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– Our last sermon in this series as we finish the book of first Corinthians
– Building a Holy Community in an Unholy World, The church is a family that exist by the power of
God a family that has been made Holy by the blood of Jesus Christ himself. We are not perfect
people but we are striving for the goal in Christ Jesus our Lord
– In this passage today we are going to draw out attention to verses 13 as we look at the topic of
giving within the church
– I will be talking about today about Money! (Because it is the next verse in the Bible, the great thing
about preaching through an entire book we get the whole counsel of God)
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke 1 of 6 verses deals with money.
Of the 29 parables Christ told, 16 deal with a person and his money.
Henry Ford, was once asked to donate money for the construction of a new medical facility. The
billionaire pledged to donate $5,000. The next day in the newspaper, the headline read, “Henry Ford
contributes $50,000 to the local hospital.” The irate Ford was on the phone immediately to complain to
the fundraiser that he had been misunderstood. The fundraiser replied that they would print a
retraction in the paper the following day to read, “Henry Ford reduces his donation by $45,000.”
Realizing the poor publicity that would result, the industrialist agreed to the $50,000 contribution in
return for the following: That above the entrance to the hospital was to be carved the biblical
inscription: “I came among you and you took me in.”
Sometimes we get uncomfortable talking about money in the church. Some churches attempting to be
what they call seeker sensitive churches have stopped taking up offerings all together and those who
want to support the church mail their offerings to the church office.
But we are going to see today that money should not be something that we are uncomfortable about
giving is as much a part of worship as singing, praying, communion and the proclamation of the gospel
Paul was not shy about the topic when he wrote to the church here in this passage and instructed them
to take up a collection, as a matter of fact he says in verse 1 as I have given orders to the churches of
Galatia, so you must do also
Paul was collecting offerings for the church in Judea because they had fallen on hard times Acts 11:29
Romans 15:26
That tells me that the community of believers, the church in Corinth, Galtia, Jerusalem, they didn't view
themselves as separate churches but as one family taking care of the needs of one another. The one
Church with one head, Jesus Christ
Even though Paul was writing to give specific instructions to the church at Corinth to give an offering
to have it ready when he arrived so that he could deliver it to the church at Jerusalem we find some very
practical instruction in this passage about how our giving is to be done in the context of worship within
the body of Christ
You see church is about much more than coming for an hour a week and staring at the back of
someones head and its about much more than coming and warming a pew for an hour. Its about
worship, family, and giving. Being involved!
Everyone Was to Give
The rich and the the poor, the young and the old were to give. In verse 2 he says each of you, or KJV let
everyone of you lay something aside
The church at Corinth was most likely a wealthy church
The church at Macedonia was a poor church but they both were to give
2Cr 8:1 We want you to know, brothers, [fn] about the grace of God that has been given among the
churches of Macedonia,
2Cr 8:2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have
overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
1 Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain
riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing
which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Worship requires responsibility on our part and giving is a part of that responsibility. A church existing
in a community is about so much more than what goes on on the platform on Sunday morning. This
church here ministers to those who have lost loved ones, visits the sick, counsels those in needhelps the
needy, gives to local missions and supports missionaries that are preaching the Word
and when we give we all have a part in that work
Phl 4:15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left
Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
Phl 4:16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
Phl 4:17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
When you sit on the bench and serve as a bench warmer and you are not actively involved you become
critical
Charles Spurgeon and his wife, according to a story in the Chaplain magazine, would sell, but refused
to give away, the eggs their chickens laid. Even close relatives were told, “You may have them if you
pay for them.” As a result some people labeled the Spurgeons greedy and grasping.
They accepted the criticisms without defending themselves, and only after Mrs. Spurgeon died was the
full story revealed. All the profits from the sale of eggs went to support two elderly widows. Because
the Spurgeons where unwilling to let their left hand know what the right hand was doing (Matt. 6:3),
they endured the attacks in silence.
We’d all like a reputation for generosity, and we’d all like to buy it cheap.
Source unknown
Everyone is to give on a regular basis
look in verse 2, the giving was to be done on the first day of every week every week has a first day
The Jews had always worshiped on the Sabbath day the day of worship was moved to the first day of
the week after the resurrection and every time they gathered, giving was to be a part of the service
Acts t 20:7 And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul
preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
The first day of the week was also called the Lords Day
Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Giving was not to be spontaneous, or just when we felt like it, but there is a sense of obligation as we
come the first day of the week and rest from our worldly toil we give of the blessings that God has
given us the previous week (the question some have is how much of the blessing?) contrary to what
some think, and I have taught on this before. There is no percent of obligation given to the New
Testament Church
Everyone is to give cheerfully
The attitude of the givers is as important as the gift itself
A mother wanted to teach her daughter a moral lesson. She gave the little girl a quarter and a
dollar for church. “Put whichever one you want in the collection plate and keep the other for
yourself,” she told the girl. When they were coming out of church, the mother asked her daughter
which amount she had given. “Well,” said the little girl, “I was going to give the dollar, but just
before the collection the man in the pulpit said that we should all be cheerful givers. I knew I’d be
a lot more cheerful if I gave the quarter, so I did.
2Cr 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of
necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Mar 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the
treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
Mar 12:42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a
farthing.
Mar 12:43 And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That
this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
Everyone is to give as God has prospered
Paul says in verse 2 Cr 16:2
Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store,
as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
We are to give as God has prospered
It is God that has caused us to prosper in our work
Deu 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get
wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day.
Jam 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Pro 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
This is very important, the amount we give is determined by what we have received
(today some people have it backwards)
In closing,
you have received it all from God, we lack nothing.....All to Jesus I surrender all to him I freely give