Sermon Tone Analysis
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*The Gifts of Giving*
*/February 19, 2006/*
*Let’s talk about $*
Money is a weird thing.
More so, it makes us *act* weird, especially is you’re as *cheap* as *me*.
I’ll spend $50 on a nice dinner but then it’s a *battle* to add an extra *dollar* on the tip.
· I’ve never let a *bell* *boy* carry my luggage – I’d rather *carry* *75 lbs*. of luggage up *four* *flights* of stairs.
This morning we are going to talk about *money*, specifically *giving*, and specifically *supporting* our *church*.
· Just so you know, the *exits* have been *locked*.
I’ve said before that sin is not a random collection of things God tells us not to do.
Rather, He found all the things that damage us, damages others, and dishonors Him.
The *converse* is true: Whenever God tells us to do something, we find our obedience benefits us, benefits others, & glorifies Him
So, since God command us to *give* and *support* His *work*, we can *assume* that it is for *our* *benefit*.
Just as surely as to our benefit to *forgive*, not commit *adultery*, or not *lie*.
· God’s command to give is a gift to *us*.
· It’s a three-way gift: a gift to *us* personally, to our *church* family, and to *God*.
*1.
Glorifies God*
First of all, and most importantly, giving *glorifies* God.
It the OT, God used the *sacrifices* and *offerings* to support the priests’ *ministry* to the *people* of Israel.
But that was a *byproduct*: they were primarily an act of *worship*.
God watched as their *motivation* shifted from heart-felt *devotion* to half-hearted *duty*, evidenced by the *gifts* they brought.
When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong?
And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased?
Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!
/Malachi 1:8/ /NLT/
They should have brought their very *best* to God, yet instead they brought the animals that were *dying*.
The animals’ lack of *value* showed that they did not *value* *God*.
I once gave Marilyn flowers left at the church after a funeral.
It didn’t have the desired response – I think she was on to me.
· Must be her women’s *intuition*, or maybe the “*sympathy* *card*.”
In stark contrast to dying *animals* and re-gifted *flowers*, stands King *David*, a “man after God’s own heart.”
Once, he was about to offer a sacrifice and someone offered to *donate* the animals.
No, I insist on paying you for it.
I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that *cost* me *nothing*./ 2 Samuel 24:23-24 NIV /
Now, as then, giving is a *costly* act of worship and as such it honors and glorifies God in a way that *singing* *cannot*.
· We worship God with the *fruit* of our *mouth* and the *fruit* of our *labor*.
*2.
Gift to our church family*
Giving is a *gift* to *God*, but it is also a *gift* to our *church* *family*.
In NT as well as OT, *tithes* and *offerings* were how God provided for the *spiritual* *care* of His people.
Don't you know that...those who *serve* at the *altar* share in what is offered on the altar?
In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who *preach* the gospel should receive their *living* from the gospel./1
Corinthians 9:13 NIV/
· God wants *His* *work* to be supported by *His* *people*.
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.
· In our way of thinking that seems more *effective*; but God is more interested in our *maturity* than being *efficient*.
· God works *through* us in order to work *in* us.
[Repeat with me]
It is our *privilege* to be Christ’s *body*, speaking His *words*, being His *hands*, and being His *provision*.
Another misperception is that normal *operating* *costs* don’t apply to churches.
It takes money to have a *building*, make *utility* payments, pay *staff*, and generally do *ministry*.
· Now I work here, I appreciate the “*business*” side of church.
Our budget for this year is $1,150,000; divided by 12 months: $95,833; divided by our average *total* attendance of 1,300:
· It costs $74 per man, woman, and child per month to do this work that God has called all of us to.
· For my family of four, that comes out to $296 a month.
*Tithe sermons*
As church, we’re very *sensitive* about how we talk about giving.
There is a strong *perception* in our *world* that churches are “out for your money” and we know there are *always* *visitors* here.
· That’s why we always tell *visitors* to let the *basket* *pass*.
In the 8 ½ years, we’ve only had 3 sermons on giving; *this* one of them.
That doesn’t mean we don’t *teach* about it.
Bruce has made sure that we have *two* *teachings* on giving *every* *week*.
*Q:* Do you know when they are?
1st: by taking the *offering* during our time of *praise*, we teach that giving is an act of our *worship*.
2nd: By telling the *visitors* not to give, we are teaching that *attenders* *should*.
*Regulars* are *responsible* to support their church.
There are *two* *ways* I can view the offering:
1.
As an *admission* price – ain’t bad show for a buck.
2.
A concrete way to *support* and *invest* in my church.
$74 pp, per month is no small *investment*.
It says “I *believe* in what’s going on here and I want to be a *part*.
I want to help *advance* the kingdom of God from this *corner*.”
*3.
gift to us*
Finally, it is a gift to us *personally*.
Have you ever played the “$1,000,000 game”?
What would *you* do if you won a million?
· How much money do you think you would have to have before you *stopped* playing that game?
· We always want *more* – it’s called *greed*.
If you’re *poor*, you want to be *middle class*.
If you’re *middle* *class*, you want to be *rich*.
If you’re *rich*, you want to be *stinkin’ rich*.
If you’re *stinkin’* *rich*, you want to be *filthy rich*.
You’re *filthy* *rich*, you want to be *Bill Gates*.
But what does Bill want?
A good *marriage*, well-adjusted *kids*, to *help* people...and for *Apple* to go *bankrupt*.
Money is *dangerous* to our soul.
It doesn’t matter if you *have* it or *want* to it.
· *Chasing* money becomes *idolatry*.
You cannot serve both *God* and *Money*.
/Matthew 6:24 NIV/
· *Having* money erodes *dependency* on God.
...give me neither *poverty* nor *riches*, but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and *disown* *you* and say, 'Who is the LORD?' /Proverbs 30:8-9 NIV/
Notice I didn’t say that money is “*bad*.”
I said it is dangerous.
Electricity is very *dangerous*, but also holds tremendous potential to accomplish good.
· Money can *destroy* us or *help* others.
*Generous* *giving* breaks the hold of money on my *soul*.
Giving is an act of *faith*, recognizing that *God* will take *care* of me.
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