Joyful Giving: A Response to God's Grace
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the joy that Jesus experienced as he went to the cross, knowing that it would bring freedom to sinners and an eternal inheritance in the kingdom of God. The pastor then shifts the focus to the congregation, urging them to offer their whole lives as a living sacrifice to the Lord. He acknowledges that sometimes believers may wander or wonder about their commitment, but encourages them to come back to the Lord and remember that their first and primary offering was when they gave themselves to Him. The pastor also extends an invitation to those who do not know the Lord, assuring them that God has given everything through Jesus Christ so that they can know the Father's love.
The pastor then discusses the importance of giving offerings to support missionaries, pastors, and ministry workers who have dedicated their lives to preaching and teaching the gospel. He mentions that the church has a dedicated fund, called the Acts 4 fund, where 10% of the overall offering plate is allocated to help the church. The pastor acknowledges that the blessing of the Lord is not only for spiritual needs but also for financial needs, ensuring that the congregation has their basic necessities met. He encourages the congregation to come forward and ask for help without feeling embarrassed or ashamed, as the Lord has provided for his people.
The pastor then addresses the topic of offerings and giving. He acknowledges that many Christians have built up walls and reservations around this topic due to the misuse of God's word by churches, preachers, and pastors who manipulate congregations into feeling guilty and giving money. However, the pastor emphasizes that giving money to God is not wrong in itself. The stumbling block lies in the way preachers and pastors twist things and coerce people into giving. The pastor reassures the congregation that scripture already recognized this issue in Peter's day, with false prophets and teachers who brought destructive heresies and denied the true message of Jesus.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of offering and giving in the context of God's work. He starts by highlighting the significance of offerings in both the Old Testament and the early church. He mentions the story of Samuel's sons misusing the offerings and being killed by God, as well as the account of Ananias and Sapphira who lied to God about their offering and faced severe consequences. The pastor emphasizes that God is deeply connected to the offerings His people give, from individuals to leaders who manage the finances for His work.
Finally, the pastor emphasizes the importance of giving with a joyful heart rather than out of compulsion. He reminds the congregation that they are not under any demand or obligation to tithe, but rather, God desires their generosity to come from a place of joy and gratitude for His grace. The pastor references a passage from 2 Corinthians 8:2, which states that generosity is an act of grace. The pastor explains that giving should not be seen as a command, but rather as a test of one's love for God and His people.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes that the joy Jesus experienced as he went to the cross should inspire believers to offer their whole lives as a living sacrifice to the Lord. This is not out of obligation, but out of a joyful response to the liberty of the gospel. ([12:45])
- The pastor highlights the importance of giving offerings to support missionaries, pastors, and ministry workers who have dedicated their lives to preaching and teaching the gospel. He encourages the congregation to come forward and ask for help without feeling embarrassed or ashamed, as the Lord has provided for his people. ([24:30])
- The pastor acknowledges that many Christians have built up walls and reservations around the topic of offerings and giving due to the misuse of God's word by churches, preachers, and pastors who manipulate congregations into feeling guilty and giving money. However, he emphasizes that giving money to God is not wrong in itself. ([36:15])
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of offering and giving in the context of God's work. He mentions the story of Samuel's sons misusing the offerings and being killed by God, as well as the account of Ananias and Sapphira who lied to God about their offering and faced severe consequences. ([48:20])
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of giving with a joyful heart rather than out of compulsion. He explains that giving should not be seen as a command, but rather as a test of one's love for God and His people. ([59:10])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15: "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..."
2. Exodus 16:18: "And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed."
Observation Questions:
1. What does 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 reveal about the Macedonian churches' attitude towards giving?
2. How does the passage from Exodus 16:18 relate to the concept of equality in giving?
Interpretation Questions:
1. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, what does it mean to "excel in this grace of giving"? How does this relate to the concept of giving beyond one's ability?
2. How does the principle of equality in Exodus 16:18 apply to the act of giving in the church community?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you gave out of your abundance. How did it make you feel? How can you cultivate a spirit of joyful giving in your life?
2. Considering the principle of equality in Exodus 16:18, how can you ensure that your giving does not burden others or yourself, but rather contributes to the needs of the community?
3. In what ways can you demonstrate the "grace of giving" as described in 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 in your interactions with others this week?
4. Can you think of a person or a group of people in your life who could benefit from your generosity? How can you extend your generosity to them in a meaningful way?
5. How can you encourage others in your community to embrace the joy of giving and contribute to the needs of the church and its mission?
Devotional
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Day 1: Joyful Sacrifice in Response to Grace
The joy that Jesus experienced as he went to the cross should inspire us to offer our whole lives as a living sacrifice to the Lord. This is not out of obligation, but out of a joyful response to the liberty of the gospel. [12:45]
Hebrews 12:2 - "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: Reflect on the joy Jesus had as he went to the cross. How does this inspire you to offer your life as a living sacrifice to the Lord?
Day 2: Generous Support for God's Workers
Supporting missionaries, pastors, and ministry workers who have dedicated their lives to preaching and teaching the gospel is a crucial part of our Christian walk. We should not feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask for help, as the Lord has provided for his people. [24:30]
1 Timothy 5:17-18 - "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, 'Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,' and 'The worker deserves his wages.'"
Reflection: How can you practically support the missionaries, pastors, and ministry workers in your life this week?
Day 3: Giving Without Guilt
While some have manipulated God's word to coerce believers into giving, we must remember that giving to God is not wrong in itself. It is the misuse and manipulation that is wrong. [36:15]
2 Peter 2:1-3 - "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves."
Reflection: Reflect on your attitude towards giving. Are there any walls or reservations you need to address?
Day 4: God's Connection to Our Offerings
God is deeply connected to the offerings His people give, from individuals to leaders who manage the finances for His work. Misuse of these offerings can lead to severe consequences. [48:20]
Acts 5:1-5 - "Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet."
Reflection: How do you view your offerings to God? Do you see them as deeply connected to God's work?
Day 5: Joyful Generosity
God desires our generosity to come from a place of joy and gratitude for His grace. Giving should not be seen as a command, but rather as a test of one's love for God and His people. [59:10]
2 Corinthians 9:7 - "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."
Reflection: Reflect on your giving. Is it out of joy and gratitude, or out of compulsion or obligation?
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Quotes
"Your whole life is to be the offering in Romans 12 it says that we're the living sacrifices and I heard a funny joke once that the problem with living sacrifices is they sometimes want to jump off the altar yes God I'm yours I'm going to go somewhere else for a bit is your life an offering unto the Lord in all that you are and all that you do and if it's not that's okay lots of us Wonder but come back to the Lord this morning your first and primary offering was when you gave yourself to the Lord who gave everything for you." [01:20:32]
"Just because it happens with evil intent, there are many things that happen in churches with evil intent and we push them out but we're wrong for doing so... so it is with the offering plate. The offering unto the Lord is not evil, it's just when coercion or a command over the people comes in how exactly they should do it, it becomes an evil intent and it should be pushed out the church." [53:47]
"God is very much connected with the offering that his people give in finances right through from what we give as the individual to the leaders who use and manage the money that people give under God for his work." [56:40]
"Generosity comes from Joy if you're going to give to the offering bag that's the motivation of where it comes for a joyful heart in God and in his grace towards him people will have them offering more of themselves to God than any commandment can do." #!!01:03:57!!#
"This church has started in Acts 4 fund we give 10% of our overall overall offering plate to a dedicated fund of the sign to help this church... God wants his people to be blessed when they walk in these doors." #!!01:17:40!!#
"I want you to know that I know that times are tough here and the reason that a lot of people don't want to receive is maybe because they're embarrassed or ashamed or whatever but the Lord has provided here for his people and you are more than able to come and ask of an elder or myself or anyone to receive from the hand of the Lord." #!!01:18:47!!#
"God does not have to accept our financial offerings, and I don't think he does when it's not done with the right heart of joy towards his graciousness to us. Do you want the Lord's favor upon you when you give to him freely of your finances? Then give out of an eagerness of wanting to bless him and his people." #!!01:13:34!!#
"The Macedonian Church had been under persecution and it wasn't rich, yet Paul says that the grace of God enabled this church to be joyful in persecution and generous in poverty... it was not their means that made them eager to give, but the grace of God had compelled them to be givers." (#!!59:30!!#)
"They begged me earnestly to be partakers in the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the Saints... imagine the church begging to put money in, they were begging to be a part of it driven by the grace of God." (#!!01:00:35!!#)
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