Over the past 15 years of All Saints Dallas’ mission, there have been many phrases that have come to define our ministry: Live in God’s presence. Live out His love. Radical inclusivity and profound transformation. But one phrase that continues to stand out is this: “Generosity is the basis of God’s authority in our lives.”

I remember first hearing that almost 40 years ago—it stopped me in my tracks. Let that sink in. You might just as easily say “grace” or “love,” and that would be true. But generosity is another way of expressing the same truth. Think about it: God creates, He gives, He forgives, He saves. Again and again, He pours out His generosity—through talents, resources, relationships, and more. His authority is not rooted in power or control. He doesn’t coerce us; He draws us to Himself through His generosity.

And in response, we are stewards of His generosity.

Everything we have is on loan from Him. Ultimately, we don’t get to keep any of it—but we do get to give back a portion to His work through the local church. Scripture is full of His promises, yet if we’re honest, we sometimes struggle to believe them. Still, when we press through those doubts, we discover a path that leads to an abundant life.

This Sunday, we’ll explore:

· The Promises – Found throughout Scripture in passages like Luke 8, Malachi 3, and 2 Corinthians 9.

· The Problems – Why we sometimes wrestle to trust God and His Word.

· The Path – What life might look like if we truly responded to God with generosity.

At the heart of it all, we’ll see that God’s authority in our lives is more internal than external. We can be told to follow the rules—drive 55 mph, dress appropriately—but in the end, we do what we want to do. God knows this, which is why He invites us into a relationship of trust, promising to put His Spirit within us so that we want to obey Him (Ezekiel 36:26).

With that in mind, we’re invited to partner with God’s mission in the world by returning to Him a tenth—a tithe—of what He has entrusted to us. I encourage you to prayerfully reflect:

· What am I currently giving?

· What percentage of my income is that?

· What’s the authority guiding my giving?

· Am I truly trusting His promises?

As God says in Malachi 3:10–11, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse... and I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour down a blessing until there is no more need.”

Soon, you’ll receive a letter with a commitment card for 2026. Please take time to pray, discern, and respond. You may return your card by mail or bring it to our Ingathering Service on All Saints Day, November 2, when we’ll celebrate baptisms and the joy of God’s continued faithfulness together.

Joyfully,

+Philip