“Why On Earth Does The Church Exist ?” Part 4
I Corinthians 16:1-4
Tonight we come to the fourth in our series on “Why On Earth..........?”
Thus far we have given you three words....one in each prior message to help us in answering the question......so that we might define our purpose.
Do you remember the three words that we have looked at so far ?
1. Glorify 2. Gather 3. Go
The church exists to glorify God.....we exist as a body so that we might gather for instruction, for inspiration, for encouragement, and to worship.
The fourth word that we are going to look at tonight is “Give”. The church exists not only to glorify........gather........go.......but we exist to give !
Our purpose cannot be complete unless we are a giving people !
Someone has written “You Will Never Be Sorry:”
For telling the truth
For living a pure life
For your faith in Christ
For acknowledging your sins
For doing your best
For forgiving your enemies
For helping a fallen brother
For being honest in business
For standing by your principles
For bridling a slanderous tongue
For being courteous and kind
AND FINALLY, FOR MONEY GIVEN TO THE LORD’S WORK.
Have you ever said the words......”I spent to much or I spend to much money”.........now how many of you have ever said......”I give to much money to the Lord’s word !” I don’t know if it is possible to give to much to the Lord’s work because as you have probably heard said......”You can’t outgive God” Or perhaps we should stop giving when he stops giving to us !
Story
I think of a story I once read about the great composer/pianist Paderewski. Two young men were working their way through Stanford University. At one point their money was almost gone, so they decided to engage the great pianist for a concert and use the profits for board and tuition. Paderewski’s manager asked for a guarantee of $1,000.00. The students worked hard to promote the concert but they came up $400.00 short. After the concert, they went to the musician, gave him all the money they had raised, and promised to pay the $400.00 as soon as they could. It appeared their college days were over. What Paderewski did is a great lesson in giving. He told the boys to take out of the money they had raised their expenses, keep for each of them 10 percent for their schooling, and give him the rest. Years passed. Paderewski became Premier of Poland following WWI. Thousands of his countrymen were starving. Only one man could help, the head of the U.S. Food & Relief Bureau who at that time was Herbert Hoover. Paderewski’s appeal to him brought thousands of tons of food. Later Paderewski had the opportunity to meet the American statesman and personally thank him for his help. Hoover said to him, “That’s all right. Besides, you don’t remember, but you helped me once when I was a student in college.” Hoover had been one of the two young men that had got him to do the concert.
Anyone who has learned to give to God’s work has discovered that somewhere and somehow God returns what we give. No one has ever been sorry that they gave to God’s work.
Did you hear about the guy that was killed by a boomerang ? He was killed when he tried to throw it away ! Giving to God and his work has a boomerang effect......it always come back to us !
Someone once said....”When it comes to giving, some people stop at nothing !
In V.1 We read......”Now about the collection....” The word “collection” is a very interesting word........it comes from the greek word “logos” which speaks of words, and communication. The word “collection “ has embodied in it the ideal of saying something. The way we give.....what we give says something about us. Our giving can speak volumes about our love for God, and his work or it can show our selfishness and greed !
What does your giving say about you ? What does the churches offering say about us ? Would you say that a good measuring stick to measure our spiritual growth is our offerings ? If that is true, then how do we measure up ?
Tonight I want us to look at some principles concerning giving which helps us to define our purpose, and will help us fulfil God’s purpose for us !
I. The People Who Are To Give.
V.2 Notice that Paul is teaching to the Christian Corinthians the same thing he had taught to the believers in Galatia. So all churches are to be giving churches ! But every child of God, each member of every church is to be a contributor to the work of the church !........”let every one of you”
Who is to give ? Every child of God is to be giver !
Do you realize that the SBC is having to cut back.....we’ve actually had to lay off workers in our convention. We have missionaries that have answered the call to go......have been trained.....but they will have to wait ?
Why ? Because there is not enough money ! The problem is not a shortage of money.....but a shortage of givers ! The SBC would never have such a problem if every church contributed up to its potential ! If every church member contributed, money would not be a problem.......if every member of The Rock Baptist Church gave the way we are capable, money to be able to do the things we need to do would never be a issue !
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans spend their income as follows:
233% shelter
21% transportation
15% food
8% retirement
7% utilities
5% clothing
5% entertainment
5% medical care
3% savings
1% insurance (excluding care and home)
7% Miscellaneous2
Charitable giving is not mentioned in these stats......perhaps it is included in miscellaneous.
If it is included there, it means that we spend more on entertainment than on charitable contributions. Do we spend more on entertainment than we do contributing to entertainment ?
RG Lee was once baptizing a man. He was informed in the dressing room to make sure he removed his billfold......but instead he said he wanted his billfold to be baptized along with the rest of him !
II. The Place Where We Are To Give.
“Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store....”
The first day of course is Sunday, and worship takes place on Sunday....so the place to give is to your local church ! The church where you belong !
*Note- the words “In store” comes from the greek word that we get our word “thesaurus” from which means “treasury of words.” The ideal of the treasury is what is described. Our giving is to be to the treasury of the church where we belong ! Let me say this....I do not oppose the supporting of other ministries after you have given to the church ! However, I believe that every ministry that we’re involved in with giving should be once which falls under the umbrella of a local church ? Because it is within the local church, and from the local church that ministries should be governed. This helps with responsibility, and accountability !
3. The Percentage Of Our Giving.
What or how much should we give ? We are all aware that the percentage most often mentioned in 10 %.....the tithe ? Let me say that I believe that the tithe 10% is the minimum that we should contribute. I say that because the tithe is that which is required. It is a debt. It belongs to the Lord. How can we give something to him which is already his ? I don’t think we’re really giving until we are able to go beyond the tithe.
Paul says that our giving shoud be “as God has prospered”.
As we have seen earlier “everyone is to give”. No one is excluded or excused from giving. What each of us give is based upon how God has prospered us ? Some people may be able only to pay the tithe.....some may be able to go beyond that !
An independent study found that households with incomes below $10,000 give an average of 2.8% on their income, while households with incomes between $50,000 and $100,000 give only 1.5%. Nearly half of the total contributions to charity in the U.S. come from households with incomes below $30,000.
What does this study teach us ? It reveals that those who have prospered the most give the least ! That is opposite of what the Lord says.....we are to give in proportion to what we have !
the same study reveals that the average home in America contributes 790.00 per years to charity.....included in that amount is what is given to churches !
5. Take the matter a study found that the average church member gives $790.00 a year. Now let’s say just for the sake of example that the average family contributes 790.00 per year to the church......how much of that is a week ? Less than 15.00. Now let me say that there is nothing wrong with that is the amount that you are able to give......but I know that
the average church member can contribute more than that !
When God looks at our giving he does not look at the amout, but looks at our giving in proportion to how we have prospered !
IV. The Purpose Of Our Giving.
We should give because we have been blessed !
We should give because we are commanded to do so.
Paul refers to the collection for the saints. The church in Jerusalem had suffered a lot of persecution and was in great need ! When we give, it is for the support, and advancement of our ministry.....both here, and abroad.
We should give because it is a blessing ! “It is more blessed to give than to receive !
Why On Earth Does The Church Exist ?
Part 5 Eph. 4:11-16
This morning we finish our series on “Why On Earth.......?” Over the past four weeks we have given you a different word each Sunday to help in answering this question. The prev. words that we have dealt with are......1. glorify 2. gather 3. go 4. give and this morning our final word in this
series is “Grow” series is “Grow” We as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ should always be desiring to grow in our personal relationship with the Lord. We should not be content with what we know, and where we are.
1. Grow by maturing.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you brethren, as it is meet because your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.
On his sixteenth birthday the son approached his father and asked, “Dad, I’m sixteen now. When I get my license, can I drive the family car?” His dad looked at him and said, “Son, driving the car takes maturity, and first, you must prove you are responsible enough. And one way you must do that is to bring up your grades. They are not acceptable. Secondly, you must read the Bible every day. And finally, I want you to get that hair cut--it looks outrageous. The son began the task of fulfilling his father’s requirements, knowing that the last request might be impossible. When his grades came out he came to his dad with a big smile. “Look, Dad, all A’s and B’s on my report card. Now can I drive the family car?” “Very good, son. You are one-third the way there, but have you been reading the Bible?” the father asked. “Yes, dad, everyday,” the son said. “Very good, son. You are two-thirds of the way there. Now when are you going to get that hair cut?” The son, thinking he could outsmart his dad, responded, “Well, I don’t see why I should get my hair cut to drive the car. Jesus had long hair, didn’t he?” The father looked at he boy and said, “That’s right, son, and Jesus walked everywhere he went.”
Salvation takes place as soon as we express faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is instantaneous. However, spiritual growth is an ongoing process ! It is something that every child of God should be progressing in.
It is sad to me, and I know displeasing to the Lord for those who profess to be Christians, but after several or many years appear to still be infants in Christ. And....to make the situation worse, they seem to be quite content with their status.
Do you remember the birth of your children ? Wasn’t that a wonderful experience ? Well.....at least for us men ! You know what ? We expected our kids to grow up ! Or should I say we’re expecting them to grow up ! And if they did not then it would be an indication that something wasn’t right. It’s the same way spiritually. We’re expected to grow up, and become strong Christians !
Quote:
“If you stop and ask yourself why you are not so devoted as the (early) Christians, your own heart will tell you that it is neither through ignorance nor inability, but purely because you never thoroughly intended it.”
William Law
The writer of the book of Hebrews encourages us to move on.....to move forward.....to make some progress in our faith, and spiritual walk.
Hebrews 6:1 “ Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.”
What makes the difference in those who
have been saved for about the same length of time, but yet are at different degrees in their spiritual lives ? What will help us to grow by maturing ?
a. The Partaking of the Scriptures.
Rom. 10:17 The word of God is the nutrient that we need for our spiritual well being. Hearing the word of God, reading the word, studying ! There needs to be a daily diet of the word !
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby:
Story: Roy Robertson was a soldier at Pearl Harbor in 1941: “My ship, the West Virginia, docked at Pearl Harbor on the evening of December 6, 1941. A couple of the fellows and I left the ship that night and attended a Bible study. About fifteen sailors sat in a circle on the floor. The leader asked us to each recite our favorite Scripture verse. In turn each sailor shared a verse and briefly commented on it.
I sat there in terror. I couldn’t recall a single verse. I grew up in a Christian home, went to church three times a week, but I sat there terrified. I couldn’t recall a single verse. Finally, I remembered one verse - John 3:16. I silently rehearsed it in my mind. The spotlight of attention grew closer as each sailor took his turn. It was up to the fellow next to me. He recited John 3:16. He took my verse! As he commented on it I sat there in stunned humiliation. In a few moments everyone would know that I could not recall from memory even a single verse. Later that night I went to bed thinking, ‘Robertson, you’re a fake.’
At 7:55 the next morning I was awakened by the ship alarm ordering us to battle stations. 360 planes of the Japanese Imperial Fleet were attacking our ship and the other military installations. My crew and I raced to our machine gun emplacement, but all we had was practice ammunition. So for the first fifteen minutes of the two-hour battle, we only fired blanks hoping to scare the Japanese airplanes.
As I stood there firing fake ammunition I thought, ‘Robertson, this is how your whole life has been - firing blanks for Christ.’ I made up my mind as Japanese bullets slammed into our ship, “If I escape with my life, I will get serious about following Jesus.” Roy Robertson did get serious. He became the first missionary of “The Navigators” and did a lot of work with Billy Graham as well.
Spiritual growth is impossible without partaking of the scriptures ! This partaking of the scriptures must not be limited to what we receive in the Sunday School, Worship services, or congregational Bible study, but must include times of personal devotions, Bible reading, and meditation upon the scriptues ! * The scriptures need not only to be read, but consumed by memorizing the scripture, and hiding it within our hearts !
Are you growing mature in the Lord or are you firing blanks for Christ? Today in prayer, examine your walk with the Lord and seek to grow deeper in maturity with Him.
b. The Praying in the Spirit
Eph. 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Jude 1:20 But ye beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.
Our prayers are not to be ritualistic or formalistic, neither in the vain of traditions, but are to be “in the Spirit”
Too many times I’m afraid that our prayers are made in the “flesh”. They come from a heart that is turned inward and thinks only of it’s own selfish needs and desires. Praying in the Spirit allows the Holy Spirit to reveal to us what we should be praying for.....I believe that in praying in the Holy Spirit.......the things that we pray for glorify Christ because that is the work of the Holy Spirit !
c. The Participation in Service.
Col. 1:9-10 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
The word “increasing” is the same word translated as “grow”.
We are all gifted by the Holy Spirit. We may not all have the calling to preach ! We may not be called to foreign fields, but we are to be fruitful(fertile/productive) and we are to all serve !
d. The Practice of Soulwinning.
Look back at Jude where we are encouraged to “Pray in the Spirit”
What is to be the result of our “praying in the Holy Ghost ? We will not only keep ourselves in the love of God, but will have compassion on others, and will pull others out of the fire !
Remember the words of Christ to his disciples......”Follow me, and I will make you to be fishers of men”
Matt 4:19
If we will make ourselves available to the Lord, and follow him, then he will “make” us fishers of men !
2. Grow by ministering.
The church as a whole should always be looking for different ways that we can minister ! I don’t think any church can honestly say that we’re doing all that we can........Or we doing so much that we can say.......”we need to scale back”.
I don’t think so ! We need to be going forward, praying that God will open up new avenues of service ! Take the business world for example.....in order for a corporation or company to be sucessful, they must be looking for new ways to get their products into the hands of the consumers.......do you know of any that say......hey we’ve got all the customers we need ! We’re making all the money we need ! I don’t know of any......your sucessful companies are still researching, still advertising.........so the church in order to grow, must be looking for ways that we can increase our serving or ministering to the community !
How do we do this ?
a. compassion
Mark 9:36-38 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few;
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest !
There we must recognize the need. We must have a vision.....we must see the folks in our community the way that Jesus saw those in his......”as sheep without a shepherd”. We must be moved with the same force that drove him......”compassion”.
b. change
oh.....that’s an ugly word to alot of Baptists ! Now I’m not talking about changing the message....we can never do that ! We don’t need to change in the area of motive ! Our motive, and our message must continue to be the same ! But we can change in our approach ! We can attempt things that we’ve never done before......! We should never turn down an opportunity to serve just because “we’ve never done it that way before” ! That’s a common phrase among “baptists” and others churches as well probably ! Wasn’t Jesus all about “change” Didn’t he do things that had never been done before !
Didn’t he strike out against the very heart of traditions !
c. cooperation
To grow in the area of ministry......we must have cooperation ! We must have workers ! We must put feet to our prayers........To many times we see the need.......but the bottom line is “who’s going to do it”
Illust. Why don’t you give him a bath ?
Let me be quite honest with you ! Some of you are thinking right now......I’m already doing this, and that.........I just can’t do anymore ! And their are some you you that are spread thin....unfortunately that’s the way it is in so many churches ! And why is it that way ? Because there are folks that want make a commitment to do anything ! We’ve got enough active church folks to meet all the needs for workers that we have if every one would take part !
I’ve shared this before....but it seems appropriate to use again now !
Story:
This is a story about four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.
3. Grow by multiplying.
God wants us to grow by maturing in our faith.....he wants us to grow by increasing our ministry, and he wants us to grow by multiplying. In other words, he wants his church to grow numerically. Four times in the book of Acts....it records the fact that the Lord added to the church. The first time speaks of the number that was added to the church on the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” The word “added” is an interesting word.
It means “to place additionally” or “repeat”. Are you saved this morning ?
Do you know Jesus Christ personally ?
Then.....do you know what God wants to do ! He wants to repeat what he has done in your life ! He wants to do what he has done in your life, and heart in another’s life ! And God wants to use you, and I to do it ! Salvation is given and we should share it with others.
Don’t you want to see what God has done in your life repeated in the lives of others ? Do we want them to know the love of God the way we do ? Do we care where they spend eternity at ? Will you allow God to use you to help grow the church ?
How ?
a. There must be examination.
We need to examine our own hearts....make sure of the condition of our own hearts. We must examine our own lives to see if there is anything in our lives that would hinder the growth of the church. Do we really want church growth ?
b. There must be expectation.
Without a vision people perish....
We will never see church growth until we have a vision of church growth.
We will never make any attempt to participate in church growth until we expect it.....until we see the need for the church to grow !
c. There must be evangelism.
In Jesus’ parable of the great supper found in Luke 14 Jesus speaks these words.....”And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Unsaved folks aren’t commanded to go to church, but we’re commanded to go out and get them ! We are also commanded to go and make disciples. The church needs to grow by sharing the message of the cross.
Story: Katherine Hankey was born in 1834 to a wealthy English banker.
She was raised in a devout Christian home where her father was active in sharing his faith with others. After Katherine’s own conversion, she followed her father’s lead. She began organizing Sunday School classes for both rich, and poor kids throughout her community. These classes had a profound influence throughout the city with a large number of the young students in turn becoming zealous Christian workers. At the age of 30 Katherine became seriously ill. During a long period of recovery, she wrote a lengthy poem on the life of Christ. The poem consisted of two sections with each section consisting of 50 verses.
The first section she entitled “The Story Wanted”.....the second section was entitled ““The Story Told”.....and from this section comes the hymn known to all of us .......”I Love To Tell The Story”.
Most of us have story’s that we love to tell.....but do we love telling the story of Jesus and his love !
Aren’t you glad that you heard the story of Christ.......now will you go and be part of the “Story Told”.
d. There must be expansion.
The church must be willing to meet the needs of church growth. There are problems that accompany church growth.......good problems ! And we as a church must be willing to expand our ministries, and expand our facilities for church growth. If we are content with where we are, then church growth will never be experienced.
Why on earth does the church exist ?
We exist as a body of believers to glorify, to gather, to go, to give, and to grow ! Will you make yourself available to help in fulfilling God’s purpose for the church ?
