Paul said what? - Giving and Serving
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
Big Idea:
Big Idea:
Giving and serving shapes our heart into the Lord’s heart.
Intro:
Intro:
[Show Arthur’s video]
Good morning [Church Online]… we’re in a sermon series titled, “Paul said what?,” where we’re looking at foundational practices critical to following “Jesus as Lord” - Things necessary for a flourishing faith. And today we’re talking about - you guessed it - giving and serving.
However, I want to lead with this: We have a very generous church. And we have a church family filled with servants! Today’s message is not because we AREN’T doing these things. Rather, it is teaching foundational things (a purpose of this series), so that…
People who are new can start practicing these spiritual principles… And/or…
If God wants to speak to anybody about how we can increase our giving and service by faith and obedience.
Now, I’m not gonna lie. This can be a difficult subject. Some of you might still be stuck on the fact that I ACTUALLY asked Arthur, “How is your giving?”
FYI - I don’t personally track anyone’s giving and I don’t have this conversation with everyone. The operative phrase Arthur used was, “When I started DISCIPLING him.” I was having a difficult conversation with him based on our deep relationship and under the leading of the Holy Spirit. Not because I’m a jerk who wanted his money
And maybe I need to clarify that too…Today’s is not about needing your money. And it’s not about getting free labor from you. This is about the Lord Jesus. And this is about the Kingdom of God.
So, let me start there. Let me define the Kingdom of God: The Kingdom of God is the places and spaces where Jesus is Lord. Where King Jesus gets His way.
And Jesus said, “It is more blessed to GIVE than receive.” (Acts 20:35)
And He also said…
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
…which models life in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, in the Kingdom of God, people both give and serve. And both subjects can be broad, so I’ll define them this way:
In God’s Kingdom, giving involves your money and possessions.
In God’s Kingdom, serving involves your time and talents.
And here’s the thing, we’re supposed to give from both. Sometimes people think…
I give of my time, so I don’t need to give my money.
Or, I give my money, so I don’t need to give my time.
But Paul said…
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Say, “Paul said what?” Paul said GIVE your bodies - your entire life to the Kingdom of God. And that’s intense, so let’s talk about it…
Body:
Body:
…and we’ll start with serving. Btw, today’s sermon is gonna be a little different and all over the place, but stay with me…
What did Paul say about serving?
What did Paul say about serving?
Piggybacking on what Jesus said about being a servant, Paul said…
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Paul is writing to one of his favorite churches. The Philippians were awesome. We’ll see one reason why when we start talking about giving. They were a flourishing church but Paul still had some things to teach them… like, “Jesus came to serve so you should be servants too.”
But how do we do that? Look at what else Paul writes…
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I see 3 things that can help us live as a servant…
We humble ourselves.
I find it interesting when Christians say, “I’m a servant!” But then get mad when treated like one. I’m preaching to myself first and foremost, so hold me accountable to this too!
Now, I’m not trying to justify treating people incorrectly, because there’s no place for that in the Kingdom of God, but what I am saying is one way to be a servant is be humble. As a servant, when someone asks me to serve, I humble myself and do it - because that’s what a servant does.
I don’t react with, “Can you believe they asked me to do that? Don’t they know who I am? Or how busy I am?” Because here’s the thing:
King Jesus washed feet.
I don’t know what you think, but feet are gross. I’m gonna throw myself under the bus here. I went on a missions trip to Africa. I taught at a Bible College for military chaplains. And someone suggested, “We should wash their feet.”
Bro… the dread that came over me. They decided not to do it, so I’m not complaining, but all I’m saying is that King Jesus wouldn’t have thought twice about it. He would’ve humbled Himself and served - no matter what it was. And if He is my Lord, I should be humble enough to do the same.
Alright, the second way we can be a servant is…
2. We obey God.
Jesus obeyed God, even to the point of dying on a cross. That doesn’t mean being a servant will result in death, but it does mean we’re willing to be obey the Lord in all things.
And maybe God is asking you to serve your family?
Maybe God is asking you to serve your community or workplace?
Maybe God is asking you to serve here at church?
Whatever He asks, be obedient. And here’s something important to consider: In the Kingdom of God, service is sacrificial - it costs something. Again, Jesus’s obedience cost Him His life. How may God be asking you to sacrificially serve?
The third thing I was see is…
3. We glorify God with our service.
When Jesus is Lord, we’re not concerned with our own greatness. We’d rather be faithful than famous. We’re only concerned with God’s glory.
So, the question is, “Are you using the gifts, talents, and time God has given you? And… are you using them for His glory or yours?”
Two more questions that help us process this idea of service before we move on…
What are you passionate about?
I like this question because it connects with what Paul said…
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
God has given you gifts. He has put desires in your heart… that are for His glory. He’s created you a specific way to serve Him in a way that ONLY YOU can do. That means you’re important to Him and His people. But when you ignore those His purposes and live for your own glory, something is missing in the church. It has gaps because you haven’t taken your place! So…
What are you passionate about?
What’s your purpose?
And how can you use it for God’s glory?
Something that’s also helpful is taking a spiritual gifts test. And we have one available on our website (there’s also a QR code on the screens). Take it. It might help you figure out where to serve. [And if you have any questions, feel free to talk to me or email the church about it!]
2. Do you know the needs of your church?
God wants you to serve in your spiritual giftedness. But sometimes He appoints a season of sacrifice. Sometimes, there’s a need in the church (the spiritual family you belong to) and it’s not something you’re gifted in or like - but God’s asking you to help anyways.
I’m super introverted. I know I don’t act that way when I preach or coach. That’s because in those times I’m operating in my spiritual gifts. But naturally, it’s hard for me to talk to people. If you’ve ever had lunch with me, you know exactly what I’m talking about. I apologize.
But the first place God called me to serve was as a… GREETER. Me! The quiet person who naturally loves being unseen. But my church needed help. And God said, “You can help.” So… I did. And strangely, I loved it!
Our church has some needs…
We need help with RiverKids. Our church is growing. And there are more kids than ever. Praise God. And we always need more teachers so we can add more classes.
We need help with the new Parking ministry. Do you love telling people what to do. This ministry is for you!
We need a drummer! Do you know how to play or are you willing to learn? Talk to Pastor Jon!
Can you help with any of these needs?
…Now, let’s talk about giving…
What did Paul say about giving?
What did Paul say about giving?
Paul said this when he received support from the Philippians…
I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
First and foremost, giving - that is the offering of money and possessions - is an act of worship. Paul said giving is one way you worship Jesus as Lord. Amen?
Here’s something else Paul said - Arthur read it earlier…
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
Here’s the context for this passage…
The church in Jerusalem was suffering. The Corinthians heard about it and promised financial help.
Then, the Macedonians (or the Philippians) heard about the Corinthians generosity and said, “We want in!” And because they are an awesome church, they financially gave above and beyond.
But when it was time to collect on the Corinthian’s promise, they got cold feet.
So Paul writes encouraging them to give because that’s not only what they promised to do, but also that’s what happens in the Kingdom of God.
When Jesus is Lord, His people are financially generous. And it’s never forced, but done with a cheerful heart!
Why with a cheerful heart? Because it’s really not about the money. Let me be clear (and it’s already been said), God does not need your money. God’s not broke.
In the church, we put it this way, “God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.” (Ps. 50:10) That means God’s rich. He’s the King of the Universe. He does not need our money. In fact, notice how 2 Cor. 9:8 says that when we give, God blesses us with more, so we can keep giving. He gives it right back.
It’s not about the money. God wants us to financially give because He knows how our sinful hearts respond to money. We worship it. That’s why Jesus intentionally used MONEY in the following comparison…
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Jesus’s point is to worship God - to be devoted to Him. But something that gets in the way of that is money. Therefore, a great way to break free from that idolatry is to give it away consistently and cheerfully as an act of worship.
Giving money transforms our heart. That being said… God DOES USE money to further His Kingdom. The money the Corinthians and Philippians gave was real. And it met real needs. And the money
we give today, truly provides for the mission of God - in our church and beyond.
I think sometimes we don’t give because we don’t understand that or see the impact. I get that…
Giving is worship.
Giving is obedience by faith.
But giving is also an investment into the Kingdom of God.
And it’s wise to invest into things that have impact.
So, let me share a few things happening at our church…
First off, I have the very real privilege of being your pastor. Which means I usually get access to stories that others don’t. And I can tell you, lives are being changed at The River Church.
People are moving from death to life.
From brokenness to victory.
From chains to freedom.
Think about how Jesus has changed your life.
That change is possible because God’s people who investing in this church. Additionally…
Your giving pays for this building we rent.
Your giving pays for our office space.
Your giving pays for all the ministry resources we provide, including staffing… which is currently only me and two other part-time people. ..
Maybe someone is thinking, “Oh I see what this is about now. This is about your paycheck.” No. I did this before I got paid. And I’ll keep doing it if the paycheck goes away. This is about the Kingdom of God.
And biblically, the Kingdom payroll is always funded by God’s people. We see this all throughout Scripture - from the Levites, to the kings, to the apostles, and to even Jesus. God uses our financial giving to provide for His workers.
And because God has been growing His Kingdom in Glastonbury so much, we need more help and staff. We’re hiring one for RiverKids this Summer. And we have two more coming (a young man name Brandon and my friend Josh and his family). But it’s no secret… it’s expensive to live in or near Glastonbury. And while our church is already very generous, we can’t currently fund the staffing we need or provide help for the people God’s calling here.
And maybe that’s where you guys come in. We need people to invest in God’s Kingdom. And remember, giving is not just money, but possessions. So, we can be CREATIVE in our generosity too!
Let me cast a little vision…
I would love to have a house or duplex or some type of multi-family space where we could house people God’s calling to New England. And even when we can’t offer competitive salaries, maybe we could offset that by offering cheap housing. And maybe there’s someone who’s sitting on unused property - land or a finished basement. And instead of these possessions being hidden in the sand, they could be invested in the Kingdom of God?
And here’s the cool possibility with that, because of your generosity, when you meet King Jesus, He’ll say…
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
And that’s the final thing I’d like to say about giving. Giving is worship. Giving is obedience by faith. Giving is an investment. But giving is also a BLESSING. Not just in spirit… but God actually blesses those who give!
We read it earlier, Paul said…
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Your life is more blessed when you give - and it’s implied that this blessing comes primarily from God. When you give, Paul said…
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
And when you give, Paul said…
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
When you give, God promises to abundantly take care of you. There’s a story in 1 Kings 17. There’s a drought in the land. The people fell on hard times. There’s a woman and her son who have enough flour left to make one muffin and then they’ll die. But Elijah the prophet says, “Give the bread by faith. And God will supernaturally make sure you never run out of supplies.” She did and God supplied every need according to His glorious riches.
I share this story because those here’s what I - and many others - have experienced in the Kingdom of God. One way God provides is - He may not increase the money we receive - but rather He supernaturally stretches what we already have. For example…
You’ll have the same paycheck.
You’ll have the same expenses.
Before you gave, you had no money left over.
But when you started investing in the Kingdom, all of a sudden… you have more than enough money.
How is that mathematically possible?
It’s not… it’s God’s blessing.
God blesses those who live in His Kingdom. And if you desire to live a blessed life, give. Give of your money and possessions. Invest in the Kingdom of God. There is no better or more sure investment.
Additionally, when the Kingdom of God grows, the land around you becomes blessed. Heaven comes to your neighborhood, town, city, and country. When you give…
More people are saved by finding Jesus.
There’s more peace.
More joy and kindness.
More genuine friendships.
More forgiveness and grace.
Is your money worth that?
Response:
Response:
As we close, I know this message is a little bit scatterbrained, but that’s because I’m not just teaching Scripture and biblical practices, I’m also sharing from my heart. But if it wasn’t clear, let me summarize today this way:
When you serve and give, God’s Kingdom grows and our hearts are transformed.
That’s why giving and serving are fundamental to God’s Kingdom. They are essential to the blessed life. Therefore, as we close, let me ask…
Are you serving?
Are you giving?
And if you’re looking for some easy next steps, here are four:
Take a spiritual gifts test. Then, start serving accordingly.
Find out your church’s need and help.
If you’re not giving, start. Give as worship. Give obediently. Give sacrificially. But also, give cheerfully. However, if Jesus is your Lord, don’t give nothing.
But maybe somebody needs to hear this last one… I want to suggest tithing. It’s a complicated biblical subject. Basically, it’s giving 10% of your income. That might sound wild. To others, that’s normal. Here’s a challenge: Practice the 10% tithe for 3 months. And see what God does. This is not a legalistic thing. It doesn’t impact if God loves you or your salvation. But it is an opportunity for further blessing.
Finally, remember, everything belongs to the Lord… our gifts, talents, time, money, and possessions. We are simply stewards. The Master has entrusted us with these things and said, “Go do Kingdom business.”
And one day, He will return. And we’ll have to give an account. What will we show Him? Did we invest in His Kingdom and help it grow? Or, did we hide and hoard it for ourselves?
Let’s pray…
Father, shape our hearts to be more like Yours. You are a Servant. And You are generous. Help us to do the same. Give us the faith to obey. For the glory of You name, amen.