The Giving Church
“THE GIVING CHURCH” - 1 Cor. 16:1-12
"Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me. 5After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. 10 If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should refuse to accept him. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers. 12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity."
Anotorious miser was called on by the chairman of the community charity. “Sir,” said the fund-raiser, “our records show that despite your wealth, you’ve never once given to our drive.” “Do your records show that I have an elderly mother who was left penniless when my father died? fumed the tightwad. “Do your records show that I have a disabled brother who is unable to work? Do your records show I have a widowed sister with small children who can barely make ends meet?” “No, sir,” replied the embarrassed volunteer. “Our records don’t show those things.” “Well, I don’t give to any of them, so why should I give anything to you?”Landon Parvin in Leaders, Readers Digest, May 1996, pp. 67-68.
Giving Of Material Wealth vss.1-6
With a Sense of Our AdorationAn experience in the life of English preacher and theologian Andrew Fuller illustrates this truth. James Duff, in Flashes of Truth, told of a time when Fuller went back to his hometown to collect money for foreign missions. One of his contacts was an old friend. When presented with the need, the man said, “Well, Andrew, seeing it’s you, I’ll give you five dollars.” “No,” said Fuller, “I can’t take your money for my cause, seeing it is for me,” and he handed the money back. The man saw his point. “Andrew, you are right. Here’s ten dollars, seeing it is for Jesus Christ.” Duff concluded, “Let us remember, it is not the amount we give toward helping the Lord’s work; it is the motive He looks at.”
With a Surrender of Our Authority Ø With a Share of Our Abundance
Giving Of Spiritual Wealth vss. 7-12
By Investing Our Lives in Others
By Inspiring the Lives of Others
By Instilling His Life in Others
Paderewiski’s generous gift came back to bless him … “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” - Proverbs 11:25
Why Give 10% or More of Your Income to the Lord’s Work* Christians of all income levels have experienced spiritual joy, supernatural grace and divine help through the practice of making a specific commitment to GIVE 10% OR MORE of their resources to the Lord’s work.This list of 10 reasons to give 10% or more to the Lord’s work was written to encourage laity and clergy that this subject can be biblically and practically taught and caught! When believers are taught to make it a priority to give to God first, it will ultimately bring greater financial freedom and blessing into their personal lives and to the ministries they support.
1. It is a tried and proven pattern of giving by godly people throughout the ages (regardless of cultures and income levels). Genesis 14:17–20, 28:16–22; Leviticus 27:30; Proverbs 3:9, 10; Malachi 3:7–15; Matthew 23:23
2. It will help you revere God more in your life. Deut. 14:23
3. It will bring God’s wisdom and order to your finances and will help you harness the dragon of materialism. Matthew 6:19–21, 24–34; Luke 12:16–21; 1 Timothy 6:6–10, 17–19; Ecclesiastes 5:10
4. It will serve as a practical reminder that God is the Owner of everything you have. 1 Chronicles 29:11–18; Psalm 24; 1, 2; Psalm 59:10–12; Haggai 2:8
5. It will allow you to experience God’s creative care and provisions in ways you would not otherwise experience. 1 Kings 17; Proverbs 3:9, 10; Malachi 3:7–15; Haggai 1:4–11, 2:15–10; Luke 6:38; Deuteronomy 14:23; Proverbs 3:5, 6; Malachi 3:8–10; Haggai 1:4–11, 2:15–19; 2 Corinthians 8:5
6. It will encourage your spiritual growth and trust in God. Deuteronomy 14:23; Proverbs 3:5, 6; Malachi 3:8–10; Haggai 1:4–11, 2:15–19; 2 Corinthians 8:5
7. It will ensure you of treasure in heaven. 1 Timothy 6:18, 19; Matthew 6:19-21; Hebrews 6:10; 3 John 8; 1 Samuel 30:22
8. It will strengthen the ministry, outreach, and stability of your local church. Acts 2:42–27, 4:32; 2 Corinthians 9:12, 13
Three Levels of Giving*1. You have to (law) 2. You ought to (obligation) 3. You want to (grace) - Waldo Weaning
A mother wanted to teach her daughter a moral lesson. She gave the little girl a quarter and a dollar for church. “Put whichever one you want in the collection plate and keep the other for yourself,” she told the girl. When they were coming out of church, the mother asked her daughter which amount she had given. “Well,” said the little girl, “I was going to give the dollar, but just before the collection the man in the pulpit said that we should all be cheerful givers. I knew I’d be a lot more cheerful if I gave the quarter, so I did.” 9. It will help provide the means to keep your pastor and missionaries in full-time Christian service. 1 Corinthians 9:9–11, 14; 1 Timothy 5:17, 18; 3 John 5–8; Philippians 4:15–19; Galatians 6:6; Luke 8:3; 2 Kings 4:8–10 10. It will help accomplish needed building projects and renovations. 2 Chronicles 24:4–14; Exodus 35, 36; 2 Kings 12:2–16; 1 Chronicles 29:2–10; Ezekiel 1:4–6 - Brian Kluth, Dimensions, Vol. 20, Fall, 199, pp. 1-2, reprint by permission: /Christian Stewardship Magazine
Many years ago two young men were working their way through Stanford University. At one point their money was almost gone, so they decided to engage the great pianist Paderewski for a concert and use the profits for board and tuition. Paderewski’s manager asked for a guarantee of $1,000. the students worked hard to promote the concert, but they came up $400 short. After the performance, they went to the musician, gave him all the money they had raised, and promised to pay the $400 as soon as they could. It appeared that their college days were over. “No, boys, that won’t do,” said the pianist. “Take out of this $1600 all your expenses, and keep for each of you 10 percent of the balance for your work. Let me have the rest.”Years passed. Paderewski became premier of Poland following World War I. Thousands of his countrymen were starving. Only one man could help—the head of the U. S. Food and Relief Bureau. Paderewski’s appeal to him brought thousands of tons of food. Later he met the American statesman to thank him. “That’s all right,” replied Herbert Hoover. “Besides, you don’t remember, but you helped me once when I was a student in college.”
In Other Words, a publication of the Wycliffe Bible Translators, recently told a story about Sadie Sieker, who served for many years as a house-parent for missionaries’ children in the Philippines. Sadie loved books. Though she gladly loaned out some, others she treasured in a footlocker under her bed. Once, in the quiet of the night, Sadie heard a faint gnawing sound. After searching all around her room, she discovered that the noise was coming from her footlocker. When she opened it, she found nothing but an enormous pile of dust. All the books she had kept to herself had been lost to termites. What we give away, we keep. What we hoard, we lose. - Larry PenningsFrom In Other Words, a publication of Wycliffe Bible Translators