Jim Kelly of Lake Road Chapel shares some helpful insights on Christian Giving:
Download MP3 http://sermonplayer.com/download.php?c=15087-count_audio_download-119832995
or PDF Notes. http://sermonplayer.com/c/lakeroad/pdf/119832995_15087.pdf
Giving for the Christian:
1. Christians are Stewards:
v Genesis 2:15-17Man was created and commanded to be a steward of the garden.Then
the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. (16) The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; (17) but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”
vLeviticus 23:9-10 – The first fruits was recognition of God’s provision and it was a rendering of thanksgiving to God for what He provided.
vPsalms 24:1
v1 Corinthians 4:7
v2 Cor. 8:5 –“and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord”
2. New Testament giving is motivated by love and grace not by law:
vJohn 3:16
vGalatians 2:20
vGalatians 6:2
3. When we think of giving, the primary place we should think about is the support of the local church and our own pastors.
vNumbers 18:20-24; Deuteronomy 18:1-5 – In the New Testament we don’t see the word tithe used in connection with giving, but we see the same principal of support for those that are laboring over our souls and going before the Lord in our behalf, to feed and shepherd us.
vGalatians 6:6
v1 Corinthians 9:1-14 ( especially vs 9-11,14).
v1 Timothy 5:17-18
4. Giving is what Christians want to do.
vActs 2:42-45
v2 Cor. 8:1-4
v2 Cor. 8:9
v1 John 3:16-18
5. God wants us to give freely, generously and joyfully
v2 Corinthians 8:3
v2 Corinthians 9:7
vExodus 25:2It’s betweenyou and God.
6. Give according to your ability
v2 Corinthians 8:3 & 12
vEzra 2:69
vActs 11:29
v2 Cor. 8:12 says it is our readiness to give, not the amount we give, that God prizes.
vLuke 16:10 Even if the amount is small initially, it is important to be regular and consistent in whatever we are able to give. “A little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in a little thing is a big thing.” Hudson Taylor:
vLuke 21:1-4; 2 Cor. 8 – Sometimes God calls you to give sacrificially, beyond your ability.
7. God Abundantly Blesses the Generous and Gracious Giver
v2 Corinthians 9:5-15 – Generosity does not go unnoticed by God.
vActs 20:35
vProverbs 11:24
vMalachi 3:10
Where Should We Give?
1. Our first priority should be to the local church: Our special giving should not diminish ourregular giving.
vWe are supporting those who are watching over our souls and feeding us spiritually.
vWe are also supporting the outreach efforts to the community and beyond.
vWe have physical needs that must be taken care of such as our building, supplies, etc.
2. We see in the passages we looked at that there was a general concern for the needs of others. The Bible is full of passages to care for those in need, and these are just a few.
v2 Corinthians 8:13-15
vEphesians 4:28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. The principle is to live below your means so you are able to share!
vGalatians 6:10
vProverbs 14:31
3. Missionaries/ Other Ministries
v2 Corinthians 11:7-9
v1 Corinthians 9:14
v2 Thessalonians 3:6-12
vPhilippians 4:10-16
-Jim Kelly