I'm as Mad as You Are | Shawn Johnson | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

I'm as Mad as You Are

Red Rocks Church • Nov 25, 2025 • 56 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Shawn Johnson walks through the whole biblical timeline of financial stewardship, demonstrating that giving God's way has always been about heart alignment and trust. Starting with the first family in Genesis and continuing through the teachings of Jesus, God invites His people to give their first and best through tithing and sacrificial generosity. When believers surrender control of their finances and trust God's promises, they unlock kingdom purpose and partner with Him to reach lost people with the gospel.

Themes

Biblical Stewardship & GenerosityFirst Fruits GivingTithing and FaithfulnessSacrificial Giving Beyond MinimumsGod's Heart for the Lost

Pastor's Points

1.

First and Best

2.

The Tithe

3.

Above and Beyond

Key Points

1.
Giving God's way begins with offering Him our first and best rather than our leftovers, a principle established with Cain and Abel in Genesis.
2.
Tithing literally means giving a tenth or ten percent of our income to God's work.
3.
Tithing is the only area in Scripture where God explicitly invites His people to test Him and watch Him pour out abundant blessings.
4.
Jesus explicitly affirms tithing in the New Testament while reminding believers not to neglect justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
5.
Bringing a full tithe to the local storehouse directly funds local and global outreach, helping widows, inmates, single mothers, and children.
6.
True biblical generosity goes beyond minimum requirements into joyful, sacrificial, "above and beyond" giving.
7.
Financial surrendering shifts our heart away from material attachment and aligns us with God's passionate desire to save the lost.

Sermon Moments

“"Cain brought some. Abel brought the first and the best. The Lord looked with favor on Abel in his offering, but on Cain and his offering, he did not look with favor."”

“"No matter if you feel like you're extremely poor in the moment or you feel like you're extremely wealthy in the moment, 10% is just as hard of a step of faith for everybody."”

“"Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."”

“"When you tithe here, you are bringing the gospel to inmates, serving widows, helping teenage single moms, and clothing, feeding, and educating children."”

“Pastor Shawn sharing how he and his wife gave their last $50 in checking as young interns, only to receive an unexpected $5,000 check the next day that anchored his faith in God's care.”

“"If I give him my stuff, he gets my heart."”

“"God who wants all people to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth."”

This Week

Pray and ask God what it looks like to give Him your first and best rather than leftover resources.

Have an honest, open conversation with your spouse or family about your financial stewardship and giving goals.

Take God up on His invitation in Malachi 3:10 to test Him by committing to bring a full ten percent tithe to your local church.

Examine your heart to see where you might be clinging to financial security rather than trusting in God's provision.

Look for opportunities to give sacrificially above and beyond your regular tithe to support kingdom mission work.

Remember that local church giving directly impacts widows, single mothers, inmates, and underprivileged children in your community.

Surrender control of your finances to God as an act of worship and active partnership in reaching lost people with the gospel.

Remember This

Giving God's way means offering our first and best, trusting Him with the tithe, and living with extravagant generosity to partner in His mission to save the lost.

A Challenge for You

Pastor Shawn challenges believers to pray about their year-end offering and ask God what step of financial obedience—whether giving their first and best or stepping into full tithing—they can take to partner with God in reaching the world for Jesus.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.