Great Reasons For Great Giving, Part 2

Sermon Notes

Saturday, November 8, 2008 & Sunday, November 9, 2008

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248 - (480) 895-8766

II Corinthians 9:1-15 NRSV

1Now it is not necessary for me to write you about the ministry to the saints, 2for I know your eagerness, which is the subject of my boasting about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.  3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not prove to have been empty in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be; 4otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated — to say nothing of you — in this undertaking.  5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion.

6The point is this:  the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  7Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  8And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

10He 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.  11You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; 12for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.  13Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, 14while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you.  15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

 

A.  Introduction

    1.  Old Shep!

        a.  A man called the church office and asked the senior minister if he would do a funeral for his beloved old dog, Shep.  The pastor said, “Sir, we don’t do funerals for a person’s pet.”  The man replied, “That’s what the other six ministers I called told me.  They didn’t even give me time to mention that I would donate $40,000 to whatever Church held his memorial service.”  There was a pause and then the pastor said, ”Why didn’t you tell me old Shep was a Methodist in the first place.  We’d be glad to do the service!”

        b.  It’s amazing what some pastors and finance committees will do to raise money for the church.  Now as much as I would be pleased with a $40,000 donation, you don’t have to call up and negotiate a price for a pet funeral.  I’m glad to assist people in dealing with grief whatever the loss might be.  And I remember grieving with a child over the death of her gold fish, saying good-bye to Goldie, and then performing shall we say a burial at sea.

        c.  We do, however, need to have an annual Stewardship Campaign.  And this morning on our Second Stewardship Sunday I am not going to do any crazy stunts or outlandish fund raising techniques.  I am simply going to give you two more positive reasons for giving.

    2.  II Corinthians 8 & 9

        a.  In Second Corinthians, Paul encourages the Christians of Corinth to donate money to the church.  He gives four great reasons for great giving.  Last week I shared two of these:  Give because of God’s great love, and give because of the needs of others.

        b.  This morning I share the last two of Paul’s reasons for giving:  Give because of the joy it gives you, and give because it shows your gratitude to God!

 

B.  Give because of the joy it gives you!

    1.  Generous Dutch businessman

        a.  A few years back Dutch businessman named Evert Dekker was picked up by the police, questioned and released.  What had he done?  He went to a train station with a brief case full of money, and he gave the money away to passersby!  He just started giving people 10 guilder bills.  At the time the money was equivalent to around $5 American money.  Soon a big crowd was drawn to him.  With each bill there was a note attached which read:  “Spend it, give it away, or buy yourself a Bible and get everlasting value.”

        b.  After the police talked to him and determined that the money was real and that he broke no law, a reporter asked:  “Why did you do this?”  Dekker replied, “I don’t know.  I was just going to give away 100 of the 10 guilder bills.  But it felt so good that I just couldn’t stop!  People seemed amazed and happy when I gave them the money!”  The total amount he gave equaled about $5,000!  Evert Dekker gave for the sheer joy of giving.  Do you know the joy of giving?

    2.  Statue of Liberty

        a.  In Lee Iacocca’s book “Talking Straight” he tells about raising funds for the 100th anniversary refurbishing of the Statue of Liberty.  An 87-year-old woman from New Jersey named Mary Miller sent in a check for $1,000.  Iacocca sent her a nice thank you note.  She must have appreciated the note because she then sent in a donation of $50,000!  Lee Iacocca made a personal phone call to thank her.  She said, “You guys are really nice, I think I’ll send you another little envelope.”  This time there were three checks totaling $150,000!  Iacocca commented, “I never met Mary Miller.  All I did was thank her and she sent me $201,000.  Imagine if I sent her flowers!”  Lee did try to meet her in person, but her schedule was as busy as his and they could not connect.

        b.  Mary Miller was giving out of joy.  She believed in the Statue of Liberty and the freedom for which it stands.  It gave her pleasure to support her country.  Do you find joy in supporting your Church?

    3.  II Corinthians 8:2

        a.  Paul at the beginning of the 8th Chapter of II Corinthians speaks of the Christians of Macedonia and the great joy they found in giving.  They understood that their gifts would feed hungry people in Israel during a time of famine.  They could envision the face of a child smiling as she received a bowl of food.  They could, also, picture in their minds one of those faithful first followers of Jesus:  The person who led their pastor to faith in Christ.  They could see him smiling and praising God!

        b.  Can you and I see the images of those we help in our own hearts and minds?  Think about the family across the ocean in some war torn country that is being helped by our United Methodist Committee on Relief.  There is a little girl in Sidewalk Sunday School eagerly coloring and reading the activity handout about Jesus.  There is a young college fellow a long way from home, whose found a supporting group in one of our campus ministry programs.  There is an elderly person near to death, who finds reassurance from the words of our Visitation Pastor.  Then visualize that elderly saint of the church in a care center receiving Holy Communion from a Stephen Minister.  There is a fellow member who is ill and finds help from one of our Health Ministry classes.  Think of the neighbor whose spouse has died and the comfort our Church gives to them through pastors, members, musicians, and the Sunshine Ladies.  Finally, think of the hope that each and everyone is offered every week through our worship services.  These are real people being helped by the money we raise.  Doesn’t it give you great joy to know that you had a part in helping them?

 

C.  Give because it shows your gratitude to God!

    1.  India Christians

        a.  An American pastor was visiting in India.  He was part of a delegation from his denomination that brought food to the hungry people of India.  So many of the Indians were poor, and in some of the destitute communities they had to spend all their rupees on food.  The American pastor made this comment to his host pastor:  “Your people must be frustrated by their inability to give.”  The Indian pastor replied, “Oh no, they do give.  Twice a day they boil rice for the family meal.  Each time they scoop out what they need, then put one scoop in a bag.  By the end of the week they have fourteen scoops of rice, which they put in the offering to be distributed to the needy.”

        b.  They do not consider themselves to be needy.  They know that God has blessed them with food, family, and the greatest gift of all Jesus Christ!  And they are thankful.  How about you and me?  Sometimes, even though we have a lot of stuff, we are not grateful.

    2.  Anniversary Gift

        a.  Sam went into the department store looking for a gift for his wife, Mary.  He needed help and finally found a young salesperson to wait on him.  Sam said, “I’d like to get an anniversary gift for my wife.”  The perky young clerk replied, “We have some nice perfume and fancy chocolates.  Oh and we have curtains on sale.”  Sam said, “You don’t understand, this is for my wife.  I want something that will show her how much I really love her.”  The puzzled clerk answered, “We do have some intimate nighties, or dresses if you know her size.”  Sam continued, “As I said this is for my wife.  We are celebrating our fiftieth anniversary.  This is for the woman who stayed with me through rehab.  She has helped me stay sober for the last forty years.  She is the one who led me to faith in Jesus Christ.  This is a gift for the woman who sat beside me in the hospital when I had quadruple bypass surgery.  This is a gift for the special lady who after my auto accident fed me each day for a month.  This gift has to say, ‘I love you and thank you in a big way.’”  An older clerk, who knew Sam and his wife, stepped over to help.  She said, “Sam, you know where you need to go:  First to the jewelry department and then to our travel agent.  Mary’s always wanted to go to Hawaii.”

        b.  Sam needed to say “Thanks” in a big way.  You and I need to say “Thank You” in a big way to God.  God has blessed you in many ways.  God has given you talents and the ability to work.  God has given you family and friends.  And most of us have our health.  We, also, have a Church home.  And we have been given the gift above all other gifts of Jesus Christ.  Are you thankful?  Do you express that thankfulness in your living and giving?

    3.  II Corinthians 9:11-12

        a.  In II Corinthians 9:11-12, Paul says to the Corinthians:  “Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much, and when we take your gifts to those who need them they will break out into thanksgiving and praise to God for your help.  So two good things happen as a result of your gifts — those in need are helped, and they overflow with thanks to God.” (II Corinthians 9:11-12 TLB)

        b.  Paul is telling us that when we give there is an “outpouring of gratitude”.  Our giving shows our thankfulness, and it moves others to express their praise and gratitude to God.

 

D.  Conclusion

 

    1.  Paul expresses his confidence that Christians will respond to the call to give:

        a.  In II Corinthians 9:1-5, Paul expresses confidence that Christians will give to support the work of the Church.  Citing key parts of his text, Paul says this:  “I really do not need to write to you about this help for God’s people.  I know that you want to help.  I have been bragging about this.  But I do not want our bragging about you in this to be for nothing.  I want you to be ready, as I said you would be.  Finish getting in order the generous gift you promised.” (Excerpts from II Corinthians 9:1-5 ICB)

        b.  My friends, if you haven’t done so already, today is the day to turn in your special gift for the operating budget of our Church.  Now is the time to commit to increasing the amount of and filling out your pledge card for 2009.  Please, pray and be ready to turn it on or before Sunday, November 23rd. 

 

    2.  Paul gives us some great reasons for great giving:  (Recap)

        a.  Give because of God’s great love!  (From last Sunday)

        b.  Give because of the needs of others.  (From last Sunday)

        c.  Give because of the joy it gives you!

        d.  Give because it shows your gratitude to God!

 

II Corinthians 9:1-15 NRSV

1Now it is not necessary for me to write you about the ministry to the saints, 2for I know your eagerness, which is the subject of my boasting about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.  3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not prove to have been empty in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be; 4otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated — to say nothing of you — in this undertaking.  5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion.

6The point is this:  the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  7Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  8And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

10He 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.  11You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; 12for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.  13Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, 14while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you.  15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

 

2 Corinthians 9:1-15 ICB

1I really do not need to write to you about this help for God’s people.  2I know that you want to help.  I have been bragging about this to the people in Macedonia.  I have told them that you in Southern Greece have been ready to give since last year.  And your wanting to give has made most of them here ready to give also.  3But I am sending the brothers to you.  I do not want our bragging about you in this to be for nothing.  I want you to be ready, as I said you would be.  4If any of the people from Macedonia come with me and find that you are not ready, we will be ashamed.  We will be ashamed that we were so sure of you.  (And you will be ashamed, too!)  5So I thought that I should ask these brothers to go to you before we come.  They will finish getting in order the gift you promised.  Then the gift will be ready when we come, and it will be a gift you wanted to give—not a gift that you hated to give.

6Remember this:  The person who plants a little will have a small harvest.  But the person who plants a lot will have a big harvest.  7Each one should give, then, what he has decided in his heart to give.  He should not give if it makes him sad.  And he should not give if he thinks he is forced to give.  God loves the person who gives happily.  8And God can give you more blessings than you need.  Then you will always have plenty of everything.  You will have enough to give to every good work.  9It is written in the Scriptures:     “He gives freely to the poor.  The things he does are right and will continue forever.” (Psalm 112:9)

10God is the One who gives seed to the farmer.  And he gives bread for food.  And God will give you all the seed you need and make it grow.  He will make a great harvest from your goodness.  11God will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely.  And your giving through us will cause many to give thanks to God.  12This service that you do helps the needs of God’s people.  It is also bringing more and more thanks to God.

13This service you do is a proof of your faith.  Many people will praise God because of it.  They will praise God because you follow the Good News of Christ—the gospel you say you believe.  They will praise God because you freely share with them and with all others.  14And when they pray, they will wish they could be with you.  They will feel this because of the great grace that God has given you.  15Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful to explain.

 

Great Reasons

For Great Giving!

 

1.  Give because of God’s great love!

 

2.  Give because of the needs of others. 

 

3.  Give because of the joy it gives you!

 

4.  Give because it shows your gratitude to God!