Hearts Ablaze for serving through financial giving.
Thesis: We need to have hearts that are ablaze with giving to the Lord financially.
Illustration: Giving on the edge
While Eric Hulstrand of Binford, North Dakota, was preaching one Sunday, and elderly woman, Mary, fainted and struck her head on the end of the pew. Immediately, an EMT in the congregation called an ambulance.
As they strapped her to the stretcher and got ready to head out the door, Mary regained consciousness. She motioned for her daughter to come near. Everyone thought she was summoning her strength to convey what could be her final words. The daughter leaned over until her ear was at her mother’s mouth. "My offering is in my purse," she whispered. From leadership
Mary from our true to life account exemplifies a heart that ablaze through giving financially.
Text: Acts 2:42-47 - Gives us another example of hearts that where ablaze for giving
42. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
44. All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
46. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47. praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Introduction: Last week we talked about having hearts that are ablaze with serving. The two areas we discussed last week where serving by the giving of our time and the giving of ourselves in relationships. These character traits of serving where shown us in Acts but there is another dimension to serving and that is also here talked about in Acts 2:45. The New Testament Church had hearts that where ablaze with giving financially to those in need and also to the work of the Lord. Spoken of also in Acts 4:32-37:
32. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
33. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
34. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35. and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),
37. sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
The New testament church had an understanding about financial giving that was what some people would call insane. But was it really? I shared some studies from last week that said if you want happiness it is first found in serving God and then in serving others. Acts 20:35 reminds us of Jesus words, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." This definitely is contrary to our mindset today in America. We reverse this phrase all the time. Yet people are not happy, they are not content, they are not satisfied. So who really is insane?
ANN the giver. Let me tell you about a special person I know. She is one of the most giving people I have ever meet in my life. She was always giving, and giving, and giving. She did it with joy and she was always happy and growing deeper in the Lord. Was she insane? No, she knew where true happiness came from-by giving and serving 1st the Lord and then others with in the Body of Christ and even outside the Body of Christ.
I believe many people have apprehensions about giving financially because of all the misuse and abuse of money management in Christian organizations. Also people have not truly understood what true Biblical stewardship looks like.
T.S.- Lets the explore the different views out there and truly discover what the Word-The Bible says about this area of serving.
I. The proper perspective on giving to the Lord (SEE OVERHEAD)taken from Christian Stewardship.org.
a. 4 Theologies Poverty Theology, Prosperity Theology, Commonly practiced Theology, Stewardship Theology are compared. Taken from www.stewardship.org. Go to web site for chart.
II. 10 Biblical and Practical reasons to give from Christain Stewardship.org.
a. It is a tried and proven pattern of giving done by godly people throughout the ages (regardless of cultures and income levels). Gen. 14:17-20, 28:16-22; Lev. 27:30; Prov. 3:9,10; Mal. 3:7-15; Mt. 23:23
b. It will help them reverance God more in their life (Dt. 14;23).
c. It will bring God’s wisdom and order to their finances and will help harness the dragon of materialism in their life (Matt. 6:19-21, 24-34; Luke 12;16-21; I Tim 6:6-10, 17-19; Ecc. 5:10).
d. It will serve as practical reminder that God is the owner of everything in their life (I chron. 29:11-18; Ps. 24:1,2 Ps. 50:10-12; Hag. 2:8).
e. It will allow them to experience God’s creative care and provisions in ways they would not otherwise experience (I Kings 17; Pr. 3:9,10; Mal. 3:7-15; Hag. 1:4-11, 2:13-19; Luke 6:38; Deut 28).
f. It will encourage spiritual growth and trustr in God (Deut. 14:23; Pr. 3:5,6; Mal. 3:8-10; II Cor. 8:5).
g. It will ensure them treasure in heaven (I tim. 6:18,19; Mt. 6:19-21; Heb. 6:10; III Jn. 8 I sam. 30:22).
h. It will strengthen the ministry, outreach, and stability of their local church ( Acts 2:42-47; 4:32; II Cor. 9:12,13).
i. It will help provide the means to keep their pastor and missionaries in full-time service (I Cor. 9:9-11,14; I Tm. 5:17,18; III Jn. 5-8; Phil. 4:15-19; Gal. 6:6 Lu. 8:3; II kg. 4:8-10).
j. It will help accomplish needed building projects and renovations (II Ch. 24:4-14; Ex. 35,36; II Kings 12:2-16; I Ch 29:2-19; Ez. 1:4-6).
III. Here is God’s offer to you. (SEE OVEHEAD)taken from www.stewardship.org. to disscover all Scripture references for each point.
a. God will be your provider from his resources.
b. God will give you greater contentment and peace in your financial matters.
c. God will take care of your basic needs and guide you in your finacial decisions.
d. If you are in debt, God can help put you on a path that can lead you out of debt.
e. God will use your giving to strengthen the work and outreach of your local church.
f. God will take what you give and multiply it for His purposes.
g. God will help ensure you of treasure in Heaven.
IV. An explanation of what your giving to the general fund goes to at New Life Community Church:
a. What the general fund pays for:
i. It pays the utility bills
ii. It pays for the church insurance
iii. It pays for repairs on the building and equipment
iv. It pays for our janitor
v. It pays for the cleaning supplies
vi. It pays for our secretary
vii. It pays for the running of our office
viii. It pays the accountant
ix. It pays a little to our youth directors
x. It pays for our mortgages on the church and the parsonage
xi. It pays my salary
xii. It pays for educational material
xiii. It pays for office expenses
xiv. It pays our missionaries
xv. It pays for bringing outside speakers and musicians into New Life Community Church
xvi. It meets the needs of people who are in need -benevolence
xvii. It pays for community outreaches to share the Good News-like Fall Festival coming up
xviii. It pays for our Kid’s ministry
b. If you don’t give to the general fund what do you lose?
i. No lights to see, many of the musical instruments would not work and the like.
ii. The building will leak water in and the AC still would not be working, and there would be no heat in winter.
iii. The building would not be clean and sanitary. There would be garbage piling up everywhere.
iv. There would be not secretary to do the bulletin, to make brochures, calendars, new directories, to answer questions, to take care of contributions and recording of giving.
v. There would be no bookkeeper to take care of the books on the churches finances.
vi. There would be no youth group or leaders for your youth
vii. There would be no church building, no café, no offices, no parsonage.
viii. There would be no children’s ministry
ix. There would be no benevolence fund to help people out
x. There would be no community outreach
xi. There would be no pastor.
xii. There would be no ministry opportunities
xiii. There would be no missionaries being supported from our church.
xiv. There would be no Biblical training, no leadership development, no marriage classes, no relationship classes, no prayer classes, no teaching of the truths found in the word of God.
xv. There would be no outside speakers or musicians coming
xvi. In the end there would be no New Life Community Church reaching this community for Christ - we would not be here leading people from here to eternity.
c. This is why we have boxes on the wall so you can give.
i. Illustration on why give to the local church instead of to TV ministry your tithe.
ii. Read illustration survey! -- "Better than Television"
iii. Malachi 3:8-10:
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me."But you ask, `How do we rob you?’ "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."
The difference between a tithe and an offering.
A tithe is 10% of your income
An offering is anything over that 10%
A tithe is to go to the storehouse where you are being feed Malachi 3.
This is your local church.
Point here if you feel you are not being feed at your local church then please by all means find one you can be feed at!)
An offering goes to any ministry or special speaker
iv. How much do we believe this? Enough for us to step out in faith and make you this offer:
1. If you have never tithed (giving 10%) to New Life before and you start and do if faithfully over the next three months and you feel that the Lord has not blessed you then we will refund your money.
a. Testimony from couple last year who did this
d. Handout giving by the book - put up on overhead - Check out the Bible for yourselves and see what it says.
All the overheads from today are here for you to research the Bible for yourselves- I challenge you to study it for yourself!
Conclusion: We need to serve the Lord and each other by giving appropriately to the Lord and His work.
*This is accessed by looking at your check book and seeing where all your money goes.
* Quote, "The meaning of sacrifice is the deliberate giving of the best I have to God that he may make it His and mine for ever, If I cling to it, I lose it, and so does God."
* Malachi tells us not to rob God with tithes and offerings- If we decide to start giving "God promises to pour forth his blessings to you!" we at New Life Community Church believe this with our whole heart and we give you a money back guarantee. Give it try! What do you have to lose!
But the blessings of God!
