Acts of Grace Through Community
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
GOOD MORNING
GOOD MORNING
Thank you for joining us this morning as we continue in our series through 2 Corinthians
Growing fatigue in connecting online - thank you for pressing through that fatigue
Excited to meet in-person again but we don’t know when that will be
RECAP
RECAP
Last week we began a mini-series in our Study of 2 Corinthians as we look at chapter 8 & 9, dealing with generosity.
We focused in on this phrase - “Acts of Grace” that we will see again today. (God’s Grace Through Generosity)
Last week we saw:
Macedonia Example (8:1-7)
Jesus Example (8:8-10)
Call to Acts of Grace (8:11-15)
Good intentions are not the same as good actions. The church in Corinth had a year prior communicated their intention to be generous and so Paul is encouraging them - act on that generosity.
TODAY
TODAY
Big Idea: The value of community when demonstrating the gospel through acts of grace.
Acts of Grace Together vs Individualism
Integrity and Accountability in these acts of grace through community.
READ PASSAGE
READ PASSAGE
ACTS OF GRACE WITH OTHERS (8:16-19, 22-24)
ACTS OF GRACE WITH OTHERS (8:16-19, 22-24)
PASSAGE
PASSAGE
Paul includes others
Who are these men
Titus
Originally from Antioch, Titus became a companion to Paul, serving as his secretary and interpreter according to tradition. Paul trusted Titus to carry a severe letter to the church at Corinth and help mediate the difficulty Paul was having with them. Titus then met up with Paul in Macedonia where Paul wrote 2 Corinthians and would also give this letter to Titus to go ahead of Paul’s visit.
Titus was a troubleshooter, peacemaker, administrator, missionary, and pastor.
Paul went to the island of Crete to preach the gospel and asked Titus to stay to appoint elders in the churches.
Titus 1:5 “the reason I left you on Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town.”
Titus 1:12 “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons...”
A 2nd century historian named Polyibus said of Crete, “Money is so highly valued among them that its possession is not only thought to be necessary but in the highest degree credible. And in fact, their extreme greed is so native to the soil in Crete that they are the only people in the world where there is no stigma against anything to get more money. There are public and private rebellions, murders, and civil wars. Their private lives are steeped in treachery and injustice.
God uses Paul to lead many to Christ but it’s Titus who is left on the island to establish a healthy church.
Brothers
(1) Boy can preach
(2) Being tested and having full confidence in him (22)
Who’s our Titus? Where are our faithful, gifted brothers and sisters?
STORY
STORY
African Proverb: if you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together.
This was a value on a team we led to an unreached people group in northeastern Chad. In the country of Chad there were 80 unreached and unengaged people groups in the country.
Unique languages and cultures.
No churches, no believers, and for most - no scripture in their language.
Started in France for a year to learn French - it was hard
Then we were in country together - and it was hard
In 2010 we couldn’t return to Chad because of health concerns but the work continued. The fruit of going together has taken years and endured unimaginable challenges but....
Teams
Baptisms
New Believers
QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
Are you willing to lay aside the freedom and ease of your individualism to join with others for gospel impact?
You can go fast by yourself
It is easier at times - but that doesn’t mean it is best
Are you living in a manner that is helpful to team?
When it is just you - the requirements and necessity for personal holiness is whatever you deem necessary in the moment.
When you are part of a team and carry responsibility then expectations are increased.
ACTS OF GRACE WITH INTEGRITY (8:20-21)
ACTS OF GRACE WITH INTEGRITY (8:20-21)
PASSAGE
PASSAGE
PLURALITY ENCOURAGES INTEGRITY
We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.
CONDEMNATION OF OTHERS
PAUL IS WRONG NOT ASKING FOR MONEY
Why is Paul working, bringing shame on himself and us by working
He should be asking us for money so that we can influence what he does and talks about.
PAUL IS WRONG ASKING FOR MONEY
Paul is going to keep this money for himself
He pretends to be all spiritual bu not asking for money but he’s just going to pocket this money for himself.
PROBLEM (Then and Now)
Things aren’ that much different nowadays
Churches always asking for money - Churches hide their greed behind the name of Jesus
Churches misusing church finances - The money doesn’t go to God, in lines the pockets of its leaders
Why do people say this?
It happens. Pastors making million dollar salaries, living in mansions and flying in private jets.
I imagine this misuse was also happening in the wealthy city of Corinth at the time as well.
PROCESS
PROCESS
PAUL
Integrity in Numbers - Paul wasn’t collecting the money alone, nor would he deliver the money alone. Community provided accountability
Integrity of a servant - (1) what is honorable in God’s sight, (2) what is honorable before man. Integrity is lived out in community.
CROSSPOINTE
Integrity in Numbers
Counting Team - we have at least 2 people with the offering at all times
Finance Team - we have a volunteer team, led by our deacons Gary Chiou, who looks into the details of our books. Even this week, Merrielle helped us continue to improve our accounting of all expenses: 1) Receipts, 2) Account, 3) Explanation, 4) Purpose
Separation of Duties - I never handle cash but I do have the authority to sign checks for the church but I do not have access to the checks.
Integrity of a Servant
We want to be above reproach
We want you to know that care and intentionality are built into the process for how we handle money and it is more than just trusting one person. Integrity is lived out in community.
QUESTION
QUESTION
What does it look like to have integrity concerning personal finances? How do you view the money in your bank account?
Whose money is it?
2 VIEWS
1) My Money - and I’m going to give a little bit to God when he needs it
2) God’s Money - and I’m accountable to him for how it is used.
Does you perspective need an adjustment? Do your spending habits need to change?
ACTS OF GRACE WITH EXPECTATION (9:1-5)
ACTS OF GRACE WITH EXPECTATION (9:1-5)
PASSAGE
PASSAGE
Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
A year ago the Corinthians church agreed to give toward this need in Jerusalem
Paul told others about their intended generosity by now the collection was going to happen and Paul wanted to them to be ready
Paul explain to them why he is sending these men ahead of him and lays out his expectation for them.
ANALOGY
ANALOGY
We do this with our kids - right?
Let’s say we are over at someone’s house and they are playing - we give them the 10 minutes warning and then the 5 minute warning. We want to help them succeed in transitioning from playing to leaving.
We communicate our expectations
This is exactly what Paul is doing?
Paul is holding them accountable to their verbal commitment.
Communication and Accountability
Community allows accountability - Individualism allows for a fluid morality
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US?
Communication of our Acts of Grace Iniative
Expectation
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
ACTS OF GRACE THROUGH COMMUNITY
ACTS OF GRACE THROUGH COMMUNITY
INITIATIVE
Matching Grant Initiative
CrossPointe Church wants to financially partner with you in the ‘Acts of Grace’ God has laid on your heart. We believe that God’s Spirit is leading some of you, individually and as groups, to love and serve our community. We as a church want to come alongside you to empower and equip you with multiplied impact for the work of the ministry. We are offering a matching grant up to $500 for you or a group of people. We want to serve together for a multiplied impact of demonstrating the Gospel in our community.
PROCESS
Talk with others
Decide who you will serve and how much you will collectively contribute
Acts of Service, not just money
Examples: Ronald McDonald House, Missionaries in Nepal, South Creek Middle School,
Share Ideas
Biggest issue isn’t generosity but connection to needs
Submit an application for a matching grant, up to $500
Elders will approve, help you modify the plan or deny requests on the Tuesday following the applications submission
More information: xpointe.com/actsofgrace, homepage, etc
CHALLENGE
Acts of Grace
Give to the general fund
PRAYER
PRAYER
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