Jeremiah Johnston | Paying It Forward | Prestonwood Baptist Church

Main message: Jesus uses money to expose the heart — our possessions show what or whom we truly serve — so Christians are called to recognize that everything belongs to God, bear God's image in how they live and give, and invest in eternal (heavenly) treasure through generous, sacrificial stewardship.

Key points:

• The Tyrian shekel and other coins illustrate that all money ultimately belongs to God (1 Chronicles 29:14); stewardship is a heart issue, not merely a financial one.
• Jesus teaches that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be" (Matthew 6:19–21): where you place resources shows your priorities.
• When asked "Whose image is on this coin?" Jesus' "render to Caesar... render to God" challenge (Matthew 22:15–22) calls believers to live as God's image-bearers (Genesis 1:27) and give God their lives, not leftovers.
• Jesus' miracle with the fish and the shekel (Matthew 17:27) shows his authority over provision, yet he still honors temple obligations on his own terms — illustrating both sovereignty and proper civic responsibility.
• Biblical giving is personal, proportional and sacrificial (widow's mite, Macedonian example): God values devotion and sacrifice, not merely amounts; salvation itself is a gift purchased by Christ, not by money.

Scriptures mentioned: Matthew 6:19–21, Matthew 22:15–22, Matthew 17:27, Exodus 30:13, Genesis 1:27, 1 Chronicles 29:14, 2 Samuel 24:24, Hebrews 4:14, Philippians 3:20, 2 Corinthians 5:20, 1 Peter 2:9, (allusions to the widow’s offering and the Macedonian church/2 Corinthians 8).