Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of 4/18/10:
1. Jesus teaches the parable of Matthew 20 to correct a bargaining/haggling spirit exhibited by the disciples (“What’s in it for us?” Matthew 19:27-30) and the “rich young ruler” (Matthew 19:16-26).
2. Believers today sometimes exhibiting a similar bargaining/haggling attitude with God (“If you do this for me … I will do this”). For example: “If you give me this promotion…this job…this house…I will,” or “If you heal me…I will,” or “If you restore this relationship… I will,” or “If you help me pass my next check ride…I will.”
3. The problem with this attitude is it assumes that God needs to be bribed to be good to us when the Scripture is clear that God is already good to us, He is gracious.
4. “If you ask God for a contract, you will only rob yourself, for His is generous with His workers. Be faithful to do your job and avoid watching the other workers, and He will deal with you generously.” (Warren Wiersbe)
5. The bottom line is:
-don’t bargain or haggle with God
-serve Him unreservedly, joyously, lovingly, and without thought of payment (our God is generous and wants to do so much more that we can ask or think)
-if we bargain with God we will be disappointed, critical of Him, and dissatisfied
he sermon file.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Money, the Bible...and Me (Giving, Cont.)
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of 4/11/10:
1. The “how much” of giving: If the tithe is not for today-how much is enough when it comes to giving? Seven principles to guide us:
- It should cost to give, that is, we should not just give out of our surplus, that which we will never miss. 2 Samuel 24:18-25; Proverbs 3:9,10
-Sacrificial giving follows the example of our Savior. 2 Corinthians 8:9
-Giving is a response to our spiritual riches. 2 Corinthians 8:9
-Giving is an investment with God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8,10
-Giving should be purposeful, a matter of prayer and the direction of the Holy Spirit, not a matter of compulsion, not forced, or under pressure. 2 Corinthians 9:7a
-Giving is not a matter of how I have but of my priorities for what I have. The Macedonians gave out of their extreme poverty. God credits the heart. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5,12
-Giving should be proportionate: as income goes up, giving should go up. 1 Corinthians 16:2
2. The attitude of giving: cheerfully, not reluctantly 2 Corinthians 9:7
3. The cautions of giving: Churches must be above board in the handling of money, being careful in its administration; individual Christian’s priority should be to meet the needs of their local church (the place where their spiritual needs are being attended to) and giving should be without strings attached. 2 Corinthians 8:20,21; 1 Corinthians 16:3.4
4. The rewards of giving: needs are met, 2 Corinthians 8:13-15; God is praised, 2 Corinthians 9:11-15; and believers garner rewards at the Bema seat of Christ, Philippians 4:15-19
Recap of 4/11/10:
1. The “how much” of giving: If the tithe is not for today-how much is enough when it comes to giving? Seven principles to guide us:
- It should cost to give, that is, we should not just give out of our surplus, that which we will never miss. 2 Samuel 24:18-25; Proverbs 3:9,10
-Sacrificial giving follows the example of our Savior. 2 Corinthians 8:9
-Giving is a response to our spiritual riches. 2 Corinthians 8:9
-Giving is an investment with God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8,10
-Giving should be purposeful, a matter of prayer and the direction of the Holy Spirit, not a matter of compulsion, not forced, or under pressure. 2 Corinthians 9:7a
-Giving is not a matter of how I have but of my priorities for what I have. The Macedonians gave out of their extreme poverty. God credits the heart. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5,12
-Giving should be proportionate: as income goes up, giving should go up. 1 Corinthians 16:2
2. The attitude of giving: cheerfully, not reluctantly 2 Corinthians 9:7
3. The cautions of giving: Churches must be above board in the handling of money, being careful in its administration; individual Christian’s priority should be to meet the needs of their local church (the place where their spiritual needs are being attended to) and giving should be without strings attached. 2 Corinthians 8:20,21; 1 Corinthians 16:3.4
4. The rewards of giving: needs are met, 2 Corinthians 8:13-15; God is praised, 2 Corinthians 9:11-15; and believers garner rewards at the Bema seat of Christ, Philippians 4:15-19
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Questions on an Easter's Eve
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of 4/4/10:
1. With the Jews rejecting Him and the cross looming before Him, Jesus announces to His disciples that He would be leaving them, a reference to His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
2. Jesus establishes a new command, that they love one another as He had loved them (sacrificially, extravagantly). This love would:
-correct their spirit of rivalry
-help them survive a world hostile to the gospel and them
-be a testimony to the world
3. The disciples were troubled by Jesus’ announcement that He was leaving them so He assures them that He would be returning for them at a future time (the rapture). “…the guarantee is unmistakeable. His return is as certain as His departure” (Merrill C. Tenney).
4. He would, in fact, be preparing an eternal dwelling for them. “By His death and ascension and glorification He was opening a way of access to the Father, and to the bliss of His abode.” (Wm. Erdman)
5. The only way to God the Father and to salvation in Him is through Jesus Christ the Son. Jesus is only one way to God the Father. He is not one of many ways, nor are there many ways to God, only one, Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5).
Recap of 4/4/10:
1. With the Jews rejecting Him and the cross looming before Him, Jesus announces to His disciples that He would be leaving them, a reference to His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
2. Jesus establishes a new command, that they love one another as He had loved them (sacrificially, extravagantly). This love would:
-correct their spirit of rivalry
-help them survive a world hostile to the gospel and them
-be a testimony to the world
3. The disciples were troubled by Jesus’ announcement that He was leaving them so He assures them that He would be returning for them at a future time (the rapture). “…the guarantee is unmistakeable. His return is as certain as His departure” (Merrill C. Tenney).
4. He would, in fact, be preparing an eternal dwelling for them. “By His death and ascension and glorification He was opening a way of access to the Father, and to the bliss of His abode.” (Wm. Erdman)
5. The only way to God the Father and to salvation in Him is through Jesus Christ the Son. Jesus is only one way to God the Father. He is not one of many ways, nor are there many ways to God, only one, Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5).
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Money, the Bible...and Me (Giving)
No audio file this week.
Recap of 3/28/10:
1. Paul talks about the why, the when, the who, the how, and the how much of giving in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4:
-the why? –to meet the physical and spiritual needs of others especially of believers (Hebrews 13:16; Galatians 6:10; Romans 12:13; and to support full-time church workers (1 Corinthians 9:1-14; Philippians 4:10; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; Galatians 6:6-10)
-the when? – every week on the first day of the week, the day the church gathered together
-the who? – everyone, “each one of you”
-the how? – planned, deliberate, not haphazard or under emotional pressure
-the how much? – proportionate to income
2. Is the tithe for today? (tithe meaning “a tenth part”)
-before the law the tithe is only mentioned twice (Genesis 14:20; 28:22). Neither time is it commanded of others
-under the law there was required giving made up of two yearly tithes and a third tithe taken every third year (thus approximately 22-23-1/3% per year) (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-28; Deuteronomy 12:6-17; 14:28-29); and voluntary giving (sacrifices and free-will offerings throughout the year (Deuteronomy 12:6)
-in the New Testament tithing is mentioned only in the gospels (critical of the practice of the religious leaders concerning tithing) and in Hebrews 7:5-8 which isn’t about giving but about the superiority of Melchizedek over Abraham and over the Levites.
-it is significant that in places in the Epistles which teach about giving, where a percentage could have been expected, none is given.
Recap of 3/28/10:
1. Paul talks about the why, the when, the who, the how, and the how much of giving in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4:
-the why? –to meet the physical and spiritual needs of others especially of believers (Hebrews 13:16; Galatians 6:10; Romans 12:13; and to support full-time church workers (1 Corinthians 9:1-14; Philippians 4:10; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; Galatians 6:6-10)
-the when? – every week on the first day of the week, the day the church gathered together
-the who? – everyone, “each one of you”
-the how? – planned, deliberate, not haphazard or under emotional pressure
-the how much? – proportionate to income
2. Is the tithe for today? (tithe meaning “a tenth part”)
-before the law the tithe is only mentioned twice (Genesis 14:20; 28:22). Neither time is it commanded of others
-under the law there was required giving made up of two yearly tithes and a third tithe taken every third year (thus approximately 22-23-1/3% per year) (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-28; Deuteronomy 12:6-17; 14:28-29); and voluntary giving (sacrifices and free-will offerings throughout the year (Deuteronomy 12:6)
-in the New Testament tithing is mentioned only in the gospels (critical of the practice of the religious leaders concerning tithing) and in Hebrews 7:5-8 which isn’t about giving but about the superiority of Melchizedek over Abraham and over the Levites.
-it is significant that in places in the Epistles which teach about giving, where a percentage could have been expected, none is given.
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