Invested in God’s Church

I’m Invested: Created to Pour, Not Store

Scripture References

• Matthew 6:19
• Luke 12
• Luke 9:12

Overview

God never designed His people to hoard what He entrusts to them. Jesus’ call is clear: don’t store treasures on earth—pour them into what lasts for eternity. In this final week of the “I’m In” series, Pastor Craig shows that followers of Christ are invited, invaluable, influential, and—by God’s power—invested in His Church. When we move from a scarcity mindset to an abundant, faith-filled posture, our generosity meets needs and God multiplies what we give.

Main Points

Everyone Invests Somewhere

• Wherever you place your money, time, or passion, your heart follows.
• Illustration: season-ticket fans paint their faces in extreme weather because they’ve paid the price—they’re invested.
• We often invest in things that won’t last; Jesus urges us to shift that focus.

“Pour, Not Store” – Jesus’ Teaching (Matthew 6:19)

“Our God has created us to pour, not store.”

• Storing treasures on earth leads to loss; pouring into eternal purposes brings lasting impact.
• Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Scarcity Mindset vs. Abundance Mindset

• Scarcity: “There’s only one pie—if someone else gets a piece, I have less.”
  • Fear → store → never enough.
  • Parable of the rich farmer (Luke 12): he tore down barns to store more and was called a fool.
• Abundance: “God owns everything and loves to bless His children so they can bless others.”
  • Faith → pour → God provides.

Two Contrasting Responses to Jesus

• Story: The forgiven prostitute pours a year’s wages of perfume on Jesus’ feet—extravagant worship flowing from gratitude.
• Judas: operates from scarcity, complaining that the perfume “could have been sold.” His mindset later fuels his betrayal for money.

Feeding the 5,000 – How God Multiplies (Luke 9:12)

• Longest recorded sermon; disciples panic over five loaves and two fish.
• Progression: Jesus blessed it ➜ disciples gave it ➜ God multiplied it (12 basketfuls left).
• Principle: What you keep is all you have; what you give, God multiplies.
• Multiplication happened when they poured, not when they stored.

Tithing & Personal Testimony

• Biblical tithe: returning one-tenth to God through the local church (Malachi cited, chapter not specified).
• God’s unique invitation: “Test Me.” He promises to “pour out” blessing larger than we can store.
• Story: At 19, Pastor Craig tithed on summer income; the same day his grandmother bought him a car. Obedience birthed financial momentum that later funded rental properties and church planting generosity.

Life.Church Culture of Generosity

• From day one: if someone needs food or shelter, they can take from the offering.
• Church pours out—Open Network resources, YouVersion Bible App, missions, debt-free campuses.
• Business owner’s reflection: giving through his church is the best investment he’s ever made; it changed his family and others’ eternities.

Key Truths

• Your heart tracks your investment.
• Followers of Jesus are created to pour blessings, not store them.
• Scarcity fears “never enough”; abundance trusts God’s “more than enough.”
• God multiplies what we release in faith.
• Generosity is not an occasional act; it’s a posture of the heart.

Response

• Examine where your money and time currently flow; note what that says about your heart.
• Replace “when-then” thinking (“When I have more, then I’ll give”) with immediate obedience.
• Practice the tithe—return the first 10% to God through your local church.
• Look intentionally for needs this week and meet one without being asked.
• Share your own “emotional giving story” to encourage others toward generosity.

Closing

Pastor Craig urged every believer to shift from observation to participation:

“Somebody say, I’m invested.”
We are the body of Christ—invited, invaluable, influential, and invested—pouring out God’s resources so people everywhere can know Jesus. As we give, He proves faithful, multiplies the gift, and meets both physical and eternal needs through His Church.

Prayer

The congregation prayed for a deeper spirit of generosity, asking God to open their eyes to needs and to use their gifts to reveal Christ’s love. Pastor Craig then led those seeking salvation in a prayer of repentance and surrender to Jesus, celebrating new life in God’s family.

Resources

• Life.Church Open Network (free ministry resources)
• YouVersion Bible App
• life.church/next (tools for spiritual next steps)