Concerning the Collection 1 Corinthians 16:1-4. The Purpose in Giving The Principles of Giving The Protection in Giving The Perspective of Giving

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1 The Purpose in Giving The Principles of Giving The Protection in Giving The Perspective of Giving 1

2 The Purpose in Giving Something they already knew about It was for the poor saints in Jerusalem Romans 15:26 and 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 During Paul s s third mission Acts 24:17 Jerusalem was suffering from the effects of an extreme famine Acts 11:28; overpopulation and persecution Acts 8:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 2:14 2

3 The Purpose in Giving This collection met economic needs It expressed the oneness of the church Romans 15:27; Ephesians 2: Giving and receiving in love forms a bond Primary purpose of NT giving is for the support of the saints Luke 10:25-37 tells us to meet needs of all Key verse is Galatians 6:10 3

4 The Period The Principles of Giving Regular, systematic giving weekly Not legalistic Part of worship and fellowship Regular spiritual responsibility Heightens our sensitivity to needs 4

5 The Principles of Giving The Participants Each one of you all inclusive Mark 12:41,42 Luke 16:10 2 Corinthians 8:2,5 Generosity apart from God is impossible Generosity as part of our love for God is inevitable 5

6 The Place The Principles of Giving Giving is primarily to & through the church Once again, it is part of worship Acts 2:44,45 to Acts 4:35,37; 5:2 Store up for the treasury given to church Collection is never to be done by pressure 6

7 The Principles of Giving The Proportion Giving of a tithe Gen. 14:18-20; 28: Genesis 41:34,35 was different Under Moses God gives us 10% Lev. 27:30 Numbers 18:21,26 tithe of a tithe Deuteronomy 14 second 10% for feasts Deuteronomy 14:28,29 every 3 years Malachi 3:8-10 7

8 The Principles of Giving The Proportion (continued) Proverbs 3:9,10 cf. 11:24 voluntary giving Exodus 25:1,2 cf. 35:5,21 cf. 36:6 Key idea in 2 Samuel 24:24 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 8 cf. Luke 6:38 Our giving is discretionary But it is to be given from a heart sold out to the God who saved you at great cost 8

9 The Protection in Giving You have the right to expect your gifts to be used in a wise and legitimate way Early church s s qualifications for those who dispensed funds was moral and spiritual Acts 6:2,3 9

10 The Perspective of Giving They walk in humility and kindness, and falsehood is not found among them and they love one another. They despise not the widow and they grieve not the orphan. He that hath, distributeth liberally to him that hath not. If they see a stranger, they bring him under their roof and they rejoice over him as if he were their brother. For they call themselves brethren, not after the flesh but after the Spirit and in God. 10

11 But when one of the poor passes away from the world and any of them see him, then he provides for his burial according to his ability. And if they hear that any of their number is in prison or oppressed for the name of their Messiah, all of them provide for his needs. And if it is possible that he may be delivered, they deliver him. And if there is among them a man that is poor and needy and they have not abundance of necessity, they will fast two or three days that they may supply the needy with his necessary food. Aristides 11

12 Application But whoever has the world s s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:17 Is the love of God abiding in you? 12