Posts Tagged ‘ Giving ’
Each person should do as he has decided in his heart — not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7, CSB
We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and we can show love, compassion, and grace toward how others give to and worship God.
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Malachi 3:10, ESV
God is changing this world for His glory, and He is doing it through the Church. We give to the Church to spread His glory, and He is faithful to the Church and thus His people who give.
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Proverbs 11:24, ESV
Our God is faithful, fulfilling all our needs as we follow Him. He calls us to be faithful to follow His example and give abundantly of ourselves, and we shall see His abundance in our life.
2 Corinthians 9:6, ESV
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
God alone is our source of all things, and, like Him, He asks us to give of ourselves and our possessions to help others out of the same love He gives us.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV
As our Lord gave His life for us knowing the reward on the other side, so we help the Church and those in need by giving generously, knowing our reward is eternity with the One who loves us.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6, ESV
We want to give more. We want to be good stewards.
We must sow bountifully in prayer before we sow in generosity and love well.
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 11:25, ESV
We are blessed to bless. God gives to us so that we can give to others.
There is also a joy that comes from giving to others, especially when the gospel is shared and they find the joy of salvation.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6, ESV
Paul is not necessarily promising financial peace and prosperity for our generous giving. Rather, it is the promise that our giving shows the righteousness of Christ growing abundantly within us.
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing
Matthew 6:3, ESV
People did not expect God to become a man, yet He did to help us.
Our world has become cynical and doesn’t expect people to do good things. Don’t do good things for them, but for the One who first did it for us.
I have started a small group series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I am sharing my notes in case anyone else wants to use them with their group. [Reminder that these are only notes!]
Matthew 5:1-2:
Jesus wants to teach the crowds: Who are they? Jewish disciples: People who understand the
Scriptures (at least to a point). Notice from 7:28 the crowds still came along, but this teaching is for His disciples.
What does “blessed” mean?
Based on the first twelve verses, blessed means realizing our own wretchedness and need for a Savior. In other words, it is becoming/being a Christian.
“Said to those of old …” – could be said today: “That’s an archaic saying!”
What is the anger Jesus is referring to?
To be enraged, basically to lose control of oneself to emotion or extreme action. (Matthew 15:16-20)
(Interestingly, the work for judgment in Greek is our root for “crisis”)
What about these “insults”?
Gr. “Rhaka” – Numbskull! Fool!
Yet, “You fool!” – Gr. “more” or “moros” – our root for “moron”
Liable to the council could simply mean “the city elders” or, in our case, church elders, or it could even mean local authorities!
The “hell of fire” is literally “Gehenna”, the perpetually burning fire pit outside of Jerusalem at that time. The implication is eternal torment.
Matthew 5:23-26:
a simple man of God 