Rev. Joan Pell Sierra Pines United Methodist Church Sermon: 09/30/2018 Series: Extravagant Generosity: The Heart of Giving Scripture: John 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 8:24 <John 3:16-17> Declarations of Your Heart 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. <2 Corinthians 8:24> 24 Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you. On the week we began this sermon series there was a story in the news about a man who won a bookstore in a raffle. 1 Paul Morris, the owner of the store in Wales in the UK was having health problems and he decided to retire. He could have sold the business which was profitable for about 30,000 or $40,000. Instead, he decided to raffle it off. When I first read the headline, I assumed the store owner was selling raffle tickets, and with a big enough advertising campaign, he might make just as much as if he sold the business. But that was not what he did. Instead every customer for the previous 3 months who spent over 20 on books was eligible to have their name entered into the drawing free of charge. 60 customer s names were in the hat. That is much better odds than winning the lottery! A regular customer, Ceisjan (CJ) Van Heerden, won the store and is going to take over the running of it in November. So, why did Paul Morris decided to give away his business? He said that he thought about selling it, but then he thought instead, that he would give someone an opportunity in life which they might not otherwise have had. He wanted to make sure the shop continued in good hands. He saw this bookstore as more than just his livelihood, he saw value and a way of life in small independent bookstores and in the customer service and the books they can offer, and he wanted someone else to experience what he had experienced. He wanted it to remain open in their small local community. The continuance of his dreams and hopes was what was important to him, 1 https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/sep/11/customer-wins-bookends-bookshop-raffle-cardiganwest-wales and https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/dutch-man-very-very-excited-after-winning-a-bookstore-ina-raffle-1.4092441 1
so he gave up the sale value of the store to give to that vision. That s extravagant generosity! Our giving expresses what we love. It is a declaration of our hearts. My heart has been encouraged as we have journeyed together through the program Extravagant Generosity: The Heart of Giving. I have loved reading the heart cards that you have returned about what you love about this church about the people who have made a difference in your spiritual life about your hopes and dreams for the future. Take time to read them at back of church. And then Chris graciously shared her giving story this morning. When we give our money or time away to someone or to an organization, we are taking money or time that we could have spent on ourselves and we spend it on others. Have you ever been shopping for something you really need and as you search several shops for the best deals and comparing brands you see something else and think, Oh, that looks useful and you pick it up and add it to your cart. And then there you are at the checkout with the item you wanted and a bill for twice the cost of it! It is even easier if you are doing your shopping browsing on the internet because some online stores have 1-click orders and just like that before you have time to think you have ordered another book, pair of socks, and the deal of the day. UM Pastors are assigned to churches by the Bishop. So, every few years, we get to move to a new church and house. If your church has a parsonage, you are then set for the next few years. But if, like this church, there is no parsonage, you can end up in a rental home, and then if you are unlucky, your rental contract might not be renewed and you have to move again. You all know that happened to us last year! I used to think that I didn t make many impulsive purchases but having moved to a new house three times now, let me tell you, I have way too much stuff! And God has been humbling me. I ve found it helps to stop, think and pray, what would God like me to do with this money. Do I need that impulse purchase? Do I spend it on myself, or do I save it? Sometimes I can justify spending it. But more often, I do not buy it. And then the money is there, so that when someone says, Can you help? then I have the option of saying Yes. I was at a Fund Raiser on Friday night for Habitat for Humanity, and it was good feeling having listened to all the stories to be able to donate and help and know that I was supporting God s mission and vision of justice in Nevada Co. The first few words of the well-known passage from John s Gospel that we heard read clearly state that the way God shows love for the world is by giving. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. Giving is part of the character of God. Extravagant generosity is our response as we give to God as God has given to us. 2
The entire teaching of the 2 Corinthians passage leading to verse 24 that we heard read is about giving. It opens with these words: We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints. Paul concludes that giving is proof (or evidence) of our love of God. Our giving expresses what we love. It is a declaration of our hearts. God doesn t require our generosity. But when we truly accept the generous gift of God s love, our only possible response is to live and give generously. In our devotional this week, Bishop Schnase told this story about a grandfather, who was a longtime member of the church. 2 This story gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. One Sunday there was a baptism at church with two babies from two different families being baptized. After the service, the whole church was congratulating them and wishing them blessings as they all intermingled. The grandfather was proud and happy. At one point the mother of the other family s baby needed some help and the grandfather and offered to hold the baby. Some members of the congregation approached him and he found himself saying several times, Oh, this one isn t mine. I m just holding him for a minute The following day, the grandfather went into the church office to talk to the pastor. He told the pastor that he was going to change his will to include the church. The pastor asked him what had brought him to this decision. With tears in his eyes, the grandfather said, that he realized something while he was holding the other baby. He said that he kept saying that the baby wasn t his child. But then it dawned on him that the baby was part of his church family. After being a member for over 40 years and in God s eyes he is a grandfather to so many children. So as his own children are taken care of in his will, he wanted to also provide for the children of the church. As Bishop Schnase pointed out Extravagant Generosity is also planting seeds for trees whose shade we will not see. Our giving expresses what we love. It is a declaration of our hearts. 2 Robert Schnase, Practicing Extravagant Generosity: Daily Readings on the Grace of Giving (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2011), 83-84. 3
Everything we have here, every chair, screen, altar, banner, computer, cup and plate, the buildings, the garden is the fruit of someone s generosity. Our understanding of faith and experience of God s presence with us is shaped and developed over many years as a church community through worship, small groups, pastoral care, missions, spiritual practices and friendships born out of serving together. We are who we are because of our time and relationships here. Our church is a means of grace. There is so much here to love. Don t forget to read those heart cards! God has this church and each one of us here at Sierra Pines for a purpose. We are called to be disciples for the transformation of the world. Or as we like to say, to be Love in Action. That means we send people on Mission Trips; this year it was 11 people to UMCOR West. We hope to be involved in fire restoration projects in the conference next year, and we one member this week who has applied to go with a construction team in January to Puerto Rico. We advocate for justice and march for change. We welcome all into our midst with open hearts, open doors, open minds for ALL, including the LGBTQ+ community. We reach out to Palestinians through our-long relationship with Hope School. We work with the homeless through Hospitality House and the hungry through Interfaith Food Ministry and support other local non-profits, and we are pondering what Ministry to Seniors looks like. As a part of the UM denomination, our arms stretch around the world with projects supported through our special offerings and our tithes to the conference and the national church. As the body of Christ, we hope and dream and together we do more. This week, most of you will have received an estimate of giving card in the mail. I hope that you have brought those with you this morning, and that you have had a chance to pray and ponder about what you love and what God is calling you to do next year with your time, talents and treasure. Our Financial Secretary is the only one who will read these financial forms. I will receive the ones about your time and talents. This is not a legal document it is between you and God and if your situation changes, then you can change it. But it does help our financial team to do some planning. And while giving is from the heart and can be totally spontaneous, much of what we give happens with intentionality and takes planning. Everything belongs to God. We are entrusted to use what we have been given in ways that glorify God. What Christians earn belongs to God and they should earn it honestly in ways that are consistent with following Christ. What Christians spend belongs to God and they should spend it wisely on things that enhance life. What Christians save belongs to God and they should invest in ways that strengthen society. What Christians give belongs to God and they should give extravagantly in ways the strengthen the body of Christ and serve the mission of Christ. May we become what God is calling us to be. Our giving expresses what we love. It is a declaration of our hearts. 4
Thanks be to God, Amen. Let us pray <Mediate on video.> 3 O God, you made us in your image and loved us enough to give us the best of what you have, your only Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that we who have received so much from you might reflect that love and devotion, living proof of the hope that is in us so that all may know your glory. In Christ s name we pray. Amen. Resources Reeves, Michael & Jennifer Tyler. Extravagant Generosity: Planning Kit: The Heart of Giving. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2011. 3 Michael Reeves & Jennifer Tyler, Extravagant Generosity: Small Group and Worship DVD: The Heart of Giving (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2011), Worship: Declarations of Your Heart. 5