Sermon Tone Analysis

God’s Offer leads to our offering

God has always offered mercy and grace to the people, first to Israel then to all people who would come to Him through the blood of Christ.

God’s offering was costly it was the high price of His Son on the Cross

God’s offering was sacrificial; He did not hold back

God’s offering with complete, meaning that with it man could be reconciled to God and man to man too.

God’s offering in the O.T. demanded a tithe in return; in the N.T. the tithe was gone but the offering from a cheerful heart was there.

In the O.T. God commands a tithe; and in the N.T. we are implored to give as purposed in your heart.

Our assemblies on first day of week give us a good opportunity to give.

Paul said this in Corinth and in Galatia

Call it collection, call it offering, call it what you may, but it should not be confused with the O.T. command of tithe, though many may still call it that today, this is not that.

Lev27:28-30

Let

Many may have a misconception of this act of worship for the rest are otherwise spiritual acts of worship, acts of service.

In reality we have to be honest that the offering while not a popular subject and is a very personal decision on what you are willing give, it is a necessary evil (or in other words necessary thing) for the church to carry on it’s business and God’s message.

This form of worship maybe uncomfortable, it maybe difficult to engage with it with gladness.

Especially if people give grudgingly instead of giving as purposed in their heart.

So let’s look at this act of worship in the assembly.

I.

The Collection (offering) in our assemblies

(Slide) The Early Church

The early church cared for one another

Act2:44-45

As anyone might have need

Act4:32-33

the collection was used (distributed) to each as any had need.

The collection goes beyond our building and beyond our city limits at times, just as it did in the first century

Hey here is another example

ROm15:25-26

I have to stop and say the early church saw a need and met it, you see a need and you meet it.

You prove that time and time again here at Lockett.

Thank you for your loving and giving heart.

(Slide) The Collection (offering) instituted

It was instituted to meet the needs of the saints (i.e.

1Cor16:1-2 as read before)

Example were given to show sacrificial giving

The Macedonians

Then the best example we have is Christ Himself.

God did not hold back in giving Jesus and Jesus did not hold back, He gave it all so we can become rich!

(Slide) So how much should we give?

Give as we may prosper, remember we have nothing without Christ for from God through Christ we have all things.

So anything we have we are prosperous, so give from that!

We are to give with a willing mind

2Cor8:12-13

Give willingly; give cheerfully

These simple principles help guide us to give from a cheerful heart.

When we give we are able to have the ready funds to meet the needs of the church and help meet the needs of others through benevolence

Using the Collection (offering)

Collection for the body!

To serve the body.

Yes it does provide for me, or other preachers, missionaries who carry His message.

There are people who are dedicated and devoted to full time ministry work to the Lord.

1Cor9:9-

1Cor9:11-

1Cor9:13-14

Paul turned down support in some instances and asked for support in other.

So giving from a cheerful heart, from a purposed heart it provides the funds needed for the proper work of the church.

(insert slide text boxes saying: Evangelism; edification; benevolence)

The collection is not simply a means of raising funds.

it is actually an opportunity to express grace, enhance, fellowship and to experience the joy and blessings that come from it.

So let’s look at getting more

II.

Getting more out of the collection

(Slide) It is a grace, so understand the grace of giving.

As mentioned earlier it was manifested in the Macedonians (2Cor8:1-2)

It was a manifestation, of the and expression of the Corinthians giving from cheerful and joyful heart.

2

Christ’s humiliation is a demonstration of grace

God blesses those who give, even that they may give more (ref.

2Cor9:8-11)

When done properly, when done with a cheerful heart, when done with a purposed heart it is a demonstration, manifestation of God’s grace.

Now the time tonight is limited so I need to pick up the pace.

I hope we all can learn the blessedness of giving.

(Slide) and that blessedness includes God’s care, God’s provision

ISa58:

(Slide) you can look at Isa58:7-11

(Slide) you can look at Lk12:22-34

(Slide) You want to get more, want to experience the joy of giving?

(Slide) Give weekly to the Lord (1Cor16:1-2)

(Slide) Giving is more than money it is giving good (Gal6:10)

(Slide) Give more and reap more (2Cor9:10-11)

Oh there is more we could look at tonight, but let me wrap up with this.

(Slide) Our giving is an expression of grace

(Slide) Our giving enhances our fellowship

(Slide) Our giving helps us to experience joy

(Lead to invitation) - first comes giving your life to Christ; then knowing what you have in Christ it is giving back to Christ, so what are you giving today?