In Closing…
Notes
Transcript
PRAY
So this point in the letter gets interesting. We have to remember that Paul didn’t have in mind when he wrote the letter that we would be reading it thousands of years later. He had in mind a real church with people he personally knew and interacted with. But that doesn’t mean there is nothing for us to take away from the closing of the letter.
We should be intentional about serving the Lord in all that we do.
We should be intentional about serving the Lord in all that we do.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Giving an offering
Giving an offering
Christians are expected to freely give to the church from what the Lord has provided to them to support the work of the church.
I’ve got a buddy who loves Alabama basketball. He often says to cut the football program and give the funding to the basketball team. And I believe him. He has season tickets. But he likes getting better season tickets. So he makes donations to the university. That’s how you get better seats… it’s kind of shady!
He does this, makes his donations, because he loves it. It’s important to him. He believes in it. He wants to be a part of what is happening.
This should be a description of a Christian’s financial relationship to their church! Except for expecting to get better seats in church!
1-4
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
As far as I can tell, there are no hard and fast rules about how we are supposed to give or how much we are supposed to give in the New Testament. We are just told to give in proportion to what the Lord has provided for us. And we must see all that we have as a gift from the Lord I believe, all the provision. Old Testament believers were told to give a tenth of what God gave to them. It makes sense to me to give at least that much. And to be glad to do it!…
This is a demonstration, an exercise, of your faith in God…
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
He finishes talking about that by saying that he’ll go with them to deliver the offering when he gets there and then he starts discussing his plans to visit them and minister to them and be ministered to by them.
Intentional Ministry
Intentional Ministry
Paul sets an example for us of trying to be very thoughtful and intentional in his decision making to have the most impact for the Kingdom of God.
He’s thinking through his plan and trying to make the most of every opportunity for ministry. He’s like a general coming up with a battle plan almost, deciding when and where the best time to make a Gospel attack is and letting that guide his plans. He saw himself at war with the enemy, so he went about it that way!
5-18
verse 17
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
We need to be intentional in all we do to share the love of Jesus. We need to be thoughtful about how to make the most of situations and opportunities for the Kingdom of God.
You have an away game coming up? See if you can get a seat with your team mate who you know is not a Christian…
Meaningful Relationships
Meaningful Relationships
God created us to be relational. This is part of how we bear his image, He exists eternally in relationship in the Trinity.
19-24
This all reminds us of the picture we see of the early church in Acts 2 where the believers in Jerusalem were living life together, worshipping together, encouraging one another, walking with God together.
The most important relationship for us to have is with God…
