Cheerful Generosity
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the full sermon here.
Preached by Pastor Mike Woodard
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Why Generosity Is About the Heart, Not the Amount
Money has a powerful grip on our hearts. That’s why Jesus talked about it more than almost any other topic—16 out of His 38 parables mention money. Throughout Scripture, we see that how we handle what we have isn’t just a financial issue—it’s a spiritual one.
In Mark 12:41–44, Jesus watched people give offerings at the temple. Wealthy individuals gave large sums, but a poor widow dropped in two small coins—worth almost nothing. Yet Jesus said she gave more than all the others. Why? Because she gave from her heart.
That’s the first truth about cheerful generosity: it reflects the heart.
The rich gave out of their surplus, but the widow gave sacrificially. Her small “clink” may not have impressed anyone in the temple, but it made a sound in the kingdom of God. True generosity isn’t about the size of the gift—it’s about the posture of the heart.
Cheerful Generosity Reaps What It Sows
There’s a biblical principle called reaping and sowing. Just as you reap what you sow in farming, you reap what you sow in faith. Giving isn’t a transaction—it’s an investment into the kingdom of God.
But let’s be clear: this isn’t the “prosperity gospel.” We don’t give to get rich. We give because we trust that God can do more with our 90% than we can with 100%.
At The Valley, we teach the biblical principle of tithing—giving the first 10% back to God through the local church. It’s a pattern that runs from Genesis through Jesus Himself, not as a legalistic command but as a launching pad for generosity. In the New Testament, giving became even more radical. The early church didn’t just give 10%; they gave beyond their ability, sharing everything they had so that no one was in need.
For my wife Emily and me, we’ve experienced firsthand how God blesses obedience. When we were newly married and barely scraping by, we still tithed faithfully—and God always provided. Later, as we prepared to plant The Valley Church, we increased our giving even when it didn’t make sense. Over and over, God provided resources, people, and opportunities that only He could orchestrate.
When you sow generously, you reap generously.
Cheerful Generosity Produces Miracles
The word generosity literally carries the root gen—meaning “to produce.” Think of words like generate, genesis, and generation. God Himself created the world through an act of generosity, and since we are made in His image, we are designed to produce good through our giving.
When we give, God multiplies what we offer to produce miracles.
Our generosity creates spaces for people to encounter Jesus, for broken families to be restored, and for communities to experience hope.
I’ve seen it firsthand. When we were planting The Valley, we walked away from a $50,000 funding match because we felt God calling us to stay obedient to His leading. Within months, He provided more than that amount through other churches, partnerships, and unexpected donations. God honored faithfulness.
That’s what cheerful generosity does—it produces miracles that only God can get credit for.
Your Step of Faith
So what’s your next step when it comes to generosity?
Maybe it’s beginning to give for the first time. Maybe it’s moving from 3% to 5%, or from 8% to 10%. Maybe it’s going beyond the tithe and giving sacrificially. Whatever it looks like, take a step of faith today.
Because when you do, your giving will reflect your heart, you’ll reap what you sow, and you’ll be part of producing miracles that change lives forever.
To start giving or set up recurring giving, visit thevalleyks.com/give.