2005 Campaign for our Future

Dennis gives his testimony in connection to how Xenos began as a housechurch movement. He caught a vision of what church could be like through listening to teachings on Acts 19 and 20 at a campus Bible study. The campus Bible study led Dennis to a seminar by Howard Hendricks who recommended Robert Coleman's" The Master Plan of Evangelism". Hendricks also encouraged Dennis to begin the New Testament church practice of discipleship. Throughout the teaching, Dennis excitedly explains the fruits of discipleship and the homechurch planting movement at Xenos. Vision includes the beginning of a campus ministry, Urban Concern, and development of spheres -all today are staples of Xenos Christian Fellowship.

At this point in history, Xenos was asking its members to join in a new vision of serving the neighbors around them, especially the poor. To address this question of ?Who is my neighbor?? we reflect on the parable of the good Samaritan. Alongside this parable, Jesus expounds on the two greatest commandments: the high standard that God has for us to love Him and our neighbor. According to Jesus, our neighbor is anyone who is in need, specifically the poor. In order to serve the poor compassion, sensitivity to suffering, and calculated action needs to be taken. At the time of this teaching, one such action was to encourage Xenos members to support creating Harambee Christian School and other key urban centers. Jeffrey Sach's book The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities of Our Time is referenced to understand modern poverty.

This teaching is part of a funding campaign for Xenos Christian Fellowship. What is generosity and what motivates is highlighted throughout this teaching. There are 6 motivations for generosity. First, God has given generously to you through his son Jesus; grace is God's riches at Christ's expense. A second motivation is because God has made you a steward of His resources. A comparison of stewardship and ownership mentalities is included. Thirdly, you can be generous even if you are not wealthy; it is an attitude of giving that God is looking for, not a specific or large financial amount. Fourthly, God wants all of his people to have enough and does so through His people's generosity. Fifth, your financial gift will be handled with integrity among church leadership. Lastly, God will richly bless you for your generosity. You cannot out-give God! Refers to Craig Bloomberg's book Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions as a valuable resource on generosity topic.

Teacher Jeff Gordon gives his personal testimony as a way to persuade church members to give to the building campaign. He recounts seeing his fellow professionals be in misery over their finances and life. God began showing him that you cannot buy happiness and that God offered a different life: a life of giving instead of taking. He explains how he transformed as he began to give and enjoyed more of what God has given him. Ends with an essay selection by A. W. Tozer called ?Miracles Follow the Plow? and uses the essay to encourage church members to take a step of faith towards radical giving.