Love Through Giving

Introduction

Trunks. They’re made to hold things that are precious. By the end of our time together I hope that this one holds a bunch of love for our church.

Maybe you didn’t have an actual hope chest, but you did have something precious that you wanted to save and pass down to future generations.

These treasures we hang on to—we don’t do it for the pleasure of hoarding.

We hang on to them because we know they might mean something to those coming behind us. They might even become worth something someday!

Regardless of the reason, it’s being saved because it holds hope, promise, memories, and value for the future.

And to put it in a box for the time being is a sacrifice. You can’t use it right now because you want it available for someone else to have and hold in the future.

It’s the exact concept we see played out by the early church—and one very serious way we get to love our church!

Acts 4:32–35 NIV

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

You’ve probably all seen the movie “Finding Nemo” and the memorable scene where the seagulls say “mine, mine, mine.” (Show video clip)

When it comes to possessions, the first church knew how to help one another, to love one another.