Sermon Tone Analysis

Life Together

(Life together picture inserted here)

In our life, in our living together we have seen several things we are to be and do as a fellowship of believers, so today we will venture into some of the acts of worship, our focus will be on our giving together as we share our life together.

Previously we have seen:

The importance of fellowship together, not a group of individual worshippers, but as a body that comes together to worship as the church.

We have looked at we are to be an intimate fellowship; Vesting our time and love into one another

We have identified that we are one body, one body made up of many parts, and all parts of the body are needed, so be sure to bring your part!

Now today we start to look at as a body of believers what we do when we bring the body together in worship.

Today our focus is on our giving.

(insert giving together picture here)

Let me qualify that our giving together is in several ways, and yes part of our giving is in our financial giving, so may we look at the exampled early church and what the scripture has to say (Act2:42-47)

Some may consider that our giving is the least of our spiritual acts of worship.

But, I put forth that it should not be negated or discounted when we look at the scripture.

Some feel it is personal and not an act of fellowship in our living together, but again, may we offer up scripture regarding it.

Our giving is not always in money, but in other ways too.

May we start with this passage:

They gave by their devotion (v.42)

They gave from their possessions (v.45)

Their giving was with gladness and sincerity of heart (v.46)

Their giving results were favor with all people and continued growth (v.47)

New Testament Giving

To give is a verb, to pass, to transfer, to bestow something to someone.

The New Testament speaks of giving in several ways.

Jesus gave His life for us (Rom5:8; 1Jn3:16; Gal1:4; Jn15:13)

While we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Rom5:8)

Jesus gave up His life for us (1Jn3:16)

Laid down His life for a purpose, and and example.

and add to that

So, just from the start you see that giving does not always equate to money.

Before you can give to God you must give yourself to God (2Cor8:5)

(expand on this about giving your life and your will to God first and foremost)

So, giving yourself is first, because God gave Himself for us, so what about our giving beyond that?

Give purposefully (2Cor9:6-7)

Give purposefully from the heart

Give bountifully and you will have bountiful results.

Give cheerfully

God’s abounding grace to the giver (2Cor9:8-9)

From the cheerful giver who has purposed in his heart who gives bountifully, look at what God does, makes grace abound so that you may have everything, not just everything but have it so can use it for others

God’s tool is you in your giving (2Cor9:10-15)

He supplies to you, you are a sower and supply the seed to others.

God will multiply the seed and increase the harvest.

Your supply to help others brings thanksgiving to God, and glorifies God not only in the liberality of your giving but in your confession of why you are giving, because the gospel that saved you!

God’s indescribable gift is you, the church, God’s grace for forgiveness of sins that brings the church into being.

You cannot give to God without being God’s first!

You are God’s gift and what you do as God’s gift is your gift back to God!

Spirit of giving (Act2:44-45)

We have read Act2 passage and we can know, be reminded of the fact that they were all of one mind, one accord, with one purpose.

They had one heart, to give and take care of one another.

Heart of giving, remember it is freewill (Act5:1-5)

In the story of Ananias and Sapphira who came and lied to God. know that your giving is a freewill gift, not under compulsion.

It did not end well with them, but it can for you when you continue to sow seeds for the Lord.

Give from your heart, as purposed in your heart

Proof of giving (Act4:32-35)

Purpose of giving (Act11:27-30)

in Act 11 you see the story of Agabus who brought word of prophesy of a famine that was coming and when it was going to happen.

The church (the disciples of believers)

Gave according to their ability

Gave for relief of others

And in this case, gave for relief to be sent for help of others

Exampled giving (Gal2:9-10; 1Cor16:1-2; 2Cor9:12-14; 2Cor8:12)

Exampled giving so to remember the poor.

We do that with our food pantry, so when you give to the pantry you are giving and fulfilling!

Next the exampled giving as to when

In all the churches on the first day, first day of every week, that means giving needs to be purposed and deliberate.

Decision needs to be made and giving put aside for the first day of thew week.

On the first day of the week to give as you have been prospered (expand on this, for we are prospered in all things through Christ Jesus)

give according to what you have, not what you do not have.

May we remember again it needs to be purposed, cheerful and not grudgingly

Paul was a conduit that God used to help carry the message and the gift.

He was taking the contribution, the gift, to the church in Jerusalem (see Rom15:25-26; ACt21:17).

We too are a conduit right here in Fort Dodge in our giving our love, in our sharing the gospel, in our food box ministry, in our outreach help at the half-way house.

This leads to next point.

Giving together biblically

In our life together, in our giving together it has purpose and it has biblical purpose, may we consider that.

It is a way of meeting needs (2Cor9:12)

Meeting the needs of the saints, so can minister to others

It is a means of participating in the gospel (Php1:5, 4:15-16 and 2Cor11:8-9)

We participate in the gospel from acceptance of the gospel

You participate in the gospel by your giving to help support the work

Paul acknowledged the faithfulness of the church from the beginning unto then in the participation in the gospel.

So, if you still wonder how does our giving have anything to do with our fellowship together, our living together as one body that is intimately involved with one another, I think the Philppians passage helps us to understand.

That our giving helps strengthen the body, the fellowship, the family by helping one another, through the body directly by the plate or personally between you and a person you may chose to help aside from the biblical instructions on weekly giving.

Our giving is proof of our being of one heart and soul (Act4:32)

Our giving is proof of our love for one another (1Jn3:16-18)

(Invitation slide - so count me in - give)

So are you a part of the body, part of the fellowship, are you counted in?

Do you count yourself in, one way we do that is by giving of our heart, and yes our giving of our money by what we have been prospered.

To be counted in, first you need to be in the body of Christ (give invitation); to those who are saved and have prospered eternal life, remember God’s gift to you and what you do from there is your gift back to God.

(invitation slide 2) song (exit slides)