Applied Generosity

Domain Part 5 | A Commission—Advancing the Gospel

What does it mean to give with eternity in view?
In this episode, we explore the fourth and final core domain of generosity in the Applied Generosity Framework: A Commission—the call to advance the gospel and participate in God’s unfolding redemptive story. When we engage with this domain, our attention shifts beyond our immediate lives to God’s greater narrative that spans from Genesis to today—and into eternity.
We trace the arc of this story from the garden to the Great Commission, through the expansion of the early church, and into today’s global, multi-directional gospel movements. This domain invites us not only to support missions financially, but to wake up to what God is doing right now and consider the role we are uniquely equipped to play.
We also walk through a six-phase journey of spiritual formation that often unfolds as we engage more deeply with this domain:
Disconnect: We begin unaware of the eternal story and fully focused on our own.
Awakening: Our eyes open to the reality of eternity and the significance of our lives beyond this world.
Concern: We feel the weight of eternity for the people closest to us.
Compassion: That concern expands to all people and nations, reflecting the heart of God.
Alignment: Our life begins to reflect eternal priorities—how we give, spend time, and make decisions all start to shift.
Immersion: We come to see ourselves as active participants in God’s mission, fully integrated into the larger story of redemption.
This is a timely and urgent invitation—not just to consider the Great Commission, but to step into it with our whole lives.
In our next episode, we’ll tie all four domains together and explore how they form a comprehensive picture of how God uses generosity to shape us.

Domain Part 6 | Integrating the Four Domains

What does a fully integrated life of generosity look like?
Join us as we wrap up our series on Domain, the second dimension of the Applied Generosity Framework. Over the past few episodes, we’ve explored how different focus areas in our giving can shape not just what we support—but who we become. Now, we step back to see how they all come together.
As we reflect on each domain, we turn our eyes to Jesus—the ultimate model of a generous life. In him, we see:
Deep, sacrificial love for a close-knit community—where generosity meant shared life, not just shared resources.
A posture of openness to the Spirit’s leading—embracing interruption and extending blessing in unexpected moments.
A willingness to enter into the world’s deepest pain—moving toward suffering others avoided, restoring dignity and hope.
An unwavering commitment to God’s redemptive mission—never losing sight of the eternal story behind every act of love.
Jesus didn’t treat these domains as separate categories—he lived them as one unified calling. And while we’ll never embody that perfectly, we’re still invited to grow into it.
Some domains may feel familiar; others may stretch us. But each one offers a unique way God forms us, challenges us, and draws us deeper into his story. The more we step into all four, the more we find ourselves becoming not just more generous—but more like Christ.

Intervention Part 1 | Intro to Intervention

What does it look like to engage deeply and wisely with the causes God puts on our hearts?
In this episode, we launch our deep dive into the third dimension of generosity: Intervention—how we engage with the problems and opportunities in the world around us. If domain defines where we give, intervention defines how we give in those areas.
We walk through the five stages of growth in intervention—from early awareness to meaningful impact—and explore how this progression helps us move from good intentions to wise, effective generosity. We also introduce the three main categories of criteria that help us discern and evaluate ministries with confidence:
Core Criteria — the foundation of a ministry’s effectiveness.
Confirmatory Criteria — strong indicators that build confidence in the work.
Compatibility Criteria — the personal fit that helps us engage more deeply.
In this episode, we explore:
How domain and intervention work together to shape your generosity.
The five stages of intervention: indifference, idealism, introspection, investigation, and impact.
Why narrowing your focus helps you grow more deeply as a giver.
How the three categories of criteria lay the groundwork for evaluating interventions.
By understanding these stages and categories, we can give with clarity, wisdom, and purpose — making generosity a meaningful force for lasting change.

Intervention Part 2 | The Core Criteria

How can we confidently identify organizations that create lasting change?
In this episode, we continue our journey through Intervention, the third dimension of generosity, by unpacking the core criteria — the essential qualities that reveal whether an organization or program is truly effective. We explore how understanding these elements can help us give with clarity and purpose.
Together we walk through the three pillars of core criteria:
Theory of change — the roadmap showing how an intervention leads to meaningful outcomes and impact.
Impact measurement — gathering and interpreting data to confirm real change.
Accountability — ensuring organizations stay mission-true, led with integrity, and wise in stewarding resources.
Through real-world examples — from clean water initiatives to gospel outreach — we see how each of these principles helps us discern strong interventions, recognize assumptions, and navigate challenges like cost-effectiveness or mission drift.
By grasping these foundations, we become better equipped to spot healthy programs and invest where generosity can produce deep, lasting transformation.

Intervention Part 3 | The Confirmatory Criteria

How can we recognize the qualities that signal an intervention is built to last?
In this episode, we continue our exploration of Intervention by unpacking the confirmatory criteria — elements that often point to strong, enduring programs, even if they aren’t present everywhere. We look at how these indicators help us discern where generosity can produce meaningful, sustainable change.
In this episode, we explore:
Gospel integration — how the gospel influences leadership, organizational culture, and ministry practice.
Collaboration — the multiplying power of organizations working together through partnerships or specialized networks.
Replicability — understanding whether a solution can be scaled or adapted across diverse settings.
Innovation — how learning and adaptation keep interventions effective over time.
Seeing these qualities equips us to give with confidence, focusing our support where impact and mission grow hand in hand.

Intervention Part 4 | The Compatibility Criteria

How do we know which organizations or programs we are uniquely suited to partner with?
In this episode, we explore the final set of criteria in evaluating interventions: compatibility criteria. These focus on how our unique gifts, relationships, and God’s guidance position us to engage meaningfully with particular organizations or programs. Understanding compatibility helps us align our giving with both impact and personal calling.
In this episode, we explore:
Spiritual discernment: Recognizing God’s leading through spiritual fruit, scripture, the Holy Spirit, prayer, counsel, and circumstances.
Personal engagement: Identifying ways to invest beyond finances, using our time, talents, and influence to deepen impact.
Personal connection: Leveraging relationships with organizations to strengthen both our giving and their work while navigating tension between loyalty and effectiveness.
By reflecting on these criteria, we gain clarity on where our resources and gifts intersect with meaningful impact. When we partner with organizations in ways that align with God’s design for us, our generosity becomes both joyful and transformational.

Intervention Part 5 | An Integrated Process

How can we take everything we’ve learned about evaluating interventions and put it into practice in our giving?
In this episode, we wrap up our intervention series and walk through a practical process for assessing organizations and programs in your giving. We focus on taking the core, confirmatory, and compatibility criteria and applying them in a simple, actionable way—helping you feel confident in where and how you engage.
In this episode, we explore:
Clarifying focus areas to understand the specific problems we want to address.
Assessing our growth stage in understanding and engaging with a chosen focus area.
Creating a list of organizations and applying the core criteria: theory of change, measured impact, and accountability.
Using confirmatory criteria like gospel integration, collaboration, and innovation to strengthen our evaluation.
Evaluating compatibility through spiritual discernment, personal engagement, and personal connection to ensure alignment with our unique gifts and relationships.
We invite you to take one organization—perhaps one you already support—and walk through this process. As we move from understanding to intentional engagement, we grow not just as givers, but as partners in meaningful change in the world.

Allocation Part 1 | Intro to Allocation

How do we decide how much to give and how much to keep?
In this first conversation on Allocation, we step back from numbers and formulas to look at the mindset behind them. Together, we explore what Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler reveals about identity, surrender, and the quiet risks that come with resources. Before any structure or spreadsheet, allocation begins with an open heart.
In this episode, we explore:
Why Jesus’ invitation to the rich young ruler speaks to all of us as givers.
Two barriers that can keep us from following fully
How our identity shapes the way we steward money, influence, and opportunity.
Three simple tools — a personal budget, a giving account, and a windfall plan — that prepare us to approach allocation with clarity and freedom.
As we move into this new dimension, may we keep a “blank slate” before God, ready to hold every resource with open hands and follow wherever He leads.

Allocation Part 2 | Spontaneous and Percentage Giving

How do we grow in responsiveness and surrender in our giving?
In this episode, we continue our journey through Allocation, looking at two heart postures that shape how we decide what to give and what to keep. We explore how spontaneous gifts nurture a posture of response, and how percentage giving grows a posture of surrender. Together, they form a foundation for generosity that is both Spirit-led and steady through every season.
In this episode, we explore:
How spontaneous giving helps us listen and respond to real-time needs.
Why early giving memories often spring from responsive moments.
How percentage giving anchors surrender, even in uncertain times.
Practical ways to reserve margin for unplanned generosity while honoring steady commitments.
The unique challenges of each approach as our resources grow.
As we learn to hold resources with open hands — ready to act and willing to trust — we discover that generosity is less about formulas and more about freedom with the One who provides.

Allocation Part 3 | Giving Goals and Finish Lines

How can we experience greater adventure and alignment in our giving?
In this third conversation on Allocation, we explore two heart postures that help us give with purpose: adventure and alignment. Adventure calls us to take stretching steps of faith, trusting God’s provision along the way. Alignment invites us to define “enough,” freeing us to exchange temporary treasure for lasting impact. Together, these postures — and their tools — help us steward resources with clarity and joy.
In this episode, we explore:
How giving goals open space for adventure and grow our trust in God.
Ways to set annual, lifetime, or even shared goals that inspire prayer and creativity.
Why a financial finish line brings alignment and contentment as our capacity grows.
Two types of finish lines — spending and net worth — and simple ways to define them.
How clear limits release margin to invest in what truly lasts.
As we learn to balance adventure and alignment, may we discover the freedom and joy of living beyond ourselves.