Small Gifts, Big Hearts
The Greatest Month of Generosity • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsTheme: Generous Hearts Glorify God. Purpose: Use our gifts big and small to build up others and glorify god. Gospel: Jesus knows the nature of our heart. Mission: Using our gifts big and small is a service in Christ's name.
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As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.
He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.
“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.
All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Introduction: Peter and John - Healing the paralytic man who was begging. They did not have money, but the gave what they had. Is there something a Christian can give and be generous besides time and money?
11 - Jesus evaluates our gifts.
11 - Jesus evaluates our gifts.
One story from the New Testament that emphasizes the power of generosity is commonly called the “Widow’s Mite.” The scene describes the rich giving in the offering box. In the midst of these people, Jesus saw a poor widow put two copper coins in the box. Jesus then declares, “Truly, I tell you this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on” (Luke 21:1–4). The larger emphasis of this story isn’t about money, but about being faithful and generous even when it seems like you shouldn’t be. It’s easy to be generous when you have it, but you should be generous even out of your apparent lack. This story of the widow shows that there are no small gifts, when there are big hearts involved.
Should you only be generous when have more than enough? Sometimes we think generosity is more the responsibility of the wealthy or those that have the time and resources to spend. But if we wait to be generous until we are ready, we will never be ready. - The rich do tend to give less, the poor are often more generous and creative about it.
No matter how insignificant you might think you are, you still can change the world, positively or negatively.
So Apparently for Jesus...
12 - Generous Hearts Glorify God.
12 - Generous Hearts Glorify God.
Talking about - "It's the thought that counts." as a true statement - If it means well I simply thought of you, but did not spend the time and effort on you than it is not a true statement. But, if My heart wanted to give you my best, and this is my best, then it is absolutely true.
13 - Video: Mother’s Day Gifts.
14 - Takeaways - She gave what she had. She wanted to be generous to her Mom. She partnered with her sisters gifts.
When I stole flowers from the neighbors garden to give to my Mom. - Her Wisdom - celebrated my heart, but also taught me that was stealing.
Our Heart in giving is very important.
- Story of church in Suddan - Putting clothes, shoes, food in the offering basket.
The Purpose of our gifts are to Build Up Others and Glorify God
- Spiritual gifts and physical gifts.
- The religious leaders were tearing down widows - so the opposite of buidling up others and Glorifying God, - This Widow out of her poverty was building up others (The priests who were not loving her and other widows) and Glorifying God.
One area in which we can be generous is in the giftings and talents we can use to serve others. When it comes to resources and talents to serve others, we can sometimes see our lack. Take, for instance, using our giftings in serving the church. It’s easy to look at people who play an instrument, sing, or teach and think that their giftings are more important. Maybe we think that helping kids or fixing coffee are small gifts, like the small offering in the widow’s story. But God wants us to give from what we have received—and there are no small ministries, giftings, or areas of service, just as there are no small offerings.
Explore why people don't use their spiritual gifts.
- They are too small
- Not generous with time.
- Not wanting to grow in their gifts - to be stretched.
Spiritual Gifts are a part of being a guest in God's Kingdom and are meant to be shared with others. - The Challenge of the Christmas Party at our house. - Some of our kids now have jobs and with that has brought a joy of giving gifts with their own money. Naomi has rarely had money of her own - but also loves to give gifts. - Super Hero sign.
Just as each one has received a gift, use it for serving one another, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
We should encourage each other to...
19 - Being Generous with our Gifts.
19 - Being Generous with our Gifts.
Allen Walworth describes the powerful testimony of the widow’s generous spirit.“Both the Old Testament and New Testament tell stories of unlikely generositychampions,” Walworth writes, “men and women who play out their lives, often inobscurity, except for the watchful eye of the biblical narrator—and God.”Walworth continues, “What in this world, or perhaps, what beyond this world,would cause this poor widow to give everything she had left to an ordinary offering at the Temple? We don’t know her story. We don’t even know her name. But you can be sure there is a story there. Behind every great act of generosity is a story, even if only known to the giver and to God” (Allen Walworth, “Unlikely Champions: A Widow’s Might,” Christian Reflection: A Series in Faith & Ethics,Institute for Faith and Learning at Baylor University, 2015, 78–81, https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/253570.pdf).
Jon’s Testimony:
20 - Action Steps:
Find out what Spiritual Gifts God has given you.
Use those gifts to serve others, and Glorify God.
Develop your gift, and your motivations for using them.
Conclusion:
Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 6, 64, 86, 91,94,
Belgic Confession: Article 1, 12, 14, 20, 24 Canons of Dort: Head II: Article 2