Stewardship Series Part 2
The Grace of Giving
I Corinthians 16, II Corinthians 8 & 9
SCRIPTURE READING: II Corinthians 9:6-8
INTRODUCTION:
Last week and this week, we’re talking about The Grace Of Giving. Stewardship is a topic that we should probably address more often, because --- according to scripture --- it’s an essential part of the Christian walk.
Martin Luther said, “When a person is converted, 3 conversions are necessary: Head, heart, and purse. And then he concluded: “Purse is the hardest.”
In fact, if you really want to know how truly “converted” you are --- then turn in your Checkbooks to your last month’s ledger. Maybe you never thought of it this way, but your checkbook is actually a theological document. It tells what you really care about. It tells what you put first. It tells who you worship.
This week, you received a letter from me with a pledge form in it. There is also a pledge card in your bulletin. Last Sunday I gave some background on the challenge we took on over 5 years ago to build this new Worship Center. (If you weren’t here and want more information, sermon tapes are available in the church office.)
Let me review briefly, what I shared with you last week: We have come a long way toward paying off our indebtedness on this new Worship Center. In fact, we are about 70% of the way toward paying off our entire loan. Furthermore, even though we have not talked much about the project in the last year, about 30 of you have contributed towards our building fund to the tune of about $1,200 each month. Our monthly mortgage, however, is $3,900 per month. Because of that $2,700 gap, we have had to divert general giving from the budget into debt reduction.
Now, the amount given by each person last year varies. But if you average it out, it comes to about $40 per person per month. Looking at it that way, if about 90 more of you would give at that level, we could support the entire mortgage each month. This would free up our general giving to meet our budget needs and help us pay off our indebtedness as soon as possible. Of course, some can give more than others, but for every one of you, your participation makes a difference.
I heard a story about two men who were marooned on an Island. One man paced back and forth, worried and scared, while the other man sat back and sunned himself.
The first man said to the second man, "Aren’t you afraid we are going to die out here?"
"No," said the second man, "I make $100,000 dollars a week, and I tithe faithfully to my church every week. --- My Pastor will find me!” (Sermon Central: Daniel Henrill)
Now, the truth is that I make a point of NOT knowing what any individual gives in our church. So if you get stranded on a desert island, don’t hold your breath waiting for me to rescue you! The way I look at it, your giving is between you and God. And that’s the real point here. God wants every Christian to grow in the Grace of Giving.
Today we are taking a second look at Paul’s words in II Corinthians. The Corinthian Christians had pledged to give an offering for the needy Christians in Jerusalem. Paul was writing to urge them to complete the offering they had promised. Last week we looked at two reasons Paul gave for excelling in the Grace of Giving.
· He described the example of the Macedonian Christians who gave generously in spite of extreme poverty and hardship.
· He then gave the supreme example of Jesus Christ who gave up the riches of heaven to put on flesh and come to earth as Savior.
Today we’re going to look at three other motivations to grow in the Grace of Giving. Look at II Corinthians 8:10: Here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
Paul told the Corinthians to LOOK TO THEIR OWN PAST RECORD.
1. Look to your own past record II Corinthians 8:10
In other words, “live up to your own standards.” The Corinthians had a past they could be proud of. They were the first to step up to the plate when they saw a need. They excelled in the Grace of Giving.
Everybody is good at something. And every church has some kind of ministry they can do better than anyone else. Whatever we do well, we should be doing with all our might!
· Our congregation has always been strong in the areas of youth and children’s ministry. For our size, we have a tradition of excelling in ministry to young people. Rocky has done tremendous work for the past 5 years. His influence on our youth that will continue well into the future. We’re going to miss him! There’s no one like Rocky! But I’m confident that God will lead us to the right person to build on the foundation Rocky has laid.
· We are also a missions-minded church. In fact, Castle Hills Christian Church gives a double tithe (over 20%) of our income to mission work.
· We have taken the opportunity to offer both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking ministries. This gives us a distinctive way to meet the need of Spanish-speaking families here on the North side of town.
· We have always placed an emphasis on in-depth Bible study. We have a healthy adult Christian Education program. I love seeing the Christian growth that comes through the relatively new ministry of our Pueblo Groups. We want to see this ministry continue to expand.
We have a good past record in these areas, and in others.
· And when it comes to generous giving, we have a good reputation there too. So let’s take what we are already good at and make it even better. Let’s go with our strengths.
That’s what Paul was telling the Corinthians when he wrote: 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it. II Corinthians 8:11
The Corinthians were eager to give. They had the right attitude. Paul is saying, “You have the DESIRE to give. So finish the job and … GIVE.” The principle here is that FINE FEELINGS SHOULD LEAD TO FINE ACTIONS.
2. Put your Fine Feelings into Fine Actions II Corinthians 8:11-12
How often do we have grand ideas that never turn into anything? It’s a frustrating thing when a Fine Desire never turns into a Fine Action. The problem is that, while it is easy to think up creative ideas, it’s not so easy to turn them into practical action. But all kinds of opportunities are out there if we are willing to see them.
Recently, I’ve been praying that God would open doors for new outreach. Just this week God surprised me with two unexpected possibilities.
· (… the possibility of broadcasting in Africa for only $39.50 per show.)
· (…the opportunity for a Bible Study at Homeplace Inn starting in January)
Now, I’m not saying we are supposed to jump into both of these ministries. I realize that God is not leading us to do everything that comes our way. But I’m convinced that many fine opportunities go by the wayside simply because we lack the oomph to turn thought into action.
What we need is not less fine feelings, but more determination to push those noble thoughts forward. We need to allow God to bless our ideas for service by praying over them. And then we need to take the next step as God gives us direction.
One thing we can be sure of: When we give generously of our time, talents, and money, God will bless our efforts. The needs of others will be met, and we ourselves will ENJOY some surprising BENEFITS OF GIVING.
3. Enjoy the many benefits of giving I Corinthians 9:6-8
Those of you who have learned to excel in the Grace of Giving already know the truth of Paul’s words in I Corinthians 9:6-8
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. II Corinthians 9:6-8
What a wonderful promise for anyone who becomes a cheerful giver! God will make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. I think that about covers it! What more could we ask?
You see, life has a way of evening things out. Stinginess comes back to us with an empty, sparse life. Generosity floods our life with ALL grace, ALL things at ALL times, ALL that we need: A life that abounds in every good work.
It has been said that God’s Multiplication begins with our Subtraction. In fact, God’s calculator has an extra button on it that our calculators don’t have. His calculator has a Blessing Button, and He pushes it every time we exercise the Grace of Giving.
I love God’s calculator more than my own, and will take His math over mine any day. It is truly impossible to out-give God.
CONCLUSION: Finish the Task
The theme of II Corinthians 8 and 9 matches the BANNER at the back of our Worship Center. Paul was not ashamed to urge the Corinthians to FINISH THE TASK. In fact, he said he would be ashamed if they did not finish well.
4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to say anything about you--would be ashamed of having been so confident.
It is always a matter of shame when people START well but don’t FINISH well. I want us to obey the same admonition that Paul gave the Corinthian church in II Corinthians 9: verses 4-5:
5 … Finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. II Corinthians 9:4-5
Like Paul, I call you to remember the enthusiastic way you pledged and gave to make this new Worship Center for us. We are about 70% of the way towards our goal of paying off the mortgage. We are well over the halfway mark. This is not the time to relax and forget what we agreed to do as a congregation.
We need your generosity above and beyond your tithe --- to enable us to finish what we started. Let’s commit ourselves to grow together in the Grace of Giving.
Invitation: OH HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME
COMMUNION
Testimonial
OFFERING
Closing Song: GIVE THANKS
