One: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Offering Principles. Introduction

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1 Introduction One: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Offering Principles Transition: Well it has been a long journey through the letter. I hope you have enjoyed unpacking this fantastic letter. Today will be our final look of the series and we will look at some principles that Paul gives this church concerning the offering. Context: Is that Paul is taking an offering from the churches that he has helped to plant to help the poorer believers in the churches in Jerusalem. So much I could say about that (Jerusalem counsel Acts 15 & Galatians 2) and the mystery of the grafting in the Gentiles into what God is doing. This offering would bring a lot of unity among all the believers across the many cities. Transition: I love these couple verses because I believe they give some real 1

2 practical application to the offering. And it is no small irony that Paul transitions from our belief in the resurrection of the dead, and eternal life, to the idea that has direct impact on how we live our lives and specifically our pocketbooks. Even Jesus made clear in Matthew 6:20 that we can use our finances to build and store away for eternity. So if there is not resurrection then this is not true, but since Jesus is raised from the dead then.living generously has eternal impact. And so Paul gives these instructions that I think are fantastic principles for generous living and giving of a tithe and offering. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 2

3 3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. (ESV) So let me draw out some offering principles: I. On the first day of the week. A. Corporate worship on the Lord s day. 1. It seems the early church moved corporate worship from the Sabbath to the first day of the week. 2. Reminding the early church the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. B. Giving was a part of the corporate worship. 1. Not that the church is after your money A Christian should not have that attitude and if you are a 3

4 Christian, and that is your response, then you need to repent. 2. Giving is an opportunity to worship like singing, like hearing the preached word. Second: Who participates in the offering. II. Each of you. A. No Christian is excluded from giving. B. Paul expects that as a believer, who understands God s generous gift to us, of His only son, that giving financially is a small expectation in return. Illustration: Mark 12 Jesus is sitting uncomfortably close and watching the offering when a poor widow comes and brings, much more than a tithe (Tenths), she brings all she has to live on. Mark 12:41-44 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in 4

5 two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. (ESV) Main Point: Jesus didn t stop her, Jesus didn t say only a tithe, Jesus didn t say less than a tithe. Jesus didn t rebuke and say, what are you doing you are poor, let the rich people take care of funding things around here. No he recognized that she wanted her financial resources to be used for the furthering of the kingdom of God, the truth of God, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I might suggest to you whether we are truly generous with the things of God is often revealed when times are financially tight. Do we still really believe God provides our needs, and that we can trust Him not only 5

6 for eternal salvation, but to provide for us here and now. Who gives? Every Christian. Third offering principle: III. Put aside and store up. A. Giving is to be planned. (Stewardship) B. Not an emotional appeal. C. Go home and think about it, pray about it When was the last time you prayed about how much you should give to your local church try that this week. D. It s not, Oh my goodness here comes the plate, let me throw some lose change in. E. It is a generous response, as worship, to a generous God, that requires forethought, prayer, budgeting, and discipline. Fourth principle How much: IV. As you prosper. A. Tithe is the starting place of generosity. 6

7 1. I know a lot of people tell me the NT does not affirm the tithe. 2. I differ, I believe Jesus affirmed the tithe in Luke 11 Luke 11:42 But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (ESV) Illustration: So even if I am wrong (And I don t think I am), it is hard for me to imagine, in this setting, York County, Virginia, the wealthiest country to ever walk the planet, after we have seen that Jesus himself applauded the widow that our savior is pleased with the national average of Christians giving 2.5% of their income. One recent study suggested this that if American Christians raised their giving to a tenth (10% - some could do more- Paul said, as you prosper). There would be an 7

8 additional $165 Billion dollars raised in the Church. And some projections suggest that it would take: $25 billion could relieve global hunger, starvation and deaths from preventable diseases in five years. $12 billion could eliminate illiteracy in five years. $15 billion could solve the world s water and sanitation issues, specifically at places in the world where 1 billion people live on less than $1 per day. $1 billion could fully fund all overseas mission work. BTW: All this would be done in the name of Jesus Christ, and not in the name of government spending. How do you think that would impact the world with the gospel? $100 $110 billion would still be left over for additional ministry expansion. 8

9 Main Point: My goal in that is not guilt, but excitement. How much more could the church accomplish together. B. Are you being generous with the gospel and Jesus church? Final principle for giving V. Protection of the offering. (V. 3) A. Paul expects the church to protect the offering. B. Protect its collection, its holding, and its distribution. C. This should be properly overseen by a selected, approved, and vetted few. D. At Coastal we consider this a sacred trust. We have processes and procedures all along the way to make sure the financial resources are properly stewarded. E. I even love that Paul himself has no interest in actually touching the money, to protect himself, his ministry, and to stay above reproach. (Times when 9

10 people give me finances they forgot to put in the offering I am very uncomfortable with that now we have locked boxes you can give if you miss your opportunity) Conclusion Here is how I want to conclude this morning. I want to take a few minutes and give you some vision and dreams of where we believe God is leading CCC. And of course this give you some insight into where your giving at Coastal will be going: Beyond Update: 1. Finishing the contractor repayments: a. Last fall I stood in front of you and let you know we needed about $300,000 to finish repaying the contractors for the buildout of this building. b. Our plan was to raise $150,000 over and above regular giving (Explain) 10

11 c. And then finance the rest in this year s budget Paying the other $150,000 in this year s budget. d. Well, you all knocked it out of the park last year in December, and we raised that $150,000. e. Then you all have been so generous this year, that we were able to pay off the $150,000 in this year s budget by the end of June. f. So the buildout of this building (Phase 1) is now complete. So what is next: 2. Debt retirement, Building repairs, Buildout the youth space and prepare for Gloucester Campus. Debt Retirement: If our trends continue you will see $100,000 extra in next year s general budget going towards debt retirement on this building. Roof Repair You will see $100,000 in next year s budget going to roof repair that 11

12 we expect to last us at least 10 years which will give us a decade to be aggressive on retiring debt, so that we will be in a stronger financial position at that time. But we also have to consider and fund our growing ministries. Youth Space: We are now using that space over there many times a week for our student ministries. 45 th Street on Sunday morning, and High School and Middle School throughout the week. Needs to complete this space: 1. Wall Show slide. 2. HVAC Cost. 3. We need sound and incedentals (Talk about this sound system and other possible needs) As a bonus we think we can get some function out of the other space for small groups, and gathering space with some carpet, sitting areas etc.for (Put the cost) 12

13 How are we going to do it: We would like to build this out in cash. As the cash comes into the Building fund or possible overage to the general fund (As approved by the Elders) we will build out the other side. I am not doing a fund raiser, if I can help it. While not a fundraiser, here is a suggestion. If 300 families committed to giving $100 dollars more per month (Over and above regular giving) for the next 12 months we would raise $360,000 guess what we would have the youth space built out, sound system for here, youth space, Gloucester, and outside functions. Seems doable right? I want you to consider being 1 of those 300 families. Finally Gloucester This is an area we have been praying about for years. If you remember Ebenezer Baptist decided to close their doors and gift us with some assets in Gloucester that we have been trying to liquidate for about 2 13

14 years so that we could have some resources to plant our first campus. So here is where we are: 1. Sold 5 acres to Bridgepoint Church for $50, Selling the chapel/church Building to for $100,000 Paid monthly to CCC over 10 years. 3. Laundry Mat in Main street, with 100 year lease on that we are in negotiations with 2 interested parties. So if we can clear those assets that will allow us to: Lease to purchase this property in Gloucester for $150,000 (Raised by liquidating assets given to us by Ebenezer Baptist), and rent the property for 15 years at $5,000 a month when the property becomes Coastal s. Our goal would be to begin the Gloucester plant this winter, with a public launch fall of

15 Pretty exciting, yes. Church I hope you are excited. I hope you see the vision, and see the bigger vision of how we intend to use your generous donations to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in and around the community and around the world. Pray 15