Sermon for 9/16/2001
"When Giving is Better than Receiving"
Acts 20:17-35
Introduction:
A. In our Scripture text this morning, Paul was on the way to Jerusalem to be scourged, imprisoned, and he thought killed.
B. They stopped at Miletus on the way to Jerusalem in Asia Minor, and Paul called for the elders of the Ephesian church to meet him at Miletus so that he could speak with them one last time. Paul had a very productive ministry at Ephesus. About 3 years and lots of growth.
C. This message was to the leadership of a church- a Mature Christian audience.
D. Paul left them with the words of Jesus, words not recorded in the gospels but recorded here, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
E. In other words, it is better to give than to receive. More blessed if give. Receiving is fine, but to give is better by far.
F. In our world, this is a statement that seems to be contradictory, but it is true.
G. When I was a child, I loved to receive. As an adult, I love to give more than to receive- Especially at Christmastime.
H. Receive a Greater blessing. To bless in the biblical sense means to ask for or to impart supernatural favor.
I. The blessing of God is on our lives if we give.
Thesis: What things are more blessed to give than to receive? 4 things this morning.
For instances:
I. It is more blessed to give salvation than to receive it.
A. Read Acts 20:21.
B. Being saved is a privilege, but giving salvation to lost people is a prerogative.
C. Imagine where you would be in life is someone had not offered the gift of salvation.
D. My salvation was a wonderful experience and it leaves me with memories that will last for a lifetime. However, to see other people come to salvation, what a greater joy!
E. Oh, how people in our world need the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. From this past week we know that many people are filled with hatred, despise the US and Christians. What a goal in life, to hate.
F. (Phile 1:6 NIV) I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
G. The best way to share salvation is by telling our own salvation experience. Testify.
II. It is more blessed to give of your material possessions than to receive them.
A. Review Acts 20:33- 35a.
B. We can do more by pooling our resources together. In the early church they gave...
C. This past week’s events, World Trade Center, the planes, etc. Give up something this week for the cause.
D. Go Ye Chapel Fund. Go Ye Chapel Web Site
E. Give blood. Give to Fireman Funds, Policmen Funds, etc.
F. Having material possessions and financial resources can be a blessing or a curse. We can bless other people or we can curse ourselves.
G. A mature Christian controls his money and possessions. His money and possession do not control him/her.
H. Need to learn to be content. If not content, will not give. Godliness with contentment is great gain.
I. American Christians have many material possessions and money, but our culture is becoming increasingly impoverished in terms of spiritual depth. Why? Forgot this principle
J. Blessing of God.
K. God gave the best through Jesus Christ, what are we giving.
III. It is more blessed to comfort others than to be comforted.
A. Read Acts 20:28, and 31.
B. (2 Cor 1:3 NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,(2 Cor 1:4 NIV) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.(2 Cor 1:5 NIV) For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
C. Many of our sorrows vanish when we experience the joy of drying another’s tears.
D. This past week has been exhausting. We are disturbed. We are surrounded by many troubles. Our security and safety in this country has been threatened in many ways.
E. We watch the news stories.
F. However, we need to be comforting others and we will be more blessed. Our fears and troubles subside when we are comforting others. Turn off the TV and do something constructive.
G. Many people shy away from getting involved. Through our mutual hurts, we can comfort other people and we do not worry so much about ourselves. If we don’t get involved, our hurts do not go away.
H. Send notes; letters of comfort. It will help us.
I. Prayers for those suffering. Comfort.
J. On the bulletin board are addresses and prayer requests of people from Christian Churches in New York. Write post card and send to church. Write post cards to people through the church. Pray for them. Don’t have post cards I have some.
Prayer Requests
Addresses and Phone Numbers for New York Christian Churches:
East 10th Street Christian Church/
257 E. 10th Street/
New York, New York 10009/
Phone # (212) 228-4837
Go Ye Chapel Mission Office/
8 Laurel Avenue/
P.O. Box 9/
East Islip, New York 11730/
Phone # (631) 581-4489/
Fax # (631)581-3257
Crossroads Christian Church/
P.O. Box 0729/
Brooklyn, NY 11209/
Phone # (718) 492-0549
Church of Christ at Greenpoint/
199 N. Henry Street/
Brooklyn, New York 11222/
Phone # (718) 389-9177
First Church of Christ in Maspeth/
55-06 Arnold Avenue/
Maspeth, New York 11378/
Phone # (718) 497-2484
Staten Island Christian Church/
3980 Victory Blvd./
Staten Island, New York 10314/
Phone # (718) 761-6158
IV. It is more blessed to give your life away than to selfishly cling to it.
A. Acts 20:23-24
B. Paul gave his life away.
C. Our we giving the Lord our lives: Our talents,Our time, Our treasure, Top billing.
G. This past week, many people gave their lives away. In the airplane in Pennsylvania, rescue workers, others.
H. We are to be living sacrifices.
J. Give your life to God, then giving to God’s work comes naturally.
K. Is your life like a reservoir that gives or like a sponge that soaks up?
L. In the Bible giving is inseparable from self-sacrifice/self-denial.
M. Jesus Christ gave all.
N. Christ is honored by a giving life. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
O. Why are some Christians more blessed than others? More giving are more blessed.
Conclusion:
John 15:3
What kind of a person are you? One who loves to receive, or one who loves to give?
Come forward and receive. Cannot give what have not received. Leave and give.
