Unrestrained Giving (2)

I. Interview

HUMC Stewardship Team: educate, encourage faithfulness to give generously of our, time, talents and treasure. There are many places and people who need them. When we don’t give generously, needs aren’t met. People aren’t fed. People aren’t nurtured - don’t have the handstand feet of Christ telling them they are valued and loved. Ministries who do these things are not resourced (equipment, staff, building) youth and children’s ministry cannot take place without people who give of their time, talents and treasures.

These ministries have changed since the pandemic: Last week you saw part one of an interview with Heartfelt, a feeding ministry and how they have they changed. Now let’s see part 2

Prayer

II. Gratitude - what we did (pumpkins) why we did it (what are you grateful for?)

This is really not a simple exercise - I’ll explain in a minute.

Are these things like? Or Things we are grateful for?

III. First Words - we learn very early to value possessions

Mom, Dad (contest?), No, Mine! Very early in life we learn the value of possesson

Sharing doesn’t come naturally to us. Gratitude and Generosity must learned

Challenge: things we value and like v. things we value but realize they belong to God

Have you heard illustration before?

coffee shop, donut holes, stranger; avoiding conflict; satisfaction; protecting; emotions; the loss

EVERYTHING WE HAVE IS GOD; NOT JUST PICKING THINGS WE THANK GOD; OUR TIME IS GOD’S, OUR TALENTS ARE GOD’S; OUR TREASURE IS GOD’S.

A DISCIPLE OF JESUS LIVES WITH GENEROSITY.

Challenge: things we value because we value it v. things we value because it’s all God’s

Sermon Text: Building Campaign: The Tabernacle

Cast a vision: God has delivered us from slavery. Kept us alive in the desert. Performs miracles. Tells us we are his adopted people. We are his treasured possession - there’s gratitudeGod wants to do more - God wants to live among us. Do more than do things for us, give us stuff - talk to his people from a distance; be seen; be with us. Visible form of a tabernacle

John 1:1 - God made flesh and tabernacled among us

3. It requires generosity: precious gems, gold, silver,

Exodus 36:1–7 NIV

So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.” Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

Good Building Campaign: They are building out of our history with God. They are building because out of gratitude for God’s blessing. They are funding the building expansion because of what God wants to do (dwell among them [John 1:14) ). They are giving out of gratitude. And they overdo it.

Imagine An Example not just generous giving, but Unrestrained Giving

“ are bringing more than enough, Moses gave an order…No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

Challenge: things we value because we value it v. things we value because it’s all God’s

Building Campaign and Sacrificial Giving

Sanctuary; dedicated worship space; big steeple; capital campaign consultant; how to communicate; elicit big donation, increase generosity; theme of messages (sacrificial giving)

Strong reaction: 1) only one sacrifice -incomparable 2) not sacrificing doesn’t belong to us anyways

Challenge: things we value because we value it v. things we value because it’s all God’s

Building the tabernacle

Presence or property? Presence or Program?

Grateful for gods deliverance, presence

Responded with generosity

What do we do with the overflow? The unrestrained giving (wish I knew - need you)

Starts with gratitude: god’s past, present and future; not for security

Increase outreach -maybe establish a new ministry fund

Increase the outreach of our existing ministry

It starts with gratitude

Challenge: things we value because we value it v. things we value because it’s all God’s