Let's Go

GENEROSITY INITIATIVE |
SEVEN RIVERS CHURCH
sevenrivers.org
info@sevenrivers.org
352.746.6200
"All authority in
heaven and on earth
has been given to me.
Go therefore and
make disciples."
-Jesus
4221 W. Gulf to Lake Hwy.
Lecanto, FL 34461
MATTHEW 28

Acts 4:32-35
All the believers were one in
heart and mind. No one
claimed that any of their
possessions was their own,
but they shared everything
they had. …There were no
needy persons among them.
For from time to time those
who owned land or houses
sold them, brought the
money from the sales and
put it at the apostles’ feet,
and it was distributed to
anyone who had need.
Table
of
contents
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LETTER FROM PASTOR CORTESE
OUR GOALS
OUR VISION
MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT
TESTIMONIALS
SERMON OUTLINES
5-DAY DEVOTIONAL
GROWING IN GENEROSITY
FAQ
UPCOMING DATES
YOUR PART
GENEROSITY INITIATIVE
GIVING INFORMATION

letter from pastor cortese
“For you know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that though he was
rich, yet for your sake he became
poor, so that you through his
poverty might become rich.”
2 corinthians 8:9
Dear SRC Family, “Let’s Go!” This is what baseball fans
shout when they have the winning run on base; this is
what pro football fanatics yell when their team drafts
the best college quarterback; this is what Ukrainians cry
when they get news that their brave military is pushing
the Russian Army back; this is what Citrus Countians will
excitedly exclaim when the news of a new Target and
Starbucks is eclipsed with the announcement of a
coming Chick-fil-A!
“Let’s Go!” is also what Jesus declares at the apex of
redemptive history. Having put on flesh and entered the
world, conquered Satan, vanquished sin and death, he
gathers his disciples and tells them, “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go,
therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus not
only gives us our marching orders, but he then ascends
to the throne at the right hand of God and tells his timid
apostles that he is investing them with the authority of
heaven, of God himself, to accomplish their mission.
So, “Let’s Go” Seven Rivers. Let’s take advantage of this
unprecedented opportunity. All the places people look
to for security and stability are unraveling. Our country
is divided—our culture is unmoored, our political
leadership is impotent, our economy is floundering
and families are failing to flourish. This is our moment
to go to our broken world with the healing love of Jesus.
“Let’s Go!” – strengthen families, disciple children, love
our neighbors, model community, mend the world and
declare the healing love of Jesus to people
desperate for it!
Seven Rivers family, the “Let’s Go!” initiative is a
challenge to collectively proceed, move, advance, and
act as Jesus has commanded and empowered us to do.
I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in my heart
and yours and in the Seven Rivers family as we charge
forward together!
Let’s Go!
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our goals
Financially fund the mission
Grow the church
Finish Renovations & More
Give our children Jesus
100% participation in “Let’s Go”
Take advantage of the
once-in-a-generation
opportunity created by our
community’s explosive growth.
Welcome new residents.
Preach the gospel.
Mentor those who believe.
Renovate the Student Ministry Building.
Pay off our new property. Plan for the
building of a state-of-the-art high school.
Fund the continued growth of
Seven Rivers Student and Children’s
Ministries, Seven Rivers Christian
School, Seven Rivers Preschool
and Camp Seven Rivers.
Every member shares in the
joy of lavishly giving to Jesus’
beautiful family.
Preach Grace
Make Disciples
Prioritize Next Generation
Model Community
Mend the World
Strengthen Families
Proclaim the healing love of Jesus.
Anchor new believers in biblical truth.
Capture the hearts and minds of our
children with the beauty of Jesus.
Be the family everyone longs
to be a part of.
Make everything that’s ugly beautiful.
Restore homes, marriages and sexuality
according to the Creator’s design.
our Vision
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Seven Rivers Christian School
Ministry
spotlight
No other moment in the 34-year history
of Seven Rivers Christian School
has seen such a time of growth and
flourishing. With a record enrollment of
606 students, SRCS is projected to max
our space out with at least 640 students
in the 23-24 school year. With the
likelihood of reaching over 700 students
in the next three years, we are planning
the construction of a high school facility
on 3.75 acres of newly acquired property.
Not only is the school expanding in
size, but it’s growing richer in depth.
As a liberal arts school, all students
read classic literature, learn the story
of humanity through history, explore
the language of God through science,
marvel at the intentionality and order
of the universe through mathematics,
echo the beauty and creativity of
God through the arts, and develop
camaraderie and sportsmanship
through athletics. Students’ daily lives
are enriched with the gospel through
biblical instruction, weekly chapels,
and Christian mentorship. Faculty and
staff proactively work with intention
to create a beautiful community
of learners.
One of our goals is to equip our
graduates to thrive in higher
education. To that end, we have had
a 100% graduation rate since the first
graduating class 23 years ago. Almost
500 graduates have gone on to attend
58 colleges and universities. SRCS
also endeavors to equip graduates
to create healthy families and bring
the joy and peace of the gospel to a
broken world. As a ministry of Seven
Rivers Church, it is wonderful to work
toward this vision as we pour the
gospel into the lives of children.
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Ministry spotlight
Seven Rivers Student Ministry
Students are not thriving. They are living in a culture that is broken. They
have questions, but live in a world of chaos and confusion. They want
direction, but live in a world that says, “follow your heart.” They want
healing and forgiveness, but live in a world that has no atonement. They
want deep and meaningful relationships, but they live in a world where
relationships require no sacrifice.
The story that the world tells is this: “It is all about you… there is no God…
there is no King… there is no savior.” But at Seven Rivers Student Ministry
we get the opportunity to tell the truth, to offer answers, to go on mission,
to share the Gospel and to lead students into a deep relationship with
Jesus. We get to go tell students a story about Jesus who came to earth
to bring clarity, purpose, healing, forgiveness and a relationship with
God. It is a story that goes like this: “There is a God, there is a king and
there is savior and He loves you.” Here is how this true story has impacted
students in our community in 2022:
15 students came to know Jesus.
12 adults volunteering their time to
serve on Wednesday nights.
3 young adults giving up their 20s
to follow Jesus and to do full time
student ministry.
5 college students giving up their
summers to love kids.
100+ middle school and high school
students gathering each Wednesday
night for worship.
60+ students attending a voluntary
worship night.
20+ students going on a mission
trip to St. Louis.
60+ students attending fall retreats
to grow in their faith.
5 high school students leading
middle school small groups.
Jesus is on the move. We have seen Him change lives.
We have seen Him transform families. He has called us
to go with Him. There is work to do, so Let’s Go!
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CHRIS & SANDY TUTKA
testimonials
Our paths crossed during our time in the US Navy. Upon
our discharge, Chris pursued a career in Federal Law
Enforcement and I in Christian Education. After five years of
marriage, we started our family—a son and daughter born 16
months apart. We were convicted that a Christian education
was an important component to raising our children and
made sacrifices to ensure this happened.
When our beautiful daughter went home to be with Jesus at
the tender age of 21, her faith statement (written in the eighth
grade) was read at her funeral. As we heard it being read,
we realized she had lived out her faith statement in her very
short life. Knowing this provided a peace that truly passes
all understanding. We have been so grateful for the support
a Christian education community provided for us in raising
both of our children. This is one of many reasons why it was
important for us to attend a church that was Christ centered,
family focused, and mission oriented. We found all of that at
Seven Rivers.
Since we’ve become members, we’ve found many different
ways to serve in the school, church, youth group, and
community. SRC promotes small group opportunities that
help people connect with one another while growing in their
faith. It is amazing how quickly a large church can become
as warm and inviting as a close-knit family when you begin to
reach out to be part of the body of Christ.
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testimonials
MARK & ANN BEAUCHAMP
When Mark and I moved to the area a few years ago,
we were looking for a church we liked, that we would be
comfortable in and where we could grow. Then we found
Seven Rivers.
Do we like it? No, we LOVE it. ‘Like’ was a thoughtless criteria.
Love was unexpected and it swept us onto our feet - running.
Are we comfortable? Not like we thought we wanted to be.
We were compelled to participate in this church. We greeted
one Sunday morning and were shown gracious kindness
as strangers looked us in the eye, said our names and
befriended us. This was a community where we wanted to
belong and to serve.
Have we grown? Well, I truly believe that the old us has died
and we have been made new. Growing seemed like a better
choice than dying - wrong again. We are flourishing at Seven
Rivers where God’s grace and loving kindness is the good
news that changed everything. We are so grateful to have
found such a beautiful church family that brings so much
beauty to the community.
FERNANDO L. ROMAN
I was born in Puerto Rico, and at age seven we moved to New York. As a
teen with low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence, I got involved with
the wrong crowd and became heavily involved in drugs. At sixteen, God
found me in my place of hiding, but for 30 years I continued to struggle,
was in and out of rehabs and ended up homeless. Eventually, one halfway
house made a lasting impact on me.
It was then that I met an amazing woman at an AA meeting and before
long, Ruthie and I were married—but I continued my struggle with
addiction. Once again I turned to God, got back on my feet and into a
good church in South Florida. During this time, Ruthie took in her one-anda-half-year-old
and newborn nephews. We ended up adopting Julianni
and Jorriel and today, I am the proud father of these wonderful boys.
Later, we relocated to Citrus County. It was a blessing to buy a house
near Adam and Anne Jones. They invited us to Seven Rivers—we joined
the church and enrolled the boys in the Christian school. The anointing
that God has poured into the teachers, pastoral team and members
committing to help our families raise our children is mind-blowing. Seven
Rivers Church is selfless. Its mission is about helping others, a task they
take on with sincerity.
Sadly, just over a year ago, I lost my wife to COVID and am now a single
parent, but I am not alone. The church has helped with my boys and the
love we’ve received can only come from people who truly love the Lord.
I thank God every day for this church and the brothers and sisters he’s
placed in our lives. Last month, I became the usher coordinator. I love
the Lord and love to serve as an usher! I love to help others as they have
helped me.
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testimonials
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JEFF & REBECCA WITZKE
My wife and I started attending Seven Rivers in 2021. We moved
here during the pandemic to care for Rebecca’s aging parents. We
appreciate Seven Rivers’ high view of Scripture (centrality of Christ,
gospel, sovereignty of God) and the authority it has for a
Christian’s faith life.
We’ve personally experienced love and compassion from the Seven
Rivers pastors and staff during a very difficult time. Last year, both
Rebecca and I lost a parent within a three-month period. While we
were in the Pastor’s Class, my mother unexpectedly went to be with the
Lord. We weren’t even members yet, but pastors called and prayed with
me. Over subsequent months, I received a set of pamphlets to help me
process my grief. I even received a note from Seven Rivers students to
encourage me. Members of GriefShare walked alongside the grieving
process with my wife and mother-in-law.
We love that Seven Rivers cares about fostering deep relationships
through intentional efforts to connect after worship or a meal together
with a pastor. Opportunities to serve are easy to access. We have served
as door greeters and at the Information Desk. We’ve attended a Bible
study, are a part of a Life Group and have discovered that relationships
are easy to develop in community here.
Lastly, we appreciate the distinct way worship is conducted. The music
chosen is consistently rich in theology and the worship band does not
drown out the congregation’s praises.
Seven Rivers was an easy choice for us and we feel privileged to be
members here.
Steve Gant & Brenda Van Sandt
I became a Christian as a youth, attended church regularly and graduated from a
Christian university. My husband Steve was in and out of his relationship with God
throughout his life and gave his life fully to Christ just over a year ago when we
attended the Pastor’s Class at SRC.
After our marriage, Steve and I used a myriad of excuses, including our different
religious backgrounds (Catholic and Baptist), as reasons why we never made
worship a priority. Our efforts to find a church home were sporadic at best.
After relocating to Florida from Minnesota last year, we wanted to attend a
Christmas Eve service. I found the Seven Rivers schedule online and we attended
the 3 p.m. service. It can be a bit daunting to attend a church for the first time—
particularly when one has not attended services regularly for many years. Would
we be welcomed? Would we feel out of place? What would the service be like?
Would we leave feeling hopeful or hopeless? Would we feel like we were being
“judged” for our lack of biblical knowledge? And, as silly as it now seems—what do
people wear to church in Florida? We had all those questions and more.
Despite our uncertainty, God was clearly at work drawing us back to him through
the Seven Rivers Church family. He showed us that SRC is made up of real
people—each of us uniquely broken—yet loved by Him. The lack of pretension or
judgment coupled with the honest acknowledgment that we ALL struggle really
resonated with us. We immediately felt God’s calling to become members and
completed the Pastor’s Class last spring. We have been blessed to become part
of a small group where we share questions, prayer requests and support one
another on our Christian journey. Attending conferences and special seminars
have also helped us grow in our faith and knowledge of God’s grace. We’re
so grateful for the many opportunities to get involved in church—including
supporting children’s summer camp, serving as a greeter and assisting with the
Lord’s Supper preparation. We are so grateful God led us to SRC.
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sermon
outlines
w e e k
1
2
3
4
5
FEB 18/19
FEB 25/26
MAR 4/5
MAR 11/12
MAR 18/19
Let’s Go—Get the Gospel
Let’s Go—Make Disciples
Let’s Go—Generosity
Let’s Go—Mend the World
Let’s Go—Love the Church
Romans 1:16-17; Mark 16:15
Matthew 28:16-20
2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 9:6-8
Matthew 4:23; Revelation 21:5
Ephesians 5:25; Matthew 16:18
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sermon outlines
Week 1
LET’S GO—
GET THE GOSPEL
ROMANS 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
for it is the power of God for salvation
to everyone who believes, to the Jew
first and also to the Greek. For in it the
righteousness of God is revealed from
faith for faith, as it is written,
“The righteous shall live by faith.”
MARK 16:15
And he said to them, “Go into all the
world and proclaim the gospel to the
whole creation.”
Week 2
LET’S GO—
MAKE DISCIPLES
MATTHEW 28:16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had
directed them. And when they saw him they
worshiped him, but some doubted. And
Jesus came and said to them, “All authority
in heaven and on earth has been given to
me. Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you. And behold, I am with you
always, to the end of the age.”
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sermon outlines
Week 3
LET’S GO—
GENEROSITY
2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-5
We want you to know, brothers, about the
grace of God that has been given among the
churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test
of affliction, their abundance of joy and their
extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of
generosity on their part. For they gave according
to their means, as I can testify, and beyond
their means, of their own accord, begging us
earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief
of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but
they gave themselves first to the Lord and then
by the will of God to us.
Week 4
LET’S GO—
MEND THE WORLD
MATTHEW 4:23
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom
and healing every disease and every affliction among
the people.
REVELATION 21:5
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I
am making all things new.”
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-8
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also
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reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will
also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he
has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And
God is able to make all grace abound to you,
so that having all sufficiency in all things at all
times, you may abound in every good work.
BEGIN 5-DAY DEVOTIONAL
ON MONDAY, MARCH 13
(FOUND ON PAGE 26)
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sermon outlines
Week 5
LET’S GO—
LOVE THE CHURCH
EPHESIANS 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved
the church and gave himself up for her.
MATTHEW 16:18
I will build my church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it.
c.s. lewis
“I do not believe one can settle how
much we ought to give. I am afraid
the only safe rule is to give more
than we can spare. In other words,
if our expenditure on comforts,
luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to
the standard common among
those with the same income as our
own, we are probably giving away
too little. If our charities do not at
all pinch or hamper us, I should say
they are too small. There ought to
be things we should like to do and
cannot do because our charitable
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expenditure excludes them.”
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5-daY
devotional
MARCH 13-17, 2023
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5-day devotional
28
MOnday, March 13
WHEN GOD SAID:
“LET’S GO MAKE A PEOPLE”
By Michael Hart
day 1
to read:
GENESIS 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let us make man
in our image, after our likeness…”
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8
Have this mind among yourselves, which is
yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the
form of God, did not count equality with God
a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself,
by taking the form of a servant, being born
in the likeness of men. And being found in
human form, he humbled himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death, even death on
a cross.
to think about:
As a pretty extreme extrovert, it’s difficult
for me to imagine God being all alone
before He created time and people, and
yet still being so complete, happy and
satisfied within himself, needing no thing
or person to add to who he is. The Father,
Son and Holy Spirit could have remained
joyfully content in this forever. Instead,
one day before time existed they said,
“Let’s go. Let’s go make a people and a
place for them to live where they will be
filled with the joy of knowing and enjoying
us forever!”
If it were me, I would have felt nothing
but the excitement of making such
amazing things out of nothing and a
people in my own image. I also don’t see
the future. While I would think he surely
felt in creation the pleasure of an artist,
I can imagine our omniscient God also
feeling some of the pain of a Father.
The same God who initially spoke things
into existence had also already written
down the words he would one day
give to the Apostle Paul to speak in
Phil. 2:5-8. Creating a people full of his
own glory would require his Son to be
emptied of his, to humble himself and
one day say, “Let’s go.”
“Let’s go enter our creation and become
like them. Let me go live the perfect life
they could never live. Let me then go to a
cross, the humiliating form of execution
the Romans invented, and become
as if I had committed all their sin and
selfishness and lust and pride. Let me go
suffer all the judgment and death and hell
they deserve. But let me also go rise from
the dead, and with great power conquer
all of that for them so that anyone who
simply believes in me would once again
be filled with the joy of knowing and
enjoying me forever.”
This is what we call the gospel. Most of
you reading this have heard it many times.
Yet it’s good to remember that the gospel
is not the ABC’s of Christianity we need to
believe just to get in, it’s the A-Z we need
to cling to every day. We talk a lot about
God’s grace around SRC because we all
need to be constantly reminded that our
best days don’t earn us more of God’s love
and approval. No one can ever say, “Let’s
go to God.”
The good news of the gospel begins with
the bad news that our sin is great and
deserves God’s judgment. We can never
be good enough to go up to God. Yet God
so loved us that He said, “Let’s go to them!”
So let’s go! Let’s go, not to try harder to go
to God, but to believe more he has already
come to us. Let’s go not to earn more from
God, but to receive more of what he has
already given. Let’s go enjoy the glory of
God’s lavish grace and love toward us
today. LET’S GO!
to apply:
1. In what ways are you tempted to live
like you have to go to God to earn His
love and approval?
2. Read Philippians 2:5-8 one more time.
Do you believe Jesus said, not just to
all in general, but to you specifically,
“I did all that for [insert your name]”?
How does that make you want to live
differently?
to pray:
Adoration—I adore you for being such
a gracious God who would come to us.
Confession—I confess that I so easily
act like I have to earn your love and
approval.
Thanksgiving—I thank you Jesus for
doing all that was necessary for me to
enjoy you forever.
Supplication—I ask that you help me
simply believe that I am forever loved
by you.
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5-day devotional
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30
tuesday, march 14
WHEN GOD SAID:
“LET’S GO MAKE DISCIPLES”
By Michael Puckett
day 2
to read:
MATTHEW 16:24-26
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come
after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross
and follow me. For whoever would save his life will
lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find
it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole
world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give
in return for his soul?”
JOHN 21:15-19
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to
Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me
more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you
know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John,
do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know
that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He
said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you
love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him
the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to
you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself
and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are
old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will
dress you and carry you where you do not want to
go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he
was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to
him, “Follow me.”
to think about:
Peter saw Jesus heal the blind, cast out
demons and resurrect the dead. But
when Jesus was being crucified, Peter
said, “I do not know the man.” Peter
gave up his livelihood, relationships and
comfort to follow Jesus, but when it came
time to die with Jesus he refused. He was
willing to give up everything, but not his
life. Peter followed Jesus all the way to
Golgotha, but he was not willing to follow
Jesus to the cross.
Like Peter, every time I sin – I deny Jesus. I
refuse to believe in him. I refuse his grace
and I refuse to submit to his leadership. I
have witnessed Jesus’ work in my life and
in the lives of people around me but when
it comes down to following Jesus with
my whole life, I deny that I even know the
man. I wonder if people were to look at
my life, what would they say? I think that
they would say, “Really, this guy says he
knows Jesus?” I am willing to offer Jesus
a lot, but when he leads me to the cross
and invites me to come with him, that
is when I draw the line. I refuse to
follow Jesus.
What about you? Jesus has called you to
lose your life. He has called you to follow
him to the cross. Will you follow Jesus?
When Jesus resurrects from the dead
he finds Peter, makes him breakfast, sits
him down and gently asks him a simple
question: “Do you love me?” Jesus does
not deny Peter, he does not ignore him,
he does not reject him, but rather he
offers Peter a new relationship. Jesus
invites Peter back into discipleship and
he invites Peter into a mission. A mission
that will require Peter to take up his cross.
A mission that will require Peter to lose
his life. But also a mission that in the end
results in eternal life with Jesus. What is
this mission? Discipleship. If Peter loves
Jesus, what does Jesus ask him to do?
Jesus asks him to feed and care for his
sheep… Jesus essentially says to Peter,
“Let’s go make disciples!”
I am glad that Jesus has forgiven me and
he has invited me back into relationship
with him. I am glad that he has given me
a mission to make disciples. I know that
Jesus loves me, but do I love Jesus? Do I
make disciples?
Seven Rivers Church is committed to
making disciples. Every week I see little
kids playing in the church and being
loved by God’s people. Every week I
encounter the conviction of the Holy Spirit
through the Bible preached and my heart
is transformed by God’s Word. Every week
I see students following Jesus despite
a culture that says, “Jesus followers are
dumb.” Every week I hear about lives
being transformed through the ministry
of discipleship groups and small groups.
Every week I see sinners loved by a Holy
God and being sanctified. God loves to
make disciples and this is what Seven
Rivers Church loves to do, too.
Do you want to be a part of this? If so,
Jesus asks you a simple question: “Do you
love me?” Even though you have sinned,
even though you have rejected him, Jesus
invites you back into relationship. Truly, do
you love Jesus? If you do, then feed and
tend his sheep. If you love Jesus, go and
make disciples… and what is the cost of
discipleship? It is not just your money, your
time or your work… but it is your whole
entire life. Will you give up your life and
follow Jesus? If so, let’s go make disciples.
to apply:
1. Is there anything standing in the way
of giving up your whole life to Jesus
(i.e. family, friends, money, time, work)?
2. What would it look like for you to
take up your cross and follow Jesus?
What do you need to repent of? What
do you need to confess?
3. What would it look like for you to
feed and tend Jesus’ sheep? What
would it look like for you to go make
disciples at Seven Rivers Church?
4. Do you love Jesus?
to pray:
Adoration—Adore that God is Holy
and yet he invites us into relationship
with him.
Confession—Confess that often you
fail to love God and that you need
his grace.
Thanksgiving—Thank God for his love
for you and the mission that he has
called you to despite your sin.
Supplication—Ask God to show you
how he wants you to make disciples
and to give you the strength to follow
Jesus to the cross.
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5-day devotional
32
wednesday, march 15 to read:
WHEN GOD SAID:
“LET’S GO BUILD A CHURCH”
By Adam Jones MATTHEW 16:18
“I will build my church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it.”
day 3
to think about:
Jesus said he would build his church and
it would be an unstoppable force on
earth. So much so, that even the gates of
hell would not prevail against it. Jesus is
telling us that evil itself will put all its might
against his church. Evil will never stop
throwing punches at the bride of Christ,
but Jesus will protect and fight for his
bride. Jesus will prevail to make his church
powerful, beautiful and a force on earth to
bring his kingdom.
There is nothing like the local church
when it’s working right. Its beauty is
indescribable. Its power is breathtaking.
Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the
grieving and heals the broken in the
context of community. It builds bridges to
seekers and offers truth to the confused.
It provides resources for those in need
and opens its arms to the forgotten, the
downtrodden, and the disillusioned.
It breaks the chains of addictions, frees
the oppressed, and offers belonging to
the marginalized of this world. Whatever
the capacity for human suffering, the
church has a greater capacity for healing
and wholeness.
Matthew Parris is a newspaper columnist
for the Times of London and a selfdescribed
atheist. He wrote an article titled
“As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs
God.” Parris, born and raised in Africa,
admits that saying this runs counter to his
beliefs, but he cannot ignore the difference
that he sees in African Christians and in
African churches.
“I’ve become convinced of the enormous
contribution that Christian evangelism
makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the
work of secular aid workers, government
projects, and international aid efforts.
These alone will not do. Education and
training alone will not do. In Africa,
Christianity changes people’s hearts.
It brings a spiritual transformation. The
rebirth is real. The change is good. The
Christians were always different. Far from
having cowed or confined its converts,
their faith appears to have liberated and
relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a
curiosity, an engagement with the world,
a directness in their dealings with others
that seemed to be missing in traditional
African life. They stood tall. As an atheist,
I truly believe Africa needs God.”
- Matthew Parris
As a Christian, I truly believe the church
is the hope of the world. It is what Africa
needs, Citrus County needs and it is what
you need…
Do you believe this? I’ve told my kids I want
nothing more for them than to experience
the grace of Jesus and to love his church.
What could happen to people who love
the church because they are convinced it
is not only the hope of the world, but the
thing Jesus loves? What could happen? Do
you think they would become people who
are vibrant with joy and purpose—people
whose lives bear fruit no matter their
personal hardships? I believe this.
The Titanic was the unsinkable ship,
but it sank. Just think of all the money,
investments and people’s lives lost when
the Titanic went down. It was tragic, but
it was also sad that so many put all their
hope in it. Jesus is building his church and
it will not sink, it will not fail. It is the hope of
the world.
to apply:
1. What in your life do you love simply
because someone in your family
loves it? Your love for it catches fire
because you see them loving it.
2. How is loving Jesus and loving his
church two sides of the same coin?
3. How does one cultivate a greater
love for Christ’s church?
to pray:
Jesus, sweet Jesus, helps us to not
only build your church, but to joyfully
love it all the days of our lives. Amen
LET’S GO!
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5-day devotional
34
thursday, march 16
WHEN GOD SAID:
“LET’S GO MEND THE WORLD”
By Robyn Shipes
day 4
to read:
MARK 1:32-34
That evening at sundown they brought to him all
who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the
whole city was gathered together at the door.
And he healed many who were sick with various
diseases and cast out many demons. And he
would not permit the demons to speak, because
they knew him.
MARK 2:1-5
And when he returned to Capernaum after some
days, it was reported that he was at home. And
many were gathered together, so that there was
no more room, not even at the door. And he was
preaching the word to them. And they came,
bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.
And when they could not get near him because
of the crowd, they removed the roof above him,
and when they had made an opening, they
let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the
paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
to think about:
When I think of the word ‘mend,’ I have a
visual picture of my mother sitting in her
room, taking the ripped, torn, buttonless,
items my siblings and I would constantly
bring to her to mend for us. With nine
children, there was always something to
mend. She would literally sit for hours at a
time and would carefully repair our clothing
or stuffed animals. She would take what was
“broken” and tenderly restore each item.
In a world where brokenness is prevalent,
the longing for things to be mended and
repaired has been and continues to be
the longing of every heart. We long for
broken relationships to be restored, we
long for broken bodies to be healed, we
long for broken lives to find hope in the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus stands ready
to bring healing into our broken world. In
Mark 1, we find an entire city turning out to
hear Jesus teach and to bring him people
in need of physical healing. The sick and
demon-possessed knew that their bodies
and spirits needed mending – to be made
whole and well. But Jesus also speaks to the
necessity of their hearts’ need for mending,
they needed to experience the forgiving
and saving grace of Jesus. The people are
leaning in to listen – their hearts craving to
receive the mending that Jesus was offering.
In Mark 2, we find the passage gets more
personal. It says there were two groups,
those standing around listening, and a small
band of faithful friends who acted. They
believed Jesus could bring physical healing
to their broken friend. They would stop at
nothing to get their friend to Jesus. When
they were unable to go through the crowd,
they went through the roof! The passage
concludes with “And when Jesus saw their
faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins
are forgiven.’” When Jesus saw “THEIR” faith
he healed the paralytic. Let us be a people
who believe that Jesus came to bring
healing in such a way that he would be
pleased to heal those in our community.
The mission of Seven Rivers Church is that
we “exist to bring the healing love of Jesus
to broken people and broken places.” So,
what does this look like? How do we heed to
the call to be the hands and feet of Jesus
to the world around us – to go and mend
the world? I believe it looks like inviting
the mom you meet at the park to come to
MOPS, it’s taking a meal to a family who
has been going through difficult times, it’s
sitting with people in their pain, it’s what
the Disaster Response team does every
day – going out into the community and
literally mending peoples’ homes. It’s what
Common Ground Ministries in Montgomery,
AL does – rehabbing homes in the blighted
neighborhoods of Montgomery and
investing in and caring for the families that
will live in those homes. I believe it’s when
missionaries in Mexico obtain an old pig
farm and build a school for deaf children,
who for the first time learn sign language
and learn they have a name. I believe it’s
seeing people, inviting people into our lives,
and walking with them in the brokenness of
their pain, shame, and self-righteousness.
It’s what Jesus did. He saw people – their
spiritual pain and their physical pain and He
entered in – speaking words of healing and
touching them with his power.
What a beautiful mission this is – a call to go
and mend the world. So, let’s remember the
healing that Jesus has done and continues
to do in our own hearts and Let’s Go – with
God’s wisdom, kindness, and power – Let’s
Go Mend the World!
to apply:
1. In what ways have you experienced
the mending of Jesus in your life? Is
there anyone that comes to mind who
the Lord used?
2. Who in your life needs to know and
experience the healing love of Jesus?
3. Are you loving your neighbors in a
way that gets them to Jesus? How are
you seeking to engage them?
to pray:
Adoration—Adore God for sending
his Son to heal the brokenness in and
around you.
Confession—Confess to God where
you have tried to heal yourself.
Confess to God any fears you have
about reaching out to others who
need his healing.
Thanksgiving—Thank God for the ways
he has brought healing into your life
and to those around you.
Supplication—Ask God to bring healing
into any specific areas of brokenness
in your life. Ask God how he wants you
to bring it to others.
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5-day devotional
36
friday, march 17
WHEN GOD SAID:
“LET’S GO GIVE GENEROUSLY”
By Brandon Lauranzon
day 5
to read:
PROVERBS 11:24
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give,
and only suffers want.
MATTHEW 6:19-20
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth
where moth and rust destroy and where thieves
break in and steal, but store up for yourselves
treasure in heaven.
ACTS 20:35
…remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed
to give than to receive.’
2 CORINTHIANS 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though he was rich, yet for your sake he
became poor, so that you by his poverty might
become rich.
to think about:
THE PARADOX OF GENEROSITY
Generosity is contradictory to the logic
of our culture. It is absurd to suggest that
it is better to be a giver than a receiver. It
goes against economics, it goes against
the survival of the fittest, it goes against
the belief that, “I can’t love someone else
until I first love myself.” But followers of
Jesus must learn to embrace the paradox
of generous living. John Bunyan wrote in
Pilgrim’s Progress, “A man there was, and
they called him mad; the more he gave,
the more he had.” Generosity is part of
how God designed us to experience full
human flourishing. Scottish pastor W.M.
MacGregor said, “A selfish man is never
rich. His day is as long as his neighbor’s,
yet he has no leisure except for his own
amusements, no sympathy or concern
beyond his own perplexities, no strength
but to fight his own battles, and no money
except for his own need; what haunts his
mind at every turn is the dread of having
too little for himself.” Do you want to be
rich? I don’t mean financially. Do you want
to live a rich life? The paradox is that the
truly rich life is the life of generosity.
THE PRACTICE OF GENEROSITY
Money is just one small application of
being generous. If all you equate with
generosity is giving money then you will
never be a generous person. There are
many ways to be generous, but here are
at least four:
1. Be generous with your resources. Yes,
that includes money, but it’s far bigger
than dollars and cents. Everything you
have is a gift from God – your house,
your car, your clothes, your food. Any
possession you have is from God and it’s
meant to be shared, not hoarded. Martin
Luther said, “I have had many things in my
hands that I lost; the things that I placed
in the hands of God I still possess.”
2. Be generous with your time. Time is a
nonrenewable resource. Everyone gets
the same 24 hours every day. Spend time
with your spouse, with your children, with
your family, with your friends. Spend time
with people who are lonely and hurting.
Linger in conversations. Go out of your
way, inconvenience your schedule, to
show someone you care. Stop spending so
much of your time absorbed with yourself
and what you are making of this life.
3. Be generous with your words. Proverbs
18:21 says, “Life and death are in the power
of the tongue.” Are you stingy, are you
tight-lipped with your praise of others?
Do your words more often encourage
or discourage? Are you careless with
the things you say? God wants us to be
generous with our words. He wants us to
build others up, not tear them down. Being
generous with your words means calling
out goodness in others, seeing them in
the light of who God is making them to be
and praising that. We need to especially
remember to be generous with our words
when we’re communicating via email or
text or social media. It’s amazing to me the
things people will write that they would
never say to someone’s face. Be generous
with how you speak about those whom
you disagree with. Gossip and slander are
being verbally ungenerous.
continue...
4. Be generous with your forgiveness.
Jesus’ followers don’t keep count of how
many times they forgive. Seek to forgive
quickly. Don’t hold things over others’
heads. Don’t add qualifications to your
forgiveness. God calls us to be generous
with our forgiveness.
THE POWER FOR GENEROSITY
Generous people don’t just happen. Our
natural propensity is toward selfishness
and stinginess. So where is the hope for
change? What has the power to make us
generous? In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul calls
on the church to be generous, but he
doesn’t guilt them, nor does he pressure
them. Instead, he reminds them of grace.
Only the grace of God can free a soul from
self-centeredness and empower a lifestyle
of generosity. Remembering the sacrifice
of Jesus is what gives us the power to
sacrifice for others. Jesus became “poor;”
he took on our flesh in the incarnation and
took on our sin in his death. Up until the
17th century the word “generous” meant
“of noble birth.” It described someone who
was born into a position of wealth, but
with the position came the responsibility
to be unselfish. Through faith in Jesus, we
have been adopted by the King of the
Universe. In Christ, God has blessed us
with every spiritual blessing so we
do not lack for anything we need.
Out of our position of wealth, we are
now given the joyful opportunity to be
generous. So, brothers and sisters, LET’S
GO give generously!
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5-day devotional
38
...continued
WHEN GOD SAID:
“LET’S GO GIVE GENEROUSLY”
By Brandon Lauranzon
day 5
to apply:
1. What internal or external forces keep you from
embracing the paradox of generous living?
2. Of the four ways of generosity listed, which one
would you like to improve upon the most?
3. When you remember the grace of God shown
to you in Christ, what emotions and desires are
produced within you?
to pray:
Adoration—Adore God as the Generous Giver
of every good gift in your life.
Confession—Confess to God your lack of
generosity in a specific area.
Thanksgiving—Thank God for sending Jesus to
become poor, so that you by His poverty might
become rich.
Supplication—Ask God to give you a
paradoxically generous life.
notes
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growing in
generosity
In Matthew 6, Jesus says, “where your money
is, there your heart will be also.” We want
everyone who calls this church ‘home’ to be
growing more like Jesus. If we are growing in
Christ, we should also be growing in
generosity. We believe that Christian
generosity begins with giving to the local
church and that all Christ-followers should
have a plan to support their local church.
Whether you are considering giving for the
first time, or you have faithfully given for
years, we believe there is a step you can take
to grow in generosity. As we grow in
generosity, we not only increase our giving,
but also our Kingdom impact. We want to
equip you to grow in generosity, so we’ve put
together this guide to help you along the way.
first time
occasional
consistent
tithing
sacrificial
legacy
I am giving for the first time. Growing in generosity always
begins with a first step. Taking that first step is never easy,
but required if you are going to grow. If you have never
given before, take your first step by giving today.
I have given before, but not consistently. If you have given
something in the past, but done so inconsistently, often times
your next step is to begin giving regularly. A great way to move
from giving occasionally to giving consistently is to set up a
recurring gift through your financial institution.
I give consistently, but not as much as I could. The consistent
giver has taken steps to give regularly. They are committed to
active growing. At this stage, our next step of growing in
generosity is to give in a way that reflects the generosity
we have been shown through Christ. A next step to grow in
generosity is to evaluate the level at which you are giving.
I faithfully give 10% of my income. Tithing is simply giving back the first
10% of what God has given us. The tithing giver has gone from giving
consistently to giving intentionally in a way that models a heart of
generosity. Growing in generosity means looking for additional ways
to further God’s Kingdom with your resources.
I give more than 10%, prioritizing God’s Kingdom over mine. The sacrificial
giver is someone who gives beyond what is normal or expected. When we
grow into sacrificial giving, we begin to choose God’s Kingdom over our
own comforts. Sacrificial givers show the transforming work Jesus has
done in their lives by giving in a way that impacts our lifestyle.
I give to make a Kingdom impact that outlasts me. The legacy giver
believes that every resource, whether financial or otherwise, is a gift from
God to be used for his Kingdom purposes. Legacy givers intentionally give by
acknowledging their generosity will outlast them, and everything in their lives
is to be freely and generously given for God’s work. Legacy giving leaves an
impact which outlasts the givers and serves the Kingdom beyond their lifetimes.
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frequently
WHAT IS LET’S GO?
WHAT IF I CAN’T AFFORD TO GIVE RIGHT NOW?
HOW DOES MY LET’S GO COMMITMENT AFFECT MY REGULAR GIVING TO SEVEN RIVERS?
asked
questions
“Let’s Go” was Jesus’ command to his followers—”Go
make disciples.” Let’s Go is a two-year generosity
initiative to resource the mission of Seven Rivers
Church—to bring the healing love of Jesus to
broken people and broken places. As Citrus County
stands on the precipice of astounding growth, this is a
once-in-a-generation opportunity for everyone who
calls SRC their church home to go ‘all in’ on bringing
those far from God to Jesus.
Lean times prompt us to trust God at a new level—he
wants our hearts. God does not forget those who put
their trust in him and he delights in giving to his children
freely and fully to meet their needs. We don’t have to
worry—“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good
pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12.32).” Also, this
is one time God challenges us to test him— “Bring the
full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in
my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD,
if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and
During the next two years through our one-fund approach,
all ministry will be funded through LET’S GO. During the period,
April 2023-March 2025, every dollar given to Seven Rivers is a
contribution to our LET’S GO initiative. It’s everyone’s opportunity
to re-evaluate their giving (or consider it for the first time) and see
what the Lord is calling you/your family to do.
HOW DID THE CHURCH USE THE FUNDS SPENT FROM THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY INITIATIVE?
WHAT ARE YOU ASKING ME TO DO?
First and foremost, we want you to engage—and
then respond to God’s leading. We want everyone to
participate by making a commitment to this initiative.
That means regardless of your age, life stage or
pour down for you a blessing until there is no more
need (Malachi 3.10).” Trust the Lord to guide you in
your giving and watch your faith blossom as you see
Him at work in your life.
WHAT IF I’M NEW HERE OR HAVE NEVER GIVEN TO SEVEN RIVERS BEFORE?
Virtually everything the church did that incurred a monetary cost
was funded by the Great Opportunity. This included missions,
school facilities, ministry events, church salaries, building and
ground maintenance, equipment upgrades/replacements, new
high school property acquisition, programs, renovations to our
children’s wing, sanctuary, and Florida Room.
socio-economic status, all are called to respond
generously as we lock arms to bring the good news of
the gospel to families and individuals. We’re asking you
to attend church each weekend February 18 – March 19.
We’ll anticipate our hearts to be encouraged through
worship and preaching and be challenged to “consider
how we may spur one another on toward love and
good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).
If you have never given before, this is your chance
to begin and join the Seven Rivers Church family in
LET’S GO. If you are new, we would love for you to
make Seven Rivers your church home and join us
in this mission. We need you on the team! LET’S GO
is for everyone. Everyone matters, everyone’s
giving matters.
MAY I CHANGE MY 24-MONTH COMMITMENT IF UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES ARISE?
Certainly! If at any time during this two-year period you want to
decrease or increase your commitment just give our office a call.
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upcoming
dates
apr
01-02
mar
18-19
FEB
25-26
FEB
18-19
Let’s Go Weekends
continue through
March 18-19
Commitment Weekend
& Party on the Lawn
Celebration & First Give
Launch Weekend
your part
pray
PASSIONATELY &
PERSISTENTLY
Participate
GENEROUSLY,
CHEERFULLY &
EXPECTANTLY
Give
FULLY &
FAITHFULLY
Pray for God to provide, to be at work
in your heart and do more than we
could ask or imagine (Luke 11 & 18).
Come to worship each weekend, ask
God what it is you need to hear and
learn, commit to being open to all that
God asks of you. Give yourself to him
fully and faithfully (Matthew 6.33)!
Ask God to show you what generous,
faith-stretching giving looks like for you
and your family. Wrestle with and decide
how much you’re going to give and then
give cheerfully. Give expecting God to
use your gifts for kingdom growth
(2 Corinthians 9.6-8).
44
apr
08-09
Easter Weekend
Celebrate
JOYFULLY &
FREELY
Celebrate what God does in our church
and our lives through Let’s Go as we seek
to honor him with our resources, service
and worship, together with one another
(Psalm 95.2; Galatians 5.13-14).
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PRIMARY GOAL:
100% engagement
46
SECONDARY GOAL:
$10 Million
generosity
initiative
We want everyone to take
his or her next step in
growing in generosity.
Fund the work of Seven Rivers Church
for the next two years including
finishing the sanctuary renovation
and designing a new high school.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
MATTHEW 28:19-20
two year
giving
chart
GIFTS
NEEDED
1
2
2
6
12
24
96
120
144
188
188
ALL OTHERS
MONTHLY
$25,000
$12,500
$8,333
$4,167
$3,125
$2,083
$1,042
$417
$313
$208
$104
ANNUALLY
$300,000
$150,000
$100,000
$50,000
$37,500
$25,000
$12,500
$5,000
$3,750
$2,500
$1,250
The chart above illustrates an example of the
levels of financial commitment that will allow
us to reach our goal over the two-year period.
TOTAL
2-YEAR GIFT
$600,000
$300,000
$200,000
$100,000
$75,000
$50,000
$25,000
$10,000
$7,500
$5,000
$2,500