Do what the Bible Says - James 1:22

 James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

A few examples of what it says: 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us to give cheerfully. Proverbs 21:26 tells us to give without sparing. Luke 6:38 tells us to give and we will receive back a full packed-down measure. We’ve heard all of these in the last few months. 

I think we all agree and believe these, at least in our heads. Moving this down the 12 inches needed to get into our heart can be a bit challenging. Oswald Chambers said

“It is easier to serve God without a vision, easier to work for God without a call, because then you are not bothered by what God requires; common sense is your guide, veneered over with Christian sentiment.”

If we don’t have a vision or a call, we get to do what makes sense to us and call it “God’s work”. It looks great to the world, it feels good. It even does good. But as we learn in Lifetime Guarantee, God isn’t concerned about our results - that’s His job. God cares about our methods, and that requires total dependence upon Him. And what does that require?

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Faith requires an object. In who or what should ours be? God of course. Faith in what He provides, such as food, clothing, and shelter? Well, let’s look at Matthew 6:33

33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Seek first His kingdom. FIRST, seek His kingdom. This is the opposite of common sense. Common sense tells us that we need to first search for food, clothing, and shelter, and then everything else might be okay. But Scripture tells us in verse 33 to seek God first. Verse 34 tells us this:

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So do you worry, or do you have conviction of things not seen? I encourage you to go with what God says and remind you of James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Offering prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the wise teachings of James. We realise how important it is to not only have a genuine faith by trusting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus at Calvary, but to be  fruitful Christians in word and in deed. Keep us from worldly ways of relying on our common sense and from slipping back in the carnality of fleshly living, but may we grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as we abide in Him. May we bring forth much fruit to Your praise and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Giving Widely and Generously - Proverbs 11:24

Proverbs 11:24

There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,

And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.

I see two ways to read this. The first is the literal - One scatters what he has - gives widely and generously - and he increases all the more. Picture scattering seed after which the harvest is plentiful. One withholds what he should be scattering, and he ends up only wanting - both because his harvest is light and because he continues to want more and more, never satisfied.

But also consider that what we should scatter is God’s word. What happens when we share the word with others, when we teach another person? Our own understanding grows also. While the one who withholds God’s word never gets to see God at work in others and doesn’t develop a deeper understanding and relationship with God.

Offering prayer

Heavenly Father, we confess that it's sometimes hard to be generous, to give freely of our time, resources, and talents. We ask that you would help us overcome our tendency towards selfishness and greed. Help us to be more like you, who gives so generously to us. We pray that you would fill our hearts with a spirit of generosity, and that we would trust in your provision, knowing that you bless those who are a blessing to others. We thank you for your word, and ask that you embolden us to share it widely with the people we meet. May we be a source of refreshment and blessing to those around us, and may we experience the abundance that comes from living a life of generosity. In Jesus' name, Amen." 

Give Without Expecting Repayment - Deuteronomy 15:10

In Deuteronomy chapter 15, we learn that every 7 years is a “Sabbatic Year” when the people were to forgive debts that others owed them. They were to lend to people in need for whatever they lacked.They are cautioned against refusing to lend in the year before the Sabbatic year, knowing that they had to forgive the debt the following year. The person in need could cry to the Lord against you and it would be sin in you. Then comes this command from God: 

Deuteronomy 15:10 

You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.

God tells us to give generously, and not only that, don’t get upset that you won’t be paid back. God will bless you. 

Who among us hasn’t been blessed by God? I am certain that sometimes He engineers our circumstances in order to show us that He provides through each other, thus strengthening our faith and opening our eyes to those in need. 

Remember, all we have is from Him. God provides for us for His purposes, and very often He makes those purposes crystal clear to us, and in addition to helping others, one of those purposes is very clearly to support our local church. 

Offering Prayer

Heavenly Father, we recognize that everything in the world is yours, from which you provide for us. We ask that you cultivate a generous heart in each of us, that we are able to give cheerfully to those in need you lead us to, as well as to this church called Fellowship Baptist. Please bless these offerings that they are used to glorify you. 

We pray this in Jesus’s Name, amen. 

The Truth Frees Us Free to Give Freely - Proverbs 21:25-27

Proverbs 21:25-27 

25 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death,

For his hands refuse to work;

26 

All day long he [f]is craving,

While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

27 

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,

How much more when he brings it with evil intent!

This passage tells me that lazy people want everything to be handed to them, and tend not to be very generous. They just keep looking for the next thing that they want. While those who trust in the Lord’s provision know that the next thing they need is already on the way, since God already knows what it is. Jesus says the truth shall set us free, and this truth frees us to give generously. 

I don’t have much to say about verse 27. It speaks for itself. However, I did read this week that the reason Cain’s offering was rejected was that he offered God kale. 

Offering Prayer

The temptation of laziness, desiring ease and comfort over diligence and work, can be strong. Strength is needed to overcome this temptation, and resist the allure of idleness that can lead to spiritual and physical ruin.

You contrast between the sluggard's endless craving and the righteous who "give without sparing". A spirit of generosity is needed, to not only work diligently for what is needed but also to be a blessing to others. We ask Your help to be like the righteous, freely sharing resources and time with those in need.

We need hearts that are pure and motives that are right before You, Lord. Lead us to actions in work or worship that are done with sincerity and a genuine desire to honor You.

We commit our lives, work, and into Your hands, knowing that with You, all things are possible. 

 In Jesus' name, Amen.

Giving Produces Thanksgiving to God in Us - 2 Corinthians 9:10-12

2 Corinthians 9:10-12

10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.

Paul is saying here that our giving produces thanksgiving to God.

Matthew Henry’s commentary says “We must show the reality of our subjection to the gospel, by works of charity. This will be for the credit of our profession (of faith in Jesus), and to the praise and glory of God.”

Our thoughtful, willing, and cheerful giving pleases God. Not only that, but it glorifies God. How does it do that? If people are thanking God for something, then they are clearly attributing that something to God, so the invisible God is made visible, i.e. He is glorified.

Offertory Prayer
Lord, we thank You for Your abundant blessings. We recognize that You are the one who provides us with everything, from the seed of life to the bread for our sustenance. We praise You for enriching us in every way, so that we might be generous in every way. As we give, we ask that You would multiply our gifts and increase the harvest of righteousness in our lives. May our generosity lead to thanksgiving and glory to You, and may Your kingdom be built through our service. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

God Is Our Security - Proverbs 29:25

2 Corinthians 9:10-12

10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.

Paul is saying here that our giving produces thanksgiving to God.

Matthew Henry’s commentary says “We must show the reality of our subjection to the gospel, by works of charity. This will be for the credit of our profession (of faith in Jesus), and to the praise and glory of God.”

Our thoughtful, willing, and cheerful giving pleases God. Not only that, but it glorifies God. How does it do that? If people are thanking God for something, then they are clearly attributing that something to God, so the invisible God is made visible, i.e. He is glorified.

Offertory Prayer
Lord, we thank You for Your abundant blessings. We recognize that You are the one who provides us with everything, from the seed of life to the bread for our sustenance. We praise You for enriching us in every way, so that we might be generous in every way. As we give, we ask that You would multiply our gifts and increase the harvest of righteousness in our lives. May our generosity lead to thanksgiving and glory to You, and may Your kingdom be built through our service. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

Don't Grow Weary in Your Service - Galatians 10:9

Galatians 10:9
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Here Paul is encouraging believers to persevere, reassuring them that at some point, they will get to see some results.

In the section before this verse, we should look at what he is talking about. He starts with restoring trespassers to fellowship in a spirit of gentleness. The word for gentle used here is the same as the one in the beatitudes - blessed are the gentle - which we learned denotes someone using great power in a restrained way. We must take care not to be  tempted ourselves.

We must bear one another’s burdens and not think we’re all that and a bag-a-chips when we do it, lest we deceive ourselves. Look at our own work, and no one else’s.

We’re told to support those who teach the Word, share all good things with them. So if you have a Big Mac, send half of it to our pastor.

We’re warned that God sees all, so don’t deceive yourself about what you’re doing. Sow according to the Spirit from which we’ll reap eternal life, not according to the flesh from which we’ll reap corruption.

Here’s where he tells us not to grow weary, and tells us to do good while we have the opportunity. Here I’m reminded of an episode from 30 years ago when I lived with my parents after living with my friends for a few years, where chop-bustin’ was frequent and had become an art form. I was shining my shoes in my room when my dad came by and said “I didn’t know you were polishing shoes!” My reply was “because then you would have thought I was going to do yours!” I thought I was funny, not really thinking that my dad was my father, not simply a roommate. I never got another opportunity to do good like that for him. I know that I am not condemned for this simple act, but 27 years after losing my dad, I still regret it. Take advantage of the opportunities when they appear. Those are often God’s invitations to join Him in His work.

I would encourage you to give to our church as God is leading you, because today is the only opportunity you have with your circumstances exactly like they are right now. Don’t miss the chance to do exactly what God is calling you to do. Today could be the day you step out in faith and have God reveal Himself to you in a new way.

Offering Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that you would strengthen and encourage us all so we do not grow weary or discouraged. Remind us that You always provide us what we need to do Your will. Galatians 6:9 tells us that Your will is for us to do good, to serve you faithfully, and that You promise to bless us. We pray that we get to see the harvest of our reaping. We’d rather get to see it right away, but we trust You when You say we will get to see it, even if that isn’t until we are with You in Heaven. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Christians Must Differentiate Themselves - 1 Peter 4:10

1 Peter 4:10
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

In this section, Peter is telling Christians to differentiate themselves from non-Christians, by comparing how they lived before being saved to how the church is to live now. In this verse, he emphasizes that all we have is a gift from God and that we are to be good stewards of it. One commentary explained that God wants to bestow things upon others and wants to use us as instruments  in  doing so. Some of what He provides to us He intends for us to use to serve others, and that includes supporting our church.

Offering Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the unique gifts you have given each of us. Help us to recognize and understand these gifts, and give us the courage and wisdom to use them in service to others, and the discernment to know Your will, so that your grace may be evident in our lives and that you may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Amen.

God Is the Source of Everything - Deuteronomy 8:11, 17-18

Deuteronomy 8:11, 17-18
11 Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God… 17 Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ 18 But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth…

Here the Lord is reminding us to remember that He is the source of everything. Don’t forget Him, lest we become proud and think we are the source of our own wealth. He gives us the power to make wealth.

Let’s remember this Easter that God paid the huge price of His Own Son so that we can be in fellowship with Him. We did nothing to deserve that. We must simply believe Him and receive the gift. And through that and His resurrection which we celebrate today, we receive eternal life! How can we withhold what He intends for us to use to support our church?

Offering Prayer
Lord, thank You for the abundance You have blessed each of us with and our ability to use it to support this church. In it, we can see we are precious to You, the Creator of everything, while at the same time, recognizing that it’s You and not ourselves that has given us the ability to earn our living. With this offering, we recognize our dependence upon You for everything, and celebrate our ability to support this church in which we rejoice  in the resurection of our Savior and Lord. We pray this in the name above all names, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Cheerful Giving Revisited - 2 Corinthians 9:7

2 Corinthians 9:7 says, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

A cheerful giver gives with joy and gratitude, recognizing the privilege of contributing to something bigger than themselves. Giving should come from a genuine desire to support the church and its mission, not out of guilt or social pressure.

How to cultivate an attitude of cheerful giving:

Reflect on God's blessings, by reminding yourself of the good things God has provided in your life, which can inspire generosity.
Pray about your giving to seek guidance from God about how much to give and how to give with a joyful heart.
Be intentional about giving by deciding how much you can comfortably give and commit to it regularly.
Focus on the impact by considering how your giving can positively affect others and the church community.

Offering Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather our tithes and offerings, we want to focus on giving cheerfully, as Your Word says that You love a cheerful giver. We acknowledge that all things belong to you. Everything we have comes from Your hand, and we are merely stewards of Your blessings. Help us to recognize Your leadership over all aspects of our lives.

May these gifts be used to further Your kingdom, as a testament to our gratitude and trust in You. Guide us to be faithful stewards, using all that You have given us for Your glory. We pray these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen.


Start by looking at the bulletin, we see a couple of instances of “Worship”.
Worship Through Music
Worship Through Giving

Definition of  worship - Show reverence and adoration for God
Respectful devotion, loving, honoring, obeying someone who deserves our highest regard
CS Lewis Institute - Worshiping God means acknowledging His power and perfection in gratitude. Includes understanding and awe of God’s Holiness. We remember how great He is and behave reverently in His Presence.

We are going to learn how our giving is loving, honoring, and obeying God, as we acknowledge His power and perfection in gratitude - therefore how giving is worship.

He Who Is Generous Will Be Blessed Pt 2 - Proverbs 22:9

Proverbs 22:9
He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor.

I thought I’d talk about some of the blessings that I know about due to our generosity to our church.

Yesterday - 17 women gathered for fellowship. From what I heard, it was a blast. I was told that it was loud and there was much laughter. There were stories shared between mothers and daughters. It sounded like there was a lot of love on display.

Last week, Tracy and I resumed a study of Lifetime Guarantee. It was a great time of study, learning, sharing, and fellowship.

We have our weekly study in John on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We had great fellowship, again there was laughter and love. And wonderfully deep study into God’s Word that Barry researches and prepares each week. Without our support of the church, we couldn’t have a full-time pastor who has time to do this during the week.

These are just a few of the things I know about. I’m sure there are many more.

Offering prayer
Gracious God, your word reminds us that generosity is a path to blessing, and that those who share with the needy will themselves be blessed. As we offer these gifts, we recognize that our blessings come from your hand, and we are called to share them with those in need. We pray that our offerings may bring hope and abundance to those who have little, and that we may be richly blessed in our giving. We ask that your work may be furthered through these offerings, and that we may continue to be generous and faithful in our giving. In Jesus' name, We pray in Jesus’s Name, Amen.

He Who Is Generous Will Be Blessed - Proverbs 22:9

Proverbs 22:9
He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor.

KJV says “He who hath a bountiful eye…”

The world has a scarcity mentality. Politicians and their mouthpieces in their affiliated media outlets use that to turn us against each other. They separate us into groups not defined by God, and then turn us against each other by saying they’re getting what is rightfully ours.

The Lord says He gives us life, and that He gives it abundantly. Think about it: there is no limit to that which the Lord gives. There is always enough. There is always more. When has He not supplied your needs? If there were a time, you wouldn’t be sitting here right now. Philippians 4:6 tells us to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Rather than looking for where we think we don’t have enough, let us look at what we have plenty of, and for opportunities to share it. One thing every one of us plenty of is God’s grace and forgiveness. Every one of us can speak. Offer what God leads you to put in the collection plate and send that out to be used for His kingdom. And then be on the lookout for opportunities to share God’s abundance with others in the world.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the blessings in my life. I pray that you would help me to have a bountiful eye, to look for opportunities to show your love, share your Gospel, show your mercy, to be attentive to the needs of others and to be generous in sharing my resources and time with those who are in need. May I be a blessing to those around me, reflecting your love and compassion. Help me to see the opportunities to serve and help others, and may my actions be a testament to your generosity and kindness. Thank you for the ability to give and for your abundant blessings. Amen

Freely You Received, Freely Give - Matthew 10:8

Here Jesus is sending the 12 apostles to the lost sheep of Israel to preach that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

Most of us haven’t done these first few things, but we have freely received from the Lord. We’ve received all kinds of blessings freely, including the blessing of this church body. Let us freely give to the body to enable its continued operation.

Since this is the offering, I’m mainly talking about finances; however, there are so many ways that so many give to this body, whether it’s organizing events, bringing food to gatherings, or supporting members when they need it. When I joined, I heard about “country club Christianity”, meaning “I pay my fee, so now the church should do things for me.” That’s not what we are. Every part of the body has something to do. No part of the body simply hangs around and has things done for it.

And our ability to give and serve can change with the seasons. Sometimes you’re giving more, sometimes receiving more. And that’s fine, but don’t keep score. And don’t overdo it, which can prevent someone else from having the opportunity to give. In every season, be watching for where God is at work and join Him there, considering it a privilege that He invited you. In all things, including how much you put in the offering, be led by the Holy Spirit.

Offering Prayer
Lord God, we thank you for the many gifts you have bestowed upon us, both material and spiritual. As we have received freely from your grace, we pray that you would help us to be generous and to share your blessings with others. We ask for your wisdom in understanding how best to use our resources for the good of your people and the advancement of your kingdom. May we always remember the call of Matthew 10:8 to give freely, and may our actions reflect the generosity of your heart. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

We're No Longer Living for Ourselves - 2 Corinthians 5:11-15

2 Corinthians 5:11-15

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. 12 We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we [e]are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

This verse came up as the verse of the day when I sat down to write the offering message. It didn’t come up in the context of me searching for verses on offering. It touched me as a great message about giving. In it, Paul reminds us that we are no longer living for ourselves, but for Him who gave us everything. He also is pointing us to what is important to God - not appearances but the heart. I’ll read it again.

Offering prayer
Gracious God, we come before you, acknowledging the profound truth that your love for us compels us to live a life that reflects your character. As we understand that Christ died for all, we recognize that we too have died to our old selves, and are now living a new life in Him.

We are humbled by the knowledge that your Son, Jesus, willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, bearing the weight of our guilt, and reconciling us to You. This profound act of love has transformed us, and we are now ambassadors of reconciliation, entrusted with the message of peace and forgiveness.

We pray that the fear of the Lord, the awe of your holiness, will guide our actions and shape our hearts, driving us to live in a way that pleases You. May we be instruments of your love, sharing the good news of salvation and reconciliation with those around us. We pray this in Jesus’ name.

It's More Blessed to Give than to Receive - Acts 20:35

Acts 20:35
In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Paul is in Ephesus, leaving Asia and on his way to Jerusalem. He gives a recap of what he taught them, and warns them that there will be false teachers, wolves, coming who will try to draw them away from Christ. He reminds them of a few very important things, among them to help the weak and quoting Jesus, that it’s better to give than to receive.

We’re to help the weak and give. We start Annie Armstrong this week. That’s a good way to help. And we can trust the North American Mission Board to be good stewards of our offerings.

But really, it’s not up to us to worry about that too much. Confidently give whatever the Holy Spirit is telling you to give. But as far as helping the weak, it’s my opinion that many worry too much about which weak people they might be helping, not acknowledging God’s role in it. I will repeat something I said two weeks ago because I think it’s very important in both private and public life, in many aspects of our lives.  It was this: What we see as waste, God might intend to use for someone else’s good. Or maybe someone undeserving is going to get it. I can’t know for sure, but I choose to believe that it’s in God’s hands.

I need to be responsible with what He’s given me and follow His commands, and I leave the results up to Him, and to leave it between Him and whoever receives it as to how they handle what they receive. Make sure you pray, asking God what our attitudes need to be, and let’s all make sure to listen to God on this and not to the talking heads that are masters at riling us up against various people.

Offertory Prayer
Gracious God, as we offer these gifts, may we remember the words of Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' Help us to use these resources to serve others and build your kingdom, reflecting your generosity in all we do, and to simply follow you and leave the results in your hands. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Give Humbly - 1 Corinthians 13:3

1 Corinthians 13:3
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

The words used here about feeding the poor describe breaking off pieces and distributing them widely. And I read that early manuscripts, rather than “to be burned” said “to receive glory” or “so that I may boast”.

I read that it was a common practice when the rich gave to the poor, to stand at their gates and hand it out in small portions, rather than giving it all to one person. This would attract a large crowd and a lot of attention, thus glorifying the giver.

Here it is clear that Paul is not condemning giving, but giving ostentatiously to gain praise and glory for oneself, rather than giving because you love God and His people. So let us give cheerfully and lovingly, as well as generously.

Offertory Prayer
Lord, we offer these gifts, not just as a ritual, but as a testament to the love you've given us. May our actions be fueled by your love, not mere obligation, for without love, even the greatest deeds are meaningless. We pray in Jesus’s Name, amen.

He Who Sows Sparingly Will Reap Sparingly - 2 Corinthians 9:6

2 Corinthians 9:6
Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously.

A farmer sows seed. As the crop grows, the seed multiplies dramatically. Each kernel on an ear of corn has the potential to create hundreds of additional ears. If he sows little, he’ll drop less wastefully, and he’ll have more to keep in the Spring. If he sows generously, he’ll drop more unintentionally, but there will be more to harvest in the Fall.  

But how do we know that God didn’t intend for the seed to fall where we dropped it accidentally. Maybe His purpose was to feed a starving bird or to grow a plant in an odd place for His reasons. What we see as waste, God might intend to use for someone else’s good. Or maybe someone undeserving is going to get it. I can’t know for sure, but I choose to believe that it’s in God’s hands. I need to be responsible with what He’s given me and follow His commands, and I leave the results up to Him, and to leave it between Him and whoever receives it as to how they handle what they receive.

I trust God to take care of me, I know that He has been generous with me, and I am grateful. I also know that there is no risk of me out-giving God, nor is there any risk of Him not knowing where my giving goes once it leaves my hands.

Offering Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us to give generously and cheerfully, knowing that as we sow abundantly, we will also reap abundantly. May our gifts today reflect our gratitude and commitment to Your work, as well as our trust in Your knowledge and power to use all things for good to those who love You. In Jesus’s Holy Name, Amen.

Consider it a Privilege to Give - 2 Corinthians 8:12

In this chapter, Paul is telling the Corinthian church that he is sending Titus to them, and is asking them to be generous with him and the person coming with him. He reminds them of the generosity of the Macedonian church who were very poor, yet gave to him generously, as they considered it a privilege to support God’s work.

2 Corinthians 8:12
For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

They should share their abundance while they have it, and the other group will share theirs when they have it. That as long as they do this willingly, doing it based upon what they have is good. There isn’t an external measuring stick. They aren’t expected to give what they don’t have. Basically look in your own wallet, not at what someone else gave.

Dear God, please help us to always be ready and willing to serve you. May our hearts be open to your calling and may we use the resources and abilities you have given us to the best of our ability. Help us to remember that it is not about what we don’t have or being pressured to give beyond our means, but about what we do have and how we can use it for your glory. We pray in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Don't Be Anxious - Phillipians 4:6-7,19

Phillipians 4:6-7,19
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

These are some of my favorite verses. Be anxious for nothing. Make your requests known to God.

The peace of God will guard your heart. God will supply all your needs.

The “how” of God’s command explains the how of God’s provision. How are we not to be anxious for anything when there are so many needs, or our circumstances become scary or dire? We are to pray and plead with thanksgiving. How can we be thankful when we lack? First - look around. We don’t lack EVERYTHING. Be thankful for what we do have. Second - as Barry has preached, when God speaks of what He will do, He speaks in the past tense, like it is already done. When God promises something, we can treat it as if it is finished. We can thank Him for what He will do.

Third - make sure you know and understand God’s promises. In verse 19, He promises that He will supply all of our needs. How? According to HIS riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Does that say God promises to supply according to the method WE want or expect? No, He promises to do it according to His riches, for His glory, not ours.  My experience is that God involves the people around us to provide for us in a way that glorifies Himself. He could have dropped a big pile of money in my lap, or he could simply provide a better job that would make me look much better and allow me to rely on myself. But instead, he involved the people around me, which showed me that they - and He - love me. I had to rely on Him by relying on them. I had to be humble, admitting that I couldn’t do it on my own, and accept their generosity, and in turn bless them back with my gratitude and my stories of God’s provision.

This is how a body works. I’ve been active in this body for some time, I’m generous with what I have to maintain this body for God’s glory and for the good of the members of this body, and myself. In turn, this body takes care of me, glorifying God.

Offering Prayer
Heavenly Father, with grateful hearts, we come before You today, remembering Your promise in Philippians 4:19 that 'And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.'. We thank You for Your unwavering provision, for knowing our needs even before we ask, and for always providing for us in abundance, not just for our physical needs, but also for our spiritual well-being. As we offer our gifts today, may they be a reflection of Your generosity and a testament to our faith in Your unfailing love. Guide us in using our resources wisely, to serve others and to further Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Give, and It Will Be Given to You - Luke 6:38

Luke 6:38
"Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure -pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

They will pour into your lap a good measure - pressed down, shaken together, running over. This is a strong image - shaking out the empty space to get it to settle. It’s not going to be like a bag of chips that is filled with lots of air. It’s going to be packed down like you do when measuring out brown sugar. McDonald’s French fries containers are designed so that they always look like the fries are spilling over. But this is Scripture, so it won’t just look like it; our blessings will truly be spilling over.

Our blessings may or may not look like what we give. It might be material, but it might be something else. In fact, the reverse happens too. What we give might not have been money, but we might receive money when we really need it. Regardless, remember that Jesus told us to store up our treasure in Heaven, where moths don’t get it and it doesn’t rust.

Offertory Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we present our offerings today, we remember your words in Luke 6:38. May our giving be generous and overflowing, reflecting your abundant love and grace, and may these gifts be used to bless others in need. Lord, give us the courage and conviction to let go of the things that are blocking the flow of love in our lives, so that each of us can receive a generous helping from you.