Igive Series

iMISSION (Part 2)

“iGive”

TEXT: Multiple

INTRO: Good morning we are in week 2 of our 3 week series called iMission. Why iMission? As I stated last week… “I” is not for the internet as some of you are thinking…. because the church is made up of who? People… the “I” is for individuals. We as the church or the Body of Christ according to 1 Corinthians are made up of many members but all one body. Scripture also tells us that when one rejoices, we are all to rejoice, likewise… when one suffers we all suffer. Everything we do affects the lives of the body. Individually.

YES, We have a corporate responsibility to live the iMission but more importantly we have a individual & person responsibility whether your 3 or 93 years old… we are to live out the iMission that Christ has given all of us.. We are to pray, to give, and to go! Last week we looked at “iPray” and WHAT IS PRAYER, WHY PRAY, & HOW TO PRAY. This morning we want to look at “iGive”

I. WHAT IS IGIVE?

As we have said before the “I” is individual. We do have a corporate responsibility to give, but more importantly as Christ followers we have an individual responsibility to give of our time, talents, abilities, resources, & yes even money.

The Bible is full of stories of people giving one in particular that we want to look at today is the incredible giving by the church of Philippi.

Phil 4:15-19

15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The thing we see is that the church of Philippi was a generous church.

The church gave incredibly to further the ministry of the gospel through Paul the Apostle.

Paul tells us that out of all churches he has been to or established that this is the only one that had supported him the most.

Its funny to think that this was a church that was not rich or had tons of resources or money, but the people gave because they believed in the vision & mission through Paul of reaching people and sharing Christ to the known world.

-The Church in Jerusalem was the same way in its infancy

In Acts 2:44, 45

All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

Friends we have great New Testament examples of the church giving to the work of God for 2 reasons:

So that the community of believers where never without. The Church went through very tough times. Many Devout Jews would not hire a converted Jew so there was no Work, then there was great persecution both from the Jewish faith & the Roman Empire. Also don't forget the great famine that happened later on & that the Gentile Church took up a huge offering to help their Jerusalem brothers & sisters.

So ministries where able to keep going and spreading the love of Jesus where it was desperately needed and the hardest to find. Case in point Paul and his 3 missionary journeys.

- Here at First AG we are committed to the Vision & Mission of reaching people through the giving of our time, talents, resources & money We give..to Home & World Missionaries, to our Servefest Outreaches. Let me tell you that we want to create a Benevolence fund so that we can do two things:

So We Can Help Our Fellow Christ Followers when there in trouble and there is an issue that they may need some help with.

So We Can Help People & Families In Our Community that may need a hand up not a hand out.

Right now we don't have the ability to help everyone… it really is on a case by case base. But here is the great news last week I had mentioned that scripture states, “You have not because you ask not.”

Mark Batterson, once said that, “the miracle is in your house.” In other words…. Provision is just a conversation away, a phone call away, an email away, a water cooler chat away. … See God owns everything, He owns it all…. God knows the people, and where ALL the resources are.