Sermon Tone Analysis

*Philippians XIX: Investing in Eternity *

*Philippians 4:14-23*

*/April 13, 2008/*

 

 

*Prep: *

·         11~/16~/03, 02~/19~/06, 10~/21~/07 (Intro)

·         Leftovers

·         2 Corinthians 8 & 9, 11 & 12, Phil 4:10-13, Luke 16

·         Pauline parallels (closings)

 

 

*Intro~/thank you letter *

 

Monday marked *6 months* as pastor – we are loving it, *proud* of our church.

God is moving, *new* *folks* coming in and (more importantly) being *integrated* into the community.

·         Local’s night at *Tulip* *Town*, 5:30 pm.

 

·         *Last* *Philippians* sermon, part 19.

·         Week after next: *Gospel* of *John*, pre-read chapter 1.

 

*BACKGROUND:* Philippians was a *thank* *you* *letter*, for a generous gift, delivered by Epaphroditus for Paul’s *support* in *prison*.

Scott taught on the *previous* *passage*, which begins the thank you, but it’s a strange thank you, “I am *content* *regardless* of what I have.”

Paul remembers himself and thanks them *properly*:

 

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;  16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.

They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.  19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever.

Amen.

21 ¶ Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus.

The brothers who are with me send greetings.

22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.

23 ¶ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Amen.

/Philippians 4:14-23 NIV/

 

·         The letter ends with *praise*, and a *typical* *closing*.

*Let’s talk about $*

 

But the *bulk* of the passage is about their *gift*, and this sermon is about *offerings*.

I have had Peter lock the doors.

I am always *reluctant* to talk about giving, because of *perception* of church and some hard won *visitors*.

But God has given me an *attitude* *adjustment*:

 

I have said that *sin* is that which *damages* us, *damages* others, and *dishonors* Him, but it is also true that whenever God tells us to do something, we our *obedience* *benefits* us, *benefits* others, & *glorifies* Him.

 

\   I am *cheating* you to not talk about giving.

Giving is for *our* (collective and individual) benefit, *not* *God’s*.

*Theology of Money*

 

The Bible has a *lot* to say about *money*.

Money is a *core* *part* of our *existence*, and if our *faith* does not *equip* us to handle our money, it is *insufficient*.

·         If we can’t take God into the *bank* or *store*, we have a *weak* Christianity.

The *bedrock* *principle* of money is that is *all* *belongs* to God.

We are only *caretakers*: The *creation* story and the *Psalms*, *parable* of *talents*.

*Invest eternally*

 

One of the most *confusing* parables: The *dishonest* *steward*.

Rather commending his dishonesty, Jesus commends investing money for *long* *term* *gains*.

I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

/Luke 16:9 NIV  /

 

In other words, we must use our money to bring others *into* the *kingdom*.

Even though you can’t take “it” *with* *you*, you can *send* it on *ahead*, *investing* it *eternally*.

Ä  The *reason* we should invest eternally is because God *gave* it to *us* as an *investment*.

*How* we use our money – for ourselves or others – is a test of how *trustworthy* we will be with *truly* *important* things.

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? "No servant can serve two masters.

Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and Money."

/Luke 16:10-13 NIV//  /

 

\   We are God’s investment strategy.

Q   Are you a trustworthy investment or not?

 

“We are *blessed* to be a *blessing*.”

Are others blessed by how God has blessed me?

 

Ä  One of the *key* *ways* we invest our money eternally is by using it to *partner* in *ministry*, as the *Philippians* did.

*Giving as partnering in ministry*

 

Yet  it was good of you to share in my troubles.*

Philippians 4:14*

 

·         “Share in my troubles” could be translated “partner with me.”

In our *first* Philippians sermon, Paul specifically thanks them for their *partnership* in the Gospel by their *financial* *support* and their *prayers*.

·         By their *prayers* and *gifts*, they became an integral part of Paul’s evangelism of Europe.

*Participants, not spectators *

 

TG believes the church is *not* a *Sunday* activity, it is our *identity*.

We are the body of Christ, *committed* to each other and what *God* *is* *doing* here.

·         We *welcome* everyone who come in these doors, but know that our *goal* is for everyone to become a *part*, not just a *spectator*.

·         We partner with the church through *praying*, *giving*, and *serving*.

All of these are vital, and *without* them, the church will *die*.

*God’s provision*

 

There’s an unconscious *misperception* that “no matter what I give to the church, *God* will *provide*.”

He *could* provide, but He often *doesn’t*.

He also *could* have *angles* preach the Gospel.

·         *We* are his *provision*.

In the OT, the temple and the priests were solely supported by the people.

In NT as well as OT, *tithes* and *offerings* were how God provided for the *spiritual* *care* of His people.

·         If *we* don’t give to the church, there is *no* *one* else.

·         God wants *His* *work* to be supported by *His* *people*.

And it takes a lot of money to keep a church running.

We forget the church is subject to all of *regular* *expenses* of a business.

·         It costs approximately $*3,300 a week* to do ministry.

·         1~/5 of the congregation provided 80% of regular giving.

*What about tithe?

*

 

So how much should you give?

The word “*tithe*” means “*ten percent*.”

Some believe it is an *OT* rule made *obsolete* by the NT, while others regard it as a sound *Biblical* *guideline*.

Paul gave three basic principles that we should pursue: give consistently, give proportionally, give sacrificially, and give cheerfully.

!!!!  

Do what I told the Galatian churches to do.

On the */first day of every week/*, each one of you should set aside a sum of money */in keeping with his income/*... /1 Corinthians 16:1-2 NIV/

 

For I testify that [the Philippians] gave as much as they were able, and */even beyond their ability/*.

/2 Corinthians 8:3 NIV/

 

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a */cheerful giver/*.