Series Details
Hilarious generosity. Seems like an odd combination of terms, doesn’t it? But when God prompts His people to give, that’s precisely how He desires us to respond . . . joyfully and freely!
Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in this encouraging and practical series on biblical giving. Learn the principles and promises God offers us in His Word when we respond to Him by first giving ourselves and then giving our resources back to Him.
Your attitude toward giving will never be the same!
The term “hilarious generosity” may seem like an odd combination, but it captures the heart of how God desires His people to give—joyfully, freely, and with a sparkle in their eyes. In this 5-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll moves beyond the guilt-driven or legalistic approaches to money, pointing instead to the “charming joy” of grace giving. By applying timeless principles of money management and contentment, Chuck explores how a lifestyle of open-handedness is the key to spiritual vitality and an unshakeable sense of joy.
1. A Needed Return to Joyful Generosity (2 Corinthians 9:6–11)
- Overview: Addresses the “radiant” nature of generous people. Chuck explains that the most joyful people are those who are generous with their love, time, and possessions, because they realize that God loves a “cheerful” (hilarious) giver.
- Key Fact: Generosity is a heart-issue before it is a wallet-issue; it is the outward expression of an inward spiritual overflow.
- Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2. Contentment, Generosity, and You (1 Timothy 6:6–10, 17–19)
- Overview: Explores the relationship between satisfaction and giving. Chuck argues that “great gain” is found in godliness with contentment, which frees us from the “snare” of loving money and allows us to be “rich in good works.”
- Key Fact: You cannot be truly generous until you are truly content; contentment breaks the power of the “more” culture.
- Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:6 – “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”
3. Timeless Principles of Money Management (Selected Scriptures)
- Overview: A practical, wise look at how to handle resources. Chuck provides biblical guardrails for earning, saving, and avoiding the “trap” of debt, ensuring that our finances support our faith rather than hindering it.
- Key Fact: Stewardship is managing God’s property for God’s purposes; wise management is the prerequisite for hilarious giving.
4. The Charming Joy of Grace Giving (2 Corinthians 8:1–9)
- Overview: Focuses on the “grace of giving” modeled by the Macedonian churches. Despite their “deep poverty,” they begged for the privilege of giving, showing that generosity is an act of worship available to everyone regardless of income.
- Key Fact: Grace giving starts with “giving yourself first to the Lord,” at which point the resources naturally follow.
- Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:5 – “…they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.”
5. A Tried-and-True Plan That Still Works (1 Corinthians 16:1–4)
- Overview: The series concludes with a practical “plan” for generosity. Chuck looks at Paul’s instructions for regular, proportional, and intentional giving, showing how a consistent plan prevents giving from being a last-minute emotional reaction.
- Key Fact: Intentionality is the friend of generosity; having a plan ensures that we are faithful in our stewardship year-round.
- Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper.”
