When We Give

Info

Series: Holidays and Special Events / Christmas / Giving Mini-Series

Title: When We Give #generosity #giving #Christmas

Preached:

  • 2004-12-18: Marshall
  • 2007-12-15: Atlanta
  • 2007-12-22: Linden

Songs:

  1. 132: “O Come, All Ye Faithful”
  2. 144: “O Sing a Song of Bethlehem”
  3. 330: “Take My Life and Let it Be”

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

  1. Introduction—Thompsons’ Christmas?
  2. When We Give—2 Corinthians 9
    1. Blessings for generosity
      1. Proverbs 11:24, 25—Generosity leads to prosperity, but stinginess is damaging
      2. Proverbs 22:9—God blesses generosity
      3. Luke 6:38—God returns as we give
      4. Main passage: 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7—God wants us to be cheerful givers
      5. Widow of Zarephath—she had food when she gave—1 Kings 17:7–16
    2. Trust God to supply the means—vv. 8–11
      1. Giving is God’s thing; He originated it, and He owns everything
      2. God promises that He will provide the means if we will only trust Him
      3. Malachi 3:10—God will bless us when we give
      4. My tithe/offerings
    3. Giving points people to God—vv. 12–15
      1. A true spirit of selfless giving points people to God
      2. Andrew Clark becomes Adventist and brings mother to church. When she gets baptized, father tags along but doesn’t care about the Sabbath—says you need to take the th off—seven-day Adventist—Andrew moves to new community—family moves around a lot—father sees community services going on—that they’re just giving to share the love of Jesus—says he found seven-day Adventists and was baptized—became involved himself in community services
    4. Widow’s Mite—Luke 21:1–4