Living Together: In our Giving
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 33:59
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Life Together
Life Together
(Life together picture inserted here)
In our life, in our living together we have seen several things we are to be and do as a fellowship of believers, so today we will venture into some of the acts of worship, our focus will be on our giving together as we share our life together.
Previously we have seen:
The importance of fellowship together, not a group of individual worshippers, but as a body that comes together to worship as the church.
We have looked at we are to be an intimate fellowship; Vesting our time and love into one another
We have identified that we are one body, one body made up of many parts, and all parts of the body are needed, so be sure to bring your part!
Now today we start to look at as a body of believers what we do when we bring the body together in worship. Today our focus is on our giving.
(insert giving together picture here)
Let me qualify that our giving together is in several ways, and yes part of our giving is in our financial giving, so may we look at the exampled early church and what the scripture has to say (Act2:42-47)
Some may consider that our giving is the least of our spiritual acts of worship. But, I put forth that it should not be negated or discounted when we look at the scripture. Some feel it is personal and not an act of fellowship in our living together, but again, may we offer up scripture regarding it. Our giving is not always in money, but in other ways too.
May we start with this passage:
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
They gave by their devotion (v.42)
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
They gave from their possessions (v.45)
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Their giving was with gladness and sincerity of heart (v.46)
Their giving results were favor with all people and continued growth (v.47)
New Testament Giving
New Testament Giving
To give is a verb, to pass, to transfer, to bestow something to someone. The New Testament speaks of giving in several ways.
Jesus gave His life for us (Rom5:8; 1Jn3:16; Gal1:4; Jn15:13)
While we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Rom5:8)
Jesus gave up His life for us (1Jn3:16)
16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Laid down His life for a purpose, and and example.
4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
and add to that
13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
So, just from the start you see that giving does not always equate to money.
Before you can give to God you must give yourself to God (2Cor8:5)
5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
(expand on this about giving your life and your will to God first and foremost)
So, giving yourself is first, because God gave Himself for us, so what about our giving beyond that?
Give purposefully (2Cor9:6-7)
6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Give purposefully from the heart
Give bountifully and you will have bountiful results.
Give cheerfully
God’s abounding grace to the giver (2Cor9:8-9)
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.”
From the cheerful giver who has purposed in his heart who gives bountifully, look at what God does, makes grace abound so that you may have everything, not just everything but have it so can use it for others
God’s tool is you in your giving (2Cor9:10-15)
10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.
He supplies to you, you are a sower and supply the seed to others. God will multiply the seed and increase the harvest.
12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all,
Your supply to help others brings thanksgiving to God, and glorifies God not only in the liberality of your giving but in your confession of why you are giving, because the gospel that saved you!
14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
God’s indescribable gift is you, the church, God’s grace for forgiveness of sins that brings the church into being. You cannot give to God without being God’s first!
You are God’s gift and what you do as God’s gift is your gift back to God!
Spirit of giving (Act2:44-45)
We have read Act2 passage and we can know, be reminded of the fact that they were all of one mind, one accord, with one purpose. They had one heart, to give and take care of one another.
Heart of giving, remember it is freewill (Act5:1-5)
In the story of Ananias and Sapphira who came and lied to God. know that your giving is a freewill gift, not under compulsion.
It did not end well with them, but it can for you when you continue to sow seeds for the Lord. Give from your heart, as purposed in your heart
Proof of giving (Act4:32-35)
32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.
34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
Purpose of giving (Act11:27-30)
27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. 29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.
in Act 11 you see the story of Agabus who brought word of prophesy of a famine that was coming and when it was going to happen. The church (the disciples of believers)
Gave according to their ability
Gave for relief of others
And in this case, gave for relief to be sent for help of others
Exampled giving (Gal2:9-10; 1Cor16:1-2; 2Cor9:12-14; 2Cor8:12)
9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.
Exampled giving so to remember the poor. We do that with our food pantry, so when you give to the pantry you are giving and fulfilling!
Next the exampled giving as to when
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.
In all the churches on the first day, first day of every week, that means giving needs to be purposed and deliberate. Decision needs to be made and giving put aside for the first day of thew week.
On the first day of the week to give as you have been prospered (expand on this, for we are prospered in all things through Christ Jesus)
give according to what you have, not what you do not have.
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
May we remember again it needs to be purposed, cheerful and not grudgingly
7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Paul was a conduit that God used to help carry the message and the gift. He was taking the contribution, the gift, to the church in Jerusalem (see Rom15:25-26; ACt21:17). We too are a conduit right here in Fort Dodge in our giving our love, in our sharing the gospel, in our food box ministry, in our outreach help at the half-way house.
This leads to next point.
Giving together biblically
Giving together biblically
In our life together, in our giving together it has purpose and it has biblical purpose, may we consider that.
It is a way of meeting needs (2Cor9:12)
Meeting the needs of the saints, so can minister to others
It is a means of participating in the gospel (Php1:5, 4:15-16 and 2Cor11:8-9)
We participate in the gospel from acceptance of the gospel
15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.
You participate in the gospel by your giving to help support the work
5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
Paul acknowledged the faithfulness of the church from the beginning unto then in the participation in the gospel.
So, if you still wonder how does our giving have anything to do with our fellowship together, our living together as one body that is intimately involved with one another, I think the Philppians passage helps us to understand. That our giving helps strengthen the body, the fellowship, the family by helping one another, through the body directly by the plate or personally between you and a person you may chose to help aside from the biblical instructions on weekly giving.
Our giving is proof of our being of one heart and soul (Act4:32)
Our giving is proof of our love for one another (1Jn3:16-18)
16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
(Invitation slide - so count me in - give)
So are you a part of the body, part of the fellowship, are you counted in? Do you count yourself in, one way we do that is by giving of our heart, and yes our giving of our money by what we have been prospered.
To be counted in, first you need to be in the body of Christ (give invitation); to those who are saved and have prospered eternal life, remember God’s gift to you and what you do from there is your gift back to God.
(invitation slide 2) song (exit slides)