12/7/01 12/7/01

Bible Verses Supporting A Life of Giving and Stewardship

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Acts 11:29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea.
2 Corinthians 8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
2 Corinthians 8:2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
2 Corinthians 8:3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
Acts 11:29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea.
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do.
1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
2 Corinthians 9:5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
2 Corinthians 8:6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.
2 Corinthians 8:10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
2 Corinthians 8:11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
2 Corinthians 9:3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
2 Corinthians 9:4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to say anything about you--would be ashamed of having been so confident.
2 Corinthians 9:5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Acts 9:36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas ), who was always doing good and helping the poor.
Acts 9:39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
2 Corinthians 8:10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
2 Corinthians 8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
2 Corinthians 8:18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.
2 Corinthians 8:19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.
2 Corinthians 8:23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ.
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

12/6/01 12/6/01

Penetrating A Materialistic World

As Christians, we are to impact non-Christians with our life-style, both personally and corporately. No aspect, however, is illustrated more specifically and graphically in the New Testament than the way we view and use our material possessions. How does our view of material possessions influence the way non-Christians view our relationship with Jesus Christ?I. Encouraging Faith in ChristII. Verifying God’s TruthChristians who are unselfish and benevolent become a unique verification to non-Christians that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God (Acts 9:32-43).III. Practicing A Biblical Work EthicChristians should work hard to provide for their economic needs so that they are not criticized by unbelievers for being lazy and irresponsible (I Thess. 4:11-12).IV. Breaking Fellowship With Lazy ChristiansChristians should separate themselves from other Christians who are persistently irresponsible in not providing for their own economic needs (2 Thess. 3:6).V. Serving Employers With Diligence And Right MotivesChristian employees should work hard and serve their employers (both Christians and non-Christians) as if they are actually serving the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24).VI. Treating Employees Fairly And With DignityChristian employers should always treat their employees fairly in every respect (Colossians 4:1).

Penetrating a Materialistic World

On a scale of one to ten, circle the number that best represents how well you believe you practice the biblical principles found in each question.1. Are people in my community coming to know Jesus Christ because they see me demonstrating unselfish and generous use of my material possessions to further the kingdom of God?VERY LITTLE SOMEWHAT EXTENSIVELY1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 102. Do I actually reach out and help in material ways people who may actually resent me or the message of Jesus Christ?VERY LITTLE SOMEWHAT EXTENSIVELY1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 103. Are the acts of benevolence and love by me impacting the non-Christian community with the message of the gospel?VERY LITTLE SOMEWHAT EXTENSIVELY1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 104. Do I maintain a strong work ethic so as to be a good example to those in the community who do not know Christ?VERY LITTLE SOMEWHAT EXTENSIVELY1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 105. Do the leaders at Grace Church apply principles of church discipline, in this case, as it relates to Christians who are lazy and irresponsible?VERY LITTLE SOMEWHAT EXTENSIVELY1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 106. Do I perform my vocational tasks as if I were actually serving Jesus Christ? VERY LITTLE SOMEWHATVERY LITTLE SOMEWHAT EXTENSIVELY1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 107. Do the Christian employers in our church treat their employees in the same way they would like God to treat them?VERY LITTLE SOMEWHAT EXTENSIVELY1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10