Generosity in Missions: Faith Promise and Kingdom Growth
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of seeing people come to Christ, referencing the Apostle Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 9:12-15. He highlights the obedience and generosity displayed by the Corinthians in sharing the gospel and supporting others. The pastor encourages the congregation to recognize that their giving and involvement in missions contribute to people coming to Christ. He also expresses the joy that comes from seeing churches being planted and the kingdom of God growing, and encourages the congregation to be actively involved in missions.
The pastor then discusses the joy that comes from seeing believers walking in the truth, comparing this joy to that of a father seeing his children living according to his teachings. He announces that the following week will be faith promise Sunday, where they will have a guest preacher, Brother Art Peterson, who has experience in ministry and missions. The pastor explains the concept of faith promise, which is a way for the congregation to give to missionaries. He emphasizes that the funds designated for missions are distributed to the missionaries they support based on a budget set after Faith Promise Sunday.
The pastor focuses on the example of the Macedonian churches and their generosity. Despite facing severe trials and extreme poverty, these believers exhibited overflowing joy and rich generosity. The pastor emphasizes that their giving was not reckless or beyond their means, but rather a result of their urgent desire to share in serving the Lord's people. The pastor encourages the congregation to have faith in God and trust that He will provide as they obediently respond to His call to give and go.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of giving generously to missions and having a willingness to make adjustments in one's lifestyle in order to give. He challenges the congregation to question their motives for wanting to be blessed by God, stating that God blesses us not so that we can have a life of luxury, but so that we can continue to be generous and help others know Jesus Christ. The pastor also shares a definition of faith as trusting in God without knowing the details of when, where, or how blessings will come, but believing that God will take care of our needs and enable us to be generous.
The pastor concludes the sermon by discussing the concept of faith promise and encourages the congregation to participate in supporting missions. He explains that faith promise is a commitment to give a specific amount of money to support missionaries and their work. The pastor emphasizes the importance of considering what they can do for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven and the hope of Salvation. He concludes with a prayer, thanking God for the missionaries and their faithfulness, and asking for guidance in determining their own contributions.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of seeing people come to Christ and the role of the congregation in this process. He encourages the congregation to recognize that their giving and involvement in missions contribute to people coming to Christ, even if they may never meet them in this lifetime. ([1:23])
- The pastor discusses the joy that comes from seeing believers walking in the truth. He compares this joy to that of a father seeing his children living according to his teachings. This joy is amplified when believers invest in the kingdom of God and contribute to the growth of people coming to Christ. ([12:45])
- The pastor focuses on the example of the Macedonian churches and their generosity. Despite facing severe trials and extreme poverty, these believers exhibited overflowing joy and rich generosity. Their giving was not reckless or beyond their means, but rather a result of their urgent desire to share in serving the Lord's people. ([24:30])
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of giving generously to missions and having a willingness to make adjustments in one's lifestyle in order to give. He challenges the congregation to question their motives for wanting to be blessed by God, stating that God blesses us not so that we can have a life of luxury, but so that we can continue to be generous and help others know Jesus Christ. ([36:15])
- The pastor discusses the concept of faith promise and encourages the congregation to participate in supporting missions. He explains that faith promise is a commitment to give a specific amount of money to support missionaries and their work. The pastor emphasizes the importance of considering what they can do for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven and the hope of Salvation. ([48:50])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
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1. Proverbs 11:24-25: "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."
2. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5: "And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us."
3. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: 'They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.' Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Proverbs 11:24-25 say about the outcome of generosity and withholding?
2. How did the Macedonian churches respond to their severe trials and extreme poverty according to 2 Corinthians 8:1-5?
3. What does 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 teach about the relationship between sowing and reaping, and the attitude of giving?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Proverbs 11:24-25 challenge common perceptions about giving and receiving?
2. What can we learn from the Macedonian churches' response to their circumstances in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5?
3. How does 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 define a cheerful giver and what are the promises associated with cheerful giving?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own giving habits. Are there areas where you can give more freely, trusting in the promise of Proverbs 11:24-25?
2. Considering the example of the Macedonian churches, how can you exhibit generosity in the midst of your own trials or limitations?
3. In light of 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, what is one specific way you can sow generously in your community this week?
4. How can you demonstrate a cheerful giving attitude in your daily life, trusting that God will provide for your needs?
5. What is a specific commitment you can make to support missionaries or a mission work financially or otherwise?
Devotional
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Day 1: The Joy of Bringing Others to Christ
The joy of seeing people come to Christ is a profound experience. As believers, we play a crucial role in this process. Our giving and involvement in missions contribute to people coming to Christ, even if we may never meet them in this lifetime. [1:23]
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 - "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy."
Reflection: Reflect on your involvement in missions or giving. How can you increase your contribution to help bring more people to Christ?
Day 2: Walking in Truth Brings Joy
There is immense joy in seeing believers walking in the truth. This joy is akin to that of a father seeing his children living according to his teachings. When we invest in the kingdom of God, we contribute to the growth of people coming to Christ. [12:45]
3 John 1:4 - "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
Reflection: Consider your spiritual walk. Are there areas where you need to align more closely with God's truth?
Day 3: Generosity Amidst Trials
The Macedonian churches, despite facing severe trials and extreme poverty, exhibited overflowing joy and rich generosity. Their giving was not reckless or beyond their means, but a result of their urgent desire to share in serving the Lord's people. [24:30]
2 Corinthians 8:2 - "In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity."
Reflection: Reflect on your current trials. How can you exhibit generosity and joy in the midst of these challenges?
Day 4: Blessed to be Generous
God blesses us not so that we can live a life of luxury, but so that we can continue to be generous and help others know Jesus Christ. We must question our motives for wanting to be blessed by God and adjust our lifestyles to give generously. [36:15]
2 Corinthians 9:11 - "You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."
Reflection: Reflect on the blessings you have received. How can you use these blessings to be more generous and help others know Christ?
Day 5: Commitment to Support Missions
Faith promise is a commitment to give a specific amount of money to support missionaries and their work. It is important to consider what we can do for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven and the hope of Salvation. [48:50]
Philippians 4:15-16 - "Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only."
Reflection: Reflect on your commitment to supporting missions. How can you increase your support for the Kingdom of Heaven and the hope of Salvation?
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Quotes
"Giving in faith simply means that I'm trusting when I give that God is going to take care of me he's going to take care of my needs okay giving in faith doesn't mean that I'm going to I'm going to say God I got I got faith in you that if if you let me win the lottery I will give you a portion of the winnings that's not Faith it's it's not Faith to say God if you make me wealthy I'll give you a little cut all right that's not faith faith says God you have told me to give and so I'm going to do that trusting that you're going to provide for me." ([40:28])
"God doesn't ask us to do something that he's not willing to supply our need to do and to give us more than what we need." [46:14]
"This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many many expressions of thanks to God because of the service by which you have proved yourselves others will praise God for The Obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else and in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you because of the surpassing grace God has given you." [55:28]
"We have the joy of knowing and maybe we don't always see it but we know when we give man there are people coming to Christ that we'll never meet this side of heaven but we're a part of it because we're giving because we're going I can choose this that I can do with my money or I can give to missions and to see people come to Christ." [56:08]
"Their overflowing Joy Plus extreme poverty equals Rich generosity how's that possible for I testify that they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability" [41:46]
"God has blessed me why has he blessed me why has he blessed me so I can have the newest and best of everything so I can live that life of luxury... but the question is can I give and give generously so that people can know Jesus Christ around the world and am I willing to make the adjustments in my own lifestyle that I need to make in order to do that." [49:15]
"Faith is trusting who what and why without knowing when where or how... I trust God and I know that God is going to take care of my needs why number one because he loves me and number two because he wants me to continue to be generous so that others can know him." [50:01]
"I have no Greater Joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth... there should be no Greater Joy than to know that as we give as we give people are giving themselves to the Lord and the kingdom of God is great growing what on Earth are you doing For Heaven's Sake" ([58:45])
"Art's coming to preach for us next week and we're going to have our faith promise Sunday... it's how we give to missionaries... we encourage our people when you give an offering if you whatever amount you want to go to missions you designate that on your check or online however you're giving you designate what portion you want to go to missions" ([01:00:01])
"It is a commitment that you make to God that you will give a certain amount of money specifically designated to missions through First Christian Church of Jonesboro in 2024." #!!01:03:21!!#
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