Getting more from the offering
Notes
Transcript
Handout
One Great offer leads to a . . .
One Great offer leads to a . . .
God’s great offer should lead to our cheerful offering.
God has always offered mercy and grace to people. First to Jews, to Israel then to all who would come to Him by faith through the blood of the Son.
God’s great offering was costly (Jn3:16, 15:13)
A high cost, price was paid by the very blood of the Son on the cross at Calvary
Cost that that the Son willingly paid laying down His life
God’s great offering was sacrificial (Rom8:32)
It was sacrificial in that God did not even hold back His only Son
God’s great offering was complete (Heb9:11-15; Eph2:14-16)
Complete in reconciling man to God and man to man.
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
and if you look at Eph2 you will see the reconciling two people (Jews, Gentiles) to be one people (Christians)
God’s offering, in the Old Testament, came with a command, a tithe in return (Lev27:29-34)
I think I should give the O.T. passage here so it is not to be confused with the N.T. command.
29 ‘No one who may have been set apart among men shall be ransomed; he shall surely be put to death. 30 ‘Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.
31 ‘If, therefore, a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he shall add to it one-fifth of it. 32 ‘For every tenth part of herd or flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord.
33 ‘He is not to be concerned whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; or if he does exchange it, then both it and its substitute shall become holy. It shall not be redeemed.’ ” 34 These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the sons of Israel at Mount Sinai.
Many today may still call it a tithe but please note that in the N.T. the command is not called a tithe.
(Transition) God’s great offering today should result in a purposed offering not under compulsion but from a cheerful heart.
The New Testament command is for an collection/offering (1Cor16:1-2)
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
Many have a misconception that this is not an act of worship, though it is given as a command.
(Transition) If we are honest most people do not like the topic for it is something private, spiritual, heartfelt between you and the Lord and does not need to be spoken of in the Worship assembly. It is commanded, it is needed if we are to continue to do the Lords work as set out in the New Testament, collecting for the same reason they did then. This form of worship maybe uncomfortable, it maybe even difficult to engage it with gladness. Especially if people give grudgingly instead of cheerfully as purposed in their heart. So may we now look at h this act of worship as displayed, described and commanded in the New Testament?
Collection (offering) in the assembly
Collection (offering) in the assembly
Is the offering a necessary evil, or a heartfelt act of worship?
The early church cared for one another (Act2:44-45, 4:32-35)
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.
The believers shared all so no one had need (Act2:44-45)
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.
They had one heart and soul and God’s abundant grace was upon them and they gave to the apostles so it would be distributed (Act4:32-35)
Because they had one heart, one soul, claimed all things in common, they gave so that there was not a needy person among them. (expand on this)
They gave to the apostles so they would distribute to each as they had need. (expand on this)
(Transition) when the collection is made it goes beyond our building and even beyond our community at times just as it did in the first century
The reach of the collection went beyond the local church (Act11:27-30; Rom15:25-26)
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.
As proportioned they determined to send relief where needed (Act11:29)
Now look at this other passage and see the heart behind it
25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
Pleased to make a purposed contribution for the poor (Rom5:27)
(Transition) the collection command, the time and the heart of the giving of the offering.
It was commanded to be given on first day of the week (1Cor16:1-2)
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
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!
Give from what you have not what you do not have (2Cor8:12-13)
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—
Give purposefully, give cheerfully, so that you may have all sufficiency in everything (2Cor9:6-8)
These simple principles help guide us to give from a cheerful heart. When we have purposed in our heart, we give from the heart to meet the needs of the church (body of believers) ad to meet the needs of others (benevolence) as able. Let me expand on this just a little more.
1 For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints;
Give, this is a ministry to the saints (2Cor9:1)
The body does the body good and one of the ways is through our giving to help one another when there is need. So collection from the body, for the body, to serve the body.
And yes it does provide for me as well as other preachers, missionaries, kingdom work that the church may chose to do when able.
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
Yes, even for the worker who is worthy of wage (1Tim5:18)
Here is another passage to consider
6 Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? 7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?
8 I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He?
10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. 11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?
14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
Then there is the example of supporting self, getting outside support so not to be a burden (2Cor11:8-9)
8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you; 9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.
(Transition) So giving from a cheerful heart, from a purposed heart provides for the work of the church in areas such as evangelism, edification and benevolence. The collection, offering, is not simply a means of raising funds. It is actually an opportunity to express grace, enhance fellowship and to share in the the experienced blessings that come from giving.
Getting more out of the offering
Getting more out of the offering
Getting more from giving? Yes! And it is an act of obedience, love and grace when we give.
It is a grace, may we understand the grace of giving (2Cor8:1-2, 6-9)
1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
The grace of God given to the church (2Cor8:1-2) so give liberally.
6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. 7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
God’s demonstrated grace in our Lord Jesus Christ, give so the gracious work can continue. (2Cor8:6-9)
In 2Cor8 it also says this.
13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— 14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;
15 as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
God provides to you so you can provide, supply for the need of others, and in doing such you will not lack (2Cor8:11-15)
When done properly, with a cheerful heart, a purposed heart, a demonstrated manifestation of God’s grace, it is a blessing to you and to others.
Give and you will be blessed (Ps41:1-3)
1 How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble. 2 The Lord will protect him and keep him alive, And he shall be called blessed upon the earth; And do not give him over to the desire of his enemies.
3 The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You restore him to health.
Give and you will bless and help the weak (Act20:35)
35 “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Part of the blessing is God’s care and God’s provision (Isa59:7-11, Lk12:22-34, you can look at those on your own.
Want to get more, want to experience more from giving?
Give weekly (1Cor16:1-2)
Know giving is more than money, it is giving good too (Gal6:10)
Give more and you will reap more (2Cor9:10-11)
Our giving is an expression of grace
Our giving enhances our fellowship
Our giving helps us to experience joy
(Invitation slide- give yourself to Jesus) the best gift you can give ever, eternally speaking, is to give yourself to Jesus (expand) (invitation song) (Prayer)