty—extremepoverty?Loosechange.Itdoesn’texist.IfyouansweredyestothosequestionsthatIjustaskedyou,younowhavemovedinto—youaremoreprosperousthan90percentofpeopleonthisplanet—90percent.Youareintheupper10percentileifyouansweredyestojustthosequestions.Soformostofus,simplybeingbornintheUnitedStates—we’reprosperouscomparedtothevastmajorityoftherestoftheworld.Andthefurtherwemoveawayfromthelineofenough,themorespiritual-lesswebecome.

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Sothefurtherwemoveintopovertythemorespiritualriskthereis.Wecan’teventhinkaboutJesus.Butthemorewemoveintoprosperity—prosperityisnotabadthings.Ihopeyouallmakeabazilliondollars.Idon’tevenknowwhatthatisbutIhopethatyoumakeit.Why?Sothatyoucanbeablessingtoothers.It’swhenwestartmovingintoprosperitythatwestartthinkingthatit’sallaboutusandnotaboutblessingothers.That’swhenwebecomespirituallyatrisk.Sothere’sthisgreatScriptureinProverbs,chapter30thatIwantyoutoreadwithme.Itsimplysays,“OGod,Ibegtwofavorsfromyou;letmehavethembeforeIdie.First,helpmenevertotellalie.Second,”listentothis,“givemeneitherpovertynorriches!Givemejustenoughtosatisfymyneeds.”Why?“ForifIgrowrich,Imaydenyyouandsay,‘WhoistheLord?’AndifIamtoopoor,ImaystealandthusinsultGod’sholyname.”Isn’tthatanincredibleScripture?Helpmetolivewithenough,God.Sowhatdowedotoguardagainstthis?Well,Ithinkthatwhenitcomestochildren—ourchildrenorchildrenaroundtheworld—itmeansthatwehavetoflipThanksgiving.WemovefromTHANKSgivingtothanksGIVING.Here’swhatImean.GoingbacktoGazellelivinginBoliviainpoverty,mydaughterTabithais14—andwhenItellyouthisstoryaboutTabithajustasareminder,right…I’mgoingtotellyousomewonderfulstoriesaboutTabitha.Sheisawonderfulgirl.Sheismysunshine.Shejuststartedcollege—19yearsold.She’sattheClevelandInstituteofArt.AndwhenTabswenttoClevelandInstituteofArtshestruggledwitheverythingthatnormalteenagersstrugglewith.Sothereispartofmethatwasalittlebitsadbutmostofmewaslike,“Okay.Timetofly.”Justsowe’relayingthegroundwork.SoTabithais14.Tabithahasbeentothirdworldpovertywithmeseveraltimes.It’sbeenagreatblessingthatI’vehadtotakehertoexperiencewhatlifearoundtheworldislike.Asaresultofthat,RiverTreewhereIwasseniorpastorfor25yearswashavingourfirstCompassionsponsorshipweekendwithCompassionInternational.Andbecauseshe’sbeenonthesetrips,CompassionInternationalinvitedhertoactuallyhelpworkthesponsorshiptablestogetthesekidssponsoredfromthechurchesRiverTreehasplanted.SoTabithagoesandshe’s14yearsoldandtheygothroughthetrainingandtheyhavethesetableswithchildpacketslaidoutsothatyoucansponsor—verycool.Andattheendofthetrainingtheyallprayedoverthesechildrenforallofthesechildrentogetsponsored—verycool.I’mathomeandit’sabout2intheafternoonandI’mgoingovermysermonforthatnight,ourSaturdaynightgathering,watchingtheBuckeyes,ofcourse.Andinwalks14-year-oldTabithaandshesays,“Daddy,”“Yes,Tabs.”“Daddy,canyouhelpmefilloutthisform?”

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“Whatform?”WellIwanttosponsorthislittlegirl,GazellewholivesinBolivia.AndIsaid,“Oh,Tabs.I’mthrilledforyoubutit’s38dollarsamonthtosponsorachild.Andlisten,wealreadysponsorseveralchildrenasafamily.AndifyousponsorGazelleyou’vegottopayforthe38.”“Iwill.”She’salwaysbabysittinganddoingoddjobs,“Iwill,Dad.I’llpayeverymonth.”“Okay,Tabs.ButyoualsohavetoprayforGazelleonaregularbasisbecausethatmattersandshe’sgoingtobeprayingforyou.”“Iwill.”“Okay,youalsohavetowriteletters.Whenshewritestoyou;youhavetowritetoher.”“Okay,Dad.I’lldothat.”SoTabfillsoutthatpacketandshesponsorslittleGazelle—whathappenstoTabswhenshesponsorsGazelle?WhichwaydoesTabsmoveontheriskscale?Shemovesdown.Shebecomeslessspirituallyatriskwhenshestartsgivingandblessingsomeoneelse.WhichwaydoesGazellemove?Shemovesup.Shebecomeslessspirituallyatrisk.Nowshegetsahotmealeveryday,shegetsmedicalcare,shegetstobepartofanew,localchurch.Sheknowsthatsomegringointhestatesisprayingforherandlovingher.AndGazellemovesupandshebecomeslessspirituallyatrisk.YouknowthegreatthingformeisthattwoyearsafterthatIhadtheopportunitytotraveltoBolivia.UnfortunatelyIcouldn’ttakemydaughteronthattrip.ButIgottoactuallygotothisnewchurchthathadbeenplantedanditwasactuallyat12,000feet—reallyhighupinthemountains—andalloftheseshantytownswerearoundit.Wegowalkingupthisdirtroadandaswearegoinguptothiscinderblockchurchbuildingthathadn’tbeenthereafewmonthsbefore(itwasveryculturallyappropriate)we’regoingupthisdirtroadandthesechildren,hundredsofthem,areliningthisdirtroadandtheyhaveontheseBurgerKingcrownsthataremadeoutofconstructionpaper,right?Andthey’vegottheseFruitLoopnecklaceson.Itwashilarious.Butthey’reallcheeringforusforbuildingthischurchandstartingthischurchforthemaswewalkuptheroad.Allofasuddenthislittle,tinygirlcomesrunningdownthisdirtroadandsherunsuptomeandshegrabsmebythelegandstartshuggingmebecausesheknewwhoIwasbecausemydaughterhadbeensendingpicturesofmyfamilytolittleGazelle.SoIgottomeetGazelleforthefirsttime—justincredible.Weliterallyheldhandsandwalkeduptothechurchtogether.It

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wasanamazingevent.WhenIgottothechurchIgottogoinsidethechurchandtheyshowedmeherschoolrecordsandherchurchrecords.ItturnsoutGazelleisverybright.She’sinthetopofherclass.Buttherewasthiskindofoddthing.ItsaidJune11thandthentherewasalittleredheartsticker—youknowanaluminumone—besidehername.AndIwasthereinAugust,soIaskedtheprogramdirector,“WhatdoesthatlittleheartbesideGazelle’snamemean?”Andtheprogramdirectorsaid,“ShemadeadecisiontofollowJesusonJune11th—togiveherlife.Igottocomehomeandtellmydaughter,Tabs,whowas16,“Tabatha,GazellegaveherlifetoJesussoyou,whenyousponsoredher,notonlydidyouhelpherinthislife,youhelpedtransformherlifeforallofeternity.”AndTabs,now,todaysponsorsthreechildrenonherown.ShetookastepdowntoenoughbecauseGazellehadtakenastepup.It’sanamazingthingbutthereisincrediblehopeinthisworld.ThreeyearsagomywifeandIputtogetherthistripanditwastoEcuadoraswell.WeinvitedfivefamiliestogowithusfromRiverTree,justfriendsofours.Andwesaid,“Let’sgodownandvisitthesechurchplantsandsomeofthechildrenthatyousponsorthere.”WeactuallywentoverThanksgivingandwehad10adultsonthetripandeightchildrenundertheageof18.Soweflydownthere,actuallyonThanksgivingDay.Youknowtheydon’tcelebrateThanksgivinginSouthAmerica.It’saUnitedStatesholiday.Sowe’redownthereandnobodyknowsit’sThanksgivingexceptus.SowegotothisnewchurchonThanksgivingDayandwegettoplaywiththekids.We’replayingsoccerandtagandwe’regettingdirty—dollsandcarsandallkindsofstuff.Thenatlunchtimewegottoservethesekidstheironlyhotmealoftheday.It’ssomericewithbitsofchickeninitandsomevegetablesontheside.ThesekidsarescoopingitupandeatingitlikeweeatatThanksgivingandalloftheplatesarecleared.Thatnightwe’rebackatourhotelandwe’rekindofdebriefingthedayandeveryoneofthosekidssaiditwastheirbestThanksgivingever.Youknowtheyhadn’tgorgedthemselvesonturkeyandsataroundandwatchedfootballandplayedXboxorwhateverbutitwastheirbestThanksgivingever—toblessothers,togive.Sothenextnightweweregettingreadytoflyhome,backtothestates,andtoflyfromQuedo,Ecuadoryouhavetotakeared-eye.That’stheonlyflight.Itgoesoutatmidnight.SowewerehavingonelastdinnerinEcuadortogether.AnddinnerwasoverandtheadultswerestillsittingaroundthetableandIcouldseethekidsoffbythefireplaceinthecornerandtheywerekindofschemingtogether.Prettysoontheycameupasagroupandmydaughterwaskindoftheringleaderandshelookedatmeandshesaid,“Daddy,wewanttoplantachurchinEcuador.”AndIsaid,“What?”

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Andshesaid,“WewanttoplantachurchinEcuador.”AndIsaid,“Okay,that’s87thousanddollars.”Whichisalotofmoneyforkids,butreallyit’sabargainifanyofyouwanttodoit—talktomeafter.Somydaughtercomesupandshesays,“Daddy,weknow.We’vebeentalkingabouthowmuchitcosts.”AndIsaid,“Okay,Tabs.Here’sthedeal.Toplantachurchlikethatwehavetohavethemoneyin,complete,byJuneofnextyeartoplantachurchnextyear.”Shesaid,“Okay.Wecandothat.”AndIsaid,“Okay,youknow,yourealizethatyoucan’tgobacktoRiverTree,ourhomechurch,andmakeanaskofthechurchbecauseRiverTreeisalreadyplantingchurcheswithusontheirChristmasEveoffering.Soyoucan’tdothat.”“Okay,weknowthat.”“Okay,Tabs.Look.That’salotofmoney.Howaboutifwe,asparents—momsanddads—howaboutifwetakehalfofitandwe’llraisehalfandyoukidscanraisetheotherhalf?”Nowthekidsaregettingkindoftickedatmeandtheywerelike,“No,thisisgoingtobebykidsforkids.”“Okay,whatever.”Sotheycomehomeandtheystartdoingthewildestthings.TheygetonFacebookandTwitteraccountsandallofthesocialmediaaboutwhattheyaredoing.Peoplestartdonating,forwhichtheywereverygrateful.Theystartcollectingtheirusedtoys,usedclothesandtookthemtosecondhandstoresandsoldthem.TheyactuallygooutChristmascarolingintheirneighborhoodsandpeoplegavethemmoneyjusttogetthemoutoftheiryard.Theycametousasparents—thisisatruestory—theycametousasparentsandtheysaid,“MomandDad,wehaveenough.Don’tbuyChristmaspresentsforusthisyear,whateveryouweregoingtospendjustgivetowardthischurchplant.”I’dloveforyourkidstocometoyouwiththatone.Theystartaskingindividuals.Sixweekslater,thefirstweekofJanuarytheyhadraisedmorethan87thousanddollars.SothereisanewchurchinEcuadorflourishingtodaybecauseeightchildrenfromtheUnitedStatestookastepdowntowardenough.Nowthereisanewchurchwheremorethan200childrenaresponsoredandthose200childrenlivinginabjectpovertyhavetakenasteptowardJesusandarelessspirituallyatriskinthedirectionofenough.That’showwemakeadifferenceinthisworld.WecomebacktotheScripturethatwereadearlier,2Corinthians,chapter9,verse11todriveithome,“Yes,youwillbeenrichedineverywaysothatyoucanalwaysbegenerous.”OnefinalstorytowrapuphereandI’mjustremindingyouthatItellallofthesewonderfulstoriesbutmykidisthesameasanybodyelse’s.AcoupleofyearsagoIwasmakingthetransition—IwasshockedwhenStadiacalledmetobecometheirpresident.IthoughtIwouldbeaRiverTreetherestofmylife.SotheeldersofRiverTreeprayedthroughitwithmeover

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severalmonths’timeandattheendsaid,“WeaffirmthecallofGodonGregNettle’slifeandasaresultRiverTreeissendingGregtoStadia.RiverTreeisstillourchurchhome,butwhenwewereleavingafterserving25yearsthere,theelderscametomeandtheysaid,“Greg,wearesoappreciativeofallthatyouhavedoneherefor25yearsthatwewanttogiveyourfamilyagift.Sothinkaboutwhatyou’dliketohave.”SoIdid.Istartedthinking,“AnewHarleywouldbeawesome,”seriously.Somevacationsomewherebeautifulintheworldformyfamily,anewtruck,Iwasreallycomingupwithsome…Isaid,“Thankyou.”ThenabouttwoweekslaterIwasdowninBoliviaagainandIactuallygottogotowhereImetGazelle,IgottogotothatnewchurchplantandGodjustwreckedmethen.AndIgotonmycellphoneandIcalledmywifeandIsaid,“Julie,IsaidI’mgoingtoaskforagiftfromRiverTree.”Shesaid,“Great.Whatdidyoudecideon?”AndIsaid,“I’mgoingtoaskthemforachurch,andspecificallyachurchinColumbia,”becausethat’swherewewereplantingrightthen.Andshesaid,“Greg,it’syourtransitiongift.Ifyouwantanewchurch,I’mgoodwiththat.”SoIcamebackhomeandImetwiththeteamleaderofoureldersandIsaid,“Less,Iwanttoaskforagift.”Hesaid,“Great.Whatareyougoingtoaskfor?”AndIsaid,“Anewchurch.”Hesaid,“Howmuchisthat?”Isaid,“Eighty-seventhousanddollars.”Andhesaid,“Well,letmeseewhatwecando.”Thechurch—itwasinthenextcoupleofmonths—collectedaloveofferingforustosaythankyoufor25yearsandthentheyhadthisparty—celebration—forus.Thatnighttheypresentedachecktousforthemoneythattheyreceivedforusfromthatloveofferinganditwasforjustover160thousanddollars.AndsoweplantedthisamazingchurchinColumbiaandIboughtaHarleyandwetookavacationaroundtheworldandIdrivethisreallycoolnewtruck—itcrossedmymind.I’mnotgoingtolie.No—weplantedtwonewchurchesinColumbia.Here’sthedeal.IgottovisitthosetwonewchurchesinColumbialastyearandI’lltellyouwhat—youcankeepyourHarleys.No,HarleysarecoolbutmypointisIwouldmuchratherhavethisandgovisitthosechurchplants.It’sawesome.Nowhere’swhyI’mtellingthisstory.Justforgetallaboutthatstuffaboutme.That’snotwhyI’mtellingthatstory.WhatI’mtellingthisstoryaboutisthatduringthatprocessofplantingthosechurchesIcamehomeonedayandwasinmyhomeoffice.Ihadmylaptoponmydeskandonmylaptopwasanenvelopeanditwasfrommydaughter,Tabs,anditsaid:ForGod’sChurchesonthefrontoftheenvelope.AndsoIopenedtheenvelopeandinitwas197dollars,whichwasallthemoneyTabithahad.Shewasgivingtothosechurchplantsinthatoffering.SoI’msittingthereandI’mkindofstunned.Here’sthefirstthoughtthatwentthroughmyhead,“Oh,Tabs.Youcan’tgiveallofyourmoney.Youneedtokeepsomeforyourself.”That’shonestlywhatwentthroughmymindfirst.Andthen

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theverynextthoughtwas,“Oh,Tabs.Yougaveallyouhad.Yougaveallthatyouhad.Oh,Tabitha.Youinvestedinwhatissodear,whatissoclosetoyourDaddy’sheart:thelocalchurchandchildren.”Andthenthisonewentthroughmyhead,“Oh,Tabs,becauseyougaveallthatyouhad,becauseyou’vebeensogenerous,sofaithfulwithwhatyouhave,Ijustwantyoutoknowthat,asyourdad,Iwilldoeverythinginmypowertogiveyoueverygoodthingallthroughoutyourlife.I’lldothat,Tabs.You’vebeenfaithfullikethatandIwantyoutoknow,asyourdad,thatI’lltrytogiveyoueverygoodthing.”ThenwhatIthinkIwasreallysupposedtolearnfromthisis:Greg,thisisabouthowyoulive.ThisisabouthowGodfeelsaboutyou,howhefeelsaboutyou,howhefeelsaboutuswhenwegivetothingsthatareclosetohisheart,whenwegiveallthatwehave,whenwegivesacrificiallytocareforchildrenaroundtheworld,whenwehelpbuildthelocalchurchIbelievethatGodlooksdownonusandsays:Oh,you’vegiventothethingsthatareclosetomyheartandIwantyoutoknowhowproudofyouIam,howmuchIloveyou,andhowmuchIwilljustlavishoutmyloveonyou—myblessings,myblessings.Why?SothatyoucanbegeneroustoothersSoIamunashamedly,unabashedlyaskingyoutoflipThanksgivingmovefromTHANKSgivingtothanksGivinginthisChristmasseason—tolookforwaysthatyoucanblesschildreninyourhome,yourgrandchildren,inyourneighborhood,andinrandomencounters,andchildrenaroundtheworld.I’maskingyoutoinvestinthischurch,yourlocalchurch,inplantingchurchesaroundtheworldbecauseweareblessedforonereasonandonereasononly.Andthatisto…[Gregendswitharmsopenwide,handsopen,palmsup]Let’spray.Oh,God.Thankyou.Ilovethatwegettolivethislife.IlovethatthislifeforallofuswhoarefollowersofJesusissomuchmorethantheaccumulationofstuff.Wehavetheprivilege,theblessingtogiveawaythejoyofblessingothers.SoGod,Ipraythatwewilltakethisveryseriously.ThatasweheadintothisChristmasseasonwewilllookattheblessingsthatyou’vegivenusandwe’llsaythatwehaveenoughandasaresultwe’regoingtoblessothers.WeaskallofthisinJesus’name.Andeveryonesaid:Amen.