The Hurdle of Resources
Sermon Title: The Hurdle of Resources
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to recognize the importance of giving unto the Lord.
Sermon Proposition: There are 6 principles of maintaining adequate resources for God’s work through the church.
I. The problems of giving.
Psalm 24:1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
Psalm 50:10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. 12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.
Deuteronomy 16:16 "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed. 17 "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
II. The purpose of giving.
A. Extreme poverty throughout Jerusalem. Jerusalem was a poor city, often overpopulated, especially during feasts and celebrations. Severe famine.
Acts 11:28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
B. Many of them were put out of their own homes, stripped of possessions, prevented from getting any but the most menial of jobs, and even imprisoned.
1 Thessalonians 2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,
Acts 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
1. Most of the believers in the churches contributing to the collection were Gentiles.
D. The primary purpose of giving, as taught in the New Testament is for the support of the saints, and the church. A Christian’s first obligation is to support fellow believers, individually and collectively. The church’s first financial responsibility is to invest in its own life and its own people.
Philippians 4:14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.
2 Corinthians 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
2 Corinthians 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
III. The principles of giving.
A. The period – the first day of the week.
1. Was on Sunday and was a part of worship.
2. Giving is a part of your worship of God.
3. Each week each believer should consider the stewardship and sacrifice of giving.
4. Weekly giving raises sensitivity to money, so that giving is seen as an ongoing, regular spiritual responsibility.
IV. The participants of giving.
2. We are stewards of whatever the Lord has given us, no matter how little it may be in economic terms.
B. Our generosity to the Lord’s work is but determined by what we give when we have little. The dollar amount of our giving may increase, but our generosity will not.
Luke 16:10 "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
V. The place of giving.
Just as giving is primarily for the church, it is also primarily to and through the church.
A. In the New Testament church the regular day of worship was Sunday, the first day of the week.
B. Much of the early preaching and teaching was to Jews by the Jews, and therefore was done on Saturday.
Acts 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.
Acts 17:2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
C. The first post resurrection service was held on Easter evening, when the risen Lord appeared to his frightened and disheartened disciples.
Acts 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
D. Each one of you put aside and save. Literal translation: each one of you by himself lay up, or store up.
VI. The proportion of giving.
Paul’s exhortation here is completely discretionary, for a Christian to give as he may prosper. A common traditional answer has been 10 percent, based on misunderstanding the nature and purpose of the Old Testament tithe.
A. Proverbs 3:9 Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
2 Samuel 24:24 Then the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
B. Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.