Getting Warm With Your Giving Series

“The Cure for the Common Cold” part 3 (Getting warm with your giving)

Brian A. Moon

Story – This is only our 5th week of existence and we have already had over 60 different people come through our doors, and most of them have all had the same thing to say, “Wow, that was different, it was pretty cool.” The reason they say that is not because of me, but because of the team of leaders we have that serve each week. On any given week you will find a set up team, a technical team, a first impression team, a vocal team, and a drama team all working to make sure people have a great experience. And the crazy thing is that they don’t get paid a cent, they are all volunteers that give out of their time and talents. They have found something that makes them willing to sacrifice every week, and tonight we will find out what it is…

This is the third part of a four part series called “The Cure for the Common Cold” which has been showing us how to cure those times when we are not so hot for God. We have learned that through things called spiritual disciplines, or spiritual exercises, we can keep our fire and passion for God all the time unlike this church in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 2:4 – 5 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.” NRSV

The last two weeks we have looked at 2 of those works we should be doing. The first week we looked at our Bibles and found out what they were and how we can make reading them meaningful. Then last week we looked at prayer and said that we should pray clean, pray with faith, and pray constantly. We also looked at some common forms of prayer how they should be done.

If we continue doing these things and add what we are going to talk about tonight we found out that we can have an awesome passion for God that will not come and go, but that will stay strong!!!

Before we get any further, I want to say a word to anyone who might be here for the first time, tonight’s message is very important, but a bit longer than usual so thank you for bearing with us, and next week will be back to normal. So what are we talking about tonight? Tonight we are talking about giving… Now before you all run out of here fearing that I am going to ask you to give large amounts of money you can just relax… Tonight when I say the word giving I am not necessarily talking about giving money, but instead I mean this:

Mark 10:43 – 45 “but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” NRSV (italics mine)

Look at those last words Jesus says here, “not to be served but to serve.” When you put those two words together you are looking at what ministry is all about, Ministry is simply using your time and talents to serve others. That is what I mean when I am talking about giving, I am talking about giving of yourself.

“So why are you talking to us” you might be asking yourself, “I am not a minister, that is your job” Those are good questions so lets look at that for a minute…

Why should I give?

That kind of thinking, the kind that thinks only me or the leaders here are supposed to give of ourselves is wrong, We are all called to be ministers, each and everyone of us are to be in the ministry! We are all supposed to get off the bench and get in the game.

But why??? Here are some reasons why we are all supposed to give.

 YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN

Just think about that for a moment, you have been chosen by God to be apart of his family. God has known you before you were even born, and he crafted you with a unique personality and a unique set of talents and gifts that can only be used to do, what only you can do! He placed you in this time period, in this community, in this ministry at this time for a reason!

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. NRSV