Key Takeaway
True generosity flows from a heart captured by Jesus—He is the “more” we’re looking for, and our giving is our worshipful response.
Above + Beyond is a time when Passion City Church focuses on giving beyond what we normally give so that we can go beyond where we normally go. Above + Beyond is more about Jesus than it is about money.
Read Luke 17:11-19.
In this passage, we see that out of 10 healed lepers, only one returned to praise God. Then, after acknowledging the faith of the one person, He says, "Rise and go." This is similar to our mission to go above and beyond, and it serves as a powerful reminder to be the one person of faith who praises God and to rise and go as our response because Jesus is the "more" we are looking for.
As we fix our eyes on God and seek to do more for His Kingdom, here are a few takeaways:
1. The move of God is all around us.
We're experiencing an unusual spiritual awakening right now. Bible sales are up 20%, and first-time Bible readers are driving this, specifically 20-year-old young men, who are the most frequent buyers.
People have been gathering to lift up the name of Jesus for centuries. Louie Giglio reminisces about a LIFE magazine he read in 1972, with a cover addressing The Great Jesus Rally in Dallas, TX, where tens of thousands of people gathered at the Cotton Bowl to lift up the name of Jesus. In 1995, there was a conference in Seoul, South Korea, focusing on world evangelism.
The move of God is all around us, and we must have eyes to see what He is doing and has been doing.
2. We are not starting anything, but we are a part of something big.
Passion Conference didn't start anything, but we are a part of something big that God is doing on this earth to proclaim His name to the nations.
Louie's vision was utterly above and beyond. This is the DNA of Passion Conference: to take bold steps into the above and beyond for the Kingdom of God.
3. Where God leads, God provides.
After hosting One Day '03, Passion was out of money. In fact, they were $100,000 short and were not going to make payroll. But God.
God provided money where there was none.
We can believe the same for our circumstances, having visions without everything we need and clarity in the vision while having confidence in God.
4. Jesus is in the above and beyond.
Going back to the story about Jesus and the lepers, we saw that 100% of the ten lepers were healed, but only 10% returned to fall at Jesus' feet to worship Him. We want to be in the 10%—the one out of ten who praises God for His healing and then rises and goes wherever God calls us.
Read Acts 4:32-36.
Everyone considered that their possessions were not their own.
It's not about what He does for us, it's about who He is.
5. God, we want You.
More than anything in this Above + Beyond season, we want more of God. As we saw with the branch Louie brought as an illustration of God's power, we believe that one strike of the Holy Spirit can change the city and the world around us.
Will you believe with us?
Discussion Questions
Why do you think only one out of the ten healed lepers returned to thank Jesus?
How does the phrase “rise and go” challenge or inspire your faith walk right now?
In what ways have you seen God already moving around you or through your church?
How does recognizing that “we are a part of something big” shape your view of your role in God’s Kingdom?
Can you recall a time when God provided for you in a way that was clearly above and beyond?
What does it mean to you to live with open hands when it comes to your possessions?
How is generosity an act of worship, not just a financial transaction?
What might it look like for you to go “above and beyond” in this season—personally, spiritually, or practically?
Why is it important to fix our eyes on who God is rather than just what He can do for us?
How are you praying for revival in your city, your church, or your life?
