Amazon and Fool’s Gold (December 14th) // Justin Graves
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Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)
All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).
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Matthew 6:19-21, 24-27 (NLT)
19-21 Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
24-27 No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

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I. Treasuring the wrong thing leads our heart to the wrong place.  

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“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” – Billy Graham

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Proverbs 15:27 (NLT)
Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live.

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Luke 12:15 (NLT)
Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

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Proverbs 11:28 (CEV)
Trust in your wealth, and you will be a failure, but God's people will prosper like healthy plants.

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II. Stay focused on eternal values over earthly treasures.  Instead of a me first mentality, have a kingdom first practice.

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“If you live for the next world, you get this one in the deal; but if you live only for this world, you lose them both.” - C.S. Lewis

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Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

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Spend > Save > Give = Now Focus
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Give > Save > Spend = Eternal Focus
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1 Timothy 6: 6-10; 17-19 (NLT)
6-10 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
17-19 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good.They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.


The most obvious lesson in Christ’s teaching is that there is no happiness in having or getting anything, but only in giving. - Henry Drummond
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Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.
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2 Samuel 22:37 (NCV)
You give me a better way to live, so I live as you want me to.



Reflection Questions
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We want to follow up on this week’s message with a few questions that help you respond personally to what God is saying through His Word. Let this be a time of honest evaluation and spiritual reset.
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1. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” What have your time, money, attention, and desires been revealing about what you truly treasure?
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2.Matthew 6 teaches that earthly treasures fade, but heavenly treasures endure. Where have you been tempted to measure your life by what you have rather than who you are becoming in Christ?
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3. How has worry about finances, security, or future plans pulled your focus away from trusting God’s provision? What does trusting Him practically look like in this season?
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4. Where is God challenging your “Spend–Save–Give” mindset and inviting you into a “Give–Save–Spend” lifestyle that reflects eternal priorities and kingdom-first values?

Weekly Practice
This week, practice one intentional act of generosity that reorients your heart toward eternal treasure.
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Choose one: give to someone in need, support a ministry, bless a family anonymously, or meet a practical need you’ve noticed.
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Before you give, pray: “Lord, make my heart follow what You value. Teach me to treasure what matters to You.”
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This practice trains your heart to loosen its grip on temporary things and anchor your joy in God’s kingdom.

Connect Groups
Feel free to sort through the connect groups below and find one that works for you!