Jesus is the first ENTREPRENEUR of GOD’s GOODNESS

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:5-13

Jesus gave His life to transform ours so we could be conformed to His image and likeness, which is SELF-GIVING LOVE.

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." Romans 12:1-3

Abraham gave, Jacob Gave, Joseph gave, Moses gave, Aaron gave, and David gave, but NOT LIKE JESUS DID.

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." James 1:17

God so loved the world; He gave us EVERYTHING.

"And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:3

Jesus suffered, died, and was resurrected to GIVE US GIFTS.

"Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:6-8

The early church was touched by Jesus and they grew in GRACE.

"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10

They did not attempt to build a church, the early disciples followed instructions and became entrepreneurs of God’s goodness, and Grace grew the church.

“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills." 1 Corinthians 12:8-11

Goodness entrepreneurs live lives WITH-GOD as they live the WITH-GOD LIFE. As such, because God is always with them. Good entrepreneurs get all the creativity, ideas, energy, and blueprints from GOD HIMSELF.

"For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money." Matthew 25:14-18

IN CHRIST, one with God, empowered by Grace through the HOLY SPIRIT, Goodness entrepreneurs are invited to co-create and co-build with Jesus as He builds HIS KINGDOM.

“namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:19-21

Knowing Jesus, who is HE building the KINGDOM for? Through self-giving love, Jesus is building the KINGDOM for US so that the Father can be re-established with ALL of HIS Children for eternity.

"And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing." Luke 9:2

The first disciples of Christ did not set out to build a church. They were the church. Instead, the early disciples MADE NEW DISCIPLES. They followed JESUS.

"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus gave man gifts and talents. Jesus is, was, and will always be a gift giver. We are made IN HIS IMAGE as gift-givers. We are self-giving gifts of HIS LOVE. We are goodness entrepreneurs, HIS AMBASSADORS of LOVE, and HE SENDS US EQUIPPED to give out gifts from the KING.

"So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:21

Jesus gave up the Godhead and became MAN. Jesus gave HIS LIFE for ours. The early church looked just like Jesus, practicing the same kind of RADICAL GENEROSITY. The early church is known for its GIFT-GIVING.

"so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:10

We are called to GIVE EVERYTHING because we will never TRUST MONEY or any other human resource. RADICAL GENEROSITY gives MAN a chance to display Jesus and his SELF-GIVING LOVE.

"to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" Ephesians 1:6-7

Jesus restored the KINGDOM through GRACE. Grace brought PEACE. He has filled us with wave after wave after perpetual wave of Grace… we have GRACE UNLIMITED. Like Christ, we are called to be RADICAL GIFT GIVERS through RADICAL GENEROSITY.

"For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace." John 1:16

As Goodness Entrepreneurs, Jesus gave us HIMSELF, the TRUTH, and the LOVE of the TRUTH with the LOVE for the TRUTH.

"but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ," Ephesians 4:15

Jesus empowers us to PUT ON THE NEW SELF, to walk IN CHRIST, to serve the New Humanity as Entrepreneurs of the Father’s Absolute Goodness.

"and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." Ephesians 4:24

Adam and Eve, before the fall, were GLORIFED and SHONE BRIGHTLY—they SHONE WITH GOD’S GOODNESS. They glowed and glowed so brightly that they did not realize they were naked.

"But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;" Luke 15:22

Goodness entrepreneurs trust and believe IN CHRIST, walking in the strength Grace provides.

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:1

Having been transformed by His goodness, Goodness entrepreneurs put on the NEW MAN; they walk by the SPIRIT and IN THE SPIRIT displaying the NEW HUMANITY.

"and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—" Colossians 3:10

Jesus gave us the fullness of the GODHEAD. Goodness entrepreneurs have the MIND of CHRIST, the full GODHEAD. He did this to transform us into HIS IMAGE, transformed by HIS LOVE from the inside out.

"which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:23

Jesus gave goodness entrepreneurs HIS Power, Wisdom, Favor, Vision, Mission, and Purpose. Jesus gave goodness entrepreneurs COMMUNITY.

"and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us," Ephesians 3:19-20

We are held up, sustained, and empowered by HIS RADICAL GENEROSITY.