When we hear the word generosity, our minds often go straight to money. But Sunday’s message invited us to see generosity through a much wider lens.

In Exodus 35, God’s people brought what they had. Some brought resources. Others brought skills and abilities. They gave their time and their work. What mattered wasn’t that everyone brought the same thing or the same amount. They responded with willing hearts, giving from what God had first given them.

That changes the question from “How much should I give?” to something much bigger:

What has God placed in my hands that I can use generously?

Maybe you have time you can give to someone who needs help. A skill that could serve another person. A home where someone could be welcomed. An encouraging word someone needs to hear. Financial resources you can share. A meal you can make. An hour you can volunteer. Or simply enough margin in your day to stop and notice someone else.

Generosity isn’t limited to what is in our wallets. It is a posture that says, “What I have isn’t only for me.”

And there is another side to generosity that can sometimes be even harder: receiving it. Heath shared how uncomfortable it was to receive unexpected help when his family needed it. Sometimes we are the ones able to give. Sometimes we are the ones who need to receive. Both can be part of life together in God’s family.

So as we head into this week, perhaps the question isn't simply “Am I generous?”

Instead, ask:

Where is God stirring my heart to be generous with what He has already given me?

Take a moment at the beginning of this week and think about what God has placed in your hands.

Your time. Your abilities. Your resources. Your attention. Your home. Your encouragement. Your finances.

Choose one and intentionally give some of it away this week.

It might mean buying someone coffee, helping with a task you know how to do, giving financially, spending time with someone who is lonely, making a meal, volunteering, offering a ride, sharing something you have, or simply giving someone your undivided attention.

It doesn't need to be impressive. The people in Exodus brought different things of different value. The common thread was a willing heart.

And if someone chooses to be generous toward you this week?

Practice receiving it with gratitude.

One week. One willing heart. One thing God has given you, generously shared.

Love & Obedience

This week, our kids continued The Prayer Covenant by adding the second line to the prayer:

“Help me love and obey you.”

Through the story of Abraham in Genesis 12:1–5, the lesson explored how love, trust and obedience are connected. Abraham trusted God enough to follow where God was leading, even though he didn’t know exactly what was ahead.

The big idea for our kids was simple: we show our love for God by trusting Him and choosing to obey Him. Sometimes obedience is easy, and sometimes it means trusting that God can see what we cannot. The lesson also reminded them that they don’t have to figure this out alone. The Holy Spirit helps them make good choices and learn to love and obey God.

Their verse for the week was:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Matthew 22:37–38

Take It Home

Your child’s Take Home Prayer card gives you an easy way to keep the conversation going this week.

Try asking:

“Can you tell me about how you learned to pray today?”

Then, as a family, talk about what it looks like to love God by obeying Him, even when doing the right thing isn’t the easiest.

And sometime this week, pray the first two lines of the Prayer Covenant together:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and making me one of your children.
Help me love and obey you.