My Best Church Life Week 2: Give Message Summary: As a church grows, it’s tempting to feel that your contribution doesn’t matter, since your offering seems small compared to the biggest givers in the room. But God is more concerned about the heart than the amount. He knows that the best churches are filled not with a generous person but with generous people. As Jesus himself declared, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ✦ We give because God gave. ✦ 2 Corinthians 8:7,9 — But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you — see that you also excel in this grace of giving…9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. ✦ Malachi 3:8-10 — “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, ✦ 1 Corinthians 16:1,2 — Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. ✦ 922 Ministries needs your offerings, God wants your heart. (Or Generosity is not a number thing, it’s a heart thing) ✦ Psalm 50 (various verses) — “Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God. 9 I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, 10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills…I know every bird in the mountains…If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14 Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High.” ✦ 2 Corinthians 9:7 — Each one of you should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ✦ Acts 20:32,35b — “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified….remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” ✦ Giving blesses them, you & 922. ✦ 2 Corinthians 9:10-15 — Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! Planting Jesus Roots GATHER — How does attending church regularly help you avoid the two ditches mentioned in today’s message? GROUP — Think of how you have been blessed by the gifts and offerings that the members of our church have given to strengthen you. What fruit have you seen in your home, marriage, and relationships because we, as a church, have people who have a strong Give root? GROW — Reread the passages from 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 from today’s sermon. How do the facts that God gave and God gives change or impact your Give root? GIVE — Reread 1 Corinthians 16:1,2. Evaluate your give root and consider what step you want to take to strengthen your give root and excel in the grace of giving (more regular, in keeping with what you have, set aside - taken out first) GO — Offer a prayer of thanks to God that he gave his life and for all the resources he gives you & 992 and pray that he would use our resources to reach more people in the Fox Valley area in the months ahead. Homework: Acts 2:42-47