Living in the Kingdom means giving towards things that matter The Kingdom of God is His eternal, spiritual ruling authority over everything Mark 12:40a – They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Mark 12:40b - These men will be punished most severely.” Mark 12:41-43 – Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others…” Mark 12:44a – They all gave out of their wealth; The blessed life has a principle of priority 1 Kings 17:13-16 – And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah. Live appropriately, save wisely, and give generously Mark 12:44b – …but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on. The blessed life has a principle of percentage Click here for Online Commitment Card Sermon Conversation Starters Today we learned about someone who had very little money, and yet gave all she had to God. Jesus said that she gave “more” than all the wealthy people who gave a lot. What do you think Jesus meant by this? We learned another story about a woman who had very little food. Instead of feeding her son and herself first, she fed a stranger first. God blessed her and provided enough for her and her son to eat for many days. What can we learn from this true story? If we sat down with Jesus for a meal today, and we asked him how he would like us to “live appropriately, save wisely, and give generously” this week… what kinds of things do you think he would encourage us to do?