A Place to Give
Healthy House • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
HEALTHY HOUSE:
Quick reminder that we are indeed in a new series called HEALTHY HOUSE
Healthy Familes, Make a healthy church, A healthy church like any healthy family has a power to it, a strength to it.
Gods house is a place where you can find certain things, just like in a home….
“a place to gather”
(we gather because were family united in Christ
We gather because we need each other and make each other better
We gather because
Challenge we ended on last wee:What can i do, to become healthy, so that someone else can enjoy this house?
What happens in a house? in a home…?
People talk to each other…..People live in genuine community, not anonymity
People eat together......Fellowship happens around tables, communion, and shared life
There are healthy rhythms…….Worship, prayer, Scripture, serving, and gathering become consistent
Conflict gets repaired…..People forgive, reconcile, and refuse to allow offense to become division
Encouragement is normal……People call out God's work and gifts in one another
Everyone contributes……Ministry isn't done by a few professionals; everyone has a part
Distractions don't own the house……The church keeps Jesus central rather than being consumed by programs, preferences, or personalities
People get out of the house......The church goes into its community rather than waiting for the community to come inside
Rest is protected…….People serve from relationship with Jesus rather than burnout
Hospitality happens.....New people aren't treated as outsiders—they're welcomed into the family
There is laughter and celebration…….The church celebrates salvation, baptism, answered prayer, growth, and God's goodness
Jesus is part of ordinary life......Jesus isn't merely preached on Sunday; He shapes everyday life
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
GENEROSITY AND THE EARLY CHURCH WERE ONE IN THE SAME.
In the rise of christianity
The early church grew because Christians believed differently, lived differently, and loved people differently.
Their doctrine produced a recognizable culture:
When others fled, they stayed.
When others discarded people, they welcomed them.
When others protected themselves, they sacrificed.
When society divided people, they formed a family.
When the world was afraid of death, they lived with resurrection hope.
When everyone was taking for themselves - the church gave.
The church and giving are synomnmus
1.WE GIVE FROM REVELATION
1.WE GIVE FROM REVELATION
Not custom, not compulsion,
not forced all giving in the church is freewill.
Generosity is meant to come about in our lives as a result of a divine revelation given by God to the heart of man
its not a
moral obligation
The early church knew this because of How close they were to John 3:16
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Pauls message to the church was this:give not because you have to - give because you want to. give because its who you are. you are Gods people. God gives, and now that you are Gods people, you should WANT TO GIVE.
This has been the way God wanted it from the beginning - what Paul writes about in the new testament about giving wasnt anything NEW. it was actually an enduring quality of the community of Gods people
When God established through moses laws - He was very direct: Give and give WELL. The last thing God wants is for the world to think hes stingy!
7 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.
10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God that he has given you.
Gods people know this is the heart of God.
Its not about giving more
its not about having less.
its about identity.
We give out of the abundance of who we are not what we have.
21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Write this down: GOD LOVES WHEN AN OFFERING IS BROUGH BY A HEART THATS STIRRED NOT A HAND THATS FORCED.
Write this down: GOD LOVES WHEN AN OFFERING IS BROUGH BY A HEART THATS STIRRED NOT A HAND THATS FORCED.
2.WE GIVE BECAUSE WE KNOW CHRIST MULTIPLIES THE GIFT.
2.WE GIVE BECAUSE WE KNOW CHRIST MULTIPLIES THE GIFT.
Generosity in the church is the only place on this earth where the natural becomes supernatural.
there is not exchange that can do that trade
there is no investment that can provide that return.
When we give to Jesus. He does what only JESUS can do.
Multiply the gift.
Remember the loaves and the fishes?
What starts small becomes big
(what starts big becomes small)
3.WE GIVE BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE IS STILL ONE MORE.
3.WE GIVE BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE IS STILL ONE MORE.
and we were that that one.
the shift in the Church needs to happen supernaturally and this is how.
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
