Brandon Thomas

• Beck & I are pondering: Who would win… Lion or shark? http://yfrog.com/7bdpsqj #

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• Like poetry we paint the pictures that hit #
• Reading some Andrew Murray & J.I. Packer, preparing for a life-changing xperience @keystonechurch this weekend! #

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In the early days of Keystone Church, I was most tense and uptight when I taught giving. I was petrified that our unchurched friends would brand me a ‘money-grubbin preacher’ and never give Jesus a chance. Yet, the more I dove into what God taught on money the bolder I became.

Now, I love talking about obeying God with our money.

As I have studied Scripture, I am struck by 3 types of giving:

The FIRST… and the 10

POCKET #1: FAITHFUL GIVING:
Often known as the tithe, this type of giving is RETURNING to God a FIRST PORTION of our income. The Old Testament refers to the 10%… In the New Testament, Jesus is quick to affirm the tithe, not as a means to get to God but as a good obedience en route to weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:23-24). For more examples, check out Genesis 14:17-20; 28:20-22; Deuteronomy 26; Leviticus 27:30-33; 1 Corinthians 16. For a stern warning against violating this simple teaching, see Malachi 3:8-10.

The FIRST… and THEN

POCKET #2: GENEROUS GIVING:
Generosity is a thread woven throughout the Bible. We must manage our money in such a way that we are able to be generous at all times. The direct application back then was mainly directed to slaves, foreigners, widows and orphans. In our case, we must always have room to help a family member in need, a single mom, a friend who has lost their job, etc. This also includes spontaneous offerings for children in need or other great opportunities. Some samples of generosity: Deuteronomy 15:13ff; 24:19; James 1:27.

The FIRST… and the WIN

POCKET #3: SACRIFICIAL GIVING
At Keystone, we believe with all our hearts that it is God’s design for every believer to either be preparing for, participating in, or recovering from a sacrificial gift. It is in our spiritual DNA to give until it hurts. These are the types of gifts you can’t just budget… once you give it, you have to financially recover from it! For example, in the New Testament you see Barnabas sell a portion of his land as a sacrificial gift… that’s a gift you can’t replenish! That is a true sacrifice. God does not desire his children to WHINE about financial projects… if your church is constantly raising big sums of money, it means there’s a big vision driving it! That’s a GREAT CHURCH. We’re LAUNCHING a 2-year journey of sacrificial giving next weekend and WE’RE PUMPED! See Mark 10:21; Luke 19; Acts 2:42-46; 4:32; 11:29-30; Romans 15:26-27; 1 Chronicles 29:3.

It is crucial to be healthy in all three areas of giving… it’s how you’re designed! It moves you closer & closer to your God-given potential! Those Keystoners I know who give out of all three pockets are VERY, VERY happy people… they have sacrificed boats, ranch houses, new cars, and high-def plasmas to see God’s mission spread… that’s living on THE EDGE!!!

• AMEN! Thx to everyone who made #IMPART a world class event. Grateful for the most amazing vols/staff on the planet. (via @stevenfurtick) #
• NOW: 1)revisit my experiences w/Heath; 2)process my notes from #impart conference [lots of stuff]; 3)prepare 4 weekend @ #keystonechurch! #

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• Heath is an unbelievable prof! Wish I had him back in the day! http://yfrog.com/04st7tj #
• Killer time here at southeastern seminary! I hope I didn't scare em too bad! Packed class & awesome questions. I'm learning too! #
• Made it to Charlotte – love my Navigon APP http://yfrog.com/08crlqj #
• Kicking off #impart conference! http://yfrog.com/04ofrxj #
• S. Furtick bringin it @ #impart! Luv learning from other leaders/churches. Already learning a lot! http://yfrog.com/7hz5rmj #

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• Lunch with my nephew at his school! http://yfrog.com/0za6cmj #
• Touring my brothers seminary where I will address about 100 students tonite! (holla -s'eastern seminary!) http://yfrog.com/0l2i0pj #

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• OVERWHELMED with excitement over @keystonechurch today!! PASSION! In terminal D @DFW – luv this place #
• 1hour on the Tarmac, next to a sweet lady vomiting, now off the plane waiting for a new one — better safe than sorry! I WILL be positive! #

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• Finished the formal prep for this weekend's talk – I'M FREAKED I AM SO PUMPED UP! Thx to everyone who input on this topic: PASSION! #

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• GREAT feedback on my PASSION question yesterday. Let's try again for more responses: HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE PASSION? #
• MUSEre: U2:“It’s a grounding experience…It reminds you you’re doing well,but not quite as well as them”SEE: http://brandonthomas.com/?p=229 #
• Reading 'Think Orange' by Reggie Joiner while enjoying Thai drunken noodles  http://yfrog.com/0xv9xj #
• Examples of PASSION in the bible? Your answer JUST MIGHT find its way into my weekend talk! #

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A friend recently gave me the latest ‘Rolling Stone’ mag that highlighted U2’s historic tour. Knowing I was going to the concert, he thought I would think it was cool to know some of the ‘back story’ behind their budget-busting, record-breaking tour. He was right.

Surprising to me, one of the quotes I read that stuck with me the most was not from U2, but their opening act: Muse. Regarding the honor of opening to such massive crowds and such a large opportunity, they said, “It’s a grounding experience… It reminds you you’re doing well, but not quite as well as them.”

As I shared with Keystone this past weekend (LAUNCH TALK #4), that quote sums up my heart for each and every weekend our church. While Muse was playing to more people than ever, with the greatest technology and toys that money could buy… they still knew that they were not the biggest name in the room. Everyone was there to see U2, and MUSE was but the opening act.

So are we at Keystone Church. JESUS IS THE BIGGEST NAME IN THE ROOM!!! Everything we bring on a given weekend is designed to LEAD EVERYONE to experience a PASSIONATE life in CHRIST! We stand on HIS stage. We lead people to HIM. This fires me up!!!

As we LAUNCH together as a church, let’s remember that it is all fueled by the unwavering vision to share JESUS with EVERYONE. As he increases our influence & opportunity, it MUST ALWAYS be ‘jet fuel’ FOR JESUS!