Point of Grace – 11.10.24 Giving is the Gift - Part 4 Sermon Notes
Giving is the Gift!
Why and How?
An Offering Prayer of Consecration
Father, Son, Holy Spirit - gathering in Your presence in the first part of the first day of this week is a great joy. Accept our “sacrifices of praise” as an offering …. You are worthy to receive our first and best for You gave first and You gave your best in the sacrifice of Yourself for us……
Thank you for your sacrificial generosity!
The “first and best” principle is so helpful when practicing financial giving.
We also bring our financial offerings before you this week.
Thank you for calling us to regularly return to You a sacrificially generous portion of what you have already graciously given us through our income.
God is the abundant provider and never asks us to give anything He has not already abundantly given to us.
Increase our faith so that our offerings honor you, reveal relentless dependence on you, flow with joyful love and help advance Your Kingdom cause.
Giving is an act of faith that focuses on God’s Promises, Presence and Provision.
Sacrificially Generous Giving has an unlikely partner ……… Joy!
2 Corinthians 8-9
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
We pray that our offerings “flow with joyful love and help advance God’s kingdom cause”?
2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
7 But since you excel in everything—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Cheerful Giving is
- An intentional and regular act
- Priority 1 in our budgeting
- A percentage amount that is sacrificial and generous (What about 10%?)
- An act of “relentless dependence” and authentic worship
- A participation in God’s life changing kingdom work
Jesus, Thank you for calling us to regularly return to You a sacrificially generous portion of what you have already graciously given us through our income. Increase our faith so that our offerings
· honor and worship You for who you truly are,
· reveal relentless dependence on You,
· flow with joyful love for You and others
· and help advance Your Kingdom cause.
Thank you for your abundant provision.