She Put In Everything She Had

This article is part 4 of 4 in the series Giving

   It was just a small country church. The elderly minister had always prayed for just two things: WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING. God had blessed him with this, as with Solomon of old.
   One of the members who attended his small church was very rich. He had climbed his way ‘up the corporate ladder’ and was now CEO. He attended church every week. One Sunday afternoon, they had a ‘dinner on the ground’, and the old minister sat with him. He said to him, “I know giving is a private matter, but I have just wondered why your contribution has not increased over the years?” The rich member replied, “Well, when I was beginning, we were giving about 15% of our income. It was hard, but we enjoyed giving it. But now that I have ‘made it big’, it’s just not reasonable to give that amount.”
   They finished their meal, and were ready for dessert, and the minister asked him if they could have a brief prayer… They bowed, and he began… “Dear God, I praise your Name for the way you have followed this man’s career with favor. You have showered him and his family with blessings which, at the beginning could not be imagined. Please Lord, return him to the beginning days, when he was just a low entry workman. Reduce his salary to the level then, where he can give liberally as he once did. After all Lord, you have never been interested in the amount which one gives, just the proportion and the attitude of the heart where the gift comes from. Bless him that he can once again become generous as he once was. Amen”
   Paul said, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
   GIVING IS A GRACE, NOT A LAW. Yet principles and laws apply, like the one mentioned above. While tithing is an Old Testament law, and Christians are free from this. Christians grow BEST UNDER GRACE, than under law. Giving is individual, and private. Be careful in judging the motives and hearts of others. Don’t threaten, or guilt Christians into giving. It won’t (and shouldn’t) work. Just encourage brethren to GROW IN GRACE, and let them enjoy the whole process.
   Jesus said,  “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44).
           

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Grace Of Giving (Part One)

This article is part 1 of 4 in the series Giving

(This outline is taken from dad’s lesson on giving… it has been expanded a bit with some additional thoughts and passages which came to my mind in preparing this outline. Part two will be coming soon. I hope this helps.)

* Texts: 2 Corinthians 8-9; Luke 6:23-38; (esp. vs. 38); Luke 21:1-4; Matthew 6:19-21; 7:9-12; 1 Corinthians  15:35-45; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23; Philippians 2:5-11)
* Preparation: Erasable board/ Collection plate/ Spoon/scoops/ Indian Corn seed/Play Dough

Introduction:
* 2 boys walking home after first time at Bible class. “You hear teacher?! She said Lot’s wife looked back/ turned into pillar of salt!” Other boy, “That’s nothing… my mother driving home/van – looked back and turned into fence post.”
* Not trying to “turn you into something” – Major shift in thinking – (DRAW STICK FIGURE)
* GOD NOT WANT YOU TO
    – Win souls (just to win souls) Not the purpose
    – Pray (just to pray for others) Not the purpose
    – Forgive (just to forgive and be forgiven) Not the purpose
    – Give (just to give so s/one can give to s/one else) Not the purpose
* (Arrow to Stick figure) GOD WANTS TO CHANGE YOU!
* We unknowingly- have taught REFLEXIVE CHRISTIANITY
    – “You do this so we can do that”
* God says (Play Dough) — “Jack, I want to change, mold, make YOU, your heart!”
* Talking about the GRACE OF GIVING (and MUCH MORE!)
* TWO POWER PRINCIPLES (2 sides of same coin)(Say almost same thing)

1. 2 Cor. 9:6 SOW SPARINGLY REAP SPARINGLY/ SOW GENEROUSLY REAP
    GENEROUSLY
     A. DECISION OF THE HEART/ Individual/ Private)(LV. HIM ALONE/ENCOURAGE 
          HIM TO GROW)
          1.) From strongest Christian to weakest = ALL ABOUT GRACE
                (Draw heart beat type line from stick figure to point rep. death/heaven.)
                (GRACE NOT MEAN IN AND OUT ea. time one sins)(Grace covers       
                 Christian through life while growing in LOVE, FORGIVENESS,    
                 KNOWLEDGE, GIVING etc…)
           2.) Grandma used to say, “Give that boy some elbow room! Let him grow!”
           3.) This is the Law about giving.
      B. (ILLUSTRATION) Corn seed (Laws regulate growth)
           1.) What is needed for growth? (Seed)(Dirt)(Water)(Fertilizer)(Time) – LIFE is   
                 given by God.
           2.) 1 Seed (law of averages) = 280 seeds back
           3.) NOT TELLING YOU GIVE $1.00 GET $280.00 (False teaching)
           4.) Talking about life and how God blesses those who trust him.
      C. EXAMINE THE LAW
           1.) Giving = a grace (act/attitude of kindness)(Ref. Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23)
           2.) Affects the whole life (ie Life  led by/ influenced by/controlled by SPIRIT)
           3.) Bake a cake and share/ caring for shut in/ cut grass for handicapped/
                EXPECT NOTHING
           4.) “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?” (Need to get ‘self’ out of way) Ref. Galatians 2:20
           5.) You want a great church/ home/ life? CHANGE (Clay)
                a.) “I’m a single parent” CHANGE
                b.) “I’m an elder or deacon” CHANGE
          6.) (FIVE FINGER ILLUSTRATION) Sow And You Shall Reap
                a.) Haven’t taught much a/ reaping (unless it is bad)
                b.) Have taught DUTY, RESPONSIBILITY, OBLIGATION, BUDGETS (but
                      not reaping).
                      (Preachers to pay)(Buildings to keep up)(Missions to Support)(GOTTA
                       SOW!!)
                c.) (FIVE FINGER ILLUSTRATION – Sow AndYou Shall Reap) 
                      (“But I don’t sow in order to reap!”God says, “I know, but it will happen…”)
     D. EXPAND ON THIS LAW
          1.) 2 Corinthians 9:7 Read. (= INDIVIDUAL/PERSONAL/PRIVATE)
                a.) Cf. Matthew 6:1-3
                b.) Give little/much = all about GRACE
                c.) For next few minutes – FORGET ABOUT BUDGETS/BLDG/PAY
                     PREACHERS (most have done this anyway)(Smile)
                d.) FOCUS: “I AM THE ONE GOD WANTS TO WORK ON, TO MOLD, TO
                      CHANGE!”
                      1.) Nothing wrong about budgets/buildings/paying preachers – BUT
                           POOR MOTIVATION!
          2.) QUESTION: WHAT DO THESE TERMS MEAN?
                a.) “not grudgingly (reluctantly)”  
                b.) “or under compulsion”
                      1.) Means “NOT FROM NEGATIVE PRESSURE/ DUTY” (“If you don’t,
                            we can’t….”)
          3.) Paul teaches – EV. CHRISTIAN NEEDS THIS GRACE
                a.) Consider Christ – 2 Corinthians 8:8-9; (Philippians 2:5-11)               
          4.) 2 Corinthians 9:10 Read
                a.) Bread to eat/ Seed to sow/ Make you grow – better husband and wife
                b.) (Stick figure)(Heart)(Arrow pointing to heart) GOD AT WORK
                c.) GOD = “ALL”, “ABLE”, “ALWAYS”
                d.) James 1:17 Read
     E. WHAT IF…? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF…?
           1.) All decided “Ok Lord, I’m going to trust you/ take You at your word/ put this to
                 work”?
          2.) God says, “I will open your heart/mind/hands to be my servant here.”
          3.) SOMEONE COMES ALONG… needs help/ forgiven/ Gospel… YOU
               READY?
          4.) “That’s ridiculous” “I’m not that way!”
     F. Talking about LIFE PRINCIPLES HERE. (Bonding/binding Christians together)
          1.) This = principle – existed in NT Church
    G. THOMAS EDISON (ILLUSTRATION)  982 failures/ TUNGSTEN STEEL
         FILLAMENT/ success! “Martha!!! Look, it works!”  “O, Turn out the light Tom     
         it’s 3 AM!!!” 
     H. Someone comes along – “new light” – “Leave us alone/ comfortable!”
      I. Right here = principle (unite families)(unite churches)(grow!!!)

         

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