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BIBLICAL GIVING I. INTRO

BIBLICAL GIVING I. INTRO Christians express all sorts of preferences for why they most look forward to coming to church on the Lord ’ s Day.

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BIBLICAL GIVING I. INTRO

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  1. BIBLICAL GIVING I. INTRO Christians express all sorts of preferences for why they most look forward to coming to church on the Lord’s Day. ~ If we really understood the Scriptures and what God has promised in them, one of the things we would most look forward to each Lord’s day at church is the weekly offering.

  2. ~ ACCORDING TO THE WORD, YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WEEKLY OFFERING RESULTS IN A DIRECT PIPELINE TO SPIRITUAL BLESSING. II. TWO DEFINING STATEMENTS Read Lk 6:38. ~ Our Lord used symbolism derived from the Middle Eastern grain market of His day.

  3. ~ Ruth 3:15 ~ Mal 3:10 As part of His discourse on principles for living in God’s kingdom, He was making giving a New Testament principle. ~ 2Cor 9:6 ~ The underlying truth: GENEROSITY IN GIVING RESULTS IN A GREATER REWARD FROM GOD.

  4. Read Acts 20:35. ~ That underscores and enhances the priority of the principle of giving. Those two monumental promises from Jesus should be all we need to make us welcome with joy every giving opportunity. But sadly many professed Christians don’t seem to realize that Jesus’ two promises make giving a matter of faith and obedience.

  5. In Lk 6:38, the Greek for “give” is in the imperative, which makes it a command from Jesus that must be obeyed. ~ GIVING IS THEREFORE AN ISSUE OF BELIEVING HIS COMMAND AND FOLLOWING THROUGH IN FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE. ~ If you do, you demonstrate your trust in His promises.

  6. ~ If you don’t, you sin against Christ in the sense that you have no faith in what He promised about the blessings of giving. III. THE “LOAF OF BREAD” PROMISE Phil 4:19is the loaf of bread God places into your hand each day.

  7. ~ YOU HAVE NO REASON TO FEAR TOMORROW BECAUSE GOD WILL MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS, AND THAT SHOULD HAVE A VERY POSITIVE EFFECT ON HOW YOU GIVE. ~ While you ought to plan wisely and save prudently for the future, you should also remember that YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN SECURING YOUR FUTURE.

  8. Paul introduced the church at Corinth to a group of believers who lived with a Phil 4:19 confidence (2Cor 8). ~ The Macedonians characterize biblical giving because they understood the promises of God, and thus were so secure in their hope of the future that they willingly gave toward the present-day needs of others.

  9. IV. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BIBLICAL GIVING IN 2Cor 8:1-8 1. GIVING MOTIVATED BY GOD’S GRACE ~ This was the bedrock foundation from which the Macedonians operated. ~ Read 2Cor 8:1-8. The Macedonians’ primary motive for generosity was not human kindness or any other man-centered desire to perform good works.

  10. ~ Human giving generally does not reach the level of sacrifice that alters the giver’s lifestyle. THE GRACE OF GOD IS THE PRIMARY STIMULUS TO BIBLICAL GIVING. ~ A heartfelt longing and earnest desire to give generously and sacrificially flows out of a transformed heart. ~ Phil 2:12-13

  11. ~ Whenever you see someone exhibiting the kind of sacrificial generosity the Macedonian churches had, you know God’s grace is at work in that person’s heart. 2. GIVING IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES True biblical giving will also transcend the most difficult of circumstances.

  12. ~ Read 2Cor 8:2. In the face of those overwhelming, relentless hardships, the Macedonians displayed no “poor me” mentality. ~ They offered no excuses. ~ Instead they gave, even though they were enduring intense, prolonged suffering, and deprivation. ~ That’s the way devout Christians react.

  13. ~ BY GOD’S GRACE WE CAN ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO GIVE, BECAUSE EVEN THE WORST CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD NEVER HINDER OUR DEVOTION TO JESUS CHRIST AND OUR DESIRE TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS ON GIVING.

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