A Generous Steward

Read Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

PRAY

I want to thank Pastor Manny and Pastor tony for bringing forth powerful words the last 3 weeks!

We must remember we belong to a completely different kingdom.

-And it's crucial for us as Christ followers to uphold Kingdom values. This world, though broken, is entrusted to us as stewards of God's truth and love.

-Our allegiance to Kingdom values reminds us that our ultimate hope lies not in political outcomes but in God's sovereignty. We are called to love our neighbors, seek justice with humility, and demonstrate grace amidst differences. By prioritizing Kingdom values, we avoid being ensnared by toxic political and this worlds kingdom games and instead bear witness to the transformative power of Christ's love in our communities.

The Set up Section:

-As Christ followers we must live with incredible generosity. In order to do that we must be good stewards of what God has given us, no matter how much or how little we may claim to have we must steward it well to bring glory and honor to God.

-Some have said that you can tell a lot about a person if you were to look at their bank statements or follow them around for awhile to see their spending habits. Som of you might be thinking “HA! go ahead it wont tell you much because their isn't much in there.”

-Let me tell you now, its not about how much, or how little may be in there. Your bank statements/spending habits will always tell someone where you priorities, desires, and commitments lie. Which takes right back to Jesus’ words we opened with about where our treasure is their our hearts are also.

-I have seen people take and corrupt the good news by making it all about how much money you can give, and when you give x amount of dollars God will bless you...This is not biblical. Often our culture has made tithe and offering very legalistic, and just a check box, rather than truly giving from a generous heart.

-People have been guilted into giving. There is a reason we don’t pass around an offering tray. We wont you to give based on how the Lord is leading you.

-so lets go ahead and address the elephant in the room, and many of you who know me well know where i stand on this. Is the tithe required for us as believers today? In short NO.... OT yes! and it actually went on to be more about 25% instead of the 10% we often talk about as the bear minimum to give.

-Giving 10% is a good discipline but when you just do as a checklist, its no longer and act of worship towards God. Now in the NT Jesus ask 100% of our lives and everything in it? are you willing to lay everything you are and own before Him and be willing to be used however He decides?

- what we desire here at Avert is for us all to be a generous stewards! Which is todays sermon title.

-I want us to keep this in mind today as we move through this sermon and for us to reflect not only where our treasure is, but our we being a good steward with what God has given us, which will help lead to a life marked by extreme generosity.

The background Section:

-Our main text for today will be 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 but before we start working through that we need some context on what led Paul to say what he does in this chapter. Its important to remember that Christianity started in Jerusalem and the church was birthed their and became a hub for sending out believers to start new churches and spread the good news.

-But a few decade after the birth of the church, the church in Jerusalem fell onto some har times.The early church in Jerusalem was experiencing severe poverty, likely due to famine and persecution.

-Paul felt a strong responsibility to support them and was led to start a collection for them. Paul encouraged other churches in the region to contribute. One church in particular is full of resources, the church in Corinth. The church in Corinth initially was all about sharing its resources and collecting funds to give to the church in Jerusalem.

-But now Paul heard that the church in Corinth though full of plenty of resources (financially) they have gotten lazy and haven’t even started to collect the funds. This puts Paul in a a pretty awkward position… He headed that way and He deiced to write the church this letter.

-Paul could pull rank and be like y'all need to give because i am Paul and you know all about my reputation and what I have done to help further King Jesus’ kingdom, he could have called them out and guilted them, or shamed them. What he does say and doesn't say in this section though is eye opening and super important for us as believers today as it was for the initial audience.

Remember God’s Grace Section:

Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-6.

-Paul wants those in the church of Corinth to know about the grace of God, he has no desire to belittle them or shame them in any way. Paul instead shares the story of the church in Macedonia. as a reminder for how we are all to be.

-Grace is one of Paul’s ‘big’ words—so big, in fact, that we often fail to realize all the tasks he gets it to perform. Often when people talk about ‘grace’ in church circles they are referring simply to the undeserved love and power which God showers on people in bringing them to faith in the first place and enabling them to live and grow as Christians.

-That remains central and vital. But Paul also uses the word in what seems to us (though probably not to him) a different way, as in this passage: to refer to what God wants to do not just in and for Christians but through them.

-What does it mean that God gave ‘this grace’ to the churches in Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, and perhaps some others)? It didn’t simply mean they had what we would call a wonderful spiritual experience. It meant that, under an impulse which came from God himself, they gave money with almost reckless generosity

-Charis is the greek word for grace. This word is rich in meaning. It is used to describe a gift, which is undeserved and freely given. it can also be tied to forgiveness, When we give a gift, give forgiveness, and show generosity we are living out charis (grace)

-Paul gives us the impression that the churches of Macedonia were not well off materially. Instead, they were givers like the woman who gave two very small copper coins to the temple treasury in Luke. Jesus said that she had “put in more than all the others.” The others “gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on” (Luke 21:3–4).

-Both Jesus and Paul clearly did not value so much the amount one gives as much as the generosity of the heart. He encouraged each Corinthian to give “in keeping with his income” (1 Cor. 16:2).

-The Macedonians had such generosity. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints (2 Cor. 8:3–4). Given their poverty, Paul apparently had not expected the Macedonians to contribute—and they did not do as we expected (8:5).

-They begged to give (who in here has ever begged to give?!?!) Extreme trial and extreme poverty are there circumstances yet…they have abounding joy, which led them to extreme generosity. They gave sacrificially and joyfully to help their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

-While they would not have sinned if they had not given, they showed that their priorities were in order: they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will (8:5).

-Paul is showing us that you can have a lot money, yet be poor. Or you can hardly have anything, yet be beyond rich spiritually and live an open handed life. Those who have a lot of material possession/riches tend to be bound by those things and possessing them all for themself.

-Its important for us to remember that having money and being rich are two different things, same goes for having money and being generous, or having money and having joy.

-Does how much or how little you have define who you are and what you are able to do? It shouldn't!! Christ and His grace should be what defines us and give us our value. The church in Macedonia understood this.

Let Us Grow Section:

Read 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

-Paul points out how the church in Corinth is growing in so many areas, but they are not growing in generosity. Our generosity shows our understanding of God’s grace.

-Paul again doesn't condemn them, instead he shares the good news of Jesus. Vs.9 is the gospel. This should remind us that generosity is the mark of a growing believer.

-God is not interested in the amount we give but in our desire to give

-simply urging people to give more isn’t the whole story. In fact, it’s not really what the story is about at all. In principle, the story is about what God is doing in the life of the church and congregation

-Friends we tend to use our wealth and gifts to protect and provide for ourselves and our personal tribes, But it is all intended to give to God and his people

-Avert has the goal of becoming a developing/self sustaining church. We have made significant steps in that direction since we have launched almost 3 years ago now thanks to you faithful believers. But if we want to continue to grow as a church, expand, and make an impact we must be marked by being a generous church.

-This means we all have to take this serious personally and live differently than the rest of the world.

Generous Stewards Section:

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

-The early Christian community was not one in which individuals hoarded their own property and prosperity to themselves. Rather, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need” (Acts 2:44–45). While these verses describe the early Jerusalem church, they reflect the principle that the church is more like a family than a group of individuals who happen to come together once or twice a week.

-Being a generous steward, was reflected for us in in 2 Corinthians 8, involves recognizing that all resources come from God and should be used to bless others. This exemplifies the principle of giving not out of abundance but from a heart of gratitude and commitment to the needs of others. Generous stewardship means prioritizing the well-being of the community and the mission of the Gospel over personal gain, understanding that true wealth lies in relationships and shared blessings.

-In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, the Apostle Paul emphasizes the principle of sowing and reaping, teaching that generosity is an essential aspect of the Christian life. A believer grows in God’s grace and becomes a generous steward by recognizing that every gift is an opportunity to reflect God's character.

-As they cultivate a deeper relationship with God, they begin to understand the abundance of His grace, leading them to respond with open hands and hearts. This transformation often starts with gratitude, where believers acknowledge how much they have received and feel compelled to give in return.

-In contrast to the world’s often transactional mindset, where value is placed on accumulation and self-interest, the Kingdom value of generous stewardship calls for a radical reorientation of priorities. The world teaches that security comes from hoarding resources, but in God’s Kingdom, we find that security comes from trust in Him and a willingness to share.

-As a believer becomes a generous steward, the impact on the church is profound. A culture of generosity fosters unity and collaboration among members, encouraging them to support one another in both spiritual and practical needs.

-When individuals within the church commit to giving generously, the church is empowered to undertake missions, community outreach, and support for those in need. This collective effort not only meets immediate needs but also builds a strong testimony of God's love and provision to the surrounding community.

-The impact extends beyond the church walls, positively influencing the broader community. Generous stewardship manifests in acts of service, and support for local initiatives. As the church becomes a beacon of hope and support, it attracts others who are curious about the source of such love and generosity. This engagement opens doors for evangelism, creating opportunities for sharing the Gospel through tangible acts of kindness and compassion.

-This generosity not only reflects God’s character but also builds a community rooted in love and mutual support. It challenges us to shift from a scarcity mentality to one that embraces abundance in God’s provision, leading to a life that flourishes through giving rather than receiving. This happens as we grow in our knowledge of grace and in our relationship with Jesus.

-Ultimately, growing in grace and becoming a generous steward transforms the believer’s heart, strengthens the church, and revitalizes the community. It creates a ripple effect where generosity breeds more generosity, leading to an environment that reflects the Kingdom of God. In this Kingdom, the focus shifts from self-centered living to a life that is interconnected, where each act of kindness and generosity is an expression of God's grace at work, drawing people closer to Him.