This four-week series, “Thankful for the Cup,” explores the abundance of God’s provision, protection, and purpose, using Psalm 23:5 (NRSV), You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head in oil; my cup overflows, as the foundational text. It is a series that moves from personal gratitude to communal responsibility, challenging believers to live in the overflow of God’s blessing.

Week 1 - Oct 11:  What’s in Your Cup?
Matthew 25:14-30 (Parable of the Talents)

Stewardship begins by recognizing that everything we “have” our unique talents, time, relationships, resources, and gifts are actually a “treasure” held within a fragile “clay jar. Stewardship, encourages us to use what we have to glorify God rather than hide it out of brokenness, fear or scarcity.  Matthew’s story is one of a “scarcity mindset” (hiding talents) verses and “abundance mindset” (using my talents). It focuses on a person who made a big impact with limited resources.

Big Idea:  Stewardship is the highest form of gratitude.

Week 2 - Oct 18: When Our Cups Come Together?
Acts 2:42-47 (The Early Church Community)

This week shifts the focus from individual responsibility to communal action. The early church didn’t just share resources; they shared a common identity as “jars of clay” together. We examine how the local church uses its collective resources, influence, and love to serve the community and meet the needs of one another. We start by using what we already have, before asking God for more.

Big Idea: We are blessed as a community to be a blessing to our community.

Week 3 - Oct 25: Placing Our Cup into God’s Hands
Romans 5:5 (God’s love has been poured into our hearts)

God multiplies what we have and fills us with God’s love is being “poured” into us. When we surrender what we have to God, God multiplies it far beyond our imagination. This week we focus on trusting God with the results, knowing God takes our meager offerings and turns them into an overflowing abundance.

Big Idea: God multiplies what we surrender to God.

Week 4 - Nov 1: Pouring Out Our Cup to Fill Others
2 Corinthians 9:8 (More Than Enough)

The goal of an overflowing cup is not personal hoarding, but generosity.  We are called to pour out the love, peace, and grace God has poured into us, filling the empty cups around us. There are many “pay it forward” stories or community projects where one small act of kindness has caused a chain reaction of blessing.

Big Idea: A full life is one that keeps pouring out.

Week 5 - Nov 8: The Joy of Offering Our Cup. – Celebration & Commitment Sunday 
Romans 12:1–8 (A Living Sacrifice)

The series concludes by moving from gratitude and generosity to commitment. After recognizing what is in our cups, bringing our cups together, placing them in God’s hands, and pouring them out for others, we now offer the cup itself—our whole lives—to God. Paul calls us to present ourselves as a “living sacrifice,” reminding us that stewardship is not simply about what we give, but about who we are willing to become. Each of us has different gifts, resources, abilities, and opportunities, but together we can say, “Here’s my cup, Lord. Use all that I am and all that I have for your purposes.” On Celebration & Commitment Sunday, we celebrate God’s abundance and respond by offering our time, talents, resources, and lives to God’s work in the year ahead.

Big Idea: Gratitude becomes commitment when we offer our whole lives to God.